month : 03/2017 339 results

It’s been 10 years since Sustainable West Seattle launched (found this in our archives!) and the group is getting ready for the next decade. SWS sent the following update after its annual meeting and election of new board members:

Sustainable West Seattle’s new board is set to tackle projects in 2017!

On February 27th, Sustainable West Seattle held its Annual Meeting at the Senior Center of West Seattle. The membership elected a new board, discussed the focal points and alliances for 2017, and celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Sustainable West Seattle, SWS.

Stu Hennessey, Sustainable West Seattle’s new president, suggested that members no longer be required to pay annual dues, which was approved. SWS is transitioning to an open-membership policy and is currently considering all persons who participate in SWS meetings to be members of the organization. Tax-deductible donations to Sustainable West Seattle are appreciated and help fund operational expenses and events like Green Life at West Seattle Summer Fest.

The new board has hit the ground running and is currently working on a spring newsletter and the Green Life festival lineup (2017 schedule coming soon!). The strategic goals for 2017 have largely been set. The Green Life Festival, the transition to open membership, communication (via newsletter, website, and social media), and getting members involved in on-going projects and events, are in the focus of this year’s board. SWS’s mission is to educate, create and advocate for urban sustainability in our local community. It does so in cooperation with allies such as the West Seattle Timebank, the West Seattle Tool Library, Tox-ick.org, Community Orchard of West Seattle, Hate-Free Delridge, West Seattle Bike Connections, DIY Bikes, and West Seattle Meaningful Movies.

This is Sustainable West Seattle’s new board:

Amanda Goodwin
Position: Secretary

Amanda has been on the board of Sustainable West Seattle previously for 3 years from 2010-2012. Amanda is a dancer and choreographer and has collaborated to create a multi-disciplinary art project called Illuminatio. She is a certified Spanish translator and interpreter and has translated Illuminatio from its original Spanish (originally titled Illuminatio: Yo soy.) She also translated the stormwater presentation of Tox-ick.org into Spanish. She has taught ballet and Spanish to children. As a mother, she cares intensely about healthy living conditions, now and in the future.

Jon Grant
Position: Treasurer

Jon is a 11-year resident of West Seattle and has been volunteering for Sustainable West Seattle for most of that time. Jon is looking forward to working on the exciting projects SWS has coming up and maintaining SWS’s web presence.

Stu Hennessey
Position: President

Longtime West Seattle neighbor, lifetime Seattle resident, and Seattle native! Growing up surrounded by trees, mountains and seas, the instinctive feeling of being one with nature will never leave my consciousness. I am on the core group of several Sustainable West Seattle endeavors. Carbon-free transportation associated with West Seattle Spokespeople and DIY Bikes as well as growing food locally at COWS are my passions and commitments to a healthier and happier community. My day job is the owner of Alki Bike and Board in the Admiral District. Typical of a gardener/farmer, I like to plant seeds of change in our community, and watch them grow.

Hildegard Nichols
Position: Board member, Social Media

A resident of West Seattle for the last 10 years, Hildegard studied political economics and journalism in Mainz, Germany. She worked for many years as a free-lance journalist for public TV stations, mostly in Berlin, focusing on economy and ecology, with a special interest in rivers. Hildegard has been active in the Green Party of Seattle and looks forward to help her friends at Sustainable West Seattle get the message across, through social media.

Ibrahim Osman (no photo provided)
Position: Board – Graphic Artist

I am Ibrahim Osman, a Somali-American design student who has lived in West Seattle for 2 years. The idea of sustainability to me is pretty new, it’s not something I really thought about before. By joining Sustainable West Seattle, I hope to gain a lot of knowledge on what that means and grow in the process. I also hope to help out SWS with the skillset that I have.

Watch sustainablewestseattle.org for word of upcoming meetings and SWS projects to get involved with!

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GRATITUDE: Words of thanks from 100 Women Who Care

March 19, 2017 2:15 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| How to help | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy 100 Women Who Care/Greater Seattle)

The giving group 100 Women Who Care are sharing words of thanks for West Seattle supporters:

100 Women Who Care/Greater Seattle met at Pyramid Ale House and chose the Pink Daisy Project to receive our donation. With West Seattle neighbors’ participation, it was our largest donation to date, $4500. What a fun evening!

