West Seattle, Washington

19 Friday

41℉

Spotlight Stories


  • Closure

    LOW-BRIDGE CLOSURE: Starts on Saturday

  • New

    NEW BUSINESSES: Coffee and wine moving in

  • Sale day

    WS GARAGE SALE DAY 5/11: Register by April 25!

Update: Feds explain DEA raids on medical-marijuana establishments, including White Center’s GAME Collective
November 15, 2011 1:52 pm
|      70 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | White Center

1:52 PM: We’re outside the GAME Collective medical-marijuana “lounge” in downtown White Center – where the Drug Enforcement Administration has a significant presence at the moment. The DEA tells us it’s part of an “ongoing operation” and that they will have a statement “in a few hours.”

Regional-media sources (here’s KING 5‘s story; here’s The Olympian’s story) are reporting a series of raids at medical-marijuana operations all over the region; we’re checking on the status of others in West Seattle/White Center. More to come.

2:32 PM: We have just driven by three West Seattle medical-marijuana dispensaries, including the GAME Collective’s California SW location; no sign of current police activity at any of them.

5:54 PM: Statement just in from the DEA, in its entirety:

DEA SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE MATTHEW G. BARNES STATEMENT REGARDING MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT

It has never been our policy to target individuals with serious illnesses. However, there are those operating commercial storefronts cultivating, selling or distributing marijuana under the guise of state medical marijuana laws and exploiting such activities to satisfy their own personal greed. The DEA remains committed to the enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in all states.

The coordinated enforcement actions of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and our state and local law enforcement partners involve violations of both federal and state law.

The DEA will exercise its investigative authority to pursue criminal actions for any violation of federal law, when warranted. This includes investigating organizations or individuals that grow, manufacture or distribute any illegal drug to include marijuana, and those who rent or maintain a property to facilitate drug trafficking.

8:58 PM UPDATE: We also have received a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office:

Today Drug Enforcement Administration agents and local law enforcement executed search warrants in four ongoing federal investigations in Western Washington relating to illegal drug distribution and other crimes in violation of federal law. Each of the investigations targets commercial enterprises that purport to operate as “medical” marijuana establishments but also fail to comply with applicable state law.

Read More

Share This

West Seattle holidays: Junction, Westwood Village Santa changes
November 15, 2011 1:05 pm
|      40 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

With Christmas getting closer, you might be thinking about Santa Claus. He tends to appear in West Seattle’s two major shopping spots each season: The Junction, and Westwood Village. Both are changing it up a bit this season:

THE JUNCTION: We’ve already briefly mentioned this year’s schedule for Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB). The schedule includes three Sunday visits by Santa Claus, at City Mouse Studio and Store. The first two, December 4th and 11th, offer professional photographs, for a donation of (at least) $15 that benefits West Seattle charities; on December 18th, no photographer, but you are welcome to bring your own camera for a DIY picture with Santa (charity donations encouraged). The hours for all three Sundays will be 11 am-3 pm. You’ll find Hometown Holidays fun at California/Alaska 11 am-4 pm each of those days too, and mule-drawn carriage rides till 3 pm on Dec. 11 and 18. (Other HH events are listed here.)

WESTWOOD VILLAGE: When WSB Forums members wondered aloud about Santa plans for this year, Luckymom30 discovered a big change – Arthur and Associates is taking over. Westwood Village, you may recall, has new ownership, and new management; we pinged WV assistant general manager Andy Thompson to ask about the holiday change. He says, “It will be different, but … we think it will be better.” Instead of Santa making only weekend-afternoon appearances as in past years, he will be at WV daily from November 25th through Christmas Eve, morning through early evening. The center also plans to have carolers make regular appearances – Friday, November 25th, 11:30 am-1:30 pm, and then those same hours every Saturday through Christmas Eve. There’ll be a Giving Tree to help kids in need through the Salvation Army. (We are waiting to hear back from Arthur and Associates to confirm WV photo pricing; in past years, photos were free with a food-bank donation.) 2 other notes: “Black Friday” means 12:01 am Target shopping at WV, according to Thompson, and they’re working with Barnes & Noble on setting up gift wrapping “for the entire shopping center.” (We’ve already heard Sanislo Elementary is planning to be there on November 27th.)

