day : 01/10/2017 10 results

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Two years after the unveiling of a “white paper” and project list with recommendations for easing traffic in the West Seattle Bridge Corridor, an SDOT rep came to the West Seattle Transportation Coalition‘s monthly meeting with a progress report.

Bill LaBorde began by saying that the list started with 27 projects but has fewer now – primarily because some weren’t SDOT projects (Sound Transit 3 light rail, for example, which had a significant West Seattle-related update earlier that day).

Chas Redmond from the WSTC Board said that the “disintegration of the integration” of the projects was troubling – LaBorde said that taking projects off the list wasn’t intended to signify dis-integration. Redmond said list-shrinking still didn’t make sense since the agencies are working together on some of these projects anyway. After that, LaBorde ticked through the list, including:

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Seattle Latino Film Festival coming to Admiral Theater for closing-night screening, party

October 1, 2017 8:30 pm

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| Admiral Theater | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

That’s the trailer for “The Duel of Wine (El Camino del Vino),” which will have its Pacific Northwest premiere at West Seattle’s Admiral Theater as part of the closing-night celebration for this year’s Seattle Latino Film Festival.

The 9th annual festival showcasing Latin American films starts next Friday night (October 6th) downtown and continues for the following week, at venues around the area, from downtown to Federal Way (see the full list of screenings here) – concluding with the film and closing-night party at The Admiral on Saturday, October 14th. Betty Santiago from SLFF tells WSB that the star and producer of “Duel of Wine,” Charlie Arturaola and Lino Pujia, will be in attendance. We’re mentioning this early so you can get tickets if you want to be there – the film and party are included in your $25, and you can get your tickets online, here.

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CONGRATULATIONS! National Merit Scholarship honors for Chief Sealth IHS student Amad Ross

October 1, 2017 7:41 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle schools

From Chief Sealth International High School principal Aida Fraser-Hammer:

Chief Sealth International High School announced that Amad Ross has been named a Commended Student in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. A letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, was presented to this scholastically talented senior on Friday.

Commended students placed among the top 50,000 of more than 1.6 million students who entered the 2018 Competition by taking the 2016 preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSATNMSQT). “The young men and women being named Commended Students have been demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue in their pursuit of academic success.”

Amad is a part-time Running Start student and a strong leader at Chief Sealth, having been co-organizer of a Walk-Out against the Trump Travel Ban and a Rally against Anti-Islamism. Chief Sealth is very proud of him and we look forward to sharing more about his accomplishments as he graduates and enters college.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 20+ ways to deter property crime

October 1, 2017 6:15 pm

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| Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

As reported in our most-recent coverage of police briefings at community meetings – like the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network and Highland Park Action Committee last week – car prowling in our area has dropped significantly, but property crime overall remains the major problem. So this month’s newsletter from Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Burbridge offers more than 20 specific suggestions of ways to deter it:

As mentioned toward the end of the newsletter, and as already previewed here, your next chance to talk face-to-face with local police – outside an emergency response! – is Wednesday afternoon at Alki Starbucks (2742 Alki Ave. SW), 2-4 pm, for the next Coffee With A Cop.

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PHOTOS: Children’s Moonlight Festival @ Vietnamese Cultural Center

October 1, 2017 4:13 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

4:13 PM: Looking for something to do with the rest of your Sunday afternoon? The Children’s Moonlight Festival is happening until 6 pm at the Vietnamese Cultural Center. Above, lion dancers performed toward the start of the event; treats, entertainment, and a lantern parade are still to come.

This is a traditional lunar-calendar end-of-summer celebration; more photos to come. The Cultural Center is at 2234 SW Orchard, just north of Home Depot.

8:39 PM: As promised, more photos from the festival, which was so picture-perfect, an afternoon shower stopped just in time for the lion dance. Center director Lee Bui offered the lions a good-luck gift:

Joining the festivities at the center were Boy Scouts from Troop 286:

Two people dressed as characters from a Vietnamese legend offered backpacks to kids:

(This photo and next two by Lynda Bui)

There was rubber-duck fishing:

And a lantern parade:

A group photo to commemorate the event:

In addition to special events like this, the Vietnamese Cultural Center is open to visitors on Saturdays, noon-3 pm.

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ART BY YOUR NEIGHBORS: 2017 community art show begins at Southwest Library

October 1, 2017 3:30 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | Westwood | WS culture/arts

Friends of the Southwest Branch Library are your hosts during the Community Art Showcase‘s opening reception, continuing at the library until about 4 pm. Among the artists there, Steve and Lori Douglas:

Other art on display includes this guitar by Amanda Musclerat:

And Vera Sterling‘s “Best of Seattle”:

You have time to see the art show if you can’t get there by 4 – it’s on display at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) for most of the rest of this month.

