day : 14/05/2018 11 results

(WSB photo, April 10th)

A little over a month after students, faculty, and community members pleaded with the interim president of South Seattle College< (WSB sponsor) not to kill the Pastry and Baking Arts program, Peter Lortz has made a decision. The college’s communications director Ty Swenson says Lortz “is not forwarding a recommendation of program closure until more is learned from conversations with industry and further discussion with faculty.” Those conversations, he explains, emerged from “connect(ing) with those who expressed a willingness to support the program … a plan emerged for Seattle Colleges to meet with baking industry representatives to discuss how the district (this includes South Seattle College, Seattle Central College and North Seattle College) can best meet industry needs and student demand. Those meetings will be held in the near future.” In the meantime, though, Swenson adds, “South will not run Pastry & Baking Arts classes during Summer Quarter 2018 and is not currently accepting new students into the program for Fall Quarter 2018.”

Closure was recommended by the college’s vice president of instruction in the face of a college budget crunch, but before forwarding that recommendation to the district chancellor, Lortz convened a “listening session” that filled the school’s board room with supporters including prominent bakers/restaurateurs who said the program is an invaluable training ground for businesses like theirs.

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VIDEO: What’s in the ‘head tax’ the City Council unanimously passed

May 14, 2018 8:45 pm

| 141 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(Seattle Channel video of this afternoon’s council meeting – public comment at 17:58, tax items at 59:08)

Ample citywide coverage of the City Council’s final vote on the “head tax” this afternoon – but we’re noting it here anyway. For one, the two West Seattle-residing councilmembers – District 1’s Lisa Herbold and citywide Position 9’s Lorena González – led the task force that brought the concept to the council in the first place. From the official news release, details on the compromise that passed in a 9-0 vote:

… The amended proposal establishes an annual tax of $275 per full-time employee on the City’s largest businesses, those with revenues of more than $20 million (about 3% of all businesses). The measure would generate an estimated $47 million annually and end on December 31, 2023.

… Selected highlights of the amended ordinance include:

*Exempt Seattle’s small and medium-sized businesses, only applying to those with at least $20 million or more annually in taxable gross receipts as measured under the City’s existing Business & Occupation tax;

*Apply only to the City’s approximately 585 largest businesses, or approximately 3% of all Seattle businesses;

*Require large businesses to pay $275 per full-time equivalent employee working 1,920 hours per year (or about $0.14 per hour);

*Include an evaluation of the economic impacts, and an independent oversight committee; and,

*Exempt healthcare providers that provide at least 25% of their services to patients covered by Medicare and Medicaid as well as all hospitals. …

You can read the amended plan here. Here’s some of what’s happened in the hours since the council vote:

*Mayor Durkan said, “I plan to sign this bill” (here’s video of her news conference; here’s her statement)

*Amazon said it’s “disappointed” and “apprehensive” (GeekWire.com coverage)

The tax starts in January. But first, as was noted in Q&A at Durkan’s news conference, a spending plan has to be finalized for the money it will raise.

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COYOTE REPORT: ‘Pack of pups’ southwest of The Junction

May 14, 2018 6:25 pm

| 15 COMMENTS

| Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

For the first time in a long time, today we received a reader report about a coyote sighting:

Last night: a pack of coyote pups heard and spotted at 46th and Edmunds in West Seattle at 1:25 am. About eight of them, running wildly around houses looking for food.

Over the years, we’ve published coyote reports when we received them, to help people remain aware that we and these wild neighbors are co-existing. If you don’t know much about coyotes, or what to do if you see one or more, this state webpage can help.

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HELPING THE HELPLINE: Here’s the lineup for next week’s Taste of West Seattle

May 14, 2018 4:00 pm

| Comments Off on HELPING THE HELPLINE: Here’s the lineup for next week’s Taste of West Seattle

| How to help | West Seattle news

Waiting to find out who’s part of the peninsula’s tastiest fundraiser of the year before buying your ticket(s)? The wait is over. The West Seattle Helpline has sent word of the food and beverage purveyors you’ll find at May 24’s Taste of West Seattle:

The West Seattle Helpline’s 13th annual Taste of West Seattle (presented by Metropolitan Market) is just a little over a week away! Join us May 24th at The Hall at Fauntleroy from 6-9 pm for the most delicious night in West Seattle. If you don’t have tickets, you need to buy them fast — Tuesday, May 22 is the last day to purchase tickets.

The Taste of West Seattle is a local, community-based food fair and is the largest event of its kind in West Seattle. This year’s Taste will feature food and drink from 37 different restaurants, breweries, wineries, coffee shops, bakeries, chocolatiers, and more – all from right here in West Seattle! Check out the lineup below:

Admiral Bird
Arthur’s
B’s Po Boy
BAKED. Custom Cakes
Bakery Nouveau
Beveridge Place Pub
The Bridge
Brookdale Admiral Heights/WS
Cafe Mia
Cafe Osita
Chaco Canyon Organic Cafe
Circa
Coastline Burgers
Copper Coin
Coral Wines
Cupcake Royale
Dream Dinners, West Seattle
Dolcetta Artisan Sweets
Duos Catering
Elliott Bay Brewing Co.
Husky Deli
Metropolitan Market
Mission Cantina
Pecos Pit-West Seattle
Pizzeria 22
Prost! West Seattle
Salty’s on Alki
Schooner EXACT Brewing Co.
T2 Cellars
Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes-Catering and Events
Viscon Cellars
West 5
West Seattle Brewing Co.
West Seattle Cellars
The Westy
The Swinery
Wildwood Market

All proceeds from the event go directly to the West Seattle Helpline’s emergency assistance and homelessness prevention programs. These services stabilize and support individuals and families in West Seattle who are recovering from a crisis or unexpected hardship.

