West Seattle, Washington

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month : 05/2017 330 results

IT TAKES A PENINSULA: Sanislo Elementary’s kids are counting on you
May 31, 2017 10:20 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

So many things that should be basics for students are now “extras.” So, along with raising and educating kids, parents and teachers have to be crowdfunders and event planners, among other things. Some schools’ core communities have resources to draw on … some don’t. In the latter category is the little elementary school in a wooded corner of Puget Ridge, Sanislo. Its longtime tagline has been “the small school with big ideas.” One big idea: Ask the wider community for support. Rebecca Evans hopes you’ll answer the call:

Sanislo Elementary’s Tropical Nights annual auction is next Friday, June 9th at 6 pm. WE HAVE ONLY SOLD 40 out of 200 tickets! While desperation is not really my thing, I’m afraid we will really let the students down if I don’t make a serious call for help.

We are a Title I school and are already limited on financially capable parents, community support and attendees to combat this. Other neighborhood schools in the area have the capability to raise anywhere between 80-120k at their auctions…we have a goal of 5k.

Underserved students have a much higher chance of resorting to unhealthy activity in life like violence, crime, and drugs when not supported otherwise. With 70% of our students receiving free or reduced lunch, a high percentage of refugee families trying to assimilate to a new environment, and an 18% homeless rate, our students are, statistically, primary targets for these outcomes.

Through your support, we have the ability to re-direct mindsets, perceptions and natural barriers to success by providing educational and enrichment EQUITY to help ALL our students become contributing community members by way of support services and enrichment programs.

Please consider supporting the youth in your community by purchasing a ticket and joining us for a night of great fun, food, and music.

We have Two Story Zori, a popular Island band who will be performing and lots of fantastic items for bidding!

You can purchase tickets at www.sanislo.org, where you can also donate to the school’s efforts, even if you aren’t able to make the event!

Please please please consider being a part of changing the narrative! The difference you can make through this small contribution could be life-lasting for our students.

Tickets are only $10 online in advance, including a drink, and the party’s at the legendary Highland Park Improvement Club.

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WEST SEATTLE FOOD & DRINK: Hawks Nest West opens Thursday on Alki Beach
May 31, 2017 8:28 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | WS beverages

Half a year ago, we told you about the plan for the former Alki Huddle to become Hawks Nest West. After extensive remodeling of the space at 2806 Alki SW, The Hawks Nest is finally ready to open its Alki expansion – in “soft open” mode tonight, and then officially opening at 3 pm tomorrow (Thursday, June 1st). We stopped by for photos late today.

Like its sibling establishment in SODO – and as you would guess from the name – Hawks Nest West has a sports theme.

Here’s a photo of the menu. It will be open 3 pm to midnight for the first two weeks, we’re told, then 11 am to midnight, with weekend brunch to be added soon.

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CLOSING DAY: Hours left to tell West Seattle PCC ‘goodbye for now’
May 31, 2017 4:54 pm
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The supermarket’s shelves are mostly bare.

The chain’s CEO stood among them, looking around, and was … happy.

That’s the unusual scene we encountered this afternoon at PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor), which has hours to go before closing for the site’s redevelopment, including its new store, almost twice as big. Cate Hardy, PCC CEO and West Seattle resident, explained that the empty shelves represent a gift of sorts – they put much of the merchandise on sale in hopes of selling as many items as possible to the store’s loyal, local customers, instead of doing what a supermarket chain might do instead, just load up the leftovers and truck them to another store.

Our photos tell the story of just how much has been sold. The last prepared foods, Hardy noted, were cooked a few hours ago – the deli wasn’t sold out yet when we visited at mid-afternoon, but the store’s closing early tonight – 10 pm – and we can’t guarantee you’ll find much of anything if you visit this evening. The produce section, for example, was not only mostly bare, the center display stands had been moved out.

As Hardy walked us around the store, she noted that much of its equipment will be set up in the new Burien store opening next year. Many staffers are moving to other stores; Corinne, West Seattle manager for four years, isn’t – she told us she’s “semi-retiring.” For now.