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WEST SEATTLE WHALE-WATCHING: Orcas in the area

October 1, 2017 1:16 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(PHOTOS ADDED Sunday evening)

1:16 PM: Via text from Kersti Muul – orcas are back in the area, transients this time, seen southbound from north Bainbridge Island before 1 pm, “large male T87 and others with calf.” Please let us know if you see them (comment, and/or text our 24/7 hotline, 206-293-6302) – thank you!

1:32 PM: Update from Kersti – they’re now “outside Elliott Bay” so should be in view (now or soon) – be sure to bring binoculars.

4:34 PM: Thanks to the commenters who have provided updates – we had to cover (inland) events and weren’t able to go look!

SUNDAY EVENING: Thanks to Greg Snyder for e-mailing the two photos we have added above, and thanks to Kersti for adding photos in comments below!

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Celebration of life October 21st for Lewis Brancati, 1996-2017

October 1, 2017 11:29 am

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| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will gather October 21st in West Seattle to celebrate the life of Lewis S. Brancati. Here’s the remembrance that’s being shared with the community:

Lewis S. Brancati

Age 21. Born March 27, 1996. Passed away September 20, 2017 in Kirkland, surrounded by family and friends.

Lewis grew up and thrived in Burien. He attended Highline schools, and graduated from Raisbeck Aviation High School.

Lewis was sweet and funny growing up, and a kind, generous, and very loving young man who had a great impact on the lives of his friends, classmates, and family. While he had plans to pursue more schooling, he was most recently a proud employee of the US Postal Service.

Lewis is and will be terribly missed, and held in our hearts forever. He is survived by his parents Amelia Hance-Brancati and Gregory Brancati, grandmother Judith Hance, and numerous aunts, uncles, other extended family, friends, and loving communities.

Celebration of Life will be held at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation on Saturday, October 21st at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to organizations Lewis grew up a part of: Westside UU Congregation (wsuu.org), Eliot Institute (http://www.eliotinstitute.org), and Seabeck Conference Center (seabeck.org).

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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TRAFFIC ALERT: 35th/Alaska signal out; planned power outage in area

October 1, 2017 7:54 am

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| Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

7:54 AM: Thanks for the text – the traffic signal at 35th and Alaska is out. It’s because of a planned power outage in the area, which Kevin had messaged us about minutes earlier. The Seattle City Light map says 134 homes/businesses in the area are without power for “planned work” and expect they’ll have power restored by about 10:30 am. While the signal’s out, meantime, remember that it’s an all-way stop.

11:04 AM: Kevin’s power was back on as of an hour ago but the map still shows the 134-customer outage. We’re headed over to check on the signal.

12:10 PM It’s working.

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What’s up for your West Seattle Sunday

October 1, 2017 6:21 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

“Not every often that we see a Great Blue Heron on a skateboard!” was the understatement from Sandy Rottler, who shared the photo, taken on the Beach Drive waterfront. Who knows what YOU might see this Sunday? Here are the highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in the street in the heart of The Junction – vegetables, fruit, flowers, bread, cheese, cider, much more. And go say hi to the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, scheduled to be back today at the market’s south end. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)

SPIDERS OF THE DUWAMISH: Talk at Duwamish Longhouse, followed by nature walk. 1 pm. More info in our calendar listing. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

CROP WALK: The West Seattle Crop Walk leaves Alki UCC at 1 pm, on a journey to help end hunger. More info in our calendar listing. (6115 SW Hinds)

CAMP SECOND CHANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: As previewed here, the community advisory committee for the city-sanctioned encampment on Myers Way meets this afternoon, 2 pm, at Arrowhead Gardens. All are welcome. (9200 2nd SW)

SOUTHWEST LIBRARY ART SHOWCASE, OPENING RECEPTION: The 26th annual Artists’ Showcase at Southwest Library starts today with a 2-4 pm reception and continues through October 28th. Come meet the artists at this low-key, friendly event and enjoy free coffee and dessert. (9010 35th SW)

‘BARBER OF SEVILLE’ PREVIEW LECTURE: 2 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, enjoy Seattle Opera‘s preview lecture, with recorded music excerpts. (2306 42nd SW)

CHILDREN’S MOONLIGHT FESTIVAL: 3-6 pm at the Vietnamese Cultural Center in West Seattle, lanterns, balloons, treats, a Lion Dance, and more. (2234 SW Orchard)

CORREO AEREO: The Latin American sounds of Correo Aereo will fill C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)

AT KENYON HALL: Big musical bill – Del Rey, Adam Franklin, The Quiet American, and Matt Weiner. 7:30 pm. Ticket info is in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)

Transportation notes:

WATER TAXI ON EXTENDED SCHEDULE: Since the Seahawks are playing a night game at home, the West Seattle Water Taxi will run into the evening, with the last sailing from Pier 52 downtown at 10:45 pm.

WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES SCHEDULE, FARE CHANGES: The fall schedule takes effect, as do some fare changes – details on the WSF website.

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