West Seattle, Washington

08 Friday

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month : 03/2014 336 results

Update on ex-substations’ future, as West Seattle Green Space Coalition meets again today
March 23, 2014 10:28 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

What will be done with those six long-shuttered substation sites in West Seattle, declared surplus by City Light?

Today is your next chance to check out/get involved with the citizens group asking the city to slow down the process so that neighborhoods can help determine the sites’ future, the West Seattle Green Space Coalition. Its meeting is open to all, 3 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle in The Junction (California/Oregon).

Earlier this month, the City Council’s Energy Committee, chaired by Councilmember Kshama Sawant, was briefed on where the substation-disposition process stands. What you see above is the presentation prepared for that committee and a meeting later in the day of the city’s Urban Forestry Commission, providing a thorough overview of the group’s efforts and each of the six sites. (Thanks to coalition member Michael Oxman for providing the slide deck, and pointing us to this city webpage where you can hear archived audio of the commission meeting as well as see its draft notes.)

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West Seattle weekend scene: ‘Keep(ing) clam’ on the sand
March 23, 2014 10:11 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news

As explained by commenter Jane following our Friday note about no-parking signs for a Saturday “production shoot” on Alki, it did indeed turn out to be an Ivar’s production. Via the WSB Facebook page, Athena shared photos (including the one above) after happening onto the Saturday scene. Last Ivar’s production we recall in the vicinity was the notorious 2009 underwater-billboard yarn. The restaurant chain’s founder Ivar Haglund, of course, was an Alki native, and this past Friday (March 21st) was the 109th anniversary of his birth.

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You can help! ‘Share your ideas, talents, and abilities’ via the Southwest Advisory Council
March 23, 2014 8:21 am
|    Comments Off on You can help! ‘Share your ideas, talents, and abilities’ via the Southwest Advisory Council
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Activities, programs, and events at Seattle Parks facilities involve more than city staffers … many also result from the work of citizen advisory councils. And right now, the Advisory Council at Southwest Pool and Teen Life Center in Westwood is looking for new members:

The Southwest Advisory Council is a group of citizens dedicated to the enrichment of our community through supporting people and programs at Southwest Pool and Teen Life Center. Its support enables us to offer a variety of programs and services for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

Our Advisory Council is always looking for new members. Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 7-8:30 pm to talk about programs, policies, and financial issues. Citizen direction, input and participation are vital to our continued success. Advisory Council members also create scholarship opportunities through grant writing and other fundraising activities. If you would like to get involved, please contact Diane Jones at 684-7440 or Stephanie Berry at 684-7438. We would love to have you share your talents, ideas, and abilities. You can make a difference in our community!

The pool and center are at 2801 SW Thistle.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen car; hit-run suspect drops shoes
March 22, 2014 10:19 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports tonight:

STOLEN CAR: From Danny and Laine:

On the morning of March 22nd in between 2:00 to 7:30 am, on the 3000 block of Bataan St SW [map], our car (1994 red Honda Civic hatchback license 727-WPG) was stolen from in front of our home. The car is in pretty good shape with a noticeable dent on the door on the passenger side as well as a scratch on the front right bumper with purple paint residue from a prior accident. Also there is a black bike rack with sticker that says “got oars?”, and a Bastyr University Sticker (faded white and red in color) on the back bottom left window.

Please call 911 if you see their car.

RECOGNIZE THESE SHOES? From Curtis:

Someone smashed into my car this morning at 20th & SW Barton [map] this morning in a stolen Acura… then dropped these shoes after running away across Delridge.

My neighbor saw a slim hooded figure run off to the east across Delridge who dropped those shoes.

Any clues? Police report’s on file for that one too.

P.S. If you’re interested in how police deal with stolen property, don’t miss the West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network’s next meeting, 6:30 pm Tuesday (March 25th) at the precinct – full details here.

