West Seattle, Washington

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month : 01/2015 306 results

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Welcome to 2015’s first Monday
January 5, 2015 6:16 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:16 AM: If you’re just getting going after holiday travel and/or vacationing, welcome back! The transit services are back to normal today; schools are back in session; and the wet, wintry weather is likely to be with us all day.

P.S. to early drivers/riders: Yes, those bridge lights are still out, but Seattle City Light hopes to fix them this week.

7:46 AM: Per the 911 log, there’s a crash at 17th/Roxbury. Not a major callout so far, but if you are heading that way, be aware.

7:51 AM: Two more problems – the Battery Street Tunnel is closed northbound (thanks for the text!) and there’s a crash on West Marginal Way SW near the bridge that’s blocking part of the road.

8:04 AM: SDOT says one lane of the BSTunnel has reopened but backups remain.

8:40 AM: Tow truck reported on scene in the northbound tunnel as of a few minutes ago, so if it’s not fully open yet, it should be shortly. (Confirmed two minutes later: Open.)

10:45 AM: As pointed out in comments (thank you!), there’s a crash at the east end of Roxbury (3rd/Olsen). Also, new trouble on northbound 99 at Western/Battery St. Tunnel.

12:40 PM: All the earlier problems are “closed” on the 911 log now – keep us posted if you see anything new. Meantime, we’ve added (above this update) a view of 99, and beyond, during the most recent BSTunnel problem.

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West Seattle’s first charter school? Remodel/addition proposal at 35th/Roxbury church site
January 4, 2015 8:45 pm
|      35 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Arbor Heights already has two school-construction projects under way – and might soon have a third.

Reviewing city permit application files today, we discovered a just-filed early-stage proposal to remodel and add to what is currently the Jesus Center/Freedom Church building at 35th/Roxbury, in the name of Los Angeles-based Pacific Charter School Development.

The one document publicly visible in the Department of Planning and Development system so far, dated December 31st, is a roughed-out site plan, showing the addition primarily along the Roxbury side of the 2 1/3-acre site.

In addition to the land-use permit filing, we’ve also found a one-month-old LLC filing listing the site’s official address – 9601 35th SW – and listing PCSD’s Washington branch, Washington Charter School Development, as the sole member. The company’s website says it works with charter-school management organizations, so it may not necessarily be the potential operator.

We can’t find any record of a past application for a charter school at this site, or anywhere else in West Seattle, but the next application period is just a month away, opening in mid-February, according to the Washington Charter School Commission website. Of the 10 charter schools approved since a statewide vote legalized them two years ago, the list includes approval for a charter-management organization called Green Dot to open one at an undetermined “South Seattle” site in fall 2016 (added: Green Dot had an informational event in West Seattle last summer). And a charter middle school called Rainier Prep, says it is planning to open in the Highline area this fall, but has no location finalized yet, according to its online FAQ.

Freedom Church bought the site, a former supermarket, for $2.8 million in 2008, according to county records. The 2 1/3-acre site is zoned NC3-40, meaning it could be developed up to four stories, though this proposal mentions only the two-story addition, and renovation of the one-story existing building.

We’ll be following up on this tomorrow, seeking answers to a variety of questions.

SIDE NOTE: The site has four current/future schools within less than a mile – Roxhill Elementary at 30th/Roxbury, the Arbor Heights Elementary rebuild on 104th west of 35th (opening fall 2016), the starting-this-fall campus of Westside School (WSB sponsor) at 37th/104th, and Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) on 28th south of Roxbury.

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West Seattle development: 2015, Year of the Busy Backhoes?
January 4, 2015 6:10 pm
|      43 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

With demolition expected soon at already-approved project sites such as the block-long 3210 California SW and numerous smaller projects, this is likely to be the Year of the Busy Backhoes in West Seattle development, more than another Year of the Crane. Here are recent filings we found in the city permit system:

MORGAN JUNCTION TEARDOWN: 6715 California SW (photo above; map), 97-year-old house. To be demolished and replaced by three single-family houses.

ALKI TEARDOWN: 3054 Alki SW (map), 94-year-old house. To be demolished and replaced by duplex and single-family house.

CHARLESTOWN COURT TEARDOWN: After two rejected landmark nominations, it looks like Charlestown Court, the brick fourplex at 3811 California SW (map), is coming down this time at age 88. To be demolished and replaced by four 2-unit townhouses.

