West Seattle Holidays: Give the gift of a Giving Tree wish fulfilled
That’s Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) proprietor Lora Lewis with some of the items that have come in for the Pet Giving Tree at Hotwire. Teri Ensley from Furry Faces Foundation says two-thirds of the tree’s 24 tags have been taken, and the presents are now starting to come in – including more than 100 pounds of donated pet food. Teri says, “We took (the) first load of ‘pet gifts’ to White Center Food Bank. Both Rick Jump and Audrey Zemke were there so they helped unload with big smiles on their faces. Since some of the items came in Christmas gift bags, they are going to give them to their clients in the bags–so it truly is a pet gift. The next load of pet gifts will be taken to West Seattle Food Bank. Thanks again to Lora Lewis of Hotwire for coming up with this brilliant giving tree and thanks to everyone that is taking their time and money to help animal companions be able to stay with their people.” This is just one of MANY Giving Trees around West Seattle – and this weekend is PRIME TIME to go see which one still have unclaimed tags, so that you can help make this a merrier Christmas for somebody – go to the West Seattle Holidays page and look for the Giving Trees/Fundraisers list. (Also, re: Furry Faces, note their Wrap It Up wrapping fundraiser at Shadow Land 1-6 pm today!)
West Seattle Weather Watch: Snow? Or no?
Diane reports a snowplow sighting in the Admiral area, 37th/Hinds vicinity – despite the absence of snow! Of course, you know what they say about the value of an ounce of preparedness, given what was looming exactly a year ago. Checked back in our archives, and the forecast back then didn’t really predict all that snow, either. Doesn’t mean a waffly forecast now means Blizzard City, of course, but just in case you’re looking for reassurance, this is from tonight’s late National Weather Service “forecast discussion”:
SKAGIT AND ISLAND COUNTY PROBABLY HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF SGFNT SNOWFALL SUN AFTERNOON AND NITE…FOLLOWED BY WHATCOM AND SNOHOMISH COUNTY…WITH THE REST OF WRN WA AT LOW RISK
Famous forecaster Cliff Mass seems to concur, in this late-night update. He flatly states “nothing” Saturday for Seattle, which we’re happy to hear, recalling what happened on Christmas Ship Saturday night LAST year (here’s the flashback, video and all).
“Big check” presented at Gatewood Elementary
(Photo added Saturday morning, shared by Stephanie; that’s School Board rep Steve Sundquist at left, Gatewood principal Rhonda Claytor at right)
That’s how Karen‘s son described it; she and Stephanie, both proud Gatewood Elementary School parents, e-mailed tonight to share the news that the school received its Apple Award $25,000 check today (at least, the ceremonial “big” version). The award was announced back in September; it was given to schools for making major educational progress, and they’ll be able to choose a construction project to spend it on. (We’ll check with Gatewood administration next week to see if they’ve earmarked it yet.)
Followup: Homecoming may be soon for cemetery crow
If you’ve been following the saga of that distinctive crow rescued by Forest Lawn Cemetery staff before it froze to death the other day, Forest Lawn’s Jeff Jorgenson has been posting updates in comments. Most recent one – looks like a reunion is imminent:
Hello all!! Friday update!
Thanks to someone here on the WSB, the breeder called me from Alabama – Corvid Ranch – just as we were discussing the move to Sarvey. He provided me with the band information and an address that matches up with the cemetery such that there is no question as to who belongs to this crow. I have a call into them and am awaiting their return. So, for the time being, the six month old crow is comfortably resting with private fireplace and blanket until the owner gets home. Thanks again WSBers!!!
West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Christmas Ship edition!
Tonight, the Our Lady of Guadalupe tree lighting … tomorrow and Sunday nights, the Christmas Ship makes four West Seattle stops … and there’s so much more going on, including Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB) Sunday #2 with Santa and gift wrap in The Junction – plus the Highland Park Improvement Club holiday bash tomorrow night, Admiral Sings Christmas on Sunday, an extra Plaid Tidings (WSB sponsor) matinee on Saturday … bazaars, sales, concerts, more than SIXTY events/activities in all, holiday and non-holiday, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club:Read More
Chainsaw Christmas creation brings “reindeer” to West Seattle
Sure, you can buy a light-encrusted “reindeer” at the store and plop it in your yard. But how about carving and assembling your own reindeer? That’s what Dave did in Westwood, and proud girlfriend Oleana shares these photos — in progress, above, and here’s the final result:
Oleana explains:
We live in West Seattle and this is our 2nd x-mas here. This year my boyfriend really got into the decorations as in chainsaw, log, actual size reindeer with a 6 ft wreath hung from the trees in our yard. I also just for fun decorated with pink flamingos and a golden egg. It is a holiday scene—in the middle of a quiet neighborhood. Throughout the day I see dog walkers pointing and even coming in the yard to check out the reindeer.