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West Seattle development: Backhoe appears at 24th SW subdivision-proposal site; elsewhere, 6 teardown plans
March 22, 2014 9:24 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

More development notes tonight, starting with something of a followup to last Thursday’s public-comment meeting about the 6536 24th SW subdivision proposal (WSB coverage here):

Neighbors say that backhoe was dropped off at the site this morning; we went over to take that photo shortly after hearing about it. There are no current permits for work on the site, as you can see on the city webpage for the address. The site includes land the city considers an Environmentally Critical Area, so if anything is started, neighbors vow to call police. The site’s owner is asking the city for approval to split two lots into eight, and has drawn up plans to follow that up with single-family houses. As city planners told those in attendance Thursday night, they are still waiting for the owner’s replies to “correction” notices they have issued (all readable here). We first reported on the subdivision proposal back in December and about neighbors’ concerns in January.

Tonight’s other West Seattle development notes start with another backhoe sighting, this one WITH a permit:

Demolition is expected any day at 4808 SW Alaska, the 88-year-old house that was once Fraker’s Grocery and is now making way for a single-family house. We last wrote about it in December, and commenters shared memories; we had also featured the site in a then-and-now report six years ago.

OTHER TEARDOWNS: Looking at the city Department of Planning and Development‘s online files, a few other demolition permits have been filed for in the past week or so – one big, others smaller. Teardown/redevelopment activity is definitely on the rise for sites of all sizes:

4745 40TH SW: The ’80s-era office building here will be torn down to make way for the 135-apartment, 115-parking-space development that finished going through Design Review in December. Here’s the demolition-permit application.

4522 DELRIDGE WAY SW: Four houses are planned at this teardown site.

6780 48th SW: This 93-year-old house near Lowman Beach will be torn down and replaced with a new single-family house. Here’s the demolition-permit application.

6008 44TH SW: This 96-year-old Seaview house will be torn down and replaced with a new single-family house. Here’s the demolition-permit application.

8313 CALIFORNIA SW: A new single-family house is proposed to replace this 73-year-old Gatewood house.

RESEARCH TIP: If it’s not already in your bookmarks, this is the link to use to find out what if anything is proposed for any given address in Seattle.

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West Seattle traffic-alert update: Highway 99 open again
March 22, 2014 7:08 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(“Live” cam at south end of remaining elevated AWV, from the WSB Traffic page)
The Alaskan Way Viaduct “follow-up inspection” is over and Highway 99 is open again, WSDOT has confirmed. From its announcement:

… During today’s inspection, WSDOT engineers took a closer look of areas previously covered in ivy on the 60-year-old highway and installed monitoring devices to gather data over several weeks.

Next steps: Late-night drivers could see some single-lane closures in coming weeks, while repair crews fill cracks with epoxy.

It will take months for engineers to analyze the information from the newly installed monitoring devices, which could shed more light on the cause of the cracking along the elevated highway and if a more robust fix is needed.

P.S. The SDOT Blog website featured some interesting background this week on AWV traffic volume and why the numbers seem to have changed recently.

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West Seattle Crime Prevention Council: Trends, concerns, SPD hiring
March 22, 2014 7:05 pm
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 |   Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Not so many property-crime reports in West Seattle Crime Watch lately, and the report from Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith (photo left) at this week’s WS Crime Prevention Council offered one reason why: The criminals just haven’t been as busy.

Might be this month’s almost-record-setting rain, Lt. Smith acknowledged, but whatever the case, burglaries in the week preceding Tuesday’s meeting were down to 6 from the average 9 – “we’d like to get to zero,” he noted, mentioning that the SW Anti-Crime Team is “going after people related to a theft ring, on top of burglary, stolen property, narcotics … there will be some search warrants served.” (Whether that’s related to the 32nd/Juneau bust reported here Thursday night, we’re still trying to find out.)

Auto-theft cases in the preceding week were down as well, Lt. Smith reported – 5, compared to the average 8; non-residential burglaries average 2, and there had been one.

Community concerns voiced immediately after the crime-trends briefing included local parks – questions about the gate at Hamilton Viewpoint Park in North Admiral not being locked at night, and about unlocked bathrooms at Roxhill Park late at night. Lt. Smith and Community Police Team Officer Jon Flores promised to check into both.

The meeting’s featured guests were from the Seattle Police recruiting team – talking about how SPD finds, screens, trains, and hires candidates.

