day : 07/02/2016 11 results

West Seattle High School music director Ethan Thomas sends word tonight of a student’s big achievement:

Maxwell Lemke (junior at West Seattle High School) placed at the top of his division at the Elliott Bay Regional Solo and Ensemble competition at SPU on Saturday. He performed the tuba solo “Beelzebub” by Andrea Catozzi, accompanied by senior Will Sullivan on piano. He will now advance to the State competition at Central Washington University in April. Both Maxwell and Will are strong members of the West Seattle High School music program and are involved in band, orchestra, jazz ensemble, and perform in the pit orchestra for our school musicals.

Maxwell’s father recorded the video during the division-winning performance.

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Truck stuck at 42nd/Holly in Morgan Junction

February 7, 2016 9:53 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

9:53 PM: Just got a text from someone at 42nd SW and SW Holly in Morgan Junction, saying that a semi-truck “tried to make the turn here and is stuck blocking the road. Need to get the word out to neighbors to move their parked cars; don’t think it’s going to be able to move otherwise.” People are going door to door, but in case you’re in the area (or headed that way), they asked us to share the alert too.

10:20 PM: Tipster (who also provided the photo – thank you!) reports a neighbor moved their car and the truck is no longer stuck.

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West Seattle development: Townhouse plan for 3062 SW Avalon Way, once planned for 100+ apartments

February 7, 2016 9:21 pm

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| Development | West Seattle news

The newest development plans on SW Avalon Way are for nine 3-story townhouses on each of two adjacent parcels, one of which was previously proposed for a 7-story, 100+-apartment building. The sites are 3062 SW Avalon Way and 3070 SW Avalon Way, which county records show were bought together for $1.4 million this week by Isola Homes.

The city file for each site shows an early-stage plan for three rows of three 3-story townhouses, with each of those nine-townhouse clusters having seven parking spaces along the alley to the north. The previous plan for 100+ apartments at 3062 SW Avalon Way, under different ownership, idled after one Design Review meeting in 2012. The new proposals are described in the city files as candidates for what the city calls Streamlined Design Review, which does not require public meetings but does have opportunities for public comment. Watch for those when the formal applications are filed for 3062 and 3070, which currently hold a duplex and 6-unit apartment building, both built in the 1950s.

These proposals do not involve an adjacent site that had been proposed for an ~100-unit apartment building, 3078 Avalon, which has separate ownership and was caught up in an appeal filed by a neighborhood group; a quick check of that file shows the most recent document activity back in September, and we’re still looking into that project’s status.

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In case you wondered about ‘assault with weapons’ call

February 7, 2016 8:37 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Thanks to those who called/e-mailed to ask about the “assault with weapons” call on the 911 log for 59th and Admiral. We just talked to the last officer who was about to leave the scene. He says it was called in as two men attacking a third on the sidewalk just southeast of the intersection; when they arrived, they found the person who was the alleged victim, but he was “noncooperative,” not in need of treatment, and left.

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High-school basketball postseason: First games

February 7, 2016 7:21 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

The regular season for high-school basketball is over and the postseason is about to begin.

The first Metro League tournament games are on the schedule for the varsity teams from West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth International High School.

GIRLS

*WSHS plays at 7:30 pm Wednesday (February 10th) at Nathan Hale HS (10750 30th NE), vs. winner of tomorrow’s Cleveland-Roosevelt game

*CSIHS plays at 7 pm Tuesday (February 9th), at Eastside Catholic HS (232 228th Ave SE, Sammamish), vs. ECHS

BOYS

*WSHS plays at 7 pm tomorrow (February 8th) at O’Dea (802 Terry), vs. O’Dea

*CSIHS plays at 7 pm Tuesday (February 9th) at home (2600 SW Thistle), vs. Roosevelt

*************

West Seattle’s only private high school, Seattle Lutheran, also is sending basketball teams to the playoffs, but opponents, locations, and times aren’t set yet – only the date: Next Saturday (February 13th) is when the SLHS boys and girls both will play their first games.

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Super Bowl Sunday sunset: West Seattle views

February 7, 2016 6:47 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to Jim Spraker (above) and James Bratsanos (below) for sharing their views of the spectacular Super Bowl Sunday sunset (via editor@westseattleblog.com), knowing you might have missed it if you were watching the game without a westward view nearby.

We photographed it too – here’s our view via Instagram:

A photo posted by West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) on Feb 7, 2016 at 5:23pm PST

Might be a few more ahead – the forecast includes sunshine for at least the next few days!

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HAPPY NEW YEAR! Celebrate Tết at Vietnamese Cultural Center in West Seattle

February 7, 2016 4:20 pm

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| Holidays | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photo from 2013 celebration at Vietnamese Cultural Center)

Looking ahead to next Sunday – you’re invited to a New Year celebration at the Vietnamese Cultural Center in West Seattle. From Lee Bui and Lynda Bui:

The Vietnamese Cultural Center would like to invite the community to our Tết Celebration for the Year of the Monkey. We will have lion dancing and fireworks. Afterwards there will be light refreshments and karaoke inside.

