day : 20/05/2013 13 results

First – before two reader reports – here’s something that likely would have topped West Seattle Crime Watch 52 years ago:

Anne Higuera from longtime WSB sponsor Ventana Construction was working on a project in Ballard when that West Seattle story from a 1961 edition of the Seattle P-I, stuffed in the walls, caught her eye. It tells the tale of how a West Seattle family nabbed a would-be burglar. Click here for a larger, readable version (you might have to click it to zoom in when it opens in your browser – that’s what happened with ours).

Ahead, the current cases:

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West Seattle businesses: Christopher’s Salon announces closure

May 20, 2013 9:09 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Via the WSB Forums: Christopher’s Salon and Massage in south Morgan Junction has announced that it’s closed after 10 years in business. The announcement cites the owner’s health challenges. (Our archives show that four years ago, then-neighboring business owners announced a benefit on his behalf.) The salon was at 7009 California SW.

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West Seattleites behind the scenes at NW Folklife Festival

May 20, 2013 7:33 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS culture/arts

(Photo courtesy Folklife: Programmers and WS residents Debbie Fant, Michelle Shaevitz, Kelli Faryar)
Going to Seattle Center for the Northwest Folklife Festival next weekend? Though it’s not happening in West Seattle, three West Seattleites are involved in making it happen, as we recently found out. One of them – Deputy Director Debbie Fant – explains:

West Seattle is really well represented at the 2013 Northwest Folklife Festival! First of all, the programming team — Kelli Faryar, Michelle Demers Shaevitz, and Debbie Fant — all live in West Seattle! And second, there are 34 groups from West Seattle performing throughout the weekend!! (Not that we’re biased — there’s just so much talent in West Seattle!)

If you’re among those Folklife performers from West Seattle (or White Center/South Park, since we cover those communities with our other two sites), please let us know (comment, or e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com) so we can include that in weekend mentions. Here’s the schedule – even if you’re not the performer, let us know if you recognize locals who are listed.

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Know a future Chief Sealth ninth-grader? Special open house May 28

May 20, 2013 6:55 pm

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

Everyone who’s going to be a Chief Sealth International High School ninth-grader next year is invited to an open house one week from tomorrow (Tuesday, May 28th). Athletic director Sam Reed says it’s a chance for incoming ninth-graders to find out about sports at Sealth – whether they’re already playing a sport, or “thinking about trying something” – read on for the official invitation:

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Followup: Where West Seattle’s low-flow hydrants are

May 20, 2013 4:33 pm

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| Safety | West Seattle news

Following up on the Seattle Public Utilities announcement published here last night regarding work starting today to place reflective red rings on the city’s 70 remaining low-flow hydrants, so firefighters can make fast decisions when arriving at fire scenes – we now have the map and list of locations from SPU. What you see above is the West Seattle section of the map; click it to get a PDF of the full-size citywide map. And if you see one you want to know more about, click here for the PDF list of exact addresses. We count 28 served by West Seattle fire engines (note the E37, E32, and E29 designations). Three are listed as being in the unincorporated North Highline area just south of West Seattle, and one is in the area served by South Park’s Engine 26. SPU says it expects to have all of the low-flow hydrants – which, it stresses, are fully operational, but just deliver less than 500 gallons per minute – marked by the end of the month.

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West Seattle HS chef Sarah Rosenthal makes ‘Cutting Edge’ top 3

May 20, 2013 3:38 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(May 8th WSB photo)
Big followup from West Seattle High School teacher Danielle Henry, two weeks after the “Cutting Edge” cooking competition came to campus – the WSHS winner is a national finalist!

Sarah Rosenthal is gearing up to take a trip to compete for the ultimate title of Top Teen Chef! We just got off the phone with the National Restaurant Association, and found out that Sarah was selected as one of the top three students in the entire U.S. (out of 63 students and 21 schools) to compete for the title and the opportunity to cook for the President and Vice-President at the White House. They announced her big win at the National Restaurant Association Conference this past weekend. I am so proud of Sarah and can’t wait to see her compete in the next round!!

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‘Nickelsville’ updates: HPAC files claim; encampment’s proposal; city clarifies study cost

May 20, 2013 2:27 pm

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| Nickelsville encampment | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

More updates today on the future of the encampment known as “Nickelsville” and its mostly-city-owned site:

First, from Highland Park Action Committee, which says it’s time for the encampment to move on, chair Carolyn Stauffer says:

We’ve just come back from the City Clerk’s office, where we filed a claim. We filed for “Declaratory Judgement” as to whether the Land Use Code, the Building and Construction Codes, and the Health and Safety Codes – all part of the Seattle Municipal Codes, apply to the SDOT property at 7116 West Marginal Way (current site of Nickelsville).

We filed with a “Permanent Injunction” requiring the City to move the encampment. This asks the court to clarify if that parcel of land exists outside of existing laws governing the entire City, and if it’s not, then we ask that the courts order the city to move the encampment. Our application was submitted with photos and maps documenting the encampment and the specific locations of activity in the West Duwamish Greenbelt.

We expect to hear back from them in 3-4 days with a claim number and confirmation, and then there is a 60 (day) wait period. If we don’t hear back, it opens the door to a lawsuit, which cannot be filed until this claim has been submitted … so the wheels of legal action are starting to turn, as of today.

Stauffer also says HPAC is continuing to circulate its online petition (first noted here last Friday), declaring it “is the number-one issue City Council is hearing about from citizens right now.” She also is encouraging turnout for this Wednesday’s City Council Housing, Human Services, Health, and Culture Committee meeting at City Hall, which will include a review of two proposed ordinances that would relate to Nickelsville (both linked in our Friday report) – public comment will be at the start of the hearing, around 2 pm. You can read the rest of the HPAC update here, including a reminder that their monthly meeting is that same day, Wednesday (May 22), 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club (12th/Holden).