The Pink Daisy Project supports women who have breast cancer. It is exciting to know that our donation is going directly to women in the Seattle area to help them pay for essentials, e.g. house-cleaning assistance and gift cards for gas and groceries through the Pink Daisy Project.

We are growing! Yes, our membership has grown to 47, 16 new members since our event in October of last year. That’s a 50% increase! Big thanks to all the West Seattle neighbors that have helped increase our membership. To date, we have donated $17,600 to 6 local charities.

Remember our motto is together we can make a big difference as women who care.

100 women x $100 = $10,000 impact to a charity (we meet only 3 times/year)

Our next event is June 14th at Pyramid Ale House, 6-8 pm, to vote on a charity to receive 100% of our donation. Come join us and help make us 100 strong! As a member you get to nominate your favorite charities! Any questions, please contact us at 100womenseattle@gmail.com

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West Seattle weekend scene: Girls Jazz Band and SWOJO @ Madison

March 19, 2017 11:56 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Thanks to the anonymous reader who sent photos from last night’s first-ever Girls Jazz Band concert at Madison Middle School, where students performed after eight weeks of mentoring by the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra. Above are the student performers; below, SWOJO:

This reader said they had heard about the event via WSB and hadn’t heard of SWOJO before, but loved the concert. (Here’s the SWOJO performance calendar.) And from us, thanks for the event report!

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West Seattle Sunday: From community to cookies to conducting, and more…

March 19, 2017 8:41 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Ruby-crowned kinglet, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)

Good morning! Here’s what’s happening on your so-far-sunny Sunday:

LAST DAY FOR GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: This is it – multiple West Seattle locations and times. Find them via the online lookup.

SOUTH DELRIDGE COMMUNITY GROUP: You’re welcome to the South Delridge Community Group‘s monthly meeting, 10 am at 3.14 Bakery in White Center. (9602 16th SW)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in the street in The Junction. (California SW between SW Oregon and Sw Alaska)

OPEN HOUSE WITH FREE CLASSES: 10 am-2 pm, Evergreen Tang Soo Do Academy welcomes you to an open house, with three free classes, in its new Admiral location, a very short distance north of its old one. Details in our calendar listing. (2701 California SW)

SOCCER FUN(DRAISER): 1-3 pm at Delridge Community Center Park/Playground, by the skatepark, you’ll find this fun(draising) event with a 3v3 tournament, a juggling challenge, a chip challenge, and a dribbling competition – explained in our original story. (Delridge Way SW/Genesee)

JAMTIME: Live music with your beverage(s) at C & P Coffee Company, 1-4 pm. (5612 California SW)

VOTER-REGISTRATION TRAINING: 1:30 pm at Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor), the Outreach Committee of the 34th District Democrats is conducting a free voter-registration-training workshop. All welcome. (10015 28th SW)

MATCHDAY SHUTTLE: Check to see if there’s room on the special shuttle headed to today’s Sounders FC home opener from The Westy Sports and Spirits (WSB sponsor) – info here, including future dates. P.S. The match itself is vs. the NY Red Bulls at 4 pm. (7908 35th SW)

WSCO @ SOUTHWEST STORIES: 2 pm at the West Seattle (Admiral) Library, music and stories about how the West Seattle Community Orchestras have grown over the past 15 years! Here’s a video invitation with WSCO founder Toni Reineke:

SW Stories is free, presented by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and Seattle Public Library. (2306 42nd SW)

ALL-AGES LIVE MUSIC: Mia Day, Bug, and Lettie Mars, 6-9 pm at The Skylark. $5 cover. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

PREVIEW THE WEEK AHEAD … on our complete-calendar page.