Buy your tickets online today by going here.

(Viscon Cellars, The Westy, Salty’s, Pecos Pit, Metropolitan Market, Dream Dinners, and Circa are also WSB sponsors.)

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SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: U.S. Coast Guard air and sea crews, training

May 14, 2018 2:44 pm

| Comments Off on SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: U.S. Coast Guard air and sea crews, training

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to Gary Jones (above) and Scott Lipsky (below) for photos of U.S. Coast Guard sea and air crews in action off West Seattle shores at midday today.

We checked with the Coast Guard’s 13th District public-affairs office to be sure this was practice, not a search, and they confirm, “It was just training.”

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BIZNOTES: City Mouse Studio closed for building maintenance; FastSigns moving

May 14, 2018 2:01 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Two more biznotes:

CITY MOUSE CLOSED FOR A FEW DAYS: Donna at City Mouse Studio (4218 SW Alaska) in The Junction says her shop is closed for a few days – through Thursday
because of maintenance at the historic Campbell Building. She says hers is the only business affected. She expects to reopen at 10 am Friday.

FASTSIGNS MOVING: While at the West Seattle Food Bank‘s Instruments of Change event on Saturday night, we learned that FastSigns (6323 35th Ave. SW) is leaving West Seattle and headed to Burien. The FS website confirms the move to 922 151st SW is effective June 1st. The shop has been in the ex-laundromat space for almost four and a half years.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen red Accord

May 14, 2018 12:29 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

We think the cats are OK – but Barbara‘s car is gone:

This morning my car wasn’t in its spot at Tracy Ann Apartments on Murray Ave. ’92 Honda Accord, dark red and reported missing around 7 am. If seen please contact 406 599 6185.

But first, call 911. P.S. Barbara’s car has Montana plates.

TUESDAY UPDATE: Barbara says the car has been found.

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BIZNOTE: Don’t panic if you see the cow come down during Best of Hands Barrelhouse work

May 14, 2018 11:29 am

| 13 COMMENTS

| Sunrise Heights | West Seattle news | WS beverages

(WSB photo)

It’s been somewhat slow going for the Best of Hands Barrelhouse crew as they continue remodeling the former deli space at 35th and Webster. After a few recent reader questions, we checked back in with Nick Marianetti, who replied with this update:

Things are moving along quickly now that SCL and PSE have us on their schedules and are installing the power upgrades we require to operate a brewing facility and taproom. Build out on the inside has been moving along steadily, and our neighbors will begin to see changes to the outside of the building as well. … We’ll be pulling off old siding and replacing it; re-roofing the taproom side (old market side); installing new HVAC systems; painting the whole building, and adding a patio on the south wall of the taproom! We will also be giving the iconic cow a new paint job, so if we’re required to take her off the roof to do so, fear not, she will return to her perch atop the building!

Opening dates are still a moving target at this time. Once the power installs are completed we can install our brewing system, and then we will have a better idea of how quickly we can be up and brewing.

For more backstory, check out our first report on the Best of Hands plan in February 2017.

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7 for your West Seattle Monday

May 14, 2018 10:08 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Crow in Lincoln Park with nesting material, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, seven highlights for the rest of your Monday:

LEARN ABOUT BUGS: 11 am, a new lecture series at the Senior Center of West Seattle, featuring West Seattle entomologist Jen Paur of Tiny Science. Call ASAP to register. (4217 SW Oregon)

SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS: District tournament game for West Seattle High School, vs. Bellevue HS, 4 pm at Southwest Athletic Complex. (2801 SW Thistle)

DROP-IN PT NIGHT: Aches? Pains? Injuries? Drop-in consultation with Biojunction at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), 5:30-7 pm. Free. (2743 California SW)

CITY CHAMPIONSHIP TRACK MEET: Ages 7-10 compete starting at 5:30 pm at Southwest Athletic Complex. (2801 SW Thistle)

‘SEATTLE READS’ BOOK GROUP: 6:45 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library – if you’re reading this year’s “Seattle Reads” book, “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi, be there! (2306 42nd SW)

EVENING BOOK GROUP: Meantime, at Southwest Library, also at 6:45 pm, the evening book group meets to talk about “Nine Parts of Desire” by Geraldine Brooks. (9010 35th SW)

MONDAY NIGHT MEDITATION: Buddhist Meditation class at Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor), 7 pm. Details in our calendar listing. (5639 California SW)

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COUNTDOWN: West Seattle 5K on Sunday!

May 14, 2018 9:04 am

| Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: West Seattle 5K on Sunday!

| Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(2017 West Seattle 5K photo by Leda Costa for WSB)

It’s a run/walk for the whole family – and it’s now less than one week away. Sunday (May 20th) brings the first big 5K of the season to our area, the West Seattle 5K, raising money for the West Seattle High School PTSA. Even if you’re not participating, you need to know that the WS5K takes over the waterfront road for a few hours on Sunday morning, so heed those no-parking signs! So you might as well join in. The run/walk starts just after 9 am, leaving from and returning to 61st/Alki, just west of the Bathhouse. If you’re not already signed up, you can still register online – go here. Strollers and leashed dogs welcome! (WSB is a co-sponsor again this year, as we’ve been every year since the WS5K launched in 2009.)

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