9 PM: In the kitchen before tonight’s “Gifts from the Earth” gala at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor), that’s SSCC alum Bruce Cougan from Harry’s Chicken Joint (also a WSB sponsor) at right, with cook Joe. (They were, of course, frying chicken.) Bruce is one of six SSCC alums on the roster of 15 chefs cooking for the fundraising celebration of SSCC’s award-winning culinary, wine, and hospitality programs.

Once again this year, tickets for “Gifts from the Earth” were sold out well in advance of the event. In addition to the food and wine, and a silent auction, a live auction was planned, including a new “Fund a Dream” feature during which guests were scheduled to hear from student Candis Outson, second from right in our next photo:

She was planning to explain how her scholarship at SSCC helped put her on the path to make dreams come true – as encouragement to guests to pledge to the fund that will help make more scholarships available. She also is one of the SSCC students on the cooking team tonight, and is shown in our photo with Brandon LaVielle (left) and Evan Garrard (right) from Emerald Cove Catering, and Shannon Higgins (second from left). The gala is still under way as we publish this; we’ll update later when we hear how much was raised.

10:32 PM UPDATE: SSCC has just announced that Gifts from the Earth raised a record $210,000. More than a quarter of that, $58,000, came from the “Fund a Dream” pledges, the school says.

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Summer-camp signups: Seattle Parks readies for registration

January 25, 2014 7:08 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Only one month into winter, but it’s not too soon to think about summer – especially if you’re planning to enroll your child(ren) in local summer camps. Seattle Parks has announced it’s almost signup time for its camps:

Online and in-person registration for summer camps begins Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 12 noon. Pay for the camp at time of registration, or pay a $15 deposit to hold a spot with the balance owing two weeks before the camp begins. Participation is contingent upon submittal of the appropriate waiver forms TWO WEEKS PRIOR to the start of camp. Online registration ends two weeks prior to the first day of each camp, but in-person registration will be available until all spots are filled.

The brochure with details on Seattle Parks’ camps is here.

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Also tonight: Garfield Jazz fundraiser @ Youngstown

January 25, 2014 4:14 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

This one somehow fell out of our calendar queue, so it wasn’t in today’s preview – but if you’re looking for something fun to do tonight, it’s still a few hours away: The award-winning Garfield High School jazz program has a fun(draiser) tonight at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in North Delridge – music, dancing, and more. It’s not just local because it’s happening here – the Garfield ensembles include students from West Seattle, too. More details here; the event (21 and over) starts at 7 pm.

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Happening now: Duwamish Longhouse’s 5th-anniversary celebration

January 25, 2014 2:08 pm

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

It’s been five years since the Duwamish Tribe celebrated the opening of its longhouse at 4705 W. Marginal Way SW – and you still have three hours to join the anniversary celebration. An open house continues until 5 pm; we stopped by for the noontime reception:

Those on hand included Cecile Hansen, who has served as the tribe’s elected chair since 1975:

The story of the longhouse – the first one for the Duwamish people since their last one was burned down before the end of the 19th century – is told in this HistoryLink.org report. The story of the tribe can be explored both via its website and at the Longhouse/Cultural Center, which has regular hours as well as being open for special events like the one today.

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West Seattle weekend scenes: Super String Saturday music celebration

January 25, 2014 11:26 am

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

It’s on! Until 1 pm, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra-presented Super String Saturday celebration of music and mentoring (with WSB as a media sponsor) is happening at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle). It began with the SYSO’s mini-concert (and they were wonderful – hear a snippet in our Instagram video cliplet), directed by SYSO music director Stephen Rogers Radcliffe, following welcoming remarks by Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark, King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, and Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen.

