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year : 2015 3718 results

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
|      1 COMMENT
 |   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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West Seattle weather: What happened last year; what’s up now
January 1, 2015 8:55 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Click image for larger view)
There’s your view over West Seattle on the first day of 2015, southward toward Mount Rainier, courtesy of Long Bach Nguyen. If the forecast bears out, it’s our last chance at that view for a while. If you’re in the mood for one more look back, here’s the National Weather Service‘s 2014 Western Washington Year In Review (with one update, the recent cold weather has dropped the year’s average high to 55.1, according to an NWS tweet earlier today). If you’re looking for what’s happening now and in the hours/days ahead, check out the WSB West Seattle Weather page – available any time, with more than just weather information; it includes sunrise/set, moonrise/set, tides, even the UV index (by request).

ADDED 10:53 PM: Bonus photo just in from David Hutchinson:

That was the view from Seacrest (and from nearby Don Armeni, where we were, about that same time) during the first sunset of 2015.

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VIDEO: West Seattle New Year’s Day 2015 Polar Bear Swim!
January 1, 2015 3:15 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(WSB video/photos, unless otherwise credited)
Though the New Year had arrived 10 hours earlier, for hundreds, it wasn’t 2015 until the annual Polar Bear Swim at Alki Beach. This year, the water was warmer than the air – ~50 degrees and 32 degrees respectively. Whatever the temperature or weather conditions, some wouldn’t miss it, like Kayleen Dunson and her fellow softball umpires (join them on the field this year!), with the morning’s most-patriotic photo op:

Water-testing was called for, too.

Of course, Seahawks fans were in view …

… after on-the-beach decorating:

Not as many costumed swimmers this year, but festive hats were in evidence:

(That photo and next by Russ Walker, whose Flickr gallery is here)

Big smiles too – this one’s from Frank Gross of Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor):

Finally it was time for the countdown – here’s organizer Mark Ufkes with the megaphone:

And … they’re off!

(Photo by Craig Young)
Post-plunge, organizer Ufkes was of course among those emerging triumphantly:

Spectators caught it all:

Awaiting the newly soaked Polar Bears, chowder from Duke’s across the street, and info about the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s upcoming Totem Cruise:

(Photo courtesy SWSHS/Clay Eals)
That’s SWSHS volunteer Liz Day in the foreground; in the background, Duke’s GM Greg Green and server Autumn Kline with the chowder. Whether you swam, stayed on shore, or stayed home, a Happy 2015 to all!

Past years’ WSB coverage:
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010

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West Seattle traffic-alert updates: Eastbound bridge crash cleared; pedestrian hit on Harbor
January 1, 2015 1:41 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

1:41 PM: You wouldn’t expect to encounter a backup on the West Seattle Bridge on a holiday – but there’s one on the eastbound side now because of a crash that we’re told is between Nucor and the crest. Seattle Fire‘s response cleared quickly, suggesting no major injuries, but with the backup, wait a while to head that way if you have to. (A couple of key SDOT cameras aren’t working today, so we don’t have a view of the scene; thanks for the tips.)

2:02 PM: Update from SDOT via Twitter:

Thanks also to Jean-Paul for this view:

2:20 PM: Thanks to Tim for the update in the comment section – scene’s clear, backup should clear soon.

2:41 PM: If you’re seeing the emergency response on Harbor Avenue at the bottom of California Way, by Seacrest, a vehicle is reported to have hit a pedestrian. Injuries weren’t serious, if any; the pedestrian was reported to be the person who made the 911 call and was reported to have been declining medical assistance.

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‘Stagnant weather’ brings Stage 1 burn ban for King County
January 1, 2015 1:01 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

Our area and the rest of King County is now under a Stage 1 burn ban, announced by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency because of “stagnant weather conditions and rising air pollution,” expected to continue at least until tomorrow. Here’s what a Stage 1 burn ban means:

* No burning is allowed in wood-burning fireplaces, uncertified wood stoves or fireplace inserts. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled.

* The only exception is if the homeowner has a previously approved ‘No Other Adequate Source of Heat’ designation from the Clean Air Agency

* No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.

* Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

* It is OK to use natural gas and propane stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.

We’ll publish an update whenever the burn ban is lifted.

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Update: Fire response at Admiral McDonald’s, but no fire
January 1, 2015 9:13 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
9:13 AM: Big Seattle Fire response at the McDonald’s in Admiral (3003 California SW), but our crew on the scene says it’s not a major problem – the smoke that led to fire concern was apparently sparked by mechanical trouble, possibly with the HVAC system. Some of the crews have been dismissed already. More to come.

9:20 AM: Just heard over the scanner – “this is smoke from a properly operating cooking exhaust system.” All but one engine will be leaving. (added) Our crew says SFD is allowing everyone back in, and the restaurant’s open for business.

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West Seattle New Year’s Day 2015: What’s up as the year begins
January 1, 2015 6:30 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Happy 2015! Thanks to Gary Jones for the bald-eagle photos from Alki Point. Here’s what you need to know about today:

TRANSIT: Sunday schedule for Metro; no Water Taxi; Sound Transit‘s Route 560 is on a Sunday schedule; Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on a regular weekday schedule.

RESTAURANTS: Here’s our list of who told us, when we did research before Christmas, they’d be open New Year’s Day. Might be some missing if they didn’t answer our inquiries; might be someone who’s changed their plan since last we checked in; so please let us know of discrepancies – text or call 206-293-6302.

COFFEE FOR A CAUSE: Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) is continuing its New Year’s giving campaign by offering a special drink today – the “2015” white chocolate and blackberry mocha – with $3 going to WestSide Baby. (4410 California SW)

NEW YEAR’S WALKS: 5- and 10-kilometer routes, noncompetitive, no fee, take off between 9 am and noon from St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, which is sponsoring the walks along with Emerald City Wanderers. More info in our calendar listing. (3050 California SW)

POLAR BEAR SWIM: This is the big annual one. 10 am (get there early!) from the beach across from Duke’s. Details in our calendar listing. (58th/Alki)

HANGOVER BRUNCH AT MARINATION MA KAI: Open early – 10 am; see the Marination ma kai (WSB sponsor) “epic hangover brunch” details here. (1660 Harbor SW)

‘KILL YOUR HANGOVER’ AT FEEDBACK LOUNGE: 6th annual edition at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) – drink specials, big-screen football, more. Open at 11:30. (6451 California SW)

CONTEMPLATIVE WORSHIP: What better time, than the first night of the year? 6:30 pm at Westside Unitarian Universalist. (7141 California SW)

LOOK INTO THE FUTURE … by browsing our calendar, any time!

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West Seattle New Year 2015 scenes: Needle’s fab fireworks
January 1, 2015 2:07 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle New Year 2015 scenes: Needle’s fab fireworks
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

The colorful show from the Space Needle at midnight, more visible from West Seattle than last year (remember the fog?). Our first photos are from David Hutchinson.

This was the 30th annual “New Year’s at the Needle” fireworks show, by the way. If you missed the show or want to see it again, here’s the link to KING 5’s video.

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