She and other staffers have special West Seattle pins in commemoration of the soon-to-be-demolished store. Hardy observed that the “energy level is high” despite the looming shutdown, and that’s what we observed too.

The store had a Staff Appreciation Day party two weeks ago, with food trucks (including vegan Plum Bistro). And this afternoon, a mini-bash with (organic, of course) corn dogs and ice cream was happening in the upstairs break room. That’s also where employees are signing the wall:

They’re also proud of the cards and other messages they’ve received expressing appreciation:

Before customers exit the front door, they’re seeing this sign, with the reminder of other PCC stores, plus delivery options – Instacart and Prime Now – that will bring PCC merchandise to customers in West Seattle.

PCC is scheduled to reopen in 2019 as the only retail tenant in the Madison Development Group project on the site, which also will include 100+ apartments and 150+ offstreet parking spaces, including the existing surface corner lot west of the alley.

LOOKING FOR BACKSTORY? This WSB report from 11 months ago, when PCC finalized its spot in the new development, has a lot.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Car-prowl suspect caught, thanks to watchful neighbors
May 31, 2017 3:57 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

We heard much of this unfold on the scanner early today, but not enough for a report until the Block Watch captain sent this in:

:We reported, and SPD arrested, a car prowler on our block, 8800 block of 42nd Ave SW, last night/this am @ 12:30 AM.

From our front window we observed a man getting out of the car that is not working parked across the street … This was suspicious as that car does not move. The suspect moved down the block, zig zagging, trying every car and getting into some and sitting – probably stealing. By this time we had called 911. SPD response was within 3 min. They were able to apprehend the suspect … and they took him to jail. Hope he spent the night thinking about his actions! … Please keep a sharp eye out for any suspicious behavior and don’t be shy about calling 911. Their quick response time was commendable. We had no less than 8 SPD cars on the block within a few minutes of our call.

Response times, of course, can vary depending on what else was going on … before that, it was pretty quiet in this area. There was also a big response this morning when a neighbor near 25th/Roxbury called in a report of someone entering a house through a window .. the house turned out to be “registered as vacant,” according to police-radio traffic. We don’t know how that one turned out.

Speaking of strengthening crime prevention and safety in your neighborhood – Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Burbridge just sent word that registration is open for this year’s Night Out – Tuesday, August 1st:

National Night Out registration is officially open! Registration remains open until 5 pm on Monday July 31st. Community members can visit seattle.gov/police/community-policing/night-out to register and access printable invitations, street closure signs, and logos for your event.

Night Out is a national event promoted in Seattle by Seattle Police Department Crime Prevention. It is designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts, and unite our communities.

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Move STEM K-8 so Boren could co-house Alki and Lafayette? Ahead of tomorrow’s meeting, district explains
May 31, 2017 2:34 pm
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

As mentioned here last week, Seattle Public Schools reps will be at Louisa Boren STEM K-8 tomorrow night for a meeting about the possibility that the district will seek to move the school to another building.

The STEM community has since received more elaboration from associate superintendent Flip Herndon about what’s being considered and why. He says that as the district plans its February 2019 BEX V ballot measure, with possible school renovation/reconstruction projects including Alki and Lafayette Elementaries, they’re assessing what they have for interim sites – and finding the inventory lacking. Boren had long been an interim site, Herndon notes, and is bigger than what’s left around the city. His statement says Alki and Lafayette might be rebuilt at the same time, and that would “require a site to accommodate more than 1,000 elementary students.” Herndon’s message continues:

Current possibilities on interim locations would still be John Marshall (in use until 2021), Original Van Asselt (in use 2018-2020), Roxhill, Schmitz Park, Webster (won’t be open for any use until 2020).

