day : 12/03/2014 13 results

Three ways West Seattle neighbors are helping fight hunger – including opportunities for you to join in, starting with:

SCOUTING FOR FOOD: It’s that time again, for West Seattle’s Troop 282 and other Scouts to carry out a door-to-door food drive. This Saturday, March 15th, they will leave door tags at homes in the West Seattle area between 8:30-10:30 am. They will come back the following Saturday, March 22nd, between 9 am and 10 am to collect food for the West Seattle Food Bank. If you would like to donate and need a pickup, call, 206-890-2237.” Above, Troop 282’s collection last year – they’re hoping for even more this time!

CURVES FOOD DRIVE: Both West Seattle branches of Curves are collecting food right now for the West Seattle Food Bank and White Center Food Bank – you’ll recall that donations to both, through the end of April, can go farther because of the Feinstein Challenge. Just stop by during their regular hours; addresses and hours are on their websites, here and here.

Finally, hunger-fighting kudos for Holy Rosary School:

Holy Rosary teacher Jon Barker shared the photo from last Friday, the first in a series of special giving occasions during Lent:

Parents and students at Holy Rosary School will be making Lunches of Love every Friday during Lent (March 5-April 18) for the men at St. Martin de Porres shelter. (Last Friday) there were approximately 125 lunches taken to the shelter. We also collected men’s gloves to donate.

As explained on its website, this shelter assists homeless men age 50 and over.

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West Seattle scene: Watch for this seal again tomorrow

March 12, 2014 8:36 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Michelle e-mailed to say Seal Sitters spent the day watching that little harbor seal on the Beach Drive shoreline near Harbor West Condos (about two blocks south of Alki Point), and she wanted to send out “a heads-up so folks who walk their dogs off leash on the beach don’t end up in a bad situation for both the dog and the seal.”

Michelle got her photos via a 200mm lens, so though it looks close up, she was quite some distance away. P.S. Thanks also to Carrie Ann for heads-up about a pup at Don Armeni on Monday – we didn’t get a chance to write about it, but she said Seal Sitters were on that case too.

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Memorial planned this Saturday for Clara Robinson, 1913-2014

March 12, 2014 6:52 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

A memorial is planned at The Kenney this Saturday (March 15th) for Clara Robinson, who lived a full century (and then some). Here’s the remembrance to be shared with the community.

Clara was born in Rollage, Minnesota on June 12, 1913, baptized Clara Sylvia Thun. She graduated from Moorhead State Teachers College and began her first teaching position in a one-room school in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota.

She was a soft spoken but an adventurous woman. With her soon-to-be sister-in-law, Mary Robinson, she left from Minnesota in 1934 for Moose Pass, Alaska, with the goal of teaching school. Providence intervened and Clara fell in love with her childhood neighbor and friend Edwin David Robinson, who was mining in the area.

They were married on October 5, 1935 in Seward, Alaska, but not without incident. October weather in Alaska can be unpredictable, and a rainstorm had flooded the road to the railroad station. Determined to make it to their wedding celebration, Eddie, Clara, and the entire wedding party walked several miles to the train. They would arrive just in time to say, “I do,” and cut the cake. Their love and commitment to one another lasted almost 50 years, until Eddie died in 1984. They first became parents in 1936, and would eventually raise four children. She lived to celebrate and witness the birth of nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.

With membership at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church since 1961, both Clara and Ed were very involved with all aspects of the church. She sang in the Chancel Choir, taught Sunday School, was an active Koinonia member, and a Circle member. When the new floor was installed in the social hall, Clara scrubbed the entire floor on hands and knees to prepare the surface.

Clara passed on Sunday, March 9, 2014. She leaves to cherish her memories, three daughters, Verna, Edna, Julia; one son, David, 9 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

There will be a memorial at the Kenney Home on Saturday, March 15th, at 1:30 pm. In lieu of gifts or flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark’s Community Center, a learning center established for the purpose of teaching basic reading skills to at-risk youth. Their address is:

St. Mark’s Community Center
6020 Beacon Ave S.
Seattle, WA 98108

Inquiries may be made at 206-722-5165.

(WSB publishes obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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From WSB’s West Seattle Jobs page: Work in tech without crossing the bridge!

March 12, 2014 4:36 pm

| 23 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

If you are a West Seattle employer with one or more job openings – or a West Seattle jobseeker – the WSB West Seattle Jobs page is the place to go. Unlike many other job pages/boards (even CL!), it’s free for local businesses (West Seattle/White Center/South Park) to have a listing on our page (which lives in the WSB Forums). And today, the new listings include four jobs that just might cut down on bridge traffic if they go to West Seattleites – three tech jobs and one sales job at Tango Card (all linked from the page’s index).