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NEXT SATURDAY: 2 bowling benefits in West Seattle

March 19, 2017 1:04 am

| Comments Off on NEXT SATURDAY: 2 bowling benefits in West Seattle

| How to help | West Seattle news

One of West Seattle’s many unique attributes … one of the city’s last few bowling alleys. Next Saturday (March 25th), West Seattle Bowl will be the scene of two longrunning benefits … which we’re mentioning here in case you haven’t seen them in the calendar:

SEATTLE SEAFAIR COMMODORES BOWL-A-THON: Check-in starts at 9 am Saturday for the Seattle Seafair Commodores‘ 25th annual Bowl-a-Thon. It benefits the Seafair Scholarship Program for Women and covers the Commodores’ operating expenses. As the Bowl-A-Thon announcement explains, “Each Commodore donates their time and money to attend parades and events throughout the Pacific Northwest representing Seafair and the City of Seattle as goodwill ambassadors. We support the communities across Seattle and other nonprofits when asked.” Registration is $50 per adult bowler, $25 for children 12 and under. Online registration is available at seattlecommodores.com – with an incentive for registering by Monday night.

HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN ‘BOWLING FOR EQUALITY‘: Then on Saturday afternoon/evening at West Seattle Bowl, it’s the 15th annual Bowling for Equality fundraiser for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ-rights organization:

This event is always a fun time and we are excited to be back at West Seattle Bowl this year. Three sessions are available, 3-5 pm, 6-8 pm and 9-11 pm. The 3-5 pm session is a great option for families and kids. Included in your ticket price is 2 hours of bowling, shoe rental, appetizers, and most importantly an annual membership to the HRC. We have great raffle prizes, drink specials, and are thrilled to welcome back West Seattle’s own Dolly Madison as our hostess! Please purchase your tickets at hrc.im/seattlebowling – door sales may be limited. (Full details on this flyer.)

WS Bowl – at 39th SW and SW Oregon – is a fun place to be any day, but next Saturday will be big.

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UPDATE: Police investigating stabbing, one person hurt

March 18, 2017 10:36 pm

| 34 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

10:36 PM: Big police/fire response arriving in the 40th/Alaska area for a reported stabbing. More to come.

10:45 PM: The location has been changed on the SFD log to Fauntleroy/Alaska.

10:59 PM: We’ve talked with police at the scene. The victim has minor injuries. The weapon is believed to have been a screwdriver or something similar. They have taken one person into custody for questioning. What exactly happened and why, they are still trying to sort out, from multiple witness stories.

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FAUNTLEROY BOULEVARD PROJECT: 2 tours past, 2 big decisions ahead

March 18, 2017 10:20 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Transportation | Triangle | West Seattle news

(Flashing fire signal at 38th SW that is planned for conversion into pedestrian-activated signal)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

With both walking tours for the Fauntleroy Boulevard project over, big decisions are ahead for the project.

We covered both tours – Thursday afternoon (here’s our report) started in sunshine; this morning had an even bigger turnout – “impressive,” as one SDOT staffer deemed it –
despite starting in steady rain.

The route and the stops were the same – from outside LA Fitness at Fauntleroy/Alaska/39th to West Seattle Brewing at 4515 Fauntleroy Way. The fact the project is focused only on that stretch is a disappointment to one of today’s participants, René Commons from the Junction Neighborhood Organization, who lives near the 35th SW entrance to the West Seattle Bridge and had been lobbying for pedestrian and landscaping improvements extending that far – not currently in the 60-percent-designed plan to transform Fauntleroy Way through The Triangle:

One of the decisions to be made about the entire stretch is what will happen during construction, which project spokesperson Kate Cole – who, like Thursday, led about half the participants on the tour, while her colleague Rachel McCaffrey led the other half – said is more likely to start in early 2018 than late 2017.

“It’s still early,” they stressed, repeatedly. And yet it’s not so early in the design phase, which got to 60 percent before the project was shelved in 2014 pending funding.

The full-route decision to be made involves detours during construction, which is expected to last at least a year. Right now, SDOT is mulling two options: Keep Fauntleroy open one lane each way, which could stretch construction out to 15 months, or keep it open to westbound traffic only, while eastbound traffic is detoured onto SW Alaska. Asked whether left turns would be allowed during construction, SDOT staff said yes. But limiting Fauntleroy to westbound traffic would be a challenge for businesses who have eastbound customers in the morning:

The other decision to be made is about the right-turn pockets currently proposed for elimination – onto SW Oregon on the westbound side, onto Avalon Way on the eastbound side:

With three years passing since the studies that led to the elimination decision, SDOT is doing new studies now, and McCaffrey says the results should arrive in about a month. When those studies for the 2014 design were done, project team member Peter DeBoldt said, they showed a “slight increase in congestion” with the removal of the turn pockets. But as tour participants pointed out, conditions in the area have changed – anyone who drives SW Oregon between California and Fauntleroy knows how much busier it’s become; the residential areas lining it have densified, with hundreds of apartments added by projects including Oregon 42 and Junction Flats, and townhouse/rowhouse projects replacing some of the single-family houses in the area.

