day : 03/12/2015 12 results

CONGRATULATIONS! Honorees at Denny Awards include volunteers from West Seattle

December 3, 2015 11:23 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | West Seattle people

(Photo courtesy Kerry Hughes)
A whole lot of volunteer power is involved with Seattle Parks – and some of those who give their time and talent are honored every year at the Denny Awards. This year’s recipients included one big group – everyone who served on the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee over the levy’s six-year life. West Seattleites who served included Pete Spalding, who chaired the committee in its final years, as well as Cindi Barker, Bruce Bentley, and Dorsol Plants. Spalding was among those who accepted awards in person at this year’s Denny Awards celebration at the Museum of Flight this past Tuesday – that’s him at the podium in the photo above. The PGS levy was the predecessor to the Park District levy passed by voters last year and was in effect 2009 through 2014. Projects funded with levy money are indexed on this page – in West Seattle, they range from playfield improvements at Delridge and Walt Hundley, to the recently opened Westcrest Park expansion atop West Seattle Reservoir, to West Seattle’s first and only spraypark at Highland Park, and more. Seattle Parks has presented Denny Awards since 2003 – this fact sheet explains the criteria.

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New reports of discolored water bubble up: Be sure the city knows

December 3, 2015 9:42 pm

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| Utilities | West Seattle news

The factors that led to water-discoloration trouble in West Seattle earlier this fall (September coverage here, October coverage here, November coverage here) aren’t factors any more – Myrtle Reservoir is back in service, and the city’s well field is no longer being tapped to make up for drought-related supply shortages. But this week, we’ve received scattered new reports of oddly colored water – from Genesee Hill to, tonight, Sunrise Heights. We had checked with Seattle Public Utilities earlier, after several reports here and there yesterday, and they reiterated that nothing operationally should be causing this – in the Genesee Hill area, maybe the aftermath of the water break earlier this week. Wherever you are, SPU reiterates, if you do see a water-color problem, please call them ASAP, at 206-386-1800.

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West Seattle schools: Author Sherman Alexie visits Denny International

December 3, 2015 7:39 pm

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| West Seattle books | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Whatever you’re facing – you can overcome it. That’s the message shared at Denny International Middle School this afternoon by Seattle-based best-selling author Sherman Alexie. With humor and honesty, he spoke to Denny students in a special all-school assembly at the end of the day, telling them about challenges he faced growing up on the Spokane Tribe of Indians‘ reservation in Eastern Washington on his way to becoming an acclaimed author (dating back to his first novel, “Reservation Blues,” which won an American Book Award in 1996.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Police response at 42nd/Oregon

December 3, 2015 5:58 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Thanks to everyone who messaged about what was initially a sizable police response at 42nd/Oregon in The Junction. Here’s what our crew found out at the scene: Police were called about possible intruders in the house on the southwest corner, which is slated for demolition to make way for a mixed-use building. They found two men inside and took them into custody for suspected trespassing. A property manager was going through the house at last report to check for damage/theft.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Grinch steals Bumble; pickup prowl

December 3, 2015 4:37 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes – starting with a Grinchy theft in Admiral. From Sara:

Some total GRINCH just stole the 10-foot-tall blow-up Bumble Snowman decoration in our yard (about an hour) ago … in the Admiral neighborhood.

Keep a look out for this guy … we really love him and want him back.

Plus, a car prowl in the Alki area – from MWM: “Three bags of hand tools and a backpack stolen from my pickup truck at 2700 block of 56th Ave. SW at 5:15 AM, this morning.”

(In case you missed it – our Wednesday Crime Watch report included car-prowl and package-theft deterrence advice from SPD.)

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Won’t you be my neighbor? Department of Neighborhoods tells all @ Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council

December 3, 2015 2:19 pm

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| Arbor Heights | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news | Westwood

(WSB photo: Barton St. P-Patch)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The city’s P-Patch community garden program is maxed out for now and not expecting to grow in the near future – but not all P-Patches have waiting lists, contrary to popular belief.