We told you about Tango Card last August, when they had to find new offices because their previous HQ on 40th SW in The Junction is making way for the 4745 40th SW development. They have since found new digs not far away, at Jefferson Square. TC’s David Leeds tells WSB, “The space is awesome. Think Silicon Valley and South Lake Union hip/cool/open/colorful but right here in West Seattle. We are hiring developers and salespeople. And growing like crazy!!”

Check out their openings; or if you’re hiring, post your own.

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Friday is Pi Day! West Seattle party at library in Admiral

March 12, 2014 2:46 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Holidays | West Seattle news

Friday is Pi Day – 3.14 – and one of the celebrations you’ll find in West Seattle is being hosted by librarian Nathalie Gelms at the Seattle Public Library branch in Admiral:

I will be hosting a program in celebration of National Pi Day this Friday March 14th at 3:14 pm at the West Seattle Branch of the Seattle Public Library. The program is meant for school-age kids, tweens, teens and even adults who are interested in math! Families are especially welcome as there will be stations that lend themselves to group effort. We will have these stations:

· Pretty as Pi: creating Pi designed key chains

· The Hunt for Pi: discovering what Pi is through measurement and calculation

· Cracking the Fibonacci code

AND…AND…WE WILL BE SERVING PIE FROM SHOOFLY PIE HERE IN WEST SEATTLE!!!!! *squee!*

The West Seattle Branch (informally known as Admiral) is at 2306 42nd SW. Any other Pi Day parties? Let us know – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!

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Stella Ruffington’s Doggy Daycare: Welcome, new WSB sponsor

March 12, 2014 1:20 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Pets | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Today, we welcome a new WSB sponsor – Stella Ruffington’s Doggy Daycare, serving your canine needs right here in West Seattle! Here’s what they’d like you to know about their business:

Located on California Avenue Southwest, just four blocks south of Morgan Junction, Stella Ruffington’s provides kennel-free dog boarding and day care, full-service grooming, and dog training. Unlike many dog day care and dog-boarding facilities in Seattle, Stella Ruffington’s does not occupy a large warehouse-type space. We are a cozy, indoor/outdoor facility where our canine guests get to mingle and enjoy the kind of freedom that they experience at home. At Stella’s, the environment is entirely kennel-free, not only for day-care guests, but for our overnight boarding guests as well.

While many facilities in Seattle or elsewhere are kennel-free during the day and then routinely confine their guests at night, Stella’s is kennel-free 24/7, and staff always is at hand for your dog’s safety and security. Your dog can curl up on a cozy bed and enjoy the peace of mind of knowing it is not confined even at bed time, but has free run of the room that it shares with its doggie friends and with staff.

Stella Ruffington’s also is excited to provide full grooming services for your canine family member. Michelle Seifert, our new full-time groomer, has trained under two master groomers and possesses more than 10 years of experience as a professional groomer in the Puget Sound area. She provides full cut, comb, and style grooming for every breed and breed type. Additionally, we also provide doggy baths, brush and blow-outs, ear cleaning, nail trimming and many other grooming services.

Find Stella Ruffington’s at 7003 California SW, online at stellaruffington.com; call 206.932.RUFF. And don’t miss the WSB coupon!

We thank Stella Ruffington’s Doggy Daycare 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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Know an award-worthy West Seattle business or citizen? Nominate now!

March 12, 2014 12:17 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominees for its annual Westside Awards, to be presented next month, and the deadline’s almost here. These are the categories:

Westside Business of the Year – This nominee has been in business at least 3 years and demonstrated business excellence and success.

Westside Emerging Business – This nominee business has been in operations for less than 3 years but is meeting the challenges of a growing business through leadership.

Westside Not-For-Profit of the Year – This nominee non-profit is making our community a better place to live while contributing to community benefit through their mission.

Westsider of the Year – This nominee is making a lasting impact on our community and the lives of others or is an up-coming community role model.

West Seattle Chamber membership is NOT required to be part of this, as a nominator or nominee. Just go here to nominate a business or person; the Chamber is asking for nominations to be in by Friday.

(Disclosure – WSB belongs to the Chamber, as a local business, and was honored to be recipient of the Business of the Year award in 2010. The past four years’ winner lists are on the Chamber website; go here to see our coverage of last year’s Westside Awards.)

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Preschool for All? Councilmember Burgess visits Community School of West Seattle on eve of local conversation

March 12, 2014 12:05 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Tomorrow night, the city’s exploration of “Preschool for All” is the subject of a West Seattle meeting (as previewed here last week). As part of his research, City Councilmember Tim Burgess was part of a field trip back east last week – and today, he visited local preschoolers much closer to home, at the Community School of West Seattle. He also talked with CSWS’s Sarah Airhart:

CSWS focuses exclusively on preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds, and that’s who the Preschool for All initiative is centered on, too. Tomorrow night’s meeting is from 6-8 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way SW). Dinner and child care will be provided, free; you’re asked to RSVP to 206-233-5118 or upk@seattle.gov.