NOT FAR SOUTH OF THERE, ANOTHER CALIFORNIA SW TEARDOWN: 4031 California SW (map), 97-year-old house. One 4-unit rowhouse, one 2-unit townhouse, and one single-family house are planned to replace it after demolition, per the city files, following a lot-boundary adjustment.

BEACH DRIVE TEARDOWN: 6021 Beach Drive SW (map), 89-year-old house. To be demolished and replaced with new single-family house, following recent lot-boundary adjustment that turned three parcels into two.

FAUNTLEROY WAY TEARDOWN: 5008 Fauntleroy Way SW (map), 73-year-old house. We’ve written about this before – but the demolition permit hadn’t been formally applied for at the time. To be demolished and replaced with what’s described as a rowhouse proposal, though only two units are mentioned; this one also follows a lot-boundary adjustment.

NORTH DELRIDGE TEARDOWN: 2838 SW Genesee (map), 35-year-old duplex. To be demolished and replaced by three new houses.

HIGHLAND PARK TEARDOWN: 7621 8th SW (map), 96-year-old house. To be demolished and replaced by a new house.

SIDE NOTE: One teardown of note just outside West Seattle – the eight-years-vacant ex-Wendy’s/ex-Ezell’s/ex-El Chalan on 16th SW south of the White Center business district was demolished on Friday; a 42-unit apartment building is planned for the site.

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Update: Hazmat response at West Seattle’s Southwest Precinct
January 4, 2015 3:19 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(WSB photo: Some of the many SFD units that staged on SW Webster alongside the precinct)
3:19 PM: If you’ve seen the fire units rushing by – it’s a hazardous-materials (hazmat) response to 2300 SW Webster, which happens to be the Seattle Police Southwest Precinct. Updates to come.

3:29 PM: From our crew at the scene as well as scanner traffic: This will all be clearing soon – no hazmat, nobody sick/injured. Someone dropped off an unknown substance at the precinct; turned out, apparently, to be a solvent and/or paint thinner (or something similar), according to early assessment.

P.S. We don’t know the exact circumstances of how/why the substance was brought to the precinct, but if you have “household hazardous waste,” here’s info on how to dispose of it safely.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen truck; stolen/found car; casing
January 4, 2015 1:47 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

A truck just stolen in Gatewood tops this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup:

STOLEN TRUCK: Within the past hour or so, a black 2001 Ford Ranger, single cab, Washington plate B74060R, was taken from 37th/Thistle (map) in Gatewood. Its owner says police have already been there to take a report. If you see it, call 911 ASAP.

STOLEN/FOUND CAR: That wasn’t the only daytime car theft this weekend – Rob e-mailed us Saturday mid-afternoon about a blue 1993 Honda Civic taken from in front of his house in the 3300 block of SW 100th (map) in Arbor Heights, and just 20 minutes after his note, before we could even publish an item about it, he e-mailed again to say it had been found (he didn’t say where) and that they were off to retrieve it.

CAR CASING: Around 10:45 am Friday morning, a neighbor on 44th SW between Dakota and Andover (map) saw “three young teenage boys walking down 44th Avenue SW between Dakota and Andover checking all the car/vehicles’ doors. I opened my front door and hollered, ‘I’ve taken your picture,’ and they ran north on 44th.”

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Summer fun starts with winter volunteering! West Seattle Hi-Yu & you
January 4, 2015 12:56 pm
|    Comments Off on Summer fun starts with winter volunteering! West Seattle Hi-Yu & you
 |   West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, July 2013: Hi-Yu float work behind the scenes – it’s not just about parade waves!)
The arrival of January puts us midway between the last round of summer fun and the next one. Festivals, parades, concerts … none of it happens without a lot of planning and preparation, most if not all thanks to volunteers who are busy all year long. If you haven’t jumped in to help yet – maybe this is your year. One of the first opportunities comes tomorrow night, as all-volunteer West Seattle Hi-Yu meets for the first time in 2015, with a big agenda item: Choosing this year’s theme, the one you’ll see on the parade float and benefit buttons. All are welcome, 7 pm at Admiral Congregational Church (4320 SW Hill, just west of California SW), and the announcement from new Hi-Yu president Jay Murray notes, “The new officers are excited with the possibilities of having wonderful events throughout the year for the community. Your participation will help to make it possible.”

