day : 07/01/2020 11 results

(WSB photos)

Education is a vital part of saving Northwest salmon and the creatures who depend on them. Once again this year, Salmon in the Schools teachers and volunteers are making sure it happens. This year’s work began today, with hundreds of salmon eggs delivered to participating local schools.

We were there for two deliveries – West Seattle Elementary (top photo) and Highland Park Elementary (above photo). Volunteers Judy Pickens and Phil Sweetland delivered the hatchery-raised eggs and explained what happens next.

The schools each have a tank in which the salmon grow until the fry can be released into Fauntleroy Creek in the spring.

Salmon are being raised this year by 10 schools, from Alki Elementary in the north to Arbor Heights Elementary in the south. Roxhill Elementary is a new participant this year. At all of them, the students get a front row seat on delivery day:

Seven schools got their eggs today; Judy and Phil are scheduled to visit the other three tomorrow morning. P.S. Salmon in the Schools isn’t just a West Seattle program – here’s the most-recent annual report on citywide participation and impact:

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Snow or no? Newest forecasts

January 7, 2020 8:05 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

So far, mountain-peak peeks – like the view above from Alki on New Year’s Day – have been the closest thing to snow sightings we’ve had this winter. But that might change later this week. Here are two updates:

-Weather analyst Cliff Mass breaks it all down here, saying late Thursday/early Friday might bring light snow, and Monday looks POTENTIALLY snowier.

-The National Weather Service‘s forecast discussion thinks the late Thursday/early Friday possibility is more a “north of Everett” thing, adding, “Uncertainty remains for the prospect of lowland snow early next week …”

Meantime, city leaders plan a snow-readiness media briefing on Thursday, and we’re planning to cover it, so if you have questions about how the city will handle the next snowstorm (whenever it happens), let us know so we can get answers!

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FOLLOWUP: ‘Improper transactions’ at now-closed West Seattle Licenses under investigation, county says

January 7, 2020 4:25 pm

| 48 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news

After we broke the news last week about the abrupt closure of West Seattle Licenses (5048 California SW) at year’s end, we got a tip from a West Seattle resident about a credit-card-number-theft case linked to a former employee. The victim told us they’d been contacted by a state investigator who said it might not have been an isolated case. Now we’ve confirmed that the licensing subagent closed with an investigation under way. From Cameron Satterfield of King County Executive Services, which contracts with subagents:

The state Department of Licensing (DOL) is investigating improper transactions made by employees at the office. DOL investigators provided a report to King County in mid-December detailing the improprieties. Over the next several days, King County connected with WSL ownership regarding the DOL report and next steps.

On December 24, King County issued a contract termination notice to WSL based on the owners failing to provide proper oversight of their employees. Included in that notice was an option to cure the breach of contract. WSL’s plan to cure the breach was due to King County by January 10, and the agency would have been allowed to continue operating until at least then. However, on December 30 WSL confirmed acceptance of the termination notice, and proposed moving forward with contract termination effective December 31. They also elected not to pursue the opportunity to cure. The WSL office subsequently closed at the end of business on December 31. The investigation is ongoing, but expect it will wrap up soon since WSL has now closed.

We are working on obtaining records related to the case mentioned in the tip we received.

In the meantime, Satterfield reiterates that the county is continuing to seek a replacement for West Seattle Licensing: “A new licensing subagent will be appointed for the West Seattle/White Center area. We will move as quickly as possible on that process, but it still may take a couple of months at minimum.” The opening will eventually be posted here.

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About the police response in Gatewood

January 7, 2020 3:54 pm

| Comments Off on About the police response in Gatewood

| Crime | Gatewood | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Texted photo)

Thanks for the tips about a big police response in a Gatewood alley near Myrtle Reservoir Park. Here’s what we know via radio monitoring and checking with SPD media relations: This started with someone calling in a suspicious person in a vehicle idling in an alley. There was a suspicion the man had a gun in the car, so that called for a heavier response to approach and get him out. For a while he wasn’t responding, but eventually he left the car and was detained. The investigation continues.

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UPDATE: Water shutoff cancels West Seattle Community Orchestras practices tonight

January 7, 2020 3:28 pm

| Comments Off on UPDATE: Water shutoff cancels West Seattle Community Orchestras practices tonight

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

3:28 PM: Just received from the West Seattle Community Orchestras:

Attention! NO WSCO TONIGHT.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, all WSCO activities at Chief Sealth International High School are canceled for tonight, January 7th. The building will be closed. Watch for re-scheduling information in the near future.