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West Seattle coyotes: Two sightings this afternoon
March 22, 2014 5:02 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Coyotes | West Seattle news

No coyote reports in the WSB inbox for a long time, and then suddenly, within minutes of each other, two came in this afternoon, from two different neighborhoods (perhaps because it’s spring and almost pupping time). First, Beth reported: “I just passed a large coyote on 42nd and Barton” (map); then, from Jeff:

Saw a coyote on 44th Ave SW mid-block between SW Rose St & SW Southern St [map] at 12:30 PM today. Ducked into the greenbelt between 44th and 45th when it saw us. Third sighting here in the past 2-3 months. Appears to be the same animal.

If you’re a new reader – WSB has long featured coyote sightings and information (archived here, newest-to-oldest) not out of alarmism, but as education. While they more often eat rodents, they do sometimes eat small pets left alone outside, and bereaved pet owners subsequently say they had no idea that could happen. Without food sources – including dog/cat food put outside – and with “hazing” if you encounter one, they can be encouraged to keep their distance, as advised/explained by the state.

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West Seattle Hi-Yu coronation set for Spring Tea this year
March 22, 2014 1:44 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Hi-Yu coronation set for Spring Tea this year
 |   West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

We introduced you eight days ago to this year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Senior Court candidates (at right) Lorelei, Hang (first male contender since Hi-Yu rules were changed), and Nina. Today, here’s your invitation to the coronation, from Hi-Yu:

The West Seattle Hi-Yu Spring Tea and Silent Auction will be held on Sunday, May 18th from 2-5pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy. Enjoy great tea, company, and delicious food provided by caterers and businesses in our community as well as a fun silent auction to help raise funds for our scholarship program and building the float the represents West Seattle in parades throughout Puget Sound. This year we will also be crowning the new West Seattle Hi-Yu Senior Court King or Queen. Tickets are $25 a person, or bring your friends and fill a table of 10 for $250. For more information or tickets, please contact Danette at 206-935-6517 or e-mail danettecarufel@hotmail.com. Hope to see you there!

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Video: De-paving party at Highland Park Improvement Club
March 22, 2014 12:12 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | How to help | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:12 PM: Until 3 pm, you are still welcome – actually, we’d say encouraged! – to join the volunteers busy right now with something you just don’t see that often, captured for posterity in our 15-second Instagram video clip above: De-paving! The historic, nearing-a-century-old Highland Park Improvement Club is greening its grounds (with help from Sustainable Seattle) and taking out old asphalt to (un)pave the way for that; HPIC’s Rhonda Smith told us more about the rendering shown in our preview the other day, with not just a reconfiguration but also new planting planned next month. A donated catered lunch is on the way and work will continue today until 3 pm – just go stop by at 12th/Holden. As Blair Johnson quipped, as is done during so many volunteer work parties, they’re removing invasives – just that in this case, it’s invasive asphalt.

(P.S. We’ll be adding photos later tonight.)

ADDED 7:42 PM: As promised:

They were starting toward the south side and moving north – lots of square footage to de-pave!

A trailer filled up with pieces of removed asphalt:

The de-paved area won’t all be greenery and dirt – see the plan here. Part of the HPIC lot already had been “de-paved” for a raingarden, and this is a continuation of the theme.

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West Seattle weekend scene: Emergency communicators @ SSCC
March 22, 2014 10:37 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle weekend scene: Emergency communicators @ SSCC
 |   Preparedness | Puget Ridge | West Seattle news

Big event under way all weekend at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) – the annual Communications Academy for volunteer emergency communicators, though, as evidenced by what we spotted outside, you’ll find lots of professionals there too. They include today’s keynoter Bill Schrier, the West Seattleite who is the former Seattle city IT boss and now works in the state’s CIO office – he tweeted from the event:

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West Seattle restaurants: Heartland Café’s new owners announced
March 22, 2014 10:18 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

After a few months on the market, the Heartland Café and Benbow Room in The Admiral District have new (and also local!) owners: West Seattleites Allison and Ian Hill. Here’s the announcement from Jay Wergin, who opened the Heartland four years ago (March 2010 WSB photo at right):

After a memorable four years serving Midwest-inspired comfort food to the people of West Seattle’s Admiral District, the owners of the Heartland Café announce that we have sold the business to new owners Allison and Ian Hill, effective in April, 2014.

