day : 16/03/2014 9 results

Four reader reports – two burglaries and two car prowls – in our weekend West Seattle Crime Watch report. Details ahead:

West Seattle High School Class of 1974: Reunion time!

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

If you’re a 1974 graduate of West Seattle High School, you have two more weeks to buy discounted advance tickets to your 40th class reunion this summer. The official announcement:

The West Seattle High School Class of 1974 40th Class Reunion is scheduled for Saturday, July 19, 2014 from 6:30 to 11:30 PM at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 9131 California Avenue SW. Tickets are $75 per person if paid by April 1, 2014 and $85 after.

Additional information and payment information is available on the website: www.wshs1974.com. You can also “like” the “West Seattle High School – Class of 1974” page on Facebook for updates. Or you can e-mail Heidi Blaustein Newman at heidin129@aol.com. See you in July!

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Bringing Roxhill Bog fully back to life: WWRHAH searches for more community history, seeks help for bog’s future

| Environment | West Seattle news

(Southwestern side of Roxhill Bog, photographed today by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Just a short distance past the playground and skatespot in Roxhill Park is Roxhill Bog – historically, where Longfellow Creek begins.

It’s undergone some restoration work in the past, but needs a lot more, and the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council has been working to put together a plan/request for Seattle Parks and Seattle Public Utilities. The bog’s past may be a key to our area’s future – and the proper restoration could help reduce flood problems along the Longfellow Creek corridor, as well as reducing the area where trouble sometimes lurks.

They’ve gathered a fair amount of information already, but, as WWRHAH secretary Joe Szilagyi explains, “At this point we’re just trying to fill in the last gaps of knowledge and information over a very, very long period of time before we can finalize our planning and bring this to SPU and Parks.” So if you have had any historical knowledge of/information about Roxhill Bog, they’ve set up a special e-mail address and invite you to get in touch: bog@wwrhah.org.

P.S. The area’s wetlands have had rough treatment in the past – while doing some added research, we found in the Seattle Municipal Archives this city photo dated exactly 53 years ago today (March 16, 1961), labeled “W. Roxbury paving, peat bog/26th and Barton,” though we can’t tell exactly where it is in relation to the current park site:

Meantime, if you are interested in more background on the current challenges and potential benefits of tackling them, read on for the text of the letter Szilagyi has sent to city and county leaders on WWRHAH’s behalf:

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After you go green for St. Patrick’s Day, go bald for St. Baldrick’s

March 16, 2014 5:14 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Health | How to help | West Seattle news

Heard about St. Baldrick’s?

Organizer Emily Austin is asking West Seattleites to agree to go bald on March 29th to help kids with cancer. She and Shanti Salon are organizing the fundraising event at Mind Unwind (2206 California SW) in The Admiral District, just a few blocks from the salon.

(St. Baldrick’s Foundation photo)

The act of giving up your head hair, says Emily, is “a gesture of solidarity for children who lose their hair in treatment, or anyone else who has gone through the hair loss trauma while undergoing treatment.”

Cheering on the shavees – who will have gathered sponsor pledges ahead of time – is just part of the event, so you’re invited even if you’re planning on keeping your hair. Says Emily, “There will also be silent auction items, raffle items and other ways to donate. We are still in need of a few donations of goods, services, gift cards, or table ready baskets to auction off.” But most importantly:

We’re actively searching for a few more folks who would consider shaving their heads and in particular, those willing to collect donations in advance. Our event link makes it quite easy to sign up, and sometimes, people or businesses will even form a team to make things more interesting. Anyone can get involved, from getting shaved, shaving heads, sweeping hair, helping collect donations for the raffle tickets that evening, to just coming by the event and lending support.

Emily hopes to build the event in the years ahead to where 100 people will get their heads shaved in a single evening. If you’re willing to help her head in that direction – sign up here. And join her at Mind Unwind on Saturday, March 29th, 6-8 pm.

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Countdown to 10th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on May 10th: Registration starts soon

March 16, 2014 1:37 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

The 10th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day is coming up on Saturday, May 10th, and we’ve set the date for registration to begin: Monday, March 31st, which is two weeks from tomorrow. If you’re new to West Seattle, this is one big day with hundreds of sales around the peninsula, 9 am-3 pm, always the second Saturday in May, and we promote it around the region to draw shoppers from all over, though its major mission is to provide a chance for neighbors to meet and mingle … some people choose to just walk to the nearest sales, while others get out on two or four wheels and explore further. This will be the seventh WSCGSD since we started coordinating and promoting it in 2008. When the registration form goes live on March 31st, we’ll announce it here, as well as in the WSB social-media channels (links to all of them are at the top of the sidebar); the registration period will run at least two weeks. Again, sale day is May 10th – coming up fast – updates to come!

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High-school sports: West Seattle HS baseball begins

March 16, 2014 12:12 pm

| Comments Off on High-school sports: West Seattle HS baseball begins

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

Play ball! High-school sports’ spring season is starting. Thanks to Greg Slader for sharing photos as Coach Velko Vitalich‘s West Seattle High School baseball team takes the field for the year, after finishing 2013 as #2 statewide. Above, the official team photo; next, two of Greg’s images from the pre-season jamboree Saturday at Liberty High School. Here’s Kevin Cuddy throwing the first pitch:

And Jimmy Mai rounding third base on his way to scoring a run:

Greg reports:

WS tied Kentwood in three innings at 3-3 and jumped on Liberty for a 4-1 edge. Offense had plenty of big hits as the top of the order scored seven runs in six innings. Five pitchers have stepped up this season and seem ready for the challenge ahead. Defense was shaky but they should return to last year’s form as they work together more.

