day : 17/11/2014 8 results

Just a month after Seattle Farm School founder Katie Stemp went public with a request for community members to teach classes in the “home arts,” it’s officially launched with its first class tonight. Katie sent photos and

I’m so excited to share these pictures with you of our very first class with Seattle Farm School that is taking place at C&P Coffee right now!!

In a little over 2 months we have gone from concept to live classes right here in West Seattle! We are thrilled to teach sustainable living skills to our community! This is a sold-out Beginning Crochet Class with Kelli Thomas.

Katie says two Beginning Sewing classes are ahead this week (“Comfy Lounge Pants” and “Pillowcases”) as well as a class in soapmaking. More info at seattlefarmschool.com.

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1 1/2 months until mandatory food-waste composting: City asks about your ‘most compostable’ holiday dish

November 17, 2014 6:02 pm

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| Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle online

On New Year’s Day, the new city rules about food-waste composting kick in. To keep that top-of-mind, Seattle Public Utilities just launched a mini-survey with an incentive – asking what food you’re most likely to compost this holiday season. 14 options (or write in your own) on one page, with a chance to win a kitchen compost bin if you choose to include your e-mail address. Friday’s the deadline.

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West Seattle holiday giving: ‘Soap for Hope’ drive

November 17, 2014 3:57 pm

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| Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

We’re continuing to collect holiday-giving opportunity information for both our ongoing calendar and the forthcoming WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – some drives are already under way, and hoping for your help, like “Soap for Hope” at AAA West Seattle (WSB sponsor):

Want to be a part of something BIG? AAA Washington is kicking off the 7th annual Soap for Hope toiletries-donation drive, and we need your help!

The annual campaign provides basic necessities and personal care items for those in need, reaching more than 27 local charities throughout Washington and northern Idaho. By partnering with our members, the community and local organizations, AAA Washington has collected nearly 500,000 toiletry items for local charities the past six years, and distributed more than 8,700 pounds of donations last year alone.

While donations are accepted at our store all year, we invite you to participate in our holiday campaign by donating through December 31 to help those in need this winter. All donations will remain in our local community, benefitting Sojourner Place in Seattle. We will be collecting sample, or regular-size items including deodorant, toothpaste, shaving cream, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, soaps and other new and unopened toiletry items.

Items can be dropped off at our office in Jefferson Square at 4734 42nd Ave SW, or you may contact us to arrange a pickup of your donation. For more information about Soap for Hope, please visit our website at www.aaa.com/SoapforHope.

Thank you in advance for considering this opportunity and know that your contribution is more than just a bar of soap, it’s about providing an opportunity for those in need to have a fresh start to their day and maybe even a personal boost to their self-image.

Ongoing holiday donation/collection drive that could use community help? Send us info as soon as you can – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!

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Sea-star deaths: New research points to not-new virus

November 17, 2014 2:23 pm

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| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(File photo courtesy Laura James)
Thanks to “Diver Laura” James, who long has worked on the sea-star die-off mystery as a “citizen scientist,” for the tip on this: New scientific research says a virus is the likely culprit in the deaths of so many of what are commonly known as starfish. The Seattle Times (WSB partner) published a report this afternoon, pointing to the research paper itself (read it here), which concludes, “Based on our observations, the densovirus, SSaDV, is the most likely virus involved in this disease.” However, the researchers note, this isn’t a new virus, so they still don’t have the big picture of what’s happening and what it might lead to.

P.S. It’s been a year since Diver Laura first pointed out die-off evidence on West Seattle shores/in West Seattle waters, and she’s continuing to follow up on what’s happening now.

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West Seattle schools: ‘Kindergarten technologists’ work with newly donated Snap Circuits at Lafayette

November 17, 2014 12:16 pm

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

With public funding of schools falling short, community and corporate goodwill is more vital than ever to help students keep up. The latest example was shown off this morning in Landon Bell‘s kindergarten classroom at Lafayette Elementary in The Admiral District. The “kindergarten technologists” in our photos are using Snap Circuits (shown and explained here) to explore electrical engineering, creating working machines on circuit boards.

Lafayette got the Snap Circuits via a request on the crowdfunding site for teachers, DonorsChoose.org, one of 19 projects at 15 Seattle schools that were funded in a donation by AT&T, according to the announcement of this morning’s demonstration.

Many DonorsChoose projects are funded by individual community contributions, but as was the case here, the corporate community jumps in too – you might recall the Google announcement at Highland Park Elementary last month. Much other supplementary funding comes via events organized by schools’ PTAs (at Lafayette, last month’s Walk-A-Thon – with community sponsors including WSB – raised $60,000 in pledges).

P.S. If you’re interested in donating to classroom projects, DonorsChoose is searchable by zip code, and our quick check shows lots of current requests from local teachers.

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See what’s up for the rest of your West Seattle Monday

November 17, 2014 11:01 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Looking south along 35th SW, by Long B. Nguyen – click image to see larger view)
As we wing into a new week … calendar (etc.) highlights:

AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP AT SW LIBRARY: Love to read? Local libraries convene afternoon/evening book groups now and then. 2 pm today at Southwest Branch Library, this month’s afternoon group is reading “Rat Girl” by Kristin Hersh. (35th/Henderson)

THANKSGIVING COOKING CLASS AT SALTY’S ON ALKI: Check ASAP to see if there’s room left – in any of the three sessions, starting with tonight at 6 pm, featuring Salty’s (WSB sponsor) Chef Jeremy McLachlan – details in our calendar listing. (1936 Harbor SW)

SPEAKING OF COOKING … voted for Carmen yet? We told her story over the weekend – she’s a local fourth-grader and the only national finalist from the Northwest in a cooking contest for kids. Find the link to her recipe video and voting page here (you can do it daily, until just before Thanksgiving, and there are NO requirements – no signups, registration, social-media shares, etc.).

TRIVIA, TRIVIA, TRIVIA: Monday’s the night to show what you know – at multiple West Seattle venues, including Christo’s, OutWest, Shadowland, and Skylark. Go directly to our calendar

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‘West Seattle Hack Night’ tomorrow; sign up today

November 17, 2014 9:44 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Before we get to what’s up today/tonight, here’s an advance alert about an event tomorrow night – Ben shares the invitation for the first West Seattle Hack Night:

We’re inviting local professional and amateur programmers to come out to a West Seattle Hack Night. The purpose of the meetup is to connect technologists in West Seattle, share information, network, and collaborate to make something cool or useful. We’d also welcome any non-profits or local businesses are looking for tech help or just want to pitch an idea for people to work on.

It starts with meet-and-greet at 6:30 pm tomorrow (Tuesday, November 18) at West Seattle Office Junction (6040 California SW; WSB sponsor) – if you’re interested, here’s where to sign up.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday on the move

November 17, 2014 6:57 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday on the move

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Aside from some early delays on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route, traffic and transit have been more-or-less normal so far in our area this morning.

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