Two other/additional ways to get involved as the new year begins:

MEMBERSHIP: Support Hi-Yu by becoming a member, $20/year. (You can even pay online.) Money raised by the nonprofit organization not only supports the events it presents, but also scholarships for the Junior Court (just chosen!) and Senior Court (see below) who serve as its youth ambassadors each year.

SENIOR COURT APPLICATIONS: Students ages 17-22 will be able to apply soon, as applications will be made available for starters via local high schools and South Seattle College (WSB sponsor).

(WSB photo from 2014 West Seattle Grand Parade)
And a P.S. about the float, from Hi-Yu: “The budget for this upcoming year includes a covered trailer for the float. It will be possible to purchase one with the help of the West Seattle Service Clubs as sponsors with their logo printed on the sides of the trailer. This will allow our Hi-Yu float to be able to travel to parades more safely and with less set-up and take-down work for the parades, and advertise the service clubs.” Thanks to Hi-Yu, West Seattle is the last city neighborhood with its own float. Last year (above), the theme honored Hi-Yu’s 80th anniversary; in 2013 (top photo), it was “Alki Deep”; in 2012, “Secret Garden“; in 2011, “Sparkling Seattle“; in 2010, “Dreams Do Come True.” This year? Be there tomorrow night!

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Heavy rain could bring slide risk
January 4, 2015 11:01 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Though right now it just looks like nothing-out-of-the-ordinary rain, the National Weather Service has a “special weather statement” in effect for our area and much of the region, warning that this could bring two to four inches of rain to the lowlands today and tomorrow. Despite the recent dry spell, the NWS warns, “the predicted rainfall by itself will be enough to raise the landslide risk to ‘moderate’.”

P.S. Think you’re totally slide-savvy? Check this city info-sheet, which includes maps of the 8.4 percent of Seattle that is slide-prone, as well as factoids (January is the month with the highest slide risk). The image at left is taken from that map – the dots show the locations of past slides, while the salmon-shaded areas show what are considered to be “potential slide areas.”

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West Seattle Sunday: What’s up as the weekend winds down
January 4, 2015 6:52 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Delridge Skatepark after the rain, December photo by Laura Goodrich, shared via WSB Flickr group)
Good morning! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY SOCCER: Rain, shine, frost, fog, whatever the conditions, this pickup game hits the field, 7:30 am at Delridge Playfield. Check the FB page for updates. (Delridge/Alaska)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: First Sunday of the year, last Sunday of the year, and all the Sundays inbetween, you’ll find the market open 10 am-2 pm. WSFM says today’s new items will include another egg vendor, spot prawns, and sauerkraut. (44th/Alaska)

WEST SEATTLE ULTIMATE FAMILY FRISBEE: 11 am is the scheduled weekly game at Walt Hundley Playfield – check here in case of changes. (34th/Myrtle)

SEATTLE GREEN SPACES COALITION: 3 pm at High Point Branch Library, you’re invited to find out what’s going on – maybe even help, if you are so moved – with the grassroots campaign to preserve greenspaces around the city, particularly surplus substations. Details in our preview. (35th/Raymond)

WEST SEATTLE YULETIDE FINALE: Tonight is the last scheduled night for the synched-to-music West Seattle Yuletide holiday-lights show, ~5-10 pm. (38th SW between Genesee and Dakota)

NIGHTLIFE: Trivia, live music, karaoke – see who and where, here.

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Update: Suspect arrested after Vashon search that led to King County SO sightings in Fauntleroy
January 3, 2015 10:52 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | West Seattle news

fWe’ve been asked about King County Sheriff’s Office sightings at the Fauntleroy ferry dock tonight – not unusual for KCSO personnel to take the ferry, since theirs is the law-enforcement agency for Vashon Island, but the numbers are out of the ordinary. It’s related to a search that is still under way on the island, seeking a driver who rammed the patrol car of a deputy who subsequently opened fire, according to tweets from KCSO spokesperson Sgt. DB Gates.

No injuries known/reported at this point, and there’s no indication the suspect has left the island, but the search, which has included the Guardian One helicopter, continues.

8:55 AM UPDATE: Thanks to Michael and Maggie for noting in comments that KCSO reports the suspect is in custody. (added) Here’s the news release from Sgt. Gates:

Just before 6 PM on Saturday January 3rd, deputies responded to a residence for a domestic violence call between a mother and her adult son. Shortly after this first call we received several more from other citizens reporting different incidents with the same male as from the domestic violence case. These calls included a road rage incident, threats, and a vandalism.