So the traffic-study results will be awaited with interest; how those results will be communicated to you is still being decided, she said when we talked during the tour-end event at West Seattle Brewing.

And they’re still planning what they’ll do when the final design is complete, likely “early summer,” according to McCaffrey. (We of course will continue reporting on this, but she also suggested you join the project e-mail list.)

Right now, they’re also urging businesses to talk with the city Office of Economic Development, which had a rep at the end of the tour again today.

City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, who was on today’s tour (photo above), had said during the recent Fauntleroy Way Association launch meeting that she wanted to see OED get more deeply involved. But so far, there’s been no talk of possible business compensation, as was eventually offered during the controversial 23rd Avenue project in the Central District/Capitol Hill area.

“We’ve learned from the 23rds of the world,” McCaffrey said today, as she had on Thursday.

If you’ve missed the general summary of the Fauntleroy Boulevard project, here’s how Cole summarized it at the start of today’s tour:

That’s SDOT project manager Norene Pen at left in the video, in which Councilmember Herbold also gave a quick explanation of why utilities are being “consolidated” rather than undergrounded in the project.

The two big decisions we mentioned above aren’t the only ones remaining – along the route, SDOT acknowledged the request for a break in the median in the 37th SW vicinity, and said they have to evaluate the “tradeoffs” that might generate. And they continued to clarify project points along the way today; someone asked about curb bulbs, and project manager Pen said they’ll be used on side streets to shorten crossing distance, not to narrow Fauntleroy, where the travel lanes will be “about the same” in width, another question was answered.

Other questions remain about how this plan will interface with and anticipate a future that is still in motion – with much of the surrounding area zoned for development much higher than what’s currently in place, even before potential HALA Mandatory Housing Affordability upzoning, and with Sound Transit light rail due to come to West Seattle in less than a decade and a half, and station-location decisions to be made long before then.

HOW TO HAVE A SAY: To tell the project team what you think about the design, landscaping, and key questions such as which detour option to use during construction (or – do you have another suggestion?), scroll down the official project page to find a form. You’ll also want to look at the boards that were shown at tour’s end – here (PDF), or embedded below:

McCaffrey says they will also come out and speak with community groups by request – e-mail fauntleroyblvd@seattle.gov – as they did, for example, at last month’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another package theft on video

March 18, 2017 8:58 pm

| 20 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

The photos and video are from Roger, who belatedly discovered a package theft from a little over a week ago:

47th and Graham. Just wanted to let you know that we had a package thief on March 9th, we just tracked down that it was stolen, first time in 5 years this had occurred here.

He took the package at 2 pm, after the UPS man dropped it off at 11 am. Luckily it was just a cheap door mat that day. He was definitely on a mission looking for packages, parked his truck hitting the curb, jumped out, sprinted back and forth from our front door. Doubted he even saw our cams. …

Keep on the lookout, didn’t appear to be anyone from our immediate neighborhood but please pass around.

P.S. Next West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting – to which you are invited to bring neighborhood crime and safety concerns, so you can talk with, and hear from, police – is on for Tuesday, 7 pm March 21st, at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).

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SPORTS: Victory for 2B All-State All-Stars, with two from Seattle Lutheran

March 18, 2017 7:59 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Thanks to Mike Jensen for the photo and report:

Two Seattle Lutheran High School seniors participated in today’s Washington Interstate Basketball Coaches Association All-Star game at Mountlake Terrace High School. Josh Meyer (#9) and Roberto Duenaz (#6) helped the 2B all-stars beat the 1B all-stars 132-106. Meyer scored 13 and Duenaz added 10. The WIBCA game is comprised of top players from across the state picked by coaches. Congratulations to Josh and Roberto on the conclusion of their high-school basketball career.

They also helped their team make it into this year’s state tournament.