The possibility of having Boren used as an interim site, as it has been in the past, would clearly have an impact on the STEM K-8 School and any move would require that any new space would be able to meet the facility needs of the program, which would include lab spaces and rooms that are able to meet the academic needs of all students. We realize that there are some concerns about needs at any site they include spaces to support CTE programs, science, two PE teachers, athletics, seven special education programs, preschool, technology integration, and middle school programming in general. Furthermore, STEM K-8 will have experienced dramatic change and growth for four consecutive years through 2017-18. Moving to a facility with significant limitations will disrupt efforts to build consistency and stability in a new K-8 program. Timing is a challenge as well. Work has to be done in preparation for any site, interim or not, in the 2017-19 timeframe to be prepared for school needs. We are also looking at the balance of options within clusters of schools. We are trying to make sure every middle school attendance area has additional options for students and families.

We are having the conversations now so we can get the perspective and understanding of impacts before we make any final decisions on how we will be able to accommodate our physical capacity needs for the next 10-20 years. These decisions and conversations are not taken lightly and they are helping to have SPS be able to meet multiple demands from multiple communities. We are looking at making some decisions, at the earliest, in October 2017 and at the latest January 2018.

Meantime, the STEM PTA is making its case about why the school needs to stay at the location designated its permanent site in 2013, rather than make a move considered likely to be to the former Schmitz Park Elementary campus:

• In its current location, STEM is able to serve all of West Seattle. By contrast, the boundaries of Schmitz Park’s northwest location would negatively impact equitable access to the school for students in the community.

• STEM is the only option school in the Denny Middle School service area, and has a geographic zone aligned with West Seattle Elementary. That geozone would change if the school moves to Schmitz Park, which means placement of students from the less diverse, more affluent neighborhoods of West Seattle would take priority over students living in the central and south areas.

• The current capacity of the Schmitz Park building is 216 without portables. The public voted to approve the BEX IV levy, in part, to get children out of portables. Moving a school from an adequate site to one where 60% of students would be in portables disregards the wishes of the taxpayers and the goal of the District to provide permanent classrooms for West Seattle’s growing student population.

• STEM provides a unique project-based curriculum. The high demand for this type of curriculum, as demonstrated by our projected 2017-18 enrollment of 539 (and waitlist of 189), will continue to grow and can only be accommodated at Boren. STEM’s Special Education families depend on the valuable services offered at the school – any disruption to these services is unacceptable.

• Schmitz Park was designed as an elementary school and does not have the physical infrastructure to support middle-school programs and activities.

• A move to Schmitz Park will create logistical hardships for families living in the southern neighborhoods of West Seattle, increase transportation costs for the school district, and increase vehicle traffic in the residential neighborhood surrounding the location.

Thursday night’s meeting is at 6:30 pm at STEM K-8 (5950 Delridge Way SW).

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How much does King County say your property is worth? New notices going out
May 31, 2017 2:11 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

If you own property, your new valuation notice(s) will arrive sometime in the next few months. And prepare yourself for possible jumps – the areas of King County where the average valuation has gone up double digits, the county assessor says, include these:

· Boulevard Park / White Center – 18.6%
· High Point / Highland Park – 15.8%
· Eastern West Seattle – 13%

Here’s the full news release (and note the part about appraisers – the county doesn’t want you to be startled if one visits you):

The King County Assessor’s Office has begun the annual process of mailing valuation notices to over 700,000 property owners. Notices will continue arriving to property owners through September.

In most areas of the county, property values are up again this year. Higher valuations, however, do not necessarily translate into higher property taxes, said Assessor John Wilson.

“Most people don’t realize that the fluctuating value of your property has less to do with changes in your tax bill than do measures approved by voters,” said Wilson. “Decisions made by voters, in terms of approving special levies; and by elected officials in terms of adopting budgets, determine the total amount of tax to be collected in your area; the value of your property determines your share of that total amount.”

Wilson continues to encourage property owners to sign up to receive their annual property valuation notice via email instead of through the USPS. This electronic valuation notice program is convenient for property owners, will save money for the Department of Assessments, and is environmentally friendly.

To sign up, go to kingcounty.gov/assessor and click on the Go Paperless window for details. Paperless notifications saves taxpayer dollars in staff time, materials and postage.