At 6:45 PM a deputy located the suspect in the above incidents driving his pickup and there was a short pursuit . The suspect refused to stop and instead rammed the patrol car several times. In the 9800 block of SW Windmill Road the deputy fired several shots, but the suspect was not hit. The patrol car was disabled from the ramming and the suspect fled in his pickup.

Resident deputies that live on the island were called out to assist in the search for the suspect and patrol resources from the Burien and White Center areas also were sent to the island.

This morning around 4:30 the suspect was located by patrol deputies in the 24600 block of Dockton Road SW where he had broken into an unoccupied house. He attempted to run on foot, a Taser was deployed, and he was taken into custody.

There were no injuries to anyone and detectives are investigating the deputy-involved shooting as well as the other crimes committed by the suspect. The deputy who fired the shots has been placed on administrative leave per our policy.

The suspect will be booked into King County Jail for investigation of felony assault, attempting to elude, and burglary.

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1st community meeting of the year: Seattle Green Spaces Coalition, on Sunday afternoon
January 3, 2015 8:40 pm
|    Comments Off on 1st community meeting of the year: Seattle Green Spaces Coalition, on Sunday afternoon
 |   Environment | Utilities | West Seattle news

(WSB photo of Dakota substation site last month, as cleanup was beginning)
West Seattle’s first community-group meeting of 2015 is tomorrow, as the Seattle Green Spaces Coalition continues strategizing how to preserve some if not all of the greenspaces currently known as surplus substations. All are welcome at 3 pm Sunday at High Point Branch Library (35th/Raymond). The coalition started out focusing on the surplus substations in West Seattle, whose future has been on the line for more than a year now, and then expanded to a citywide focus, with a lengthening list of sites of concern so far, including at least 10 ex-substations from Ballard to Delridge. As a result of their efforts, the city is studying the possibility of an “Open Space Opportunity Fund,” but that might not come soon enough; the announcement of tomorrow’s meeting says, “We have a short window for action and really need your help!”

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High-school basketball: Seattle Lutheran hosts Shoreline Christian
January 3, 2015 5:50 pm
|    Comments Off on High-school basketball: Seattle Lutheran hosts Shoreline Christian
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(Photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
5:50 PM: Scores are in from two home basketball games for Seattle Lutheran High School this afternoon – both teams played Shoreline Christian, with the boys winning 73-24, the girls losing, 57-42.

We tweeted from both games via @wsblive.

ADDED 11:34 PM: Photos, and toplines: In the boys’ game, the Saints outlasted Shoreline thanks to a deeper bench and numerous 3-pointers, mostly by freshman Josh Meyer (top photo) and junior Xavier Turner (#11, below), who was the night’s top scorer with 31 points.

In the girls’ game, Shoreline had advantages in both speed and height. The Saints were led by junior Abbi Sanders (below) with 24 points, including four 3-pointers.

Next up for SeaLu, according to the school calendar – both teams have games at Christian Faith School in Federal Way next Tuesday night (January 6).

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Remembering Judy Lyn Sweetland, 1939-2014
January 3, 2015 4:12 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Family and friends are paying tribute to Judy Lyn Sweetland, who died on New Year’s Eve at age 75. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with the community:

Judy Lyn (Crosslin) Sweetland

Judy Lyn Sweetland passed away on December 31, 2014 after a long battle with an autoimmune disease.

Judy was born in Yuma, Arizona, on September 16, 1939 to Marvin Thomas Crosslin and Theopa LeVal Piester. She spent her childhood in Yuma, Arizona; Brownfield & Fort Worth, Texas; and Yakima, Washington. In 1960, she graduated from St. Elizabeth School of Nursing as a registered nurse; got married; and moved to Seattle. After raising her children, she moved back to Arizona, longing to have more sunshine in her life (1987). Finally, she would return to Seattle to be closer to family (1995).

Her years in Arizona brought great personal growth. She lived in Wickenburg, Arizona, and worked at The Meadows, a residential treatment center for addictions; and at Rancho del los Caballeros, a guest ranch. While working at The Meadows, she wrote a self-help book for depression, The Sun Always Rises. It was written in response to patients’ requests for something in writing to support what they were learning during their recovery. While in Arizona, she learned the Krieger-Kunz model of Therapeutic Touch. Therapeutic Touch would then become her focus for the remainder of her life. She would treat, teach, and lead workshops, and lead meditations on spirituality and the energy connections to all that is around us.