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PHOTOS: Artists’ reception @ Virago Gallery in The Junction

March 18, 2017 6:40 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Beautiful non-rainy night – so if you’re not already busy, get out and check out art! Above, that’s Tracy Cilona, proprietor of the recently rechristened Virago Gallery (formerly Twilight) at 4306 SW Alaska. She says the name is from Latin, for “woman warrior.” Tonight, Virago has three artists in for a reception that’s continuing until 8 pm – Jordan Christianson, below, a couturier, is showing [S]HEROES: Side B:

The focus is a series of handbags inspired by woman musicians. The theme of “women in music” also runs through art painted by Mariel Andrade, who’s there tonight too:

If you don’t recognize them – Patti Smith and Poison Ivy are the musicians on the jackets in our photo (and in the top photo with Cilona, Annie Lennox and Grace Jones). While you’re at Virago Gallery tonight, you can also meet fragrance creator James Elliott:

If you can’t get to Virago before 8 tonight for the reception, this exhibit continues through month’s end at the gallery/shop in the heart of The Junction, open Tuesdays-Sundays.

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SOCCER: Tryout time for Highline Premier FC

March 18, 2017 4:41 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Soccer player(s) in the house? Highline Premier FC (WSB sponsor) has just set its next round of tryout dates, all at Walt Hundley Playfield in West Seattle:

Highline Premier FC is excited to announce upcoming tryout dates. Boys and girls born in 2009 try out on March 28 and 29. Tryouts for other ages are in April and May. HPFC provides the highest possible level of soccer development training to qualified youth players. Do not miss the opportunity for your player to take their skills to the next level and train with the best!

Birth year 2009 (boys & girls)
March 28 and 29 @ Walt Hundley, 6-7:30

Birth year 2008 (boys & girls)
April 18 and 20 @ Walt Hundley, 6-7:30

Birth year 2007-2006 (boys & girls)
April 25 & 26 and 28 @ Walt Hundley
Girls: 5:45-7:15 p
Boys: 7:15-8:45 p

Birth year 2005-2003 (boys & girls)
May 2, 3, 5 @ Walt Hundley
Girls: 5:45-7:15 p
Boys: 7:15-8:45 p

High School Girls birth year 2002 -1999
May 9, 10, & 13 at Walt Hundley, 6-7:30 p

Walt Hundley Playfields are at 3200 SW Myrtle. Register for tryouts, and find more information, by going to this page on the Highline Premier FC website.

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West Seattle scene: Indonesian campaign rally at Don Armeni

March 18, 2017 3:27 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Seen around town | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Thanks for the texted tip, wondering about people with flags at Don Armeni. We were nearby and diverted to find out. We learned this was a long-distance campaign rally supporting the incumbent governor of the Indonesian province of Jakarta, who’s in a runoff vote next month – the people in our photo (and others who were leaving as we pulled up) were taking photos to send to show international support. The big issue, they told us: Corruption, and incumbent governor Basuki’s stand against it.

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Eight weeks from today: West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2017

March 18, 2017 1:17 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

One more countdown note while we’re in the heart of a quiet-so-far Saturday: The 2017 edition of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day is exactly eight weeks away – always the second Saturday in May, and this year, that’s May 13th. WSCGSD is one big day with sales of all sizes, all over West Seattle, depending on who decides to have sales that day – your garage, your yard, your courtyard, your school, your block, wherever! Registration opens on April 5th – you’ll be able to access the signup form here on WSB as well as on our official WSCGSD site, westseattlegaragesale.com. This, by the way, will be the 13th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – the tenth one we’ve presented/coordinated – person-to-person recycling and neighbor-mingling, all over the peninsula, the region’s biggest sale day of the year!

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Six weeks from today: West Seattle Junction Day of Giving 2017

March 18, 2017 10:19 am

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| How to help | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Local businesses give a lot to the community in ways you might not realize … sponsoring walk-a-thons and youth-sports teams, donating items to school auctions … and here’s a way you can partner with dozens of them to help: The West Seattle Junction Association will have its second annual Day of Giving six weeks from today, on April 29th. As announced by WSJA this week, 10 percent of the proceeds from your shopping and dining at participating Junction businesses that day will go to a variety of causes; watch for more information as the date gets closer. More than 30 businesses for the first Junction Day of Giving last year.