Right now, those SYSO musicians are performing onstage side-by-side with elementary students, and then those students (and participating middle schoolers) head off into instrument-technique clinics in individual classrooms. But that’s prime time to visit even if you don’t have a student in those programs; here’s the schedule for the rest of the event:

11:50 am-12:20 pm: Information session for parents in the CSIHS auditorium – “learn how to best support your young musician”
12:25-12:45 pm: Chamber Ensemble demonstration in the auditorium
12:50-1 pm: Middle-school students onstage with SYSO musicians

The event is free; bring a few $ for refreshments on sale in the Sealth commons – which you’ll walk through on your way from the front door to the auditorium – benefiting student music programs. The SYSO is involved in local schools year-round through the Southwest Strings Project, involving Arbor Heights, Concord International, Highland Park, Roxhill, Sanislo, and West Seattle elementaries as well as Denny.

4:54 PM: More photos, as promised! First one is by our photographer, and the following three are courtesy of the SYSO.

After today’s event, Denny principal Clark told the SYSO:

On behalf of the entire Denny International Middle School community, I would like to extend a huge thank you to the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras for their amazing partnership! Our orchestra program has grown dramatically in recent years–the small group lessons and professional coaches provided through the Southwest Strings Project continue to be outstanding. Thank you to all of the families who joined us for Super String Saturday today and to the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras for making it happen!

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West Seattle Saturday: Traffic reminder, and 16 reasons you don’t want to leave the peninsula anyway

January 25, 2014 8:28 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Busy Saturday, off to a foggy start, and we’re again including a traffic reminder:

Same as last Saturday, WSDOT is closing multiple lanes (the number might fluctuate) on northbound I-5, not too far past the entrance from the West Seattle Bridge – note the red X’s in the “live” image above. Until the work is done – 10 am Sunday – 99 is recommended as your northbound alternative! Or – don’t leave the peninsula at all, since all this and more is happening:

WOODPECKER WALK IN LINCOLN PARK: 9 am, meet in the north parking lot, details here. Free!

SUPER STRING SATURDAY: Be there! 10 am-1 pm at Chief Sealth International High School, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra-presented celebration of music and mentorship – and more – see our preview here. Free; the whole family’s welcome. (2600 SW Thistle)

BREAD BAKING: 10 am class at Delridge Community Center. (Too-short notice? Browse our calendar in advance for highlights – or the community centers’ brochure listing what’s going on this quarter.)

DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE’S FIFTH ANNIVERSARY: Big day as the Duwamish Tribe celebrates the fifth anniversary of its West Seattle longhouse. Open house 10 am-5 pm, reception noon-1 pm, storyteller Roger Fernandes‘s concert 2-3 pm, full details in our calendar listing. (4705 W. Marginal Way)

PUGET RIDGE WINTER CLEANUP: Neighbors are invited to join forces and get some cleanup work done on Puget Ridge, 10 am-noon today. Location/map in our calendar listing.

GAY FOR GOOD FOOD DRIVE @ 2 STORES: The food drive planned by Gay for Good to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank has expanded to two stores – PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) at California/Stevens, and QFC in The Junction (42nd/Alaska). 10 am-2 pm, donate nonperishable food.

PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING FOR ROADSIDE RAINGARDENS: 10-11:30 am at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, it’s your second of two chances to talk with King County Wastewater Treatment reps about the roadside raingardens (aka bioswales) about to be built in sections of Sunrise Heights and Westwood to reduce combined-sewer overflows. Details in our preview. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

STORY TIME BENEFITING WESTSIDE BABY: 10 am at Umpqua Bank in The Admiral District, Sue Winter is reading and selling Usborne Books to benefit WestSide Baby, along with collecting diaper donations. Details here. (2620 California SW)

2 PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSES: Cometa Playschool invites you to its West Seattle open house 11 am-1 pm – details in our calendar listing. (3212 California SW)

Also, the Bright Beginnings preschool program at Hiawatha Community Center welcomes you to its open house today, 1-3 pm:

We strive to offer a program that helps children learn and grow, by focusing on the child’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills. We provide a safe, happy healthy, learning environment for preschool children. Bright Beginnings Preschool is very hands on; activities include: Art, Blocks, Dramatic Play, Library, Cooking, Science, Music and Movement and Outdoor/Gym Play.