ADDED 2:44 PM: Just heard back from David Mickelson at Arthur and Associates, who says they asked the popular Westwood Santa “if he would be interested in continuing,” but, Mickelson says, he wasn’t. Read on for more of what he had to say about their 68-year-old Seattle-based company and its Westwood plans:Read More

Share This

2 chances this week to talk with City Councilmembers: Delridge District Council, West Seattle Farmers’ Market
November 15, 2011 10:48 am
|    Comments Off on 2 chances this week to talk with City Councilmembers: Delridge District Council, West Seattle Farmers’ Market
 |   Delridge | West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Two chances this week to talk with City Councilmembers in West Seattle:

DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: Councilmembers Tom Rasmussen and Sally Bagshaw are on the DNDC meeting agenda tomorrow night (7 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW) for a discussion about the “boulevard” concept for Delridge Way SW.

‘THE SALLYS’ AT THE FARMERS’ MARKET: Councilmembers Bagshaw and Sally Clark have been visiting neighborhoods in tandem as “The Sallys,” in community-conversation format, and just announced a West Seattle stop this Sunday: 10-11:30 am at the WS Farmers’ Market (44th/Alaska). The announcement says they “will host a booth and hope Seattleites will stop by to talk about local issues.” Free cider while it lasts. You’re invited to RSVP, though it’s not required (here’s the link).

Share This

Video: Roxhill Park Skatespot design review, the final round
November 15, 2011 10:27 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | WS & Sports

Roxhill Park‘s future “skatespot” is going into the final design phase before construction next year, now that the project team has presented the newest round of design concepts. In case you wanted to be there but couldn’t go, we have the full hour on video in our clip above (if you just want a quick look/listen at the concepts, fast-forward to about 12 minutes in).

More than 20 people attended the meeting at Southwest Library. As with the 2nd meeting last month (WSB coverage here), design firm California Skateparks was represented by its lead designer Colby Carter, who brought two concepts, each with two variations. Votes were requested; “Plan A” was the favorite by far …

… with “Plan B” a fairly strong second, while the other two got a combined total of one vote. One key feature requested: Something unique that can’t be found at any other skatepark in Seattle.

We’ve requested electronic versions of what was shown last night; in the meantime, keep an eye on the official project website for updates. This is to be built at the same time as the Roxhill Park Playground renovations, which get their own final design meeting on November 30th (6 pm, also at SW Library), with completion projected for next fall.

11:11 AM UPDATE: Thanks to Parks project manager Kelly Davidson for the full PowerPoint from last night’s meeting; see it here (from it, we’ve added the Plan A rendering inline, above).

Share This

West Seattle Tuesday: Frost today, wind tomorrow? Plus, events from cooking to crime prevention to dancing…
November 15, 2011 8:45 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Tuesday: Frost today, wind tomorrow? Plus, events from cooking to crime prevention to dancing…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Not the first morning in which windshield-scraping was required, but maybe the iciest. The weather’s changing, though: A “special weather statement” says wind might be on the way tomorrow; we’ll keep an eye on that as the forecast evolves later today. … On to the highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

HEART-HEALTHY COOKING: “Simple Cooking with Heart” demonstration at Delridge Community Center, 11 am-1 pm, sponsored by the American Heart Association and WalMart Foundation (4501 Delridge Way SW).

DANCE WITH THE WEST SEATTLE BIG BAND: USO Dance 7-9 pm, co-sponsored by The Kenney (WSB sponsor) at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon). Dance music by West Seattle Big Band. Snacks and beverages available; ’40s attire encouraged; $5/person.

BOARD GAMES: The new West Seattle-based board-game group that’s met recently on Sundays is trying a weekday-evening meeting tonight: 7 pm, Beveridge Place Pub. Questions? Contact Gene at egene1@yahoo.com – there’s also an online group:
groups.yahoo.com/group/wsgamers

SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH, OR NOT? Eight months after appointing Dr. Susan Enfield as interim Seattle Public Schools superintendent, the School Board is deciding whether to conduct a national search for a permanent superintendent – but first, it wants to hear about ” traits that members of the public would like to see in a Superintendent, so the board and citywide PTSA are hosting meetings including one tonight at 7 pm at Denny International Middle School. Child care available.

METRO POLICE CHIEF @ CRIME COUNCIL: Metro Transit Police Chief Lisa Mulligan is the guest as the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets, and local police will discuss crime trends as usual, plus there’s an opportunity for community crime concerns. Southwest Precinct (Webster/Delridge), 7 pm.