12 pm-3 pm Sunday, February 14th – 2236 SW Orchard St.

If you haven’t been to the VCC – here’s some backstory from the WSB archives.

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VIDEO: Seattle’s Civic Poet tells story of her ‘long journey’ at Southwest Youth and Family Services

February 7, 2016 1:03 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

You might have missed the chance this past Thursday night to hear an extraordinary West Seattleite tell her story.

Seattle’s first-ever Civic Poet, Claudia Castro Luna, headlined the quarterly Community Conversation gathering at Southwest Youth and Family Services in North Delridge. As SWYFS’s executive director Steve Daschle explained in the introduction, much of the nonprofit’s work is with immigrants and refugees, “helping them access resources and support to be successful, (with) a fabulous staff of advocates who come from the communities they’re serving.”

Take some time and listen to Castro Luna’s story of “An Immigrant’s Journey,” which we recorded on video. She arrived in the US from El Salvador in 1981, as her family fled civil war “that really destroyed the country … nobody was safe in El Salvador.” She landed in Miami on a Saturday morning, and started 10th grade there the following Monday, though she spoke no English then. What ensued was “a long journey to the place where I wanted to be,” including multiple careers. “Through the writing, I’ve come to understand my own story,” she told those who gathered to listen after complimentary dinner served by SWYFS. They also heard from members of Cambodian, Somali, and Mexican families assisted by SWYFS, which offers multiple volunteer opportunities.

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Spring sports on the way! West Seattle Girls Softball registration time

February 7, 2016 10:53 am

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(Photo courtesy West Seattle Girls Softball)

As winter sports wrap up, it’s time to gear up for spring sports – including softball! Meg Simmons from West Seattle Girls Softball shares the news that signups are happening now:

West Seattle Girls Softball is a local nonprofit recreational league for all girls ages 6-15. No previous softball experience necessary. Registration is open through February. Skills and drills clinics offered in March, with regular practices begin in late March. Season wraps up by the end of the school year. Go to westseattlegirlssoftball.com to register.

Datapoint: WSGS was founded in 1999.

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West Seattle Sunday: What else is super today

February 7, 2016 9:09 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

It was a super sunrise – vivid pinks to the east, reflected – as you see in the panorama sent by John Kalinoski – on the Olympic Mountains to the west. Here’s what’s up for the rest of your Super Bowl Sunday, besides the game (which starts at 3:30 pm):

FARMERS’ MARKET: Looking for local treats for your game-day party? Or next weekend’s Valentine celebration? The market in the street is open 10 am-2 pm as always. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)

SUPER PETS: You might find a new furry friend at the Seattle Humane MaxMobile, visiting the Farmers’ Market today, 10 am-2 pm. Look for the big bright-yellow van, likely toward the south end. (California/Alaska)

OPEN HOUSE: Little Pilgrim School, the preschool at Fauntleroy Church, has an open house 11 am-1:30 pm today. (9140 California SW)

POKEMON TRAINING CAMP: Noon-3 pm at Meeples Games (WSB sponsor), no experience necessary – info in our calendar listing. (3727 California SW)

IVAR’S STORY: The Southwest Seattle Historical Society tells us you’d better arrive at the West Seattle (Admiral) Library Branch right at opening time, 1 pm, if you want to snag a seat for Paul Dorpat‘s 1:30 pm photo-history presentation about Ivar Haglund – it’s free, but space is limited. Here’s our preview. Right after the presentation, around 3 pm, head to SWSHS’s Log House Museum for a guided tour of the Ivar exhibit; the museum’s open until 4 pm. (Library’s at 2306 42nd SW; museum’s at 61st SW/SW Stevens)

SUPER SWIM: Before the game, go in the pool – $2 family swim at Southwest Pool, 2 pm-3 pm. (2801 SW Thistle)

SUPER MUSIC: “Folk troubadour” Joe Kaplow is live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY NOTE: Some West Seattle establishments that aren’t showing the game traditionally take advantage of the chance for a break and close on Super Bowl Sunday. We don’t have a list but have seen a mention here and there around social media, so keep it in mind and check before you go.

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HAPPENING NOW: West Seattle Beach Run 2016

February 7, 2016 8:17 am

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Thanks to Bonnie for texting the photo to our hotline (206-293-6302)! The 2016 West Seattle Beach Run is on. It’s a 25K/50K “fun run” formerly known as the West Seattle Fat Ass. Runners are going from Lincoln Park to Seacrest Park and back if they’re doing the 25K, twice for the 50K (no road closures – this is on sidewalks/paths). Proceeds after expenses are going to the White Center Food Bank.

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