Property owners who believe their assessment may be incorrect, can appeal to the Board of Equalization (BOE). This must be done within 60 days of receipt of the 2017 valuation notice. Details are available (here) – the BOE (is here).

State law requires each county assessor to revalue property annually, and to conduct an on-site physical inspection of each property at least once every six years. Property values are determined by certified appraisers who assess property based on comparable sales, various attributes of a particular property, and/or income generated by the property.

You can also check your county-determined property value online via the King County Parcel Viewer.

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UPDATE: Rescue response for construction-site injury in The Junction
May 31, 2017 11:46 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news


(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

11:46 AM: Seattle Fire has just increased the size of its response to an incident at 41st and Oregon. It’s described as an injured person on the 2nd floor of an under-construction building. We have a crew on the way.

11:53 AM: SFD says the person they’ll be rescuing from the project – which is the under-construction Quail Park (WSB sponsor) at 4515 41st SW [map] – is a man about 40 years old with a leg injury.

11:56 AM: SW Oregon is blocked between California and 41st because of the emergency response. Our crew has just arrived; we’ve added a photo showing the blocked street. SFD is using a ladder truck to bring down the patient so he can be taken to the hospital.

12:10 PM: Our crew reports the man is safely down and in the medic unit.

12:26 PM: He’s in stable condition, according to SFD, which told us that there were early indications the injury happened when something fell on him. The state usually investigates work-site injuries and we will be checking with them. Meantime, our crew says SW Oregon just reopened.

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West Seattle Wednesday: PCC closing day; Lowman Beach seawall meeting; more…
May 31, 2017 11:09 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous


(Sun through the trees along the track at Hiawatha, photographed last weekend)

Highlights for the rest of your Wednesday:

CAREER FAIR: Under way now until 1 pm at Bartell Drugs‘ corporate headquarters in West Seattle:

Interview on-site for: Pharmacy Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Pharmacist, Pharmacy Manager, Cashier, Receiving/POS Clerk, 2nd Assistant Manager, Assistant Manager, Store Manager. Entry level and management level roles available.

Bring your resumé. (4025 Delridge Way SW, #400)

LAST DAY FOR WEST SEATTLE PCC BEFORE CONSTRUCTION CLOSURE: After today, PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) closes its current store in advance of the site owner’s redevelopment project, which will include a new, larger PCC store. Here’s our story from last week about your options during construction. (2749 California SW)

LOWMAN BEACH SEAWALL MEETING: The north seawall at Lowman Beach Park is crumbling. Seattle Parks is looking at removing it. Will the tennis court east of it stay? Parks invites you to learn, and comment, at an open house tonight at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 6:30-7:30 pm. (9131 California SW)

THE BILLY JOE SHOW: 8-11 pm at Parliament Tavern: “Honky tonk for the soul with Billy Joe Huels of The Dusty 45s, featuring Robin Cady, Kohen Burrill, and guitar legend Rod Cook.” 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

WEEKLY OPEN MIC: No cover, 21+, 8:30 pm at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

LOOK INTO THE FUTURE … via our complete calendar.

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COUNTDOWN: 10 days to first-ever Roll Hawks 5K benefiting Chief Sealth IHS
May 31, 2017 10:21 am
|    Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: 10 days to first-ever Roll Hawks 5K benefiting Chief Sealth IHS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

It’s fun to be first!

On June 10th, you can claim that label just by participating in the first-ever Roll Hawks 5K at Lincoln Park, presented by the Chief Sealth International High School PTSA to benefit the school’s cross-country team. You can register right now by going here – all registered runners get “a T-shirt, bag of local discounts, and smiles along the entire course.” The Roll Hawks 5K is set to start at 9 am Saturday, June 10th, near the waterfront picnic shelters at the park.