DIY WREATH-MAKING: At Highland Park Improvement Club (12th/Holden), 7 pm. “Monica Cavagnaro will share ideas on themes, shapes, decorations and how-to’s! Participants bring: Greens: ivy, wisteria, evergreen … Decor: pine cones, ribbon, yarn, bulbs, berries, bells … Tools: wire, nippers, string”

NIGHTLIFE: Monthly Alauda belly-dance showcase at Skylark Café and Club, 7:30 pm … Rock music/pop culture trivia every Tuesday night at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm … Open mike at Mac’s Triangle Pub (Delridge/16th), 8 pm … Songwriters’ showcase at Shadowland, 9 pm.

Share This

Scam alert: ‘Phishing’ phone calls ‘about your credit card’
November 15, 2011 7:33 am
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

Remember the “phishing” calls last month citing Wells Fargo? Now, things have gone generic, according to Val‘s note:

I don’t know if you’ll hear about this from others, but I just got a suspicious robocall from the 503 area code (503.902.8997) warning me about “your credit card” and inviting me to press ‘1’ to start the process to avoid whatever dire consequences they were predicting. Which of course I didn’t do. I listened to the entire spiel and the call did not specify any financial institution; it was all couched in terms of “your credit card”.

Just in case it’s happening more widely, or if it’s time for another reminder about phishing phone calls…

As was widely and repeatedly advised when the “Wells Fargo” calls were proliferating, don’t give any specific data out by phone – if you think the call might be legit, call your bank to check. Here’s some federal advice on how to avoid becoming a victim of this kind of crime.

Share This

2 events this week to remember David Dean Smith
November 14, 2011 11:58 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

From Prudential Northwest Realty, sent tonight by Barb Joseph:

With great sadness we report the passing of David Dean Smith, a longtime West Seattle and, more recently, Burien Realtor. David died in the early morning hours of November 3, 2011.

David started his real estate career in March 1983 with Ron Turner Realty (later becoming Prudential Benton, then Prudential Northwest Realty Associates) in West Seattle and was still a very active broker with Prudential Northwest at the time of his death. David was known for his generous mentoring of new agents and caring friendship to so many of his fellow real estate associates.

Some of David’s many friends have arranged to get together to remember him Tuesday afternoon (November 15th) at 3 pm at Christos on Alki, 2508 Alki SW. Everyone is welcome.

Services will be held at 11 am on November 19th at Our Lady of Guadalupe School Auditorium in West Seattle at 3401 SW Myrtle.

Mr. Smith was 53 years old, according to his Seattle Times (WSB partner) obituary.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Graffiti attack; stolen tools
November 14, 2011 9:58 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two more West Seattle Crime Watch reports tonight: First one is just out of the WSB inbox, from someone who doesn’t want to be identified:

We wanted to alert everybody that our house in Sunrise Heights was tagged with graffiti by vandals today between 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

My wife and I would like to thank the Seattle Police for their excellent response and our wonderful neighbors for their moral support! We’d like the vandals to know that our block watch has been alerted and is being extra vigilant.

Second one came to us originally as a tip from someone who knows the victim. WSB contributor Keri DeTore talked with the victim and filed this report:

West Seattle resident and self-employed contractor Hollis Beebe is asking you to be on the lookout for a number of tools that were stolen from his garage on November 1st. This theft literally adds insult to injury: Beebe is still recovering from falling off a roof on September 25th, which left him with a broken right hand, wrist, elbow, and pelvis. Though he’s walking again, doctors anticipate another six months of recuperation for his arm.

The tools were taken from a detached garage around midnight, and Beebe told WSB that police believe this theft is part of a string of recent robberies in the North Admiral area. He adds that the tools stolen were all professional-grade and some were rare.

Tools to be on the lookout for include:Read More

Share This

West Seattle schools: Arbor Heights Elementary auction success!
November 14, 2011 8:54 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Photos by Carol Harrold)
The Arbor Heights Elementary PTA Auction is history – and what a night it was, reports Lisa Olson:

Arbor Heights Elementary would like to extend a BIG THANK YOU to everyone in the West Seattle Community and beyond who made last Thursday’s “Adventure Is Out There” Dinner & Auction a smashing success, exceeding the event’s goals. A special shout-out to Gatewood Elementary for the volunteer swap that allowed the Arbor Heights Auction Committee to enjoy the evening. If you were not able to attend the auction and would like to make a contribution to AH’s Technology Fund, this year’s auction “Raise the Paddle” focus to replace/update computer hardware and software, checks can be dropped off or mailed to the Arbor Heights PTA, Attn: Auction Committee, 3701 SW 104th St., Seattle, WA 98146.