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5 options for your West Seattle Wednesday night

March 12, 2014 11:02 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

In case you missed the “sun pillar” at sunset last night – that photo is courtesy of JayDee, from Upper Alki. Along with a sunset walk, here are five options you might consider for tonight, via the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

ALMA Y AZUCAR: Performing live at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), 6:30-8:30 pm. (1936 Harbor SW)

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: They’re talking minimum wage (and other things) with City Councilmember Sally Clark, who chairs a new committee focused on that topic, and they’ll look at officially endorsing the transit/roads-money measure. 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy. (9131 California SW)

BACKYARD COTTAGE CLASS/STAY-HOME STRATEGIES FOR SENIORS: Not in West Seattle, but WS-based Ncompass Cottage Company (WSB sponsor) is presenting this class tonight at the Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Center ($25 general public). 7 pm. (6532 Phinney Ave. N.)

TRIVIA: Might be West Seattle’s longest-running trivia night, 8:30 pm at Talarico’s in The Junction; details in our calendar listing. (4718 California SW)

OPEN MIKE: Skylark Café and Club, open microphone for performers 21+, details in the calendar listing. 9 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Business burglary; package thief on video

March 12, 2014 9:34 am

| 21 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two reports in West Seattle Crime Watch this morning. Brad from West Seattle Cyclery (WSB sponsor) is hoping someone in the area has video showing the burglar(s) who broke into his shop early Tuesday:

we had a burglary early Tuesday morning. Approx 2:50am.

Mostly we had damage to the window, shattered but still intact, and the door glass broken out. We have had two attempts prior. The police were notified of both attempts and reports were filed.

After the two previous attempts we changed our security procedures at night. The changes helped reduce the inventory loss to just two 24″ kids bikes with a value of around $700. Glass replacement will be significantly higher.

There are a few more things we will be doing at night to continue reducing our potential exposure but the reality is we will never be able to reduce it to zero.

If any of our Junction neighbors had outside video from the time of the break-in, 2:40-3:20 am, please let me know (brad@westseattlecyclery.com). One of the bikes stolen was bright orange (SCOTT 24″ Voltage with disc brakes) so it should be pretty visible with color video.

Speaking of video, Heather shares this clip showing a package thief in action:

Just wanted to report the theft of a package from our porch on 37th Ave SW between Henderson and Trenton. It happened on the 15th of February in the wee hours of the morning. … The thief looks like a white female between 15 and 25 years of age, brunette hair. We’ve reported it to SPD and I’m happy to report everyone I spoke with was professional and courteous. They said absolutely share the info with WSB and said for crimes like these the community is often in a better position than police to locate suspects.

We didn’t lose anything of value and the merchant replaced it with no hassle. It’s more the idea of it. SPD confirmed that it’s important to report these types of things, even when the value is small.

Any idea who the thief is? Let police know.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch; 99 closure reminder

March 12, 2014 6:21 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Happy Wednesday morning! Reminder if you’ll be out late tonight/early tomorrow, 9 pm-5 am brings the third of four scheduled overnight Highway 99 closures to finish the Spokane St. Overcrossing, both ways between East Marginal Way and S. Atlantic – specifics here.

8:06 AM: Texter says there is a stall on the eastbound bridge right after the Delridge onramp.

8:21 AM: Update from commenters – the stall is just before the Delridge onramp.

8:59 AM: Stall was still there when we passed 10 minutes ago. Bridge slow past there, too.

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Morgan Junction murder trial continues: Words and wounds

March 12, 2014 4:24 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record and Katie Meyer
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The jury in the Morgan Junction murder trial has seen the most graphic evidence presented yet – autopsy photos shown by the prosecution as a doctor from the King County Medical Examiner’s Office testified Tuesday afternoon.

The photos focused on the bullet wounds that killed 35-year-old Travis Hood, and while, as it was reiterated, there is no dispute that the shots were fired by 69-year-old defendant Lovett “Cid” Chambers, the question at issue in the trial remains why he fired them, and the granular details of the wounds are incremental evidence for jurors to consider.

Tuesday, however, began with an ending – the conclusion of testimony from the Seattle Police detective who led questioning of Chambers hours after the January 21, 2012, shooting. He was followed on the stand by his partner, who was also part of the questioning, video from which has been shown the past few days.

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Video: Walking to West Seattle Elementary with Gov. Inslee

March 12, 2014 1:30 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

About 20 West Seattle Elementary students will have a lot to talk about on their way to school today – one day after a high-profile visitor accompanied their Walking School Bus. Governor Jay Inslee is trying to encourage the “Healthiest Next Generation,” and walking is of course part of it. WSE’s principal Vicki Sacco accompanied him: