day : 15/02/2014 11 results

11:23 PM SUNDAY: Just in from the 1500 block of California SW (map), a texted report about a black Acura stolen by a man driving a white “unmarked” tow truck. The car’s owner is talking to police right now, we’re told. The neighbor reporting it on the victim’s behalf says it headed southbound on California and that the victim says there’s no chance it was towed as a repo attempt. Apparently the alarm was going off as the car was taken away around 10:35 pm. More details when we get them.

12:09 PM SUNDAY: Added a e-mailed photo; no view of the driver but he is described as “a white male, largish build, wearing a red sweatshirt.”

Share This

Nailbiter victory for West Seattle High School girls over Eastside Catholic

February 15, 2014 8:34 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

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

(UPDATED 11:59 PM with full story – lead paragraph was original, brief 8:34 pm report)

(Final seconds of the game – WSB Instagram video)
Story by Tracy Record
Photos by Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers

Lights flickered in the gym but stayed on and so did the West Seattle High School girls’ basketball team, pulling out a nailbiter postseason win 34-33 over visiting Eastside Catholic.

The Wildcats’ #12 Lydia Giomi scored West Seattle’s first two points while singlehandedly racking up almost half the team’s total, finishing with 15 points before fouling out with about seven seconds left in the game.

Share This

Early warning: Next Highway 99/Viaduct closure Feb. 28-March 3

February 15, 2014 7:16 pm

| Comments Off on Early warning: Next Highway 99/Viaduct closure Feb. 28-March 3

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

If you like planning ahead – note that the next full-weekend Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection closure is on the schedule, though not formally announced yet: According to the Construction Lookahead page jointly published by SDOT and WSDOT, it’s two weeks away – late Friday night February 28th, through early Monday morning March 3rd. Again, this is the regular twice-yearly inspection closure, not related to the tunnel construction.

Share This

‘Genius Hour’ at Alki Elementary: Students ‘given free range’

February 15, 2014 4:25 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Maybe you’ve heard of “Genius Hour,” inspired by Google, with the company legendarily giving employees time to work on projects that interested them, rather than the assignments they were given. For the past six weeks, two classes at Alki Elementary got that chance – one hour per week during which third- and fourth-graders “were given free range to investigate and study a topic of their choice,” as teacher Anna Coghill put it. On Friday, students in her class and Kelli Soccorsy‘s class showed off those projects, and invited us to come have a look along with some other visitors (including the parents who gave us permission to feature their kids). Top photo, Charlotte‘s project was recycling art; next, Julian put together a tutorial on the history of perhaps the most famous superhero ever, Superman:

And in our final photo, with Alki’s first-year principal Shannon Stanton, is Owen, whose “Genius Hour” project involved engineering a catapult:

While Google is believed to have moved away from the “Genius Hour” type of time allotment, it’s a thriving idea in schools, with projects like the one the Alki students and teachers have just completed.

Share This

West Seattle weather: New alert warns of windiness

February 15, 2014 1:03 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

1:03 PM: A new Special Weather Statement is up for our area – this time, warning of two rounds of wind on the way, possibly with gusts up to 50 mph. First one is expected tonight; second one, Sunday afternoon. Keep everything charged!

6:29 PM: The alert has been upgraded to a wind advisory through 4 am Sunday. Same basic points – winds could gust up to 50 mph. Sounds like they’re kicking up right now.

Share This

Happening now: City of Joy donation-drive dropoff

February 15, 2014 12:01 pm

| Comments Off on Happening now: City of Joy donation-drive dropoff

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Don’t let the rain stop you – it’s not stopping Mary Ellen and Lucas (and Libby, who was off on an errand when we stopped by) from collecting essential items for women at the City of Joy, until 2 pm today on the south side of the parking lot at 44th/Alaska (best known as the Farmers’ Market lot). Here again is our preview explaining what this is all about; here again is the list of what’s needed:

* The preference is for new items (definitely make-up, toiletries and skin care products.) Gently used items are also greatly appreciated.

Necessities
Solar-powered flashlights
Solar-powered radios
Umbrellas
Reading glasses

Skills
Garden/work gloves
Garden trowels
Small garden shovels
Sewing supplies – thread, buttons, needles, scissors, embroidery thread
Muslin fabric
Yarn

Women’s Clothing
Skirts, tops, & light pants (all sizes) NOTE: It is hot & humid in Congo. We need clothes in bright colors and light fabrics. NOT Seattle clothes! ☺
Durable flip-flops
Sneakers (size 7-10)
Socks (bright colors to fit shoe size 7-10)
Underwear & bras (all sizes)
Scarves
Purses

Toiletries & Personal Care
Towels – bath, hand and wash cloths (bright colors)
Makeup
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Traumeel
Moisturizing lotion

Anything you can spare, one item or dozens, will help fill the truck!

Share This

West Seattle traffic alert: Why you’ll want to detour around the Fauntleroy/California intersection

February 15, 2014 11:30 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WSB photo – looking west on Fauntleroy from California)
11:30 AM: Once in a while, projects with a big short-term effect show up without big advance warnings. Here’s one of them. Thanks so much to the person who called to flag us to the major work happening right now at Fauntleroy/California – involving traffic-signal replacement and police directing traffic (since the signals aren’t working while they’re in the process of being replaced). Lane reductions on all sides. Businesses are open, but you’ll want to find alternate ways of accessing them. The crew on the scene tells us this is scheduled to continue through tomorrow (we’ll update if it ends earlier).

7:23 PM UPDATE: While the work isn’t continuing into the night, the signals are out because of it and there is an officer on-site directing traffic, with temporary portable lights illuminating the intersection.