Share This

Food drive that’s on a roll: Beer Church Turkey Bowl on Saturday
November 14, 2011 5:57 pm
|    Comments Off on Food drive that’s on a roll: Beer Church Turkey Bowl on Saturday
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from last year – part of the Turkey Bowl 2010 3K-pound food haul)
It’s one of the most raucous holiday food drives of the season – and its organizers say you still have a chance to get in on it! A few Beer Church Turkey Bowl lanes are available (and even if you’re not bowling, they’ll be happy to take your donation on Saturday) – just got this news release:

The 13th Annual Turkey Bowl takes place this Saturday, November 19th at 6:00 p.m. in West Seattle. Organized by Beer Church, the event is a fundraiser and food drive to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank. More than 200 guests will attend the event at West Seattle Bowl (4505 39th Ave. SW, Seattle). The event starts at 6:00 p.m. but Beer Church encourages the public to drop off food donations at West Seattle Bowl on Saturday between 1:00 and 8:00 p.m.

There is limited space for bowlers but anyone is welcome to attend the event and participate in the raffle. Bowlers must reserve an entire lane and pay $200 per lane. Each lane can accommodate as many as eight bowlers. If you are interested in a lane, please contact Kendall Jones – beerchurch@gmail.com.

“This is an especially appropriate time of year for people to think about hunger in our community,” says Kendall Jones, Director of Beer Church. “Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks for the abundance of food that so many of us enjoy but it is also a good time to slow down and think about the people struggling in our community. That’s why Turkey Bowl is a benefit for the West Seattle Food Bank: we want to help people remember that hunger is a real issue and we want to give them a fun and easy way to contribute.”

Last year’s Beer Church Turkey Bowl netted over 3,000 pounds of food and over $3,000 in donations. Organizers hope to exceed those numbers this year. Participants will include a number of teams from local breweries and local bars. In addition to bowling, the event features a raffle for prizes donated by local merchants.

Among the participants, eight local breweries will battle it out for the coveted Battle of the Brewers trophy. Likewise, eight local bars will compete for the Bar Brawl trophy. Breweries involved: Elliott Bay Brewing, Elysian Brewing, Emerald City Beer Co., Georgetown Brewing, Naked City Brewing, Odin Brewing, Pike Brewing, and Schooner Exact Brewing. Local bars involved: Beveridge Place Pub, Dog and Pony Alehouse, Feedback Lounge, Latona Pub (3 Pubs), Mission, Porterhouse Pub, and West 5.

Share This

26th/Dakota development: Construction update; art plan
November 14, 2011 4:29 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Development | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Unless you live, or drive, by it, you might not know that West Seattle’s next major development is well into the first phase of construction. It’s at 26th and Dakota in North Delridge (map), right behind the Kidney Center building. Its original owners went all the way into the permit phase before the project was put on hold and then sold. Unlike the infamous “Hole,” no work was done on this site before it stalled – but its new owners are working fast now.

We first wrote about the revived project three months ago. It’s being built with 193 units, including 11 described as live-work (here’s the project page on the city website), being developed by Legacy Partners Residential, Inc.,and Barrientos LLC.

We met this morning with representatives from the project partners at Uptown Espresso in Delridge, not far from the project site. They will be at the North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting tonight, but even if you can’t be there, they wanted to get out new information about the project, including an extensive plan to procure art for the building. Read on for the updates:

Read More

Share This

Marriage-equality campaign launches; Constantine voices support
November 14, 2011 2:45 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

A new campaign for marriage equality in our state, Washington United for Marriage, officially kicked off today. And the highest-ranking politician residing in West Seattle, King County Executive Dow Constantine, has just issued a statement supporting it:

“Now is the time to take action, to finally recognize the equality and protect the rights of all the people of Washington.

“I will work in whatever capacity I can to see this legislation passed in Olympia, or if necessary at the ballot box, and look forward to the day I can sign marriage certificates for all adult couples in King County.”

The marriage-equality campaign is on Facebook here, and on the web here. There is not a specific proposal yet, but supporters are lobbying legislators, and saying they’ll go to voters if the Legislature doesn’t step up.

Share This

School volunteering: Chances to put ‘your toe in the water’
November 14, 2011 12:21 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

EDITOR’S NOTE: We often publish requests for volunteer help – and over the years, some have asked, what about a regular feature listing such needs? Fauntleroy resident Judy Pickens, who volunteers her time and talent to a variety of endeavors including local schools, is gathering and reporting information on volunteer needs at West Seattle schools where the need is greatest. Here’s her third roundup.

By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog

Helping with a one-time event (such as the upcoming book fair at West Seattle Elementary) is a great way to “stick your toe in the water” of volunteering at a local school. You won’t have to learn a lot of names or make a long-term commitment; just do the task with a smile. In the process, though, you’ll get a feel for the staff and students and chat with other volunteers to help discern if being an ongoing volunteer might be for you. If not, ask the volunteer coordinator to put you on the list to contact about future one-time needs.

At Roxhill Elementary (9430 30th SW)
Contact mllehman@seattleschools.org

Ongoing: Adult(s) to keep students on crossing patrol focused; 9:15-9:30 AM and/or 3:25-3:40 PM Mon.-Fri. Pick your day and time.

Ongoing: Active adults to monitor students on the playground during lunch/recess, especially 12:05-12:35 PM; other times available. Pick your day and time.

Ongoing: Adults or older youth to tutor before and after school, including math and reading. Pick your day, time, and grade.

Ongoing: Adults to provide before-school supervision (7:30-9 AM) in the cafeteria. Pick your day.

Ongoing: Adults to assist the school nurse by providing basic first aid. Could be all day or early/mid afternoon. Pick your day and time.

*************

At Highland Park Elementary (1012 SW Trenton)
Contact stpaolone@seattleschools.org

One time: Fri. Dec. 2, 7-10 PM. Adult for general assistance (including clerking the bake sale) during the Winter White-Out Ball/Family Picture Night.

Ongoing: Adults to support classroom teachers with tasks such as listening to students read or copying materials; varies by teacher/grade. Pick your hours/days M-F, 9 AM-3 PM.

*************

At West Seattle Elementary (6760 34th SW)
Contact smtaylor@seattleschools.org

One time: Adults to unpack/set up in advance of the annual book fair on Dec. 7. Also adults to pack up, starting at 7 PM on Dec. 7.

Ongoing: Adult to support the school’s “Husky Buck” behavior incentive program by copying/distributing forms (any day), drawing/recording names (Mondays), and keeping prizes stocked (periodic).

Weekly: Adult or older youth to assist the school counselor in hosting a 20-minute “Best Attendance” popcorn party for the winning class; any day Tues.-Fri.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Car break-in; gas-theft attempt
November 14, 2011 11:32 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

From the past few days, two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports, both crimes targeting cars:Read More

Share This

LaVida Massage: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor
November 14, 2011 10:30 am
|    Comments Off on LaVida Massage: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor
 |   Health | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

We’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor today: LaVida Massage, now open in Jefferson Square on the corner of 42nd SW and SW Alaska. Here’s what they’d like you to know about their business:

LaVida offers high-quality massage and aesthetician services at an affordable price with convenient hours, open 7 days a week. All 12 of their massage therapists are experienced Licensed Massage Therapists with 50+ years of combined experience. They offer most modalities, including Swedish, Deep Tissue, Reflexology, Pre-Natal, Sports, and Treatment massage. They also offer couples’ massages, hot stone, and aromatherapy in their 8 beautiful massage rooms. Your first hour-long massage is always $39.95. 30-year veteran medical aesthetician Janean Wyvold, a longtime aesthetician educator and West Seattle resident, heads their Aesthetician department. They offer luxury facials, anti-aging facial treatments, microdermabrasion rejuvenation treatments, chemical peels, and waxing services, all at affordable prices. Your first hour-long Signature Facial is always $49.95.

Longtime Alki resident Paul Silver and daughter Raeanne Silver decided to open LaVida Massage because they saw a real need to offer both massage and aesthetician services at an affordable price, especially in this economy. “People love massage and taking care of themselves but can no longer justify the high prices charged at many high-end salons,” says Paul Silver. “We now offer an alternative. We built a beautiful salon in a very convenient location where our customers can enjoy the benefits of a high-end salon without the high-end cost.”