That’s just some of what the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council learned Tuesday night from visiting city Department of Neighborhoods reps – including director Kathy Nyland – who came to answer questions and provide updates about some of the department’s programs.

First, as is often the case with neighborhood meetings, an update from police:

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UPDATE: King County deputies serving West Seattle warrants

December 3, 2015 12:34 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

12:34 PM: Thanks for the tips about the police presence near 44th and Dakota on the north side of The Junction. Our crew went to the scene and found out it’s actually King County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a warrant service – NOT any incident that has happened or is happening. That’s all we know so far. Will add whatever else we find out.

12:43 PM UPDATE: KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West can only confirm so far that it’s a combination search warrant and arrest warrant. More details might be available later.

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West Seattle schools: Madison MS launching ‘Choose Kind’

December 3, 2015 11:19 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Trailer for “Finding Kind,” one of the films to be shown at Madison)
A new campaign to “motivate kids to spread kindness” is launching at Madison Middle School. While the announcement includes a message for parents, it’s of interest to, with a potential impact on, the wider community as well. From Madison librarian/teacher Stacia Bell:

We are very excited to announce that, during the week of December 7th-11th, Madison Middle School will launch the start of its Choose Kind campaign, an endeavor to educate and inform students on various aspects of harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) and motivate kids to spread kindness to improve our school climate and increase student achievement. Throughout the week, teachers will introduce the Choose Kind campaign and conduct lessons on HIB in advisory. These lessons will lead us into a documentary film viewing on Friday of that week. Female students will watch the film “Finding Kind,” while male students will watch age-appropriate excerpts from two films — “Bully” and “The Mask You Live In.” Thank you to the Madison ASB and PTSA for making this viewing opportunity possible for Madison students and families by purchasing the site licenses for our school.

We would like to invite Madison parents/guardians to an advance screening of these films on Wednesday, December 9th from 6:30-8:30 in the Madison library and commons. This advance screening will not only give you an idea of what your child will be watching on Friday, but it will also help you start or keep the conversation going with your student. We’ll break into two groups to watch the films (parents/guardians can choose which film they’d like to watch) and then end with a moderated discussion to debrief the films. Parents/guardians only for this advance screening, please. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Anita Roberson at abroberson@seattleschools.org so that we can plan accordingly.

Our hope is that educating around these issues will spark a larger conversation around empathy, self-advocacy, and mindfulness that will continue beyond this week.

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West Seattle Thursday: Denny Bookfair; Orca Talk; Shop Late …

December 3, 2015 9:53 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Danny McMillin, shared via the WSB Flickr group)

As we write and publish this, we don’t know whether the stormy forecast for this afternoon/evening will come true or not, so all we can do is list the scheduled events, and if there’s any word of weather-related cancellation(s), we’ll update you as part of our storm coverage. For now, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar, here are the highlights:

KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY & LEARN: Free weekly sessions for 2-to-5-year-olds at Delridge Library, 11 am, explained in our listing. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

DENNY BOOKFAIR: “Denny International Middle School is having a Bookfair tonight at Barnes and Noble-Westwood Village from 6 pm-8 pm. There will be music performances, open mic, gift wrapping, fun and small prizes! A portion of the proceeds from book and café sales will go to support Denny programs. Can’t make it to the bookfair? The bookfair code still will be vaild in store, December 3rd-5th and online at Barnesandnoble.com from the 3rd-10th!” (2800 SW Barton)

ORCA TALK: How are our resident orcas doing – particularly the half-dozen calves born in the past year? Get the latest direct from an expert during tonight’s Orca Talk presented by The Whale Trail at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – more info in our calendar listing. 7:30 pm. (5612 California SW)

SHOP LATE THURSDAY: ” target=”_blank”>Many West Seattle Junction stores are open until 9 pm tonight (and the next two Thursdays).