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FOLLOWUP: Tackling port-truck backups
May 31, 2017 8:55 am
|      32 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

In April, we published a warning from the Port of Seattle that truck traffic was expected to increase in May, especially at Terminal 18 on Harbor Island, as shipping alliances shifted. And indeed, we’ve been hearing concerns about backups, including onto the westbound bridge from the Harbor Island exit, early in the morning. Just before the holiday weekend, we asked SDOT what’s being done; just after it, spokesperson Sue Romero replied:

SDOT’s Transportation Operations Division is in regular contact with the Port of Seattle and Northwest Seaport Alliance about Terminal 18’s increased truck volume. The Port and Alliance send daily updates on changes made to help alleviate the truck volumes – especially in the early morning and after lunch time, when volumes can be high. Terminal 18 management now opens their gates earlier and are storing some 300-400 trucks on their property before they begin the day, to try and prevent early backups. They have also opened more entrances for truck intake on Harbor Island (Gates 2 and 4) instead of using only their main gate (Gate 1).

Portable signs, supplied by the Port of Seattle and the Alliance, have helped direct trucks to the additional gates, and SDOT is reviewing more permanent signage to help direct trucks to their destination and alleviate congestion. The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement team, as well as Port of Seattle Police and the Seattle Police Department, have worked to help clear choke points. We have also been in contact with the affected businesses on Harbor Island to help understand their own needs as truck traffic increases due to the altered patterns around Terminal 18.

Over the Memorial Day weekend, Terminal 18 management opened their facilities on Saturday and then took the unusual step of adding extra hours on Monday, Memorial Day, to help reduce the number of weekday deliveries.

We checked traffic cameras this morning for any signs of backups; none were in view. If you see recurrences, however early, please consider letting us know once you arrive wherever you’re going (unless you’re a passenger and can safely call or text) – 206-293-6302 – as we’d like to keep following up on this.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Last day of May
May 31, 2017 6:52 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

6:52 AM: Good morning! We’ve checked around and are finding no current incidents in/from West Seattle.

NOTES: In the stadium zone, you’ll find Mariners traffic tonight, as the team starts a new homestand (7:10 pm vs. Colorado) … Looking ahead, the Highway 509 NB repaving project starts Sunday …

8:09 AM: SDOT reports a stalled vehicle on NB 99 north of the bridge partly blocking the bus lane.

8:36 AM: The vehicle’s been cleared to the shoulder, SDOT reports.

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BIZNOTE: Camp Crockett unleashes expansion location in Burien
May 30, 2017 11:29 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | West Seattle news

Need dog day camp, grooming, boarding to the south? Camp Crockett (WSB sponsor) has joined the parade of West Seattle businesses expanding into Burien. The announcement is from CC’s Vanessa Crevling:

We are proud to announce the Grand Opening of our second Camp Crockett location. We now offer day camp to pups in Burien!

This morning, at 7 am, the doors to our new camp officially opened! Our Burien camp is located at 626 SW 154th St., Burien. Telephone number is 206.708.1178.

Our new day camp offers 6,000 square feet of outdoor play area where the pups can run around and enjoy themselves. We also offer an indoor/outdoor play area with lots of cushions for tired campers and plenty of toys for everyone!

Grooming and boarding are two more services our new Burien location also offers.

It’s been two and a half years since Camp Crockett opened its West Seattle location in North Delridge.

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VIDEO: Little river otters, ducking under cars on Beach Drive
May 30, 2017 9:40 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:40 PM TUESDAY: Thanks to Lura for the video recorded tonight along Beach Drive SW, south of Me-Kwa-Mooks. Those are two young river otters, first spotted, she told us, under a car – as you can see in the video, they emerged from beneath one car, and loped along to a spot beneath another one. While river otters are often seen swimming in Puget Sound off West Seattle shores, their dens are on land, so you might suddenly see one crossing your path (as shown in our 2012 photo from Duwamish Head) or crossing a road … be careful!

P.S. Want to know more about river otters? Take a deep dive with this state Department of Fish and Wildlife infopage.

ADDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: Didn’t realize until a message from Cassie that today is World Otter Day!

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Car prowl on video; break-in; burglar-deterrent advice from your Crime Prevention Coordinator
May 30, 2017 8:31 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Two reader reports tonight, plus new crime-prevention advice:

CAR PROWL ON VIDEO: From Steve in east Admiral:

Just a quick notice about a car prowl that occurred early yesterday morning in the Belvidere district, on 37th Ave SW between Stevens & Lander. The prowl was at approximately 3:00 am and involved our Camry. Lots of stuff strewn about in the car, but the only things taken were a cheap car charger, my Ray-Ban Wayfarer (original) sunglasses and an inexpensive portable electric air compressor (tire pump) in the trunk. I’ve attached a video from our neighbor showing the van in question; you see it cruise slowly, stop by our car (through the shrubbery), then pull slightly over and turn off their lights.

I’ve filed a police report and they have a still image of the vehicle. I just wanted to get the word out to our neighbors.

CONDO BREAK-IN: Bill from Duwamish Head reports his condo building was broken into last night:

It is the same M.O. as previous break-ins here and along Harbor, Alki, and Beach condominiums. Thief or thieves cut through the metal siding to gain access.

We’re following up to ask what if anything was taken. And speaking of burglaries …

BURGLARY PREVENTION ADVICE AND MORE: Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Burbridge sent her newest newsletter today:

As noted at the end of the newsletter (PDF version here), along with other bonus information, you can get onto Burbridge’s list by e-mailing her at jennifer.burbridge@seattle.gov – and you’ll get the newsletter sent directly to your inbox.

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COUNTDOWN: 4 days to West Seattle High School centennial celebration, All-School Reunion, ‘Group Hug’ photo
May 30, 2017 7:05 pm
|    Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: 4 days to West Seattle High School centennial celebration, All-School Reunion, ‘Group Hug’ photo
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Our photo of West Seattle High School‘s north side is from last Saturday evening, around the same time that the big All-School Reunion and Centennial Celebration will be wrapping up THIS Saturday (June 3rd). Reunion planners have just sent full details of how the event will unfold – including the “Group Hug” photo in which all community members (not just alums, students, and staffers) are invited to participate:

West Seattle High School Alumni Association, along with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the opening of our school building at the 2017 All School Reunion on June 3rd.

This year’s event will have a special community photo to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the landmark West Seattle High School building, during which the West Seattle Big Band will be performing.

2017 Schedule of Events

4:00 – 4:30 pm
Pick up programs, name tag, and roam the halls

4:30 – 5:15 pm
Individual Class Reunions in assigned rooms

4:30 – 5:15 pm
“92 Years of Westside Pride” video in the Theater

5:15 – 6:15 pm
Presentations in the Theater: Hall of Fame induction, Scholarships Awarded, Recognition of the 50th Reunion of the Class of 1967

6:15 – 6:30 pm
Assemble outside the North Entrance for the Group Hug Photo

6:30 pm
Photo shoot – please be prompt

All are invited to join us for the event. For more information, or to volunteer to help, contact Jim Biava, All School Reunion chair, jim@jimbiava.com, or Clay Eals, executive director, Southwest Seattle Historical Society, clay.eals@loghousemuseum.info.

WSHS All-School Reunion After-Party

And finally, join us at one of West Seattle’s newest and coolest pubs (21 and over), Whisky West (6451 California SW), after the West Seattle High School All-School Reunion. Whisky West is sponsoring the event, with funds raised going to the WSHS Alumni Association.

Grab a bite from the tantalizing menu, catch up with friends and dance the night away with the Nitemates, a well-loved band made up entirely of fellow alumni members who have together been delivering classic rock since 1962. They too are contributing to our alumni association – come check out special music-related auction items to lucky bid-winners! And special appearances by the Brian and Janie Show.

Custom-designed drinks to honor our school, with awesome music and classmates, a beautiful venue in The ‘Hood – what’s not to love?