SUNDAY, 4:31 PM: As SeaChanty51 noted in comments an hour-plus ago, the new signals are in and working! We just drove through to confirm.

Share This

West Seattle real estate: 2310 California SW for sale

February 15, 2014 10:30 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle real estate: 2310 California SW for sale

| Development | West Seattle news

An Admiral District site that’s had its ups and downs in recent years has just been listed for sale as a potential development lot. 2310 California SW (WSB September 2013 photo at left) was known most recently as the site of restaurants including Brickyard BBQ. In 2006-2008, the site went through Design Review for a mixed-use project that never got to the construction phase (not unusual back in recession times). Now it’s being marketed as a “highly desirable NC2-40 lot,” asking price $1,050,000.

Share This

West Seattle Saturday: Traffic reminder; City of Joy donations; shred/sweat for a cause; basketball; theater; music; more

February 15, 2014 8:58 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Saturday: Traffic reminder; City of Joy donations; shred/sweat for a cause; basketball; theater; music; more

| How to help | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Thanks to James Bratsanos for this morning’s misty view across the Sound)
You can get the jump on what’s up today, tomorrow, next week, by checking the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar any time. Most days, we also publish a list of highlights, like this – but first, two traffic/transit notes (which, if a weekday, would be handled in our separate daily traffic watch):

I-5 SOUTHBOUND REMINDER: Until Tuesday morning, if you’re taking I-5 this way through downtown, be ready for delays north of I-90, because of lane closures for expansion-joint (earthquake safety) work. Here’s the latest “live” view from the area:

More info here.

METRO SERVICE CHANGE TODAY: Just a few changes for West Seattle routes, including one added trip each way on the C Line. System-wide details are here.

Now, to what’s up today/tonight:

CITY OF JOY DONATION DRIVE: 10 am-2 pm, bring your donated items to help West Seattleites stuff a truck for City of Joy, a unique project helping women on the other side of the globe. What’s needed, and why, is in our original report. The truck’s at 44th/Alaska (aka the Farmers’ Market lot).

SHREDDING, AND EXERCISING, FOR A CAUSE: 2-component fundraiser for a team participating in the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society‘s The Big Climb next month, with shredding 10 am-2 pm and a workout at 12:30 pm, in the West Seattle High School parking lot; details in our calendar listing. (3000 California SW)

MASS WITH THE ARCHBISHOP: World Day of the Sick is marked with a visit from Archbishop J. Peter Sartain at Providence Mount St. Vincent. Public welcome at Mass, 10:30 am, with reception following. (4831 35th SW)

KITTY HARBOR ADOPTION EVENT: The cat-adoption center just north of the West Seattle Bridge will be open this weekend for an offseason adoption event, noon-6 today (and tomorrow), per this WSB Forums post.

NATURE WALK AT LINCOLN PARK: “Owls and Other Organisms” with West Seattle naturalist Stewart Wechsler. 6:30 pm; details in the listing. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

JURIED PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW, OPENING CELEBRATION: At the Seattle Chinese Garden on the north side of the South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) campus, 7 pm, celebrate the opening of a juried show of photos taken at the garden – then at 8 pm, weather permitting, a procession. Details in our calendar listing. (6000 16th SW)

MOONGIRL IN CONCERT: Tonight at Hiawatha Community Center, 7 pm.

HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: 7 pm tonight at West Seattle High School, the WSHS girls-varsity team plays its next postseason game, vs. Eastside Catholic. Come out and cheer! (3000 California SW)

‘PRIVATE EYES’: Twelfth Night Productions‘ “comedy of suspicion and intrigue” continues at 7:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – find out more (including ticket info/purchase) here. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

‘THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED‘: The newest production at ArtsWest continues tonight, 7:30 pm. (4711 California SW)

Share This

You’re invited! West Seattle High School Big Band Dinner Dance

February 15, 2014 8:55 am

| Comments Off on You’re invited! West Seattle High School Big Band Dinner Dance

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Just announced:

Come to the West Seattle High School Big Band Dinner Dance, enjoy fabulous big band music and support West Seattle High School’s music program!

Friday Feb 28 2014 at West Seattle High School. Dinner served 6-7, Swing Dancing Music provided by WSHS Jazz Band and the West Seattle Big Band from 7-9.

Tickets purchased in advance are $15 each, or $17 at the door.

Special deal for students only – $8 ticket purchased at the door for dancing only (no dinner).

Swing dance instruction, door prizes, beverages, dinner & desserts all included!

This event is a fundraiser and West Seattle High School band, orchestra and jazz band students are raising money to pay for their performance and competition trips this spring.

Check out our Facebook page. For more info or to purchase tickets online- please e-mail WestSeattleHSMusic@gmail.com

Share This

Pigeon Point’s place to play: Pathfinder project wants to know what matters to you

February 15, 2014 12:38 am

| Comments Off on Pigeon Point’s place to play: Pathfinder project wants to know what matters to you

| Pigeon Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Photo by Chris Wells)
Give Pathfinder K-8‘s playground project a boost – if you use the playground there now, or expect to in the years ahead, answer a quick survey. Here’s the backstory and the link:

Pathfinder K-8 is pleased to announce that we won a Neighborhood Matching Fund Small and Simple Grant to rebuild our playground! With $25,000 we can get started by hiring a designer, and recruiting volunteers to match the funds through donated time. Our plan includes hosting 3 public meetings to develop the playground in a way that best serves you, the school and community. A huge thank you to Seattle Department of Neighborhoods for helping our community work together to build a better playground.

Want to help us get started? We need your input! Anyone who uses the playground is encouraged to participate. Please tell us what matters to you at the Pathfinder K8 Playground by filling out our short online survey.

Thank you,
Holli Margell and Toni Wells
Outreach Co-Chairs

Share This