(2700 California SW)

VIETNAMESE STORYTIME: Every Saturday morning at 11:30 am at Delridge Branch Library – details in our calendar listing. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

WEST SEATTLE MONTESSORI OPEN HOUSE: 1-3 pm. visit West Seattle Montessori (WSB sponsor) to find out about its preschool-middle school programs. (11215 15th SW)

WHAT WOULD YOU WANT SEATTLE PARKS TO ASK VOTERS FOR? 1 pm at High Point Community Center, your chance to speak up as Seattle Parks gets ready for a potential ballot measure to help with future financing. Details in our preview. (6920 34th SW)

SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING – IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD: As previewed here Friday, the West Seattle Democratic Women will spend this year getting the word out that human trafficking isn’t something happening somewhere else to somebody else – you might even have seen it and not recognized it, so awareness is vital. Today is their kickoff event, 1-3:30 pm at Southwest Branch Library, all welcome to drop in for eye-opening information. (35th/Henderson)

GIFTS FROM THE EARTH: The annual South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) gala is sold out, but just in case you wonder what’s up on campus tonight – or in case you have tickets and needed a reminder! – silent auction, celebrity chefs, inspiring stories, more, 5 pm @ Brockey Center. (6000 16th SW)

CHILI COOK-OFF: Love chili? Go see what Fauntleroy competitors have cooked up – and vote for your favorites – for only $6; details in our calendar listing. Fauntleroy Church, 6 pm. (9140 California SW)

DOORS TRIBUTE: Alive She Cried @ Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9 pm. (6451 California SW)

And as always … MORE EVENTS on the calendar than we could mention here, so go there!

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Swimming success: Y Dolphins, Sealth swimmer to state competitions

January 25, 2014 8:08 am

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

We’ve received two updates to share on competitive swimmers in our area:

DOLPHINS IN STATEWIDE Y COMPETITION TODAY: Good luck to the Dolphins from the West Seattle Y (WSB sponsor) in state Y competition today – see the 42 team members listed here. The meet is at King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way, starting at 9 am for 12-and-over swimmers who have made qualifying state times; at noon, swimmers working toward qualifying times for Regionals (in Boise next month) swim; and at 3 pm, we’re told, it’s the final session “for the top eight swimmers in all eligible events of the morning prelim sessions, after which there will be an awards ceremony for the winners of the finals events.” Public welcome, no admission charge. The KCAC is at 650 SW Campus Drive (map).

SEALTH MEET RESULTS & STATE QUALIFIER: For Chief Sealth International High School‘s swim team, Trisha Montemayor sends results of Friday’s meet against Franklin – the Seahawk girls won, the boys lost (team scores here, individual results here), but along the way, Trisha says, Carlos Montemayor qualified for state in the 100 breaststroke; he already had qualified for the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. She also notes that Sealth will host West Seattle High School next Friday (3:30 pm January 31) in its final Southwest Pool home meet of the year – Senior Night for five graduating swimmers.

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High-school basketball: Rainier Beach visits Sealth; WSHS on the road @ Ingraham

January 25, 2014 7:20 am

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

From Friday night’s high-school basketball slate, in the regular season’s waning weeks:

(Sealth head coach Katie Jo Maris; WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
RAINIER BEACH AT CHIEF SEALTH: Lopsided games for both varsity teams – the Seahawk girls beat the Vikings 66-24, led by #4 Labrea Denson with 15 points:

Full scoring list here.

(Sealth #22 Sydney Thomas, #33 Brandy Hoskins)

In the boys-varsity game, final score was Rainier Beach 103, Chief Sealth 52. #1 Khaleef Griffin (photo below, with #24 Jamari Smith) led the Seahawks’ scoring with 21 points:

The Viking boys ran up the score in no small part thanks to a large number of three-pointers. Scoring list is here.

WEST SEATTLE AT INGRAHAM: Victories here for both WSHS varsity teams – a 63-22 win for the girls, with Sarah Cooper and Gabby Sarver the leading scorers with 16 points each, and DeAndre Love leading the boys with 27 points in the Wildcats’ 81-37 win.

NEXT UP: WSHS hosts Sealth – boys Tuesday, girls Wednesday, tipoff times here.

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