There will be a silent auction at the ASR with a lineup of exciting purchases to bid on, and a live auction of two music-related items at the after-party.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Thunderstorms arrive
May 30, 2017 5:42 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Thunderstorms arrive
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

5:42 PM: As noted last night along with a view of that spectacular sunset, thunderstorms were in the forecast – and now they’re here. After half a dozen rounds of rumbling, the rain’s just begun.

6:16 PM: Short-lived thunderstorms! Calm out there now.

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UPDATE: Small fire in 4900 block SW Hanford
May 30, 2017 4:47 pm
|    Comments Off on UPDATE: Small fire in 4900 block SW Hanford
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news


(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)

4:47 PM: Big initial response for what turned out to be a small fire this past hour at a house in the 4900 block of SW Hanford (map). Metro says Route 57 is rerouted until SFD units clear. We’re checking on the fire’s cause.

4:59 PM: Firefighters at the scene tell us it was a small electrical fire but they stayed around a while to monitor and be certain it hadn’t spread. They’re certain now, and getting ready to leave, so the road should reopen before long.

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Rainbow Parrot Art: Welcome, new West Seattle Blog sponsor!
May 30, 2017 3:01 pm
|    Comments Off on Rainbow Parrot Art: Welcome, new West Seattle Blog sponsor!
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Summer vacation is weeks away – and so is camp season! Rainbow Parrot Art is a new WSB sponsor, and here’s what they’d like you to know about what they offer:

“Ms. Reuter is very cool! She takes art to the next level, and the next! In Art Workshop, we make gingerbread houses, A LOT of awesome clay sculptures, and toilet-paper clothing! Art with her rocks!”
~ Mia, 5th-grade student

“After attending her first class, my daughter asked to be signed up for the rest of the year. The projects are always unique and the environment is very caring. She comes out with a smile each week.”
~ Kristi, parent of 3rd-grade student

Rainbow Parrot Art is celebrating three years of spectacular kids’ art workshops, camps, and classes in West Seattle. Rainbow Parrot Art has recently expanded its course offerings to include 4 weeks of summer camps and 2 weekly after school classes during the school year. “There is nothing more exciting than watching my students light up with joy when they get excited about their art. Art has the power to really transform kids,” says Rainbow Parrot Art founder Lacey Reuter.

Reuter, a Tacoma native, graduated from the American University of Paris, France, and has a background in fine art, art history, teaching, and mindfulness meditation. She has lived and studied art in Japan, French Polynesia, and Ghana. Since 2011, she has taught hundreds of students at St. Joseph School, Holy Rosary School, and Seattle Lutheran High School.

Glitter-bomb birds of paradise, flying plaster pigs, and rainbow cookie-dough sculpture are just a few of the epic projects that Rainbow Parrot Art looks forward to tackling during this summer’s art camps.

For more information on kids’ summer art camps and art classes, visit rainbowparrotart.com. Also, hear what others are saying and visit us on Yelp!

We thank Rainbow Parrot Art for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

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HALA REZONING: Council briefed on ‘community design workshops,’ gets newest timeline
May 30, 2017 12:43 pm
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The next milestone in the process of shaping the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda component known as Mandatory Housing Affordability will come next week.

That’s when the draft Environmental Impact Statement will be made public, the City Council was told this morning.

That announcement came from Office of Planning and Community Development‘s Sara Maxana, a key staffer working on HALA, toward the end of a council briefing on the Community Design Workshops held in the city’s 17 urban villages as part of the HALA MHA feedback process.

Councilmember Rob Johnson‘s office organized the workshops, and this morning’s briefing featured his staff’s point person for them, Spencer Williams, as well as John Howell from Cedar River Group, one of the consulting firms that facilitated them, along with Makers Architects. The slide deck above is the summary of what they say they heard in the workshops (and it’s here in PDF).