We are grateful for the community’s support over the past four years and thank everyone who took the time to stop in and patronize our business. I’m thrilled that we had the opportunity to resurrect the Benbow Room bar and launch a family-friendly café in the Admiral District. As longtime residents of the area, we knew our neighborhood needed an establishment like the Heartland. It took us almost an entire year, back in 2009, to breathe new life into a building that had been abandoned and neglected for five years.

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Sanislo book sale ahead; donated books welcome now!
March 22, 2014 10:03 am
|    Comments Off on Sanislo book sale ahead; donated books welcome now!
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

One of West Seattle’s biggest book-sale benefits is just two weeks away – at Sanislo Elementary School, 10 am-2 pm on Saturday, April 5th – and you have a chance to help beyond going to buy books: You are invited to donate them, starting now. Lynette Jeung from the Sanislo PTA explains:

This sale benefits the 4th grade class and their upcoming camping trip to Camp Sealth! We are needing lots of book donations so please dig through your shelves, closets, kids rooms for books that you no longer need. We could use all kinds of donations. Specifically, we are looking for both children’s and adult books (both nonfiction and fiction). No instruction manuals or old textbooks please. :) For more info, please e-mail ell1970sab@gmail.com – Go Sanislo!!

Lynette even says she’ll consider picking up donations, so e-mail to ask her about that too, if it would be helpful.

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15 ways to spend the first West Seattle Saturday of spring
March 22, 2014 7:33 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to James Bratsanos for the photos of Friday’s sunrise and sunset that we’ve sprinkled through this list of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar! Great Saturday ahead too, though we start with a traffic-alert reminder:

VIADUCT/HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE: If you’re heading out of West Seattle, don’t forget that Highway 99 is closed today, for projects including the followup inspection of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and restriping/realignment of the almost-complete Spokane Street Overcrossing rebuild. The closure is scheduled to continue until 7 pm; if it ends earlier, we’ll publish an update here, as well as via WSB Twitter and WSB Facebook.

SCOUTING FOR FOOD: If you received a doorhanger last weekend about this door-to-door collection drive by local Cub and Boy Scout troops (including this one), don’t forget to put out your bag of food. If you are missed or if you didn’t get one, you can still pitch in by taking food donations to the grassy triangle at 44th/Hill, where Pack 793 plans to collect 9 am-11 am.

WHITE CENTER 5K: If you’re not signed up for this benefit run, you can still register on site – signups at 8 am, run at 9 am, walk at 9:10 am, White Center Heights Park. Kids under 10 free. More on our partner site White Center Now. (7th SW/SW 102nd)

GARAGE/YARD SALES: The season has started – check out the listings in the WSB Forums. (And remember it’s only 7 weeks until West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on May 10th; registration starts here on March 31st.)

(added) WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE JAMBOREE: Thanks to Jason for the late-breaking reminder – it’s Jamboree day for West Seattle Little League, and games are under way 9 am-7 pm at Bar-S Fields. (64th/Admiral)

SEAFAIR COMMODORES BOWLATHON: 9:30 am-noon at West Seattle Bowl, it’s the annual bowling benefit for the Seafair Foundation Scholarship Program for Women, courtesy of the Seafair Commodores, as previewed here. (39th/Oregon)

HELP ‘DE-PAVE’ IN HIGHLAND PARK: 10 am until “however long it takes,” you’re invited to come help break up some of the pavement outside Highland Park Improvement Club as part of its greening project. Here’s our Thursday preview. (12th/Holden)

THE SERVICE BOARD GEAR SALE: 10 am-1 pm, The Service Board is selling winter gear at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, where tSB is based – details here. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

FRIENDSHOP POP-UP: At the West Seattle (Admiral) Branch Library, noon-4 pm pop-up shop with Seattle Public Library items you would otherwise have to go downtown to get! (2306 42nd SW)

SHOREWOOD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL AUCTION: 4:30 pm, doors open for this gala – details in our calendar listing. (10300 28th SW)

FAUNTLEROY CHILDREN’S CENTER AUCTION: 5:30 pm, doors open at The Hall at Fauntleroy – details in our calendar listing. (9131 California SW)