Friends and family would describe Judy as: reflective, spiritual, loving, kind, caretaker, loyal friend, independent, connected, followed her calling as both a nurse and healer. She drew her energy from nature and loved to hike. Friends, family, and personal connections were extremely important to her.

Early in her nursing career, she was given the assignment to sit with a dying patient and his wife through the night. It was a very long night. She rotated holding each of their hands, while pondering how this was nursing. In the morning, the wife told her, “Thank you for sitting with me.” At that moment, she understood the power of providing compassionate support. She would then do that the rest of her life.

Judy was one of five siblings. She is survived by her brother Ken Crosslin (his two children Don and Thomas) and wife Dorothy; sister Carole Wimer (her husband Vern and their children Trever, Tracy, and Trisha); her two children Carl and John; Carl’s wife Debbie; and two grandchildren, Daphne and Sam. Both sons reside in West Seattle.

Private service will be held. Memorial donations to Indralaya (Eastsound, WA) in her remembrance are welcomed.

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

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Followup: Trinity West Seattle launches tomorrow at ex-Mars Hill
January 3, 2015 2:46 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The banner at 7551 35th SW announces the new name of what had been Mars Hill Church-West Seattle since fall 2006 – Trinity West Seattle, officially launching with services tomorrow morning. It’s been just two months since Mars Hill announced it would disband, leaving its churches to close or go independent. It appears they’re making the transition with familiar faces/voices, including Pastors David Fairchild and Cliff Ellis, who are on the new website’s list of “elders and staff” (the former preached last Sunday, the church’s last as MH-WS). Pastor Ellis was among the signatories on this August letter calling for MH’s controversial founder Pastor Mark Driscoll to permanently step down, which he did in October, not long before the entire church announced it would disband. The new Trinity West Seattle website says the church will launch with a seven-week series of sermons under the title, “Long Story Short: Finding Ourselves in the Biblical Drama,” described in part as “a particularly good series for both seekers and skeptics while shaping and forming our church to embody the biblical story.”

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Happening now: Drop off your Christmas tree with Rainbow Girls
January 3, 2015 12:55 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

Sure, you have multiple ways to recycle your Christmas tree. But the Rainbow Girls‘ annual benefit has a few one-of-a-kind aspects, including: Nonprofit fundraiser; only place in West Seattle to drop off your tree (if you don’t want it sitting out on the curb until your next pickup day); no need to cut the tree into pieces (but no flocking or tinsel, please). Just take your tree to the Alki Masonic Center parking lot in The Junction (40th/Edmunds, newly repaved and regraded) until 3 pm today; they’re accepting cash donations for the service. They’re also selling handmade Seahawks-theme scarves, we noted while there to photograph (above, L-R) Destiney, Darian, and Zoë.

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Burn ban lifted, announces Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
January 3, 2015 12:39 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Health | West Seattle news

Update from Puget Sound Clean Air Agency:

Effective immediately, all burn bans are being lifted in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, as well as Darrington. With the help of rain and wind, air pollution levels everywhere dropped to GOOD or lower Moderate last night.

While agency forecasters do expect only light winds during the day today and into tonight, an approaching weather system should increase winds and rain late tonight and into Sunday. This will again help disperse our air pollution and keep levels low for the next 2-3 days.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency would like to thank everyone who switched to alternative sources of heat instead of burning wood during these bans. Children, the elderly, and people with chronic respiratory health problems especially appreciate your efforts.

The now-over burn ban had been in effect for two days.