LaVida Massage also offers the “Life Benefit Program”: For a monthly charge of $59.95, you get your choice of an hour-long massage or facial. In addition, any additional massages for the month are $49.95, but for their Grand Opening, additional massages are reduced to only $39.95 for as long as you remain a member. The program is month to month, so you can cancel at any time and you can even share your membership with anyone in your household so that they can get the reduced rates as well. If you don’t use your free massage or facial in any given month, they roll over until you do use them. Contact LaVida Massage‘s new West Seattle center at 206.937.8432; online, here; and on Facebook, here.

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

Share This

West Seattle restaurants: Spring Hill brings back fried chicken
November 14, 2011 9:24 am
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Seldom have we seen such a stir over restaurant news as the Spring Hill Restaurant and Bar fried-chicken saga. You might recall their popular Monday night fried-chicken dinners – and the frenzy that erupted when they announced they were deep-sixing the deep-fried concept last summer. But now … it’s back, with a Hawaiian twist, as of December 5th. Click ahead to see the news release we just received:Read More

Share This

West Seattle Monday: From Roxhill to North Delridge, and nightlife too
November 14, 2011 8:54 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Monday: From Roxhill to North Delridge, and nightlife too
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Tom Kelley photographed the junco on Gatewood Hill last week – thanks for sharing!)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

ROXHILL SKATESPOT: As previewed here again last night, new design alternatives for the Roxhill Park Skatespot will be shown tonight at Southwest Library, 6 pm.

NORTH DELRIDGE: Officer elections and a DESC-project update lead off the agenda for tonight’s North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting, 6:30 pm, Delridge Library.

ROXHILL PTA Roxhill Elementary‘s PTA meets at 6:30 pm in the Roxhill cafeteria, 6:30 pm. Child care will be provided during the meeting.

SEWER-FACILITY DESIGN: Murray (Lowman Beach) CSO project design open house, Fauntleroy Church, 6:30 pm – details in our preview.

NIGHTLIFE: Among your Monday night options: Bingo at Alki UCC Church, doors at 5:30/play starts 6:30 … Jacob Lakatua Quartet at Löcöl, 7:30 pm … Waxy Monday vinyl-spinning guest-DJ action at West 5 (details here) … Trivia with Brian Calvert at Christo’s on Alki, 7 pm … Karaoke with Kelli at Skylark Café and Club, 9 pm

FOOD TRUCKS ADD ANOTHER NIGHT: For those following the evolving West Seattle food-truck scene, Highland Park Improvement Club says Lumpia World and Charlie’s Buns will be there (12th/Holden) for dinner Mondays, starting tonight, 5-8.

Share This

‘Pop-Up Museum’ pops up for SW Seattle Historical Society
November 14, 2011 1:20 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Story and photos by Katie Meyer
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

A pumpkin, photographs, and plats on a map were some of the items shared when attendees at Saturday’s Southwest Seattle Historical Society meeting were introduced to Michelle DelCarlo‘s concept of a “pop-up museum.”

DelCarlo, a University of Washington graduate student in Museology, explained how her themed pop-up museum can influence how museums see themselves, and can assist them in creating a deeper relationship with their community. An informal, interactive pop-up museum helps museums engage people – it’s DelCarlo’s “experiment in community building and the creation of meaningful experiences.” The mission is to create conversations between people of all ages and all walks of life.

(Michelle DelCarlo, left, at the start of her “Thanksgiving” theme pop-up museum)
A pop-up museum is based solely on the content provided by the people who show up to participate, and after it ends, everyone takes their items home with them. The theme for the meeting at West Seattle (Admiral) Library was “Thanksgiving” and SWHS meeting participants had been asked in advance to bring something that was meaningful to them, and write on a small sheet of paper ( the “label”) why that object is meaningful, then place the object and label on a table.

Read More

Share This

West Seattle wildlife: Double coyote sighting in Fauntleroy
November 13, 2011 10:58 pm
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   Coyotes | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | Wildlife

From Sean:

Just saw 2 very healthy looking coyotes at Fauntleroy Place SW and 45th Ave SW just east of Lincoln Park [map]. Not too fearful of cars, those two. Saw them right at 950 pm.

We usually end coyote-sighting reports with this infolink that includes advice on what to do if you see one. And we point you to our coyote-sighting archive (newest-to-oldest, some with photos). Tonight, a bit of coyote trivia, too: In Louisiana, we just learned via Google, they have been designated “outlaw quadrupeds.”

Share This

Delridge DESC project: Face-to-face with the city’s housing boss
November 13, 2011 7:47 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | DESC Delridge project | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

At 9 am last Thursday morning, city Office of Housing director Rick Hooper stood in front of TV cameras in North Seattle, next to Mayor McGinn, formally announcing the city’s $27 million investment in new low-income-housing development.