We monitored this morning’s briefing and discussion via Seattle Channel; here’s the video – the briefing starts about 43 minutes in:

West Seattle’s design workshops were held for each of the four WS urban villages:Read More

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SATURDAY: Gun-safety advocates plan ‘Wear Orange’ Alki Beach walk, rally
May 30, 2017 10:52 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

Gun-safety advocates are planning a walk and rally along Alki Beach this Saturday (June 3rd). While the timing might make you wonder if it’s in reaction to last week’s as-yet-unsolved deadly shooting, it’s a long-planned event in connection with National Gun Violence Awareness Day, which is this Friday. We hadn’t received an announcement about this, but after seeing a flyer posted at a local park, we contacted the sponsoring organization for details. They tell us the event will start with a “Wear Orange” (explained here) walk from Anchor Park at 11 am Saturday; it’ll be on the path/sidewalk, so no road closure is involved. Walkers will head to Alki Beach, where they tell us the walk will be “followed by gun violence survivor speakers. There will also be an art display of 93 pairs of orange shoes organized by a survivor of gun violence.” The speakers are expected to start around 12:15 pm.

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Lou Cutler returning to Pathfinder K-8 for annual Make-A-Wish fun(draising) run Friday
May 30, 2017 9:22 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | Pigeon Point | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo)

Showers or shine, this year’s edition of Laps with Lou is on for Friday! That’s the latest from retired Pathfinder K-8 PE teacher Lou Cutler, who will return to the Pathfinder field on Pigeon Point this Friday for his annual Make-A-Wish fundraising run. It’s linked to his birthday, so every year he runs one lap for every year he’s celebrating, and this year that’ll be 66 laps! Students and staff join Lou throughout the day, and you’re invited to come to Pathfinder to be part of it too. He plans to get started at 8:45 am this Friday (June 2nd). He’s been doing this for 18 years, and pledges have raised more than $66,000 to grant wishes for local children with life-threatening medical conditions. Lou himself has not only been raising money for Make-A-Wish but has also been a volunteer wish-granter for 21 years. Whether or not you can be at Pathfinder (1901 SW Genesee) Friday to cheer him on and/or run a lap yourself, you can donate to Make-A-Wish in his honor by going here.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Post-holiday Tuesday
May 30, 2017 6:52 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Post-holiday Tuesday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

6:52 AM: Good morning – it’s back to work and back to school post-holiday. Nothing major on the outbound routes so far.

9 AM: A relatively quiet commute – the afternoon still carries a chance of thunderstorms, forecasters say, so we’ll be on weather watch throughout the day as well as traffic watch. Thanks in advance for your tips if you see anything your fellow West Seattleites need to know about – 206-293-6302 is our 24/7 hotline (but if you’re driving, don’t call/text us until you’re safely at your destination!).

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Three reader reports
May 29, 2017 11:56 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three reader reports to share before the long weekend ends:

STREET ROBBERY: Eric‘s son was robbed around 5:30 pm in Highland Park last Wednesday.

My son (who’s 14) was walking, I believe, on 12th between Trenton and Henderson and he was robbed, for his shoes. A man, appearing to be in his early twenties snuck up behind him, claimed he had a weapon, and told my son to give him his shoes. He did and then the man ran off, at which point my son called 911. No luck in finding him or the shoes but I thought it might be something people would want to be aware of. It’s a bummer it has to be this way but kids should try to walk in groups and keep their eyes open.

KEEPSAKE DVDs, CDs STOLEN: From Betty:

On Thursday I discovered my PODS had been broken into on 45th between Alaska and Edmunds. They got 2 air conditioners and a lot of family memories, like the birth of my child and my original music (I’m a songwriter). If someone sees a box of family DVDs or CDs with home labels dumped, please contact me. I don’t care about stuff I can replace with money. The other stuff is priceless.

CAR VANDALISM: Kylie says this happened around 3:15 pm this afternoon in Highland Park:

At first she thought it was a car prowl – though there was nothing in her car to take but grocery bags — and noticed that a neighbor across the street had a busted rear window too. Then “a neighbor from 3 blocks down stopped by and reported his car was also hit. … He said a car drove down 12th and guys are intentionally hitting windows, not stopping to prowl. He said at least 4 cars on our street were hit that he saw.”

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