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West Seattle Saturday: Post-holiday giving, learning, exploring…
January 3, 2015 9:31 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(One of the ‘around town’ photos shared by Loren Beringer via the WSB Flickr group – thanks!)
Happy first weekend of 2015! Things are getting busy again. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

HAIRCUT FUNDRAISER: Underway now and continuing until 3:30 pm today, as previewed here Friday night, you can get a free haircut at Delridge Community Center (look for the Airstream trailer) and make a donation to benefit DCC’s programs. *Added above – Alyssa, Alycen, Cat from Rudy’s, photographed this morning* (4501 Delridge Way SW)

DROPOFF CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING: 10 am-3 pm, the Rainbow Girls‘ annual fundraiser is under way at the newly renovated Alki Masonic Center parking lot. Drop your tree off (no flocking/tinsel) for recycling; cash donations accepted. (40th/Edmunds)

‘GAINS FOR GOOD’: 10 am-4 pm at CrossFit LOFT in The Junction, it’s a fitness fundraiser and silent auction to benefit the medical expenses of a gym coach/local firefighter’s badly injured dad – details in the preview published here last week. (4142 California SW)

HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Seattle Lutheran hosts Shoreline Christian, 2:30 pm girls’ game, 4 pm boys’ game, Menashe Gym on campus. (4100 SW Genesee)

NIGHTTIME HIKE: 6:30 pm at Lincoln Park, rescheduled from a December rainout, owls, old-growth trees, and more with naturalist Stewart Wechsler. Details here including how to RSVP & suggested donation. (8265 Fauntleroy Way SW)

WEST SEATTLE MEANINGFUL MOVIES: The WSMM series launches 2015 at 7 tonight, Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, with “Disruption,” focusing on climate change, including last fall’s megamarch in New York City; the discussion afterward will include a participant. Details in our calendar listing. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

TIDEPOOL EXPLORING BY FLASHLIGHT: 9-10:30 pm, join Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists at Constellation Park to look (carefully!) at what and who emerges during a nighttime low tide (-1.3 at 9:47 pm). Details in our calendar listing. (Beach Drive/63rd SW)

NIGHTLIFE TONIGHT! Live-music listings, on our calendar.

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City scraps controversial proposals to change Neighborhood Matching Fund program, process
January 2, 2015 11:11 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge District Council | Southwest District Council | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

We’ve learned that the city has scrapped proposed changes to the Neighborhood Matching Fund process – changes strongly opposed by West Seattle’s two District Councils.

This came to light after the Department of Neighborhoods sent out a news release today containing deadlines and other information about this year’s process and timelines for seeking the NMF grants. Noting that the announcement made no mention of the proposed changes, we asked DoN spokesperson Lois Maag to verify that they indeed were not being implemented; Maag confirmed that it’s “status quo” for this year, and said that council chairs had recently been sent word of that.

The proposals primarily involved who could apply for the grants and who from the neighborhoods would vet applications. They were presented (and criticized) at the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council‘s October meeting (WSB coverage here) and the Southwest District Council‘s November meeting (WSB coverage here). The potential removal of District Councils from the application-vetting process was a particular sticking point.

We confirmed tonight with DNDC chair Mat McBride that DoN indeed had sent word the changes weren’t going forward. In her memo, department director Bernie Matsuno said in part:

… Over the past year, an NMF Advisory Committee deliberated and developed several proposals for the program. Due to the feedback received regarding these recommendations, we are not moving forward at this time. … We will continue engaging the community and having a more robust conversation about any possible improvements to the NMF program.

Meantime – if you are interested in finding out about this year’s grant opportunities, all the information is in the full news release made public today. One West Seattle-specific date – those interested in applying for a grant from the Large Project Fund (deadline May 4th) must attend a workshop, and the only one in West Seattle is set for Tuesday, March 10, 6 pm, High Point Community Center (6420 34th SW).

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Haircut fundraisers start tomorrow at Delridge Community Center
January 2, 2015 5:32 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | How to help | West Seattle news

Just announced by Delridge Community Center – happening every Saturday this month:

Airstream Pop-Up Haircut Salon

Look good and feel good about doing it. (Suggested haircut payment/donation will go toward Delridge Community Center )

Delridge Community Center has been serving the surrounding community for over 20 years. And we want to continue doing more! We offer from Ballet and Zumba, to one of only 3 centers who offer showers to the homeless for $3.00. We have a RECTECH computer lab to help you apply for jobs or finish a school or work project. A fun and safe place for your teens, and licensed school-age child care, and a preschool Program.

During the Month of January, in partnership with Rudy’s Barbershop, we will be offering free haircuts to the community. Come and get a haircut by one of Rudy’s Barbershop’s professional hair stylists. Look good and feel good; proceeds will go toward the Delridge Community Center’s Teen programs and scholarships for before- and after-school programs, and much more. Airstream Pop Up parked behind Delridge Community Center, close to soccer fields.