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West Seattle Saturday: Giving, touring, sipping, cheering, listening, watching…

March 18, 2017 6:30 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Bushtit, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Lots to do from morning until night … starting with some giving opportunities:

SCOUTING FOR FOOD: Local Scouts are collecting food in a variety of ways – these are the troops we’ve heard from:
–Cub Scout Pack 799 in Arbor Heights will visit homes where they left doorhangers last weekend, to pick up donations.
–Cub Scout Pack 284, based at Our Lady of Guadalupe, will also be picking up in their doorhanger zone – details here.
–Cub Scout Pack 793 is picking up too – North Admiral area – details here.
–Cub Scout Pack 282 will be at West Seattle Thriftway (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan; WSB sponsor) 10 am-2 pm to accept food donations.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SALES, FINAL WEEKEND: Today and tomorrow at multiple West Seattle locations, it’s your last chance to buy this year’s cookies from local troops! Find them via the online lookup.

SHELTER WORK PARTY: 10 am-2 pm, volunteers are invited to help Mary’s Place finish getting the new White Center Family Shelter ready for its first guests – it opens next Tuesday. (10821 8th SW)

FAUNTLEROY BOULEVARD PROJECT WALK-AND-TALK TOUR: 10:30 am, meet outside LA Fitness for the second of two walking tours with SDOT, to find out, and ask questions, about the Fauntleroy Boulevard project. Here’s our coverage of the first tour back on Thursday. You’ll walk eastward along Fauntleroy Way, ending at West Seattle Brewing. (Starting point: 3900 SW Alaska)

FREE KINDERMUSIK: 12:30 pm at My Three Little Birds (WSB sponsor). Ideal for babies and toddlers, but all kids welcome. (6959 California SW)

VISCON CELLARS’ SPRING WINE RELEASE: Come try and buy the newly released 2013 vintage of two wines that Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) have been consistently winning awards for – 2013 Unforeseen – Cabernet Franc and 2013 Long Road Red – Cabernet Sauvignon.

Viscon Cellars is open 2 pm-7 pm today. (5910 California SW)

WEST SEATTLE HS BASEBALL TEAM PLAYS @ SAFECO FIELD: Free baseball at Safeco Field, with West Seattle HS in the High School Baseball Classic again this year! 4 pm, vs. Auburn Mountainview HS. Just show up! (1250 1st Avenue S.)

ARTISTS’ RECEPTION: 5-8 pm at Virago Gallery in The Junction, reception for “S/HEROES: SIDE B” by Jordan Christianson, running through March 31st, also featuring West Seattle artist Mariel Andrade. (4306 SW Alaska)

DINNER, AUCTION, FUN WITH CONCORD PTA: 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club, show your support for the Concord International School PTA and the students they’re fighting for, by enjoying dinner and an auction – ticket info here. (12th SW/SW Holden)

ROO FORREST AND FRIENDS: Live music at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm.

GIRLS JAZZ BAND: Free concert – first of its kind! – presented by the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra as the culmination of two months of working together, 7:30 pm at Madison Middle School. (45th SW/SW Spokane)

THE DEBUTONES: Northwest musicians with an eclectic repertoire, performing at 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall. (7904 35th SW)

NORTHWEST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: In concert with “Music for the Soul” at Holy Rosary, 8 pm. Details and ticket info in our calendar listing. (42nd SW/SW Genesee)

AT PARLIAMENT TAVERN: Little Edie, 9 pm-midnight. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

AT WHISKY WEST: Tonight at 9 pm, Rachelle DeBelle & The Jamfest Miracles with special performance by Linden Wood. No cover. 21+. (6451 California SW)

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@ Fauntleroy Community Association: Food Fest on Tuesday; SDOT says no to RPZ change; other updates

March 17, 2017 11:39 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

The Fauntleroy Community Association‘s annual membership meeting – known as the Food Fest because of samples from local businesses – is Tuesday, and this week’s FCA board meeting brought lots of news ahead of it.

WHO’LL BE AT THE FOOD FEST: First, an update tonight from FCA president Mike Dey – Mayor Ed Murray and City Councilmember Lisa Herbold have confirmed they’ll attend. It starts at 6 pm Tuesday (March 21st) at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW); free, but FCA invites members old and new to be ready to renew/join ($25/year).