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’ : Opening night for this year’s holiday show at ArtsWest in The Junction. Buy tickets online here. (4711 California SW)

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Memorial next Monday for Anthony C. ‘Tony’ O’Keefe, 1969-2015

December 3, 2015 9:18 am

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| Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Family and friends will gather on Monday (December 7th) to remember Anthony C. “Tony” O’Keefe. Here’s the remembrance they are sharing:

Smiling, laughing, and with twinkling Irish eyes … that is how Tony came into this world on September 8, 1969. He and wife Linda shared 13 years of marriage, and their love shows through their daughter Lauren and son Conner. They were his love and joy and he was incredibly proud of them. Lauren and Conner’s love of life, huge hearts, and shining souls resonate with Tony’s warmth and perpetual desire to share the very best of himself with the ones he most dearly loved.

Tony’s constant search for fun in life took him from learning to roller skate for a pack of LifeSavers, to riding BMX bikes, to competing in wrestling and football, to bringing friends together to celebrate just being in each other’s company.

Tony graduated from Bellarmine High and WSU with a degree in Marketing, and while at college found another family. His brothers at Beta Theta Pi lifted him up and joined in his celebration of life. Through the years they have always been there for him.

His Irish gift of gab, his smarts, and quick wit saw him excel in medical sales after starting Orthocon, Inc. He connected with and was supported by many professionals from the medical community during that time.

Linda, Lauren, and Conner continue to honor his zest for life by bringing laughter and cheer to family and friends. Brother John and sisters Helen, Kathy, and Bebo continue to celebrate life in his name as he joins his parents Tony, Sr. and Kathleen in a warm, heavenly embrace.

Tony took great pride and joy in his Irish heritage. His twinkling eyes and deep belly laugh were the trademark of our Irish leprechaun. So today go forward in honor of Tony, raise a little mischief, and carpe diem!

Tony was passionate about his children’s education, and an Educational Fund for them has been set up at youcaring.com/lauren-conner-o-keefe-478592.

A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, December 7, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 7000 35th Ave SW. Reception immediately following on site at the Parish Life Center.

(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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Memorial service this Saturday for Gilbert Madrid, 1930-2015

December 3, 2015 8:59 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

A memorial service is planned at The Mount this Saturday for Gilbert “Gil” Madrid, who died the day before Thanksgiving. Here’s the remembrance his family is sharing:

Gilbert Benedetto Antonio Madrid, 85, passed away on November 25, 2015, at European Senior Care in Seattle.

He was born on March 21, 1930 in Seattle to Julio and Norina Aquino Madrid. Gil grew up in Seattle, then attended St. Martin’s High School in Olympia, St. Bonaventure University in New York, and graduated from Gonzaga University in Spokane. Gil was also a proud US Marine who served in the Korean War.

Gil is survived by his former wife Gail Madrid; his sister Elvira Madrid; his son John (Kate) Madrid; his daughters Christine (Steve) Wynecoop, Katie (Tom) Cunningham, and Terese (Adam) Kietzer; and his grandchildren Katelyn, Emily, Ally, Kara, Meg, Cami, Caroline, Will, and Cooper “Coopies.”

A memorial service will be held at Providence Mount St. Vincent, 4831 35th Ave SW, at 10 am on Saturday, December 5th. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Humane Society to honor Gil’s love of animals. Please share memories of Gil on our online guestbook @ www.emmickfunerals.com.

(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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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates and alerts

December 3, 2015 7:30 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Six WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:30 AM: Good morning – rainy morning, with wind expected later – most likely during the afternoon/evening commute hours – but no incidents in or from West Seattle right now.

SATURDAY NIGHT REMINDER: SW Alaska will be closed between 42nd and California for the West Seattle Junction Tree Lighting, approximately 4-8 pm. While that will reroute the C Line and 50 buses, they won’t miss any stops, Metro says.

8:17 AM: From Mike via Twitter, “Stalled semi truck in the right lane West Seattle Bridge just before getting onto I-5 north.”

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