Dates for the Airstream pop-up:
* January 3 (8:30 to 3:30)
* January 10 (8:30 to 3:30)
* January 17th (8:30 to 3:30)
* January 24th (8:30 to 3:30)
* January 31 (8:30 to 3:30)

DCC is at 4501 Delridge Way SW, south of SW Genesee. (Rudy’s, by the way, is likely to open its non-pop-up West Seattle Triangle location this year, as reported here last summer.)

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Update: 2nd SW call = not weapons-related after all
January 2, 2015 2:50 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WS breaking news

2:50 PM: Police and fire are responding to an “assault with weapons” call in the 9200 block of 2nd SW. Details as we get them.

3:03 PM: False alarm of sorts, according to police on scene and in media relations. Man who fell and hit his head first claimed he’d been shot – but hadn’t. He was injured badly enough to be taken to the hospital, though.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Short-lived snow sightings
January 2, 2015 12:20 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

12:20 PM: Thanks for the reports – we’re hearing of snow flurries, at least in north West Seattle. The National Weather Service says it’s getting reports from around Western Washington but is *not* expecting accumulation.

1:47 PM: No further flurry reports. Looks like even the chance of rain is diminishing – until sometime late tomorrow.

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So, it’s January, and you have to recycle your food waste. Are you ready (if you weren’t doing it already)?
January 2, 2015 11:34 am
|      79 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

We’ve had three months’ warning (actually longer, but until September, it was just a line somewhere in a long-range plan), and now, it’s time. In case you missed the Christmastime publicity blitz in citywide media … as the holiday season ends, we’re pointing to the new recycling rules – food waste goes in the yard-waste bin (if you haven’t been putting it there already). And that doesn’t just mean fruit/vegetable scraps. From the city’s “what do I do with THIS?” flyer:

As noted last fall, while the new rules are in effect as of yesterday, this is the start of a six-month ramp-up period, to give everyone a chance to get used to it and figure out how to do it. And even when enforcement starts in July, this isn’t set up as a moneymaker for the city – the residential fine is a buck, for example. The point is that the city is hoping to get to its goal of recycling 60 percent of the waste stream. You’ll be considered to be in compliance if you have less than “10% recyclables or food waste” in your trash can. To get them from kitchen to bin, you can use paper or compostable bags, or get a covered compost pail to keep in the kitchen.

SIDE NOTE – SO WHAT ABOUT THE IN-SINK DISPOSER? In previous discussions, some have declared they’ll just keep using this rather than diverting food waste to the yard-waste bin. We’ve looked around for info on that; general consensus (in reports such as this) seems to be, while it’s greener than just throwing food waste in the trash, it’s not as green as composting. And best thing of all is to just figure out how to waste less food, period.

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Happening tonight: ‘Words, Writers, West Seattle’ features Christine Brant, author of ‘Red and Grey’
January 2, 2015 9:54 am
|    Comments Off on Happening tonight: ‘Words, Writers, West Seattle’ features Christine Brant, author of ‘Red and Grey’
 |   West Seattle books | West Seattle news

Words, Writers & West Seattle presents … from Avenue Collection on Vimeo.

West Seattle’s literary scene continued to deepen in 2014 – and on this second day of 2015, it’s already time for the year’s first installment of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society-presented monthly celebration of local writing, Words, Writers, West Seattle. Tonight, 5-7 pm, come to Westwood Village’s Barnes & Noble bookstore to meet and hear from writer Christine Brant, who’s featured in the SWSHS-provided, Avenue Productions-produced video invitation above. It’s free; if you’re interested, you’ll be able to buy her book “Red and Grey” during the event. P.S. The next four editions of the first-Fridays WWW series are previewed here.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: First Friday of 2015
January 2, 2015 6:16 am
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
We’re watching traffic just in case you’re working today – and we have a few reminders/notes:

METRO: One final day of “reduced weekday” service – back to regular weekday on Monday (January 5th).

WATER TAXI: Back in service after the New Year’s Day holiday. And the Spirit of Kingston is done with its annual maintenance, so you’ll see it today on the West Seattle run, while the Melissa Ann – seen in TW‘s photo below – will be back on the Vashon run:

(Did you catch the sneak peek at the new, almost-ready Water Taxi?)

FERRY DOCK TONIGHT: As previewed here last week, cleaning work tonight and most if not all nights for the next two weeks will affect the Fauntleroy ferry dock and vicinity.

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