DAYTIME RPZ REJECTED: Last fall, FCA asked SDOT to study parking in the existing Residential Parking Zone east of the Fauntleroy ferry terminal, where parking is currently restricted to permit holders between 2-5 am. The group’s concerns included Washington State Ferries employees parking in residential neighborhoods during the day and car-share vehicles. One week ago, SDOT replied to say its study found “not enough blocks meet the minimum threshold to make the requested changes to the existing RPZ.” Its letter said that they needed to find at least 10 blocks/20 blockfaces where parking was 75 percent occupied during their study; they found “approximately 6 blocks (7 blockfaces) that met the 75% threshold.” Read More

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Almost-historic rainfall

March 17, 2017 10:14 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to Aaron Wells for that sunset photo from Thursday – one of just a few days since February 1st without rain, according to the latest stats tweeted tonight by the National Weather Service:

Seattle February & March precipitation now 13.73″, 4th wettest in over 120 years. Since February 1, precip on 36 days and 40 out of 45 70%+ cloud cover.

As of right now, though, the forecasts for Sunday and Monday both contain the phrase “mostly sunny.”

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Spring arrives Monday! Celebrate it by watching the sunset with Alice Enevoldsen

March 17, 2017 8:29 pm

| Comments Off on Spring arrives Monday! Celebrate it by watching the sunset with Alice Enevoldsen

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(WSB photo from March 2015 – Alice @ spring-equinox sunset watch)

After an exceptionally soggy winter, spring officially starts at 3:29 am our time Monday. That means West Seattle’s own NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen will lead her quarterly change-of-seasons sunset watch at Solstice Park on Monday night. From Alice’s announcement:

It’s time for the 32nd seasonal sunset watch!

When: Monday, March 20 at 7:10 pm (so come at 6:45 pm)

Actual sunset is supposed to be at 7:23 pm, but we have noticed that the Sun sets about 10 minutes earlier than the USNO says, because of the horizon altitude.

Where: Solstice Park – all the way up the hill from the tennis courts

Who: Everyone welcome, as usual. (Please do leash your dogs as we usually have a good number of people, kids, and other dogs around.)

I’ll be there even if it is cloudy because sometimes the Sun peeks through just as it begins to set, but if it is driving rain or a thunderstorm, I’m staying home with some tea!

So far, the weather looks non-rainy!

P.S. As always, this event will be free, fun, low-key – drop in, drop out.

(Scene from spring 2016 sunset watch – Luca leaping onto the equinox marker at the park)

The park’s official address is 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW.

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FOLLOWUP: Dine-out benefit for New Leaf Bistro family raises $2,700+

March 17, 2017 6:29 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Standing at left, that’s Shi Qiu Chen, proprietor of the New Leaf Bistro in Admiral, with a special group of visitors this afternoon – some of her fellow local restaurateurs who donated part of their proceeds this past Wednesday to help Chen and her family deal with the sudden loss of her husband and co-proprietor Geoffrey Ly. The tally from Wednesday’s benefit, including proceeds from Baked, Circa, Itto’s Tapas, Mission Cantina, Noble Barton, Peel & Press, The Westy, and gift cards from The Bridge, totaled $2,772. Dan Austin from Peel & Press – who announced the plan back on Monday – explained that the restaurant community is mutually supportive and when they found out about the New Leaf Bistro situation, there was no question they would find a way to help.

P.S. This is in addition to the GoFundMe online fundraiser organized by NLB patron/friend Suzanne Krom, which is continuing here, with more than 330 people contributing almost $20,000 in less than two weeks. Here’s our original report; here’s last weekend’s followup, with messages of gratitude from the family.