DENNY-SEALTH BIG BAND DINNER DANCE: 6 pm tonight at the Chief Sealth International High School/Denny International Middle School Galleria, it’s dinner and dancing to benefit the schools’ music programs – as previewed here. Dance tickets are available at the door and some dinner tickets might still be available – go here for info on how to check. (2600 SW Thistle)

TRANSYLVANIAN GALA: The Partner Church Ministry of Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation and East Shore Unitarian Church of Bellevue has its annual fundraising gala at WSUU beginning at 6 pm tonight; details in our calendar listing. (7141 California SW)

HOLLOW EARTH RADIO BENEFIT AT KENYON HALL: Happening tonight:

We have an amazing lineup of local musicians including, West Seattle’s Peter Fedofsky (Curtains for You), Septimus (Wheedles Groove), Tummy, Portland’s Mufassa and Taft Aro Space. All bands will be introduced by local Soul Legend, Pat Wright. You don’t want to miss this!! In addition to these incredible bands, we are having a RAFFLE for some pretty spectacular prizes. A brand new Jay Turser Telecaster from Trading Musician, gift certificates from Silver Platters, Georgetown Records, Pegasus Books, and a turntable from Radar Hair And Records! The first 10 people to donate $8 at the door get a free raffle ticket! All proceeds benefit the volunteer only run radio station. An all Ages show. Suggested donation is $8. Music begins promptly at 8 pm.

(7904 35th SW)

BE A PUNK ROCKER AT THE FEEDBACK LOUNGE: Ramones tribute tonight, Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9:30 pm. (6451 California SW)

And as always – MORE on our calendar!

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Crime Watch: Suspect arrested in White Center shooting death
March 21, 2014 10:49 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | White Center

As reported on partner site White Center Now, a suspect is in custody in connection with the Wednesday night shooting death of a 17-year-old Burien boy at 15th/Roxbury. We’ll continue updating the story there as we find out more, but did want to let you know here too, since the incident stirred some discussion.

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Video: Lots of company for Madison Middle School musicians as they host districtwide orchestra festival
March 21, 2014 7:35 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

That’s one big middle-school orchestra – more than 200 musicians joining together at Madison Middle School on Thursday as Madison hosted Seattle Public Schools‘ districtwide Middle School Orchestra Festival. Madison music teacher Clark Bathum, who invited us to stop by and check it out, explained it’s a chance for the young musicians from middle-school students all around the city to “participate in a joint rehearsal, clinic, and recording session.” Guest clinician was Kim Roy from Seattle Rock Orchestra and the West Seattle Community Orchestras:

The students rehearsed and performed two songs that were huge hits more than 40 years apart – The Beatles‘ “All You Need Is Love” and Adele‘s “Rolling in the Deep.”

Immediately above is our video of one of their runthroughs of the Beatles song; for the Adele song, we have an audio recording – listen to it here. Perhaps in honor of the occasion, a Beatles lunchbox was sighted on the sidelines – we were there right after lunch break:

Final count of musicians in attendance, Bathum told us, was 226.

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April 5th memorial service planned for Michael Hoffman
March 21, 2014 4:23 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

The date is now set for the memorial service honoring Michael Hoffman, the West Seattle business owner and community supporter gone too soon at just 47. Len Burton-Hardin of Howden-Kennedy Funeral Home says the memorial will be at noon Saturday, April 5th, at the Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds). We also are told that donations in Mr. Hoffman’s memory can be made to Furry Faces Foundation and Pencil Me In For Kids, both of which recall him as an avid supporter. In addition to what we mentioned in our first report on his sudden death a week and a half ago – owning Liberty Bell Print and Design, and founding/organizing the annual West Seattle Car Show – he was part of many other community projects, as noted by some of the dozens of friends and colleagues who shared memories here.

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Seen on Alki: ‘Production shoot’ no-parking zone; new palm trees
March 21, 2014 3:38 pm
|      33 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

Two sightings on Alki:

SIGHTING #1: Driving Alki Avenue a little earlier today, we noticed those signs along both sides of the Alki Bathhouse block (61st SW vicinity), announcing a temporary No Parking zone for 11 am-10 pm tomorrow (Saturday, March 22nd). The mandatory hard-copy notice attached to one sign explains that it’s for a “production shoot.” No further details so far.