Ten hours later, he faced a tougher crowd on the other end of the city: Fifteen Delridge-area residents gathered in a living room, ready to hear his answers to pointed questions about the only West Seattle project on the newly unveiled funding list.

The city’s decision to put “up to $4.45 million” into Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC)’s 5444 Delridge project was old news to them, and many others who live near the proposed site. But far beyond the project’s estimated $14.5 million cost, many questions have emerged, and many people have voiced frustration while seeking answers.

Among them, Betsy Hoffmeister, who coordinated and hosted the gathering at her home. She invited Hooper in hopes more information might help defuse the tension that has built between project supporters and opponents over the 4 1/2 months since the DESC plan came to light.

Thursday night, after more than 3 1/2 hours, a possible path forward seemed to emerge. But its future seemed to rest as much with who was not in the room, as with who was.

Read More

Share This

Reminder: Roxhill Skatespot design meeting tomorrow night
November 13, 2011 6:35 pm
|    Comments Off on Reminder: Roxhill Skatespot design meeting tomorrow night
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

If you’re interested in seeing the latest design proposal for Roxhill Park’s “skatespot” skatepark – before a design is finalized – tomorrow night is your big chance. As first reported here last Monday, the meeting originally planned for a final review of both the skatespot and renovated playground will now focus ONLY on the skatespot (the playground review was moved to 11/30). It’s at 6 pm tomorrow in Southwest Library‘s upstairs meeting room. The previous design draft, described as a “basic street plaza,” was shown there a month ago (here’s our meeting coverage, including video). There’s much to discuss, according to city Skatepark Advisory Committee chair Ryan Barth:

Parks and California Skateparks received a lot of feedback on the preliminary design schematic presented at the second design meeting in October and received additional feedback since that meeting. The Parks Project Manager has told me that all of the feedback received to date has been provided to California Skateparks and they are currently working on a formal presentation and new design layouts to show at Monday’s meeting. There are currently two favored footprints (different from what was shown at the 2nd meeting) and both include varied layouts within those footprints. There are also some experiments with other alternate footprints. They will reduce these footprints/layouts down to the top three that work best within the space and present these at the meeting.

By the way, Barth and the rest of the Skatepark Advisory Committee will hold their regular meeting immediately after the Roxhill review, 7 pm at SW Library. That’s not the usual location, but since the skatespot discussion is of high interest, they decided to have it there.

Share This

West Seattle weekend scene: North Delridge street cleanup
November 13, 2011 3:48 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Environment | West Seattle news

Look familiar? You may have a similar scene to tackle outside your own home. In North Delridge, a small group of volunteers went out Saturday for the quarterly Adopt-A-Street cleanup. Mike Dady was among them and shared photos. He reports they cleared litter from Andover to Brandon, including leftover campaign signs from last week’s election, and worked on fallen leaves, including those blocking storm drains. Also, Mike says, “There was pruning and clearing of overhanging branches near the Genesee staircase leading from Delridge Way up to Pigeon Point and the Metro bus stop at the same location. Area was very dark and gloomy and has been the scene of graffiti and other not-so-good stuff. Hopefully the adjacent street light will provide a better sense of safety.” His photos included this one of two other volunteers – Nancy Folsom and canine pal Jackson:

Want to adopt a street in YOUR area? Here’s how. And you can Adopt-a-Drain, too – and/or just go out and check the storm drain(s) nearest your home, to reduce the chance of blockage/flooding when the next wave of rain comes in.

Share This

High-school sports: Chief Sealth seeks new football coach, recaps fall-season athletes’ accomplishments
November 13, 2011 2:57 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Winter-sports season is about to begin at many high schools, including West Seattle’s Chief Sealth International HS, which announced some big news this past week: After five years, Sealth football coach Asosa Sailiai is out, according to an announcement by athletic director Sam Reed, who says that while he is looking for a new coach who can “take that next step toward competitive success,” he thanks Sailiai for “leaving a much stronger program than the one he inherited,” having been able to, with his staff, “more than triple participation numbers, eliminate significant academic achievement issues within the program and build a junior varsity team that had been absent for some time.” Also this week, Reed congratulated his school’s fall-sports athletes for their achievements – read on for the official recap he shared with the CSIHS community:Read More

Share This