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ANOTHER PROJECT LAUNCH: Chief Sealth High School Walkway Improvements

March 17, 2017 4:12 pm

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| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

The Harbor/Spokane/Avalon project mentioned here on Thursday is one of two community-proposed West Seattle projects to get Neighborhood Street Fund money this year. Today, SDOT is launching the feedback process for the other one – now going by the title Chief Sealth High School Walkway Improvements, for a stretch of city right-of-way between the school and Westwood Village, east of Southwest Athletic Complex. Here’s the description of what’s being planned:

The project will improve connectivity, walkability, and safety for residents and students who currently use two unimproved and overgrown paths on 25th and 26th avenues SW, between SW Trenton and SW Cloverdale streets. Project elements include:

Two 10-foot wide asphalt walkways on 25th and 26th avenues SW running between SW Trenton St and the cul-de-sac to the north

Pedestrian lights along the two paths

Removal of overgrown vegetation and installation of new trees and plants where appropriate

Possible new plaza space at 25th Ave SW and SW Trenton St, either defined by paint or constructed with concrete

This is the first phase of outreach and we’d like to hear from you! Email us by April 9 to let us know:

What do you like about the design so far?

Do you have any concerns?

What would you like to see at the possible plaza area at 25th Ave SW and SW Trenton St?

How would you want to use this space?

What else would you like us to know about how you use this area?

What improvements would you like to see?

Do you have recommendations for how to keep people informed about the project?

Send your answers, and any other comments, to NSFChiefSealthWalkway@seattle.gov. The project is being designed this year, for construction next year. Here’s the SDOT document for the review of the original concept, estimated to cost $465,000; here’s our coverage of one of the meetings last year where pitches were made for this and other potential NSF projects in east West Seattle.

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BIZNOTES: Radio Shack closures; plan for ex-Cask; new Eat-Play-Love

March 17, 2017 3:09 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle business notes today:

RADIO SHACKS CLOSING: Thanks to Mike for the tip: Both West Seattle Radio Shacks now have big “CLOSING” banners out front. We stopped in the Westwood Village store (photo above) to ask for details – they say March 29th is their last day if they don’t sell everything out by then. (They couldn’t comment on whether the storefront would stay open as a Sprint store, which is happening with some RS locations co-housed with Sprint.) You might have suspected this if you’ve been following the national news about the chain’s woes.

WHAT’S GOING IN THE FORMER CASK: City permit-application files show that Kumon is seeking to open a tutoring center in the Admiral space where The Cask closed in 2014 (2350 California SW). We have an inquiry out to the company about their timeline.

EAT-PLAY-LOVE FAMILY LEARNING CENTER: This is a new business launched by local speech therapist/childhood-development specialist Tanna Neufeld, expanding her offerings “to offer a series of services for our West Seattle families.” They include playgroups, workshops, and more; her center is on the fourth floor of the Jefferson Square office building, 4700 42nd SW, Suite 447.

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ORCA ALERT: ‘Transient’ killer whales southbound off West Seattle

March 17, 2017 2:20 pm

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| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to Alisa for the text: She says transient orcas are in the area, southbound, “slightly north of and between Alki and Restoration Point.” A little murky out there with the rain, but … let us know if you see them!

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West Seattle Friday: St. Patrick’s Day, etc.

March 17, 2017 1:25 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

The mysterious green stripe on 41st SW, north of Admiral Way, has been refreshed for St. Patrick’s Day 2017. (Thanks to Trish for the tip!) Our calendar preview for today/tonight includes a few opportunities for the wearing of the green:

SEATTLE POLICE PIPES AND DRUMS: Their citywide St. Patrick’s Day tour includes a 5:15 pm stop at Providence Mount St. Vincent. (4831 35th SW)

MOVIE NIGHT AT HPIC: At Highland Park Improvement Club tonight:

Doors open at 6:00 pm with a children’s short at 6:15 and the main movie at 7. Free admission. Volunteers will be selling popcorn, candy, and other movie fare. Bring blankets and pillows or sit in our chairs. This is an all-ages event. Bring your friends, family, and neighbors.

Double Feature! Short movie hint: Space-age fun with George and Jane and Judy and Elroy and don’t forget Astro! Feature movie hint: 2005 G (1 hr 25 minutes). In this British stop-motion animated comedy, a man and his loyal dog set out to discover the garden sabotage that plagues their village and threatens the annual giant vegetable growing contest.

(12th SW/SW Holden)

BOBCAT BOB: Guitarist/song stylist, longtime local favorite, at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

SWINDLER ST. PATRICK’S DAY THROWDOWN: Funk/groove fusion, 9 pm @ Parliament Tavern. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

AUTHOR UNKNOWN: Live music at Alki Beach Pub, 9:30 am-1:30 pm. (2722 Alki SW)

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