SIGHTING #2: At first we wondered if this were related to #1, but a Twitter conversation threw cold water on the idea: Palm trees arrived today, further east on the beach, tweeted Connie (@EyeOnAlki). At first, that led to memories of 2011, when palm trees were brought in so that Alki could double as Florida during the filming of “Ira Finkelstein’s Christmas” (which has since been retitled “Switchmas“). But after we tweeted that observation (but before we could get to the beach for the photo below), Jen (@hildeborg) tweeted that Parks crew members told her they’ve planted two between 53rd-54th SW to see how they do – with more possibly to follow.

We’ll be checking with Parks for more on the palm plan.

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West Seattle development: 6900 block California demolition; 4439 41st SW comment extension; church-project website
March 21, 2014 2:00 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Three development updates:

6900 BLOCK OF CALIFORNIA DEMOLITION: Three days ago, city published its land-use-permit-approval decision for the 30-apartments, no-parking project at 6917 California SW in south Morgan Junction. But the two houses torn down today (so far) are not for that site, but rather mostly (due to a lot-boundary adjustment) for the 4 townhouses and two single-family homes shown in city files as planned immediately north.

On to The Junction:

4439 41ST SW COMMENT EXTENSION: The Hope Lutheran Church/School community has been voicing concern about the 40-apartments, 5-parking-spaces proposal on the site above, which is across the alley from their campus, and the latest community update notes that the city has granted a two-week extension in the official comment period. (That’s always an option if requested before the original comment period on any proposal expires.) If you have something to say about the project, Bruce Rips is the assigned city planner, bruce.rips@seattle.gov.

CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE TOWNHOME-PROJECT UPDATE: The six townhouses proposed on the unofficial “park” site south of, and owned by, West Seattle Church of the Nazarene, now have an informational website, as announced by architect David Neiman, who says, “The website contains links to the plans and drawings that we showed at our neighborhood presentations, a project schedule, and a document outlining how the church intends to spend the proceeds from the development. We’ll be posting a draft of the proposed comp plan amendment by the end of the month, and we’ll post additional info as it develops.” The “comp(rehensive) plan amendment” refers to the zoning change required for the project to get approval; the “neighborhood presentations” include this one we video-recorded.

Looking for past WSB development coverage? It’s all archived here, newest to oldest.

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Countdown to World Water Week @ Chief Sealth: 3 days away
March 21, 2014 12:58 pm
|    Comments Off on Countdown to World Water Week @ Chief Sealth: 3 days away
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

MIDWAYJOURNEY-JanVozenilek-0859

(Chris Jordan on Midway, via Midway Journey photoset on Flickr)
School is almost out for the week at Chief Sealth International High School – and when its students return to class Monday, it will be a special occasion: The start of the fourth annual World Water Week “ideas festival.” You are invited to the keynote presentation Tuesday night by Chris Jordan, who addresses this year’s theme – plastic pollution – via a close-up look at one particular effect of the Pacific Ocean “garbage patch.” Here’s the official WWW overview:

Students, teachers, and members of Chief Sealth International High School community will come together for a week dedicated to raising awareness about global and local water issues during the fourth annual World Water Week. This year’s festival theme is plastic pollution.

On Tuesday, March 25, World Water Week presents keynote speaker, Chris Jordan. For the past few years, Jordan, a Seattle photographer, has immersed himself in a stunning environmental tragedy on Midway Island in the heart of the Pacific: the starvation of thousands of albatrosses who mistake floating plastic trash for food. Jordan will share his journey to Midway through stories, photos, and film, recounting his harrowing and redemptive journey into horror, beauty, grief, love, and — ultimately — healing. The event is co-sponsored by Town Hall Seattle and will take place in the Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium.

Students are currently fundraising to cover festival costs. Online contributions can be made here: http://www.global-visionaries.org/GLClassDonate

The 2014 World Water Week schedule includes:

● Monday/Tuesday, March 24-25: The student body will attend a student-led assembly that introduces the topic of global plastic pollution. The students will also participate in a synchronous all-school lesson about plastic pollution.