Other updates include a clarification from the city’s Finance and Administrative Services department on the cost of an environmental study that the mayor’s proposed ordinance would require for the encampment site to be made “semi-permanent”:

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West Seattle traffic alert: Car-motorcycle crash on Alki Avenue

May 20, 2013 12:56 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:56 PM: Avoid the 1300 block of Alki Avenue SW (map) for a while – there’s an emergency response for what is described via radio as a car-motorcycle collision. While the initial callout was for a “6 per” medic response, indicating potential life-threatening injuries, we’re told a private ambulance is now on the way. So are we, and we’ll update with whatever we find out at the scene.

1:08 PM UPDATE: Per scanner – westbound Alki Avenue is now open at the scene; eastbound still closed.

1:20 PM UPDATE: At the scene – police confirm one person went to the hospital (we’re trying to get more details); the vehicles involved are a Jeep Cherokee and Yamaha motorcycle.

ADDED MONDAY EVENING: We heard back from Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore, who confirmed that the person taken to the hospital was the motorcycle rider, and was described as conscious and alert when transported.

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Thanks for a great year! WSB honored by Society of Professional Journalists as ‘best hyperlocal site’

May 20, 2013 12:49 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle online

There were so many big events to cover over the weekend, no chance to mention this until now, but we did want to mention it via a big THANK YOU: Saturday night, the regional Society of Professional Journalists‘ annual Excellence in Journalism Awards were announced, and one of those awards went to WSB – “Best Hyperlocal Site.” (Hyperlocal is an industry term referring to neighborhood or community, the terms we prefer to use.) The region covers five states; the judging is done by journalists from outside the region. While the plaque carries the name of your editor here, it truly should be etched with thousands of names, as WSB has been a community-collaborative news organization since the start – what we publish is inspired by, suggested by, and/or enhanced by information, questions, comments, photos, and more, from people, organizations, and businesses in our community. Though we are thrilled by this and other awards received by WSB over the past five years, the most important one remains what you award us daily – and what we never take for granted: Your readership and participation. Thank you SO much for being part of WSB.

P.S. We also congratulate photojournalist Nick Adams, whose excellent work has graced WSB and our partner sites White Center Now and The South Park News over the past year – as an independent entrant including work done for several organizations, Nick received the regional third-place award for online photography.

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Happening now: Pathfinder K-8 teacher Lou Cutler’s 10th annual birthday run for Make-A-Wish

May 20, 2013 11:42 am

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| How to help | Pigeon Point | West Seattle news

One of the most joyful annual fundraisers in West Seattle is happening right now on the playfield at Pathfinder K-8 on Pigeon Point. Today marks the 10th time Pathfinder PE teacher Lou Cutler has, in honor of his upcoming birthday, run one lap for each year of his age.

Today, that means 62 laps with Lou, who does not run alone – Pathfinder students and staff join him on the field too, and track the laps (above); students track their own laps too:

This is a fundraiser for the regional branch of Make-A-Wish, for which Lou has volunteered more than a decade (we talked to him about it in-depth before his birthday run in 2011), helping make dreams come true for children living with life-threatening medical conditions. Lou started around 8:45 this morning and hit the halfway point while we were there an hour ago, so he likely has less than an hour to go. You can cheer him on, wherever you are, with an online pledge via his Make-A-Wish page.

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WestSide Unicycle Collective: New student-founded group for all ages announces 1st meetup

May 20, 2013 11:07 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS & Sports

Schmitz Park Elementary fifth-grader Riley Nachtrieb, an avid unicyclist (on trails as well as pavement, as shown in the video above featuring Riley and her 9-year-old sister Addison), couldn’t find a nearby group to join – so she’s starting one herself, the WestSide Unicycle Collective. Riley and Addison are organizing and running it by themselves, according to an announcement forwarded by their parents, who are lending “a watchful eye.” The group has a Facebook page and will have public meetups every other Thursday, 6:30 pm-7:30 pm, beginning next week (May 30th) at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. Future locations will be listed on the FB page, and Riley stresses its purpose: “Meet new unicyclists and ride with us. Learn new skills and tricks or just ride and have fun! Unicyclers of any age or ability welcome.”

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Middle College High School’s lease extended a second year

May 20, 2013 10:13 am

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| High Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(September 2012 WSB photo)
Middle College High School will be based at Neighborhood House‘s High Point Centerfor at least another year, reports teacher Alonzo Ybarra. This is the small high-school program focused on social justice and community engagement that lost its longtime home at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) and finally found space at the center for this school year; we last checked in with MCHS in September. Ybarra shared the news via a new blog-format website with updates about the school, which links to a letter with the district announcement. The website also notes that MCHS helped with the West Seattle Bee Garden, launched yesterday with a parade and festival (WSB coverage here), and that its 2013 graduation ceremony is set for June 11th.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday, with 99 changes north of downtown

May 20, 2013 6:37 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday, with 99 changes north of downtown

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
We start the week with two reminders:

*The regional crackdown on seat-belt and cell-phone lawbreaking starts today, as previewed here recently.

*If you drive Highway 99 north of downtown, you’ll notice a change starting today, following the weekend closure because of the Mercer Corridor Project – it’s now 2 lanes each way between Valley and Harrison, shifted to the west, according to SDOT. The changes in that area are detailed on this webpage.

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