WSCO says it’s been told there’s a water shutoff affecting CSIHS. We’re checking with the district and Seattle Public Utilities.

4:06 PM: While we await further info from those sources, WSCO has been told it’s going to be a 6 pm-midnight shutoff, so apparently it’s planned.

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FOLLOWUP: Repairs complete on driver-damaged Roxhill Park swing set

January 7, 2020 2:46 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Thanks to Jenny for sending the photo and report: Less than a week after a driver hit and damaged the Roxhill Park swing set, it is fixed and reopened. No one was hurt in the New Year’s Day crash.

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2 South Park businesses among city’s first Small Business Stabilization grant recipients

January 7, 2020 1:52 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| South Park | West Seattle news

The city has announced recipients of $25,000 grants through what so far is a one-time-only pilot “stabilization” program. Two South Park businesses are on the list. From the announcement:

The City of Seattle launched the new Small Business Stabilization Pilot Program to help vulnerable micro-businesses remain in business after a destabilizing event. In 2019, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan directed the Office of Economic Development (OED) to develop a strategy to help micro-businesses better navigate the impacts of rising commercial rents, displacement, and destabilizing events. All eight Small Business Stabilization Pilot Program grantees are women and minority-owned businesses.

Small businesses make up 95 percent of Seattle establishments and provide nearly 200,000 jobs. During a time of unprecedented economic growth in Seattle, the City recognizes that many small businesses experience unique challenges that put the health of their business at risk, particularly Seattle’s low-income microenterprises. These challenges are particularly acute for women and minority-owned businesses, and businesses owned by immigrants and refugees. …

The Mayor’s Small Business Stabilization Pilot Program awards $25,000 to eight local businesses who meet the following criteria:

Business consists of five employees or less;
Business owner is at or below 50 percent of the Area Median Income;
Business suffered a loss of income due to a destabilizing event, like property destruction, construction impacts, or potential displacement;
Business can feasibly be stabilized; and
Business is preferably located in a neighborhood experiencing high rates of displacement. …

Grants may be used to cover the day-to-day operating expenses of the business, such as payroll or losses due to destabilizing events. In addition to funding, grantees will be provided with stabilization coaching from an OED Small Business Advocate and financial coaching from an expert. Advocates will support business owners in determining the best use of grant funds and will act as liaisons to connect businesses with additional resources, such as lease education, marketing and branding support, City permit navigation, and credit counseling. ..,

The eight awardees of the 2020 Small Business Stabilization Pilot Program funding are:

Dayspring & Fitch Funeral Home, 4200 S Othello St., Unit 123, Seattle, WA 98118
Dora’s Daycare, 906 23rd Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
El Buen Sabor, 8456 Dallas Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108
iConcept Signs, 700 S Orchard St., Seattle, WA 98108
Muy Macho Taco Truck, 8515 14th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108
Seattle’s Best BBQ, 450 Third Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
Villa Escondida, 2203 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Yearby’s Hair and Nail Design, 4501 S Lucile St., Seattle, WA 98118 …

These grants are awarded through one-time funding secured for 2019; the City’s 2020 Budget invests $300,000 to sustain this program through 2020. OED will evaluate the Pilot Program later in 2020 to determine potential future operations.

The recipients were chosen from among businesses that applied in a process that concluded back in November.

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Best of Hands Barrelhouse: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor!

January 7, 2020 11:59 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS beverages

Today we welcome Best of Hands Barrelhouse as a new WSB sponsor. Here’s what they would like you to know as they approach their first anniversary:

By now West Seattleites are familiar with Gregory Marlor, Chris Richardson, Nick Marianetti, and the Best of Hands Barrelhouse team of dedicated, knowledgeable, and friendly beertenders. We are the folks responsible for turning the famed West Seattle “cow building” into a destination for great local craft beer brewed on premises. We’d like to thank our West Seattle community for making our first year in operation a success, and for truly making the experience of owning a small business a pleasurable one! We couldn’t have done it without the support of our wonderful community and neighbors. Now that we’re well into our first year, we can start giving back to the place that has given us so much – we figured what better way to show our appreciation than to sponsor this incredible blog!