● Tuesday, March 25: Resource Fair with local water organizations from 6-7 p.m. with music and refreshments. Keynote lecture with Chris Jordan in the Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. This is the only public component of the festival.

● Wednesday, March 26: School-wide student conference with workshops for students with speakers from NOAA, King County Solid Waste Division, 5 Gyres, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, UW-Tacoma, Waste Management, Product Stewardship Institute, Tox-ick.org and others.

● Thursday, March 27: Students’ families will attend a Multicultural Night program that will feature activities about water and plastic pollution for all ages.

● Friday, March 28: Closing all-school assembly.

This festival is being organized by Chief Sealth International students Tasha Addington-Ferris, Aisaya Corbray, and Paloma Robertson along with teacher and mentor Noah Zeichner. The team works with a hard-working group of over 40 Chief Sealth students and teachers, in collaboration with several local organizations.

These students became interested in water issues after participating in the 2011 World Water Week festival put together by then-Sealth senior Molly Freed. In the summer of 2010, the Bezos Family Foundation selected Freed and Zeichner as Bezos Scholars — two of 12 scholar/educator pairs across the nation — to attend the Aspen Ideas Festival. At the festival, scholars were directed to create their own local Ideas Festival, and Freed and Zeichner developed the vision for World Water Week.

Here’s our coverage of the community kickoff night from that first-ever Sealth WWW; in 2012, we covered outdoor activities including a food walk and garden-building; last year’s focus was on sanitation issues, including a visit by world-famous “Mr. Toilet,” Jack Sim.

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West Seattle scene: Welcome home, USCGC Polar Star
March 21, 2014 11:21 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to Gary Jones for the photo: Seen from West Seattle, that’s the USCGC Polar Star (WAGB-10) entering Elliott Bay this morning after completing its ice-breaking mission in Antarctica. According to its infopage (linked to its name in that last line), it’s “one of the largest ships in the US Coast Guard and one of the world’s most powerful non-nuclear ships.” Here’s the USCG news release detailing what the Polar Star and its 140-person crew have done during their 108-day deployment.

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West Seattle Friday: HPIC movie night; Restorative Yoga; more
March 21, 2014 9:15 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Friday: HPIC movie night; Restorative Yoga; more
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

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(Photo by Don Brubeck via the WSB Flickr group)
Sunshine now, weekend on the way – what could be better? As we do most mornings, we’re taking a moment to look ahead at what’s happening today/tonight via the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (which has even more listings for today, tonight, and beyond):

SPA DAY AT WEST SIDE MOPS: 9:30-11:30 am, local businesses and service providers pamper the members of West Side MOPS for a blissful morning at West Side Presbyterian Church, the group’s regular meeting site. Details and participants in our calendar listing.

PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT: West Seattle High School students are raising money for a project to help fight hunger, and tonight they’re offering “Parents’ Night Out” babysitting to bring in some $. 5-10:30 pm – details in our preview, including how to check whether they’re all booked up or not. (3000 California SW)

FREE MOVIE NIGHT AT HPIC: Bring the family to Highland Park Improvement Club – 6:30 pm, doors open; 7 pm, movie time. No admission charge; concessions available for purchase; bring your own pillow/blanket and/or use an HPIC chair. Movie hint in our calendar listing. (12th/Holden)

RESTORATIVE YOGA: 6:30 pm with Milo Minnis at SoundYoga (WSB sponsor) – details here. (5639 California SW)

TONIGHT AT KENYON HALL: Kyleen Austin (guitar) and Andrew Emlen (cello) perform at the historic performance hall – details (including reservation info) in our calendar listing. 7:30 pm. (7904 35th SW)

That’s just a sampling of what’s on the calendar – follow the link and browse!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday commute; Saturday reminder
March 21, 2014 7:11 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday commute; Saturday reminder
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
So far, so good, as the Friday morning commute approaches the peak period. Tomorrow, meantime, is the day for Highway 99 to be closed all day – 4:30 am-7 pm, for the Alaskan Way Viaduct’s “followup inspection” and also for remaining work on the Spokane St. Overcrossing just south of the West Seattle Bridge.

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