Up next for WSHS – two games at home (Hiawatha), Garfield on Tuesday and Ballard on Thursday, both at 3:30 pm.

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West Seattle Bridge alert: Watch out for ‘metal plate’ on eastbound east end

March 16, 2014 10:15 am

| 24 COMMENTS

| Safety | West Seattle news

10:15 AM: We’ve just received two reports of a hazard on the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct – near the I-5 ramps on the east end of the West Seattle Bridge: It’s described as a protruding “metal plate,” in the left lane between the 1st and 4th Avenue exits, and one texter reports seeing people pulled over with flat tires. We’ve advised people to call 911 to report it since it sounds like it needs urgent repair work; on weekdays, the SDOT hotline 206-684-ROAD would be the place to call.

10:22 AM: The texting tipster says 911 promised to get someone out to fix it.

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West Seattle Sunday: Chinese Garden open house; dog-costume contest; Gear Swap, day 2; cookie conclusion; more…

March 16, 2014 6:34 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

The migratory Rufous Hummingbirds are showing up just in time for spring – and Mark Wangerin got a good look at this one last Thursday. Quite the commute – they overwinter in the Southwest. You won’t have to go far at all to check out what’s on the calendar today/tonight.

FIRST, HIGHWAY 99 TRAFFIC ALERTS: If you’re traveling Highway 99 north of the West Seattle Bridge today, take note of lane/ramp closures near downtown all day, and the Battery Street Tunnel/Aurora closure this morning (7:30-11 am) for the St. Patrick’s Day Dash. All of that is detailed here.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: New vendor today – Heavenly Honey, with raw honey. West Seattle’s own Sod House Bakery promises shamrock cookies. It’s almost spring, so you’ll find something new every week. 10 am-2 pm. (44th/Alaska)

CHINESE GARDEN’S SPRING OPEN HOUSE: Another sign of impending spring – an open house at the Seattle Chinese Garden!

Come see what’s blooming (SCG-provided photo above) and what else is new – free. Lots of info in our listing. North side of South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) campus. (6000 16th SW)

WEST SEATTLE GEAR SWAP, DAY 2: 11 am-3 pm, Mountain to Sound Outfitters presents the swap just down the street at the American Legion Post 160 Hall – details on the M2SO site. (3618 SW Alaska)

HOW TO CREATE A DISASTER KIT ON A BUDGET: You know how important it is to be prepared – for anything. Just in case. Even though you hope you’ll never need to use your kit, bag, etc. If you’re not quite ready yet, go to the Southwest Branch Library 1:30-2 pm today for a free class on “how to create a disaster kit on a budget.” (35th/Henderson)

CELTIC SWELL DOG-COSTUME CONTEST: 2-4 pm, it’s the wearing of the green for your pup(s) at Celtic Swell Irish Pub/Restaurant on Alki, hosted by Tracey Conway, donations benefiting the Seattle Humane Society, part of the CS’s St. Patrick’s Weekend Festival. (2722 Alki SW)

MUSIC NORTHWEST: “Chamber Music from the Folk Side” is the theme for today’s 3 pm concert at Olympic Hall on the SSCC campus – find out more by checking out our calendar listing. (6000 16th SW)

SECURITY BREACH INFORMATION NIGHT: If you are concerned about the recent reports of fraud related to a security breach with the Archdiocese of Seattle, Holy Rosary is offering its school community an information night tonight with a credit expert, 6:30 pm – information on the school website. (42nd/Genesee)

MONA CONCEPCION IN BELLEVUE: Not IN West Seattle, but … WS stand-up comic Mona Concepcion is featured at 7:30 pm tonight in Dis/orient/ed Comedy, “the first-ever (mostly) all-female, all-Asian American stand-up comedy tour.” Until noon, tickets are available online – go here; they’ll also be on sale at the door. Parlor Live in Bellevue. (700 Bellevue Way NE, 3rd floor)

LAST DAY OF COOKIE SALES: Girl Scout Cookies fan? Last chance to get ’em! Here’s the list of who’s selling where, and when, 8 am-8 pm.

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Fairmount Ravine cleanup followup, plus: How about an ivy-fighting day – are you in?

March 16, 2014 2:03 am

| 16 COMMENTS

| Environment | How to help | West Seattle news

After the 22nd annual Fairmount Ravine cleanup, a lot of work’s been done, and much remains. The photo, report, and question, are from Sarah Schieron:

23 volunteers joined to remove 65 large bags of trash, 4 tires, 5 chairs, a kids swimming pool, and many many cans and bottles out of the Fairmount Ravine this morning.

This year, we saw fewer volunteers than last year despite very favorable weather conditions. However, those that participated, to a person, worked hard and made a valuable contribution. Volunteers ranged from 2 to 86 years of age and over half were participating for the very first time. We were grateful to have veterans, John Lang and Blair Constantine, participate for their 22nd consecutive year as their history and experience in this green space is so useful.

Our thanks to Metropolitan Market, Zatz a Better Bagel and Natalie Steffens of the Admiral Starbucks for donating generous refreshments. SPD Officers Flores and MacNeil were a very helpful presence and arranged for trash pick-up at midday.

Each year the majority of our time and effort is under the Admiral bridge. We do some invasive plant cutting, but we never make the impact we would like on this growing concern. We wonder if our community has the interest and commitment for a second work day specifically to cut back ivy? There are many trees that are overcome by this invasive plant and will die and fall without some intervention. If helping in this way interests you, please contact sarahbroz@yahoo.com so we can plan another community workday in the next month (before the nettles grow taller).

Thank you to the volunteers, donors, and police team who made Saturday such a success!

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