We also wanted to let everyone know that we have big plans for the cow building in 2020. We can’t divulge too much at this time, but be on the lookout for new amenities and food options at the brewery in the upcoming year! Also, we are releasing our first packaged products! We have released our first bottled beer (extremely limited, available only at the brewery, 4-bottle-per-person limit). And we will be canning two beers today (January 7th), with an initial brewery release before distribution to retailers of fine craft beverages. We are very excited for the next year of our endeavor and we hope you all are too!

Please look for updates on bestofhandsbarrelhouse.com or follow us on social media.

Best of Hands Barrelhouse is located at 7500 35th Ave SW (on the corner of 35th Ave SW and SW Webster – there’s a giant cow named Merriam on the roof). Hours are listed here.

We thank Best of Hands Barrelhouse 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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5 for your West Seattle Tuesday!

January 7, 2020 11:11 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Seal @ Don Armeni Boat Ramp on New Year’s Day, photographed by Steven Director)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

ENDOLYNE CHILDREN’S CHOIR: New singers welcome as the winter session begins – 4:30 pm, 5:45, 7 pm depending on the age group. Rehearsals are at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. (3050 California SW)

WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS: First meeting of 2020, 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House High Point. Agenda to include:

• The Avalon bike lanes-what’s working, what’s not?

• What’s in the pipeline for 2020 and beyond – West Seattle Greenway, completion of Avalon, more planning for Delridge Multimodal project and (maybe) the beginning of planning for East Marginal..
.
• Random brainstorming and so much more!

(6400 Sylvan Way SW)

ART CLASSES: The Orange Door Studio starts a series of classes in Linoleum Reduction Printing tonight, 6:30 pm. (1922 47th SW)

SINGER-SONGWRITER CONTEST: 7 pm at the Pacific Room (WSB sponsor) on Alki – “Six artists perform their original music in friendly competition to find the best songs. Free event, audience choice for the winner!” (2808 Alki SW) Thanks for the tip – this isn’t happening after all; the Pacific Room is closed tonight.

OPEN MIC: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern – unleash your inner star as 2020 ramps up. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

GOT AN EVENT FOR THE CALENDAR? Send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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YOUTH MUSIC: Want to sing? Winter session starts tonight for Endolyne Children’s Choir

January 7, 2020 10:24 am

| Comments Off on YOUTH MUSIC: Want to sing? Winter session starts tonight for Endolyne Children’s Choir

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

The photo and announcement are from Endolyne Children’s Choir:

Endolyne Children’s Choir – West Seattle’s community choir since 2003 – kicks off our Winter Session tonight (Tuesday, January 7th) and it is a great time for new singers, from Kindergarten to High School, to join our fun and welcoming non-audition choir. Singers in kindergarten through 2nd Grade rehearse from 4:30 to 5:30 PM, 3rd through 5th grade rehearse from 5:45 to 6:45, and singers 6th through 12th grade rehearse from 7:00 to 8:30. Registration materials will be available before rehearsals at the Parish Hall at St. John The Baptist Church next to West Seattle High School. For more information, visit endolynechoir.org.

Our winter theme this year is Rhythm of Life. Music Director Megan McCormick and Staff Director Janelle Maroney have selected a fantastic repertoire to engage and challenge all of our choristers, whether new or returning. Debut singers (K-2nd) will transition from experiencing rhythm to tracing and beginning to write their own rhythms. Encore singers (3rd-5th) will also start writing rhythms, and eventually begin some rhythmic dictation. And for Advanced Ensemble (6th and up): we have some extra adventures in store for you! Singers will continue to sight read more complicated melodies, as well as begin performing some extremely challenging rhythmic music (For a sneak peek, watch this video).

The session will culminate with performances in March. This December we performed for friends and families in our Winter Fantasy concert, residents at The Kenney, at Seattle Center Winterfest and the West Seattle Tree Lighting, among other events, and we will continue this with our Winter Session Concert and more performances to be announced. Singers will also perform a fun song at our annual I Heart Endolyne Karaoke Night Fundraiser at Kenyon Hall on Friday, February 7th. This is our annual community building and fundraising event that is a highlight for our choristers and families.

New singers are welcome to try out the first rehearsal before registering and submitting payment. Tuition assistance is available. If you have questions or need more information, please email info@endolynechoir.org.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch

January 7, 2020 7:55 am

| 17 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)

7:55 AM: Good morning! Checking in late for the end of the first week of the new year. No current incidents. If you’ve already traveled to work/school, how’d it go?

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