She says he’s made a couple more, too. You can see them at 7926 30th SW (here’s a map).
You be the judge: WSHS marketing club adviser seeks volunteers
Just out of the WSB inbox — WSB’ers stepped up to help with this type of judging before, and those who participated reported having a great time (here’s the report we published in May):
* Michelle Sloan, the DECA Club Adviser at West Seattle High School, is searching for judges for Automotive Marketing competition at the DECA Regional Competitions on Tuesday, January 12th, at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, 9 am – 4 pm.
* Anyone with ANY Marketing experience will be great!
* We will need the names of any “possibles” (ASAP), as we’d like to have our final list organized before the holidays (no one wants to commit to anything the first week in January!)
DECA Marketing Regional Competition
* Tuesday, January 12, 2010
* 9 am – 1 pm
* Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue, WA
Benefits of participating?
* Supporting the DECA Marketing students at WSHS and the region!
* Free lunch!
* Free coffee!
* Networking with hundreds of other DECA judges from the state of Washington!
Thank you so much for your help!
Interested judges may contact Michelle Sloan, masloan@seattleschools.org, or mmtonkin@seattleschools.org, for more information!
Last call for vendors: Southwest Community Center holiday bazaar
Got something to sell that holiday bazaar shoppers might be interested in? The Southwest Community Center Holiday Bazaar tomorrow (Saturday) still has room for more vendors, Lisa tells us. $15 for one table, $20 for two, and the fees go to SWCC youth programs. Call 206-684-7638. Even if you’re not interested in selling, there’ll be entertainment and food along with craft activities for kids, 9 am-4 pm Saturday.
Followup: After 2 crashes, safety upgrades in works for Westwood
It’s one of West Seattle’s most heartstopping intersections to maneuver as a pedestrian – and it’s in an area that’s seen two major car-hits-pedestrian crashes in less than two years, one fatal, another resulting in major injuries. But the 26th/Barton intersection at Westwood Village’s main entrance/exit is about to get some attention, according to SDOT’s Jim Curtin (a West Seattleite), who came out this afternoon to meet with (from left, with Curtin 2nd from left) Donn DeVore of the Westwood Neighborhood Council; Stuart Crandall of Westwood Village, and Ron Angeles, district coordinator in the Department of Neighborhoods‘ Delridge office:
Problems at the intersection were thoroughly discussed in this WSB comment thread following the December 1st crash that left a woman in the hospital, badly hurt. Curtin says some improvements are in the works and will be installed as soon as next month – including “fanning” the crosswalk striping to cover the 16-inch gap between the driveway and the crosswalk here on the west side of the WWV driveway:
Signage also will be upgraded from the current old-style flat orange to the new-style fluorescent lime green:
And yield-to-pedestrian reminder signs may be hung from the overhead cables:
But you won’t see left-turn arrows – Curtin says that wouldn’t solve the problem. You will see the road striping change within the next two years – not to add a striped right-turn lane heading west on Barton into the center, which DeVore asked about, though – Curtin says that the Bicycle Master Plan calls for a bike lane on each side of Barton in that area, so when that happens, the “one (car) lane in each direction” will be a lot clearer than it is now. The work’s not going to happen next year, he says, but is a possibility for 2011. That’s also when Metro RapidRide service is scheduled to begin, and a station is reportedly planned on the south side of Barton near Daystar Retirement Village. “So how do we slow down traffic till then?” DeVore asked. Curtin suggested it’s time to get this stretch of road involved in the Arterial Traffic Calming Program – which would mean gathering some data, for starters, about the speeds and other conditions on that stretch of Barton, as a first step.
West Seattle Christmas lights: Shining bright in Fauntlee Hills
Thanks to Cheryl for the reminder that south West Seattle has its own version of Candy Cane Lane in the heart of Fauntlee Hills. Particularly SW Concord north of 41st SW (map), where we photographed this house (just one of many shining examples in the area). Just turn off SW Barton, left if you’re coming uphill from the ferry dock, right if you’re coming downhill from 35th/Westwood Village. (Our archives of previously featured light displays can be found here, newest to oldest.)
Mayor’s first round of “cabinet decisions”; plus, a WS tie in Olympia
Just published at the transition website: The department heads who are staying include Stella Chao from Neighborhoods and Diane Sugimura for Planning and Development, plus West Seattleite Bill Schrier from Information Technology. Will Grace Crunican (also a West Seattleite) keep her job running Transportation? No announcement today; the McGinn team says more decisions will be announced next week. ADDED 5:44 PM: A state appointment to note tonight too – Governor Gregoire announced a new communications director today, J. Cory Curtis, and we just got word that Curtis is a West Seattleite.
West Seattle Weather Watch: Another icy night ahead
No, that’s not an interpretation of how upset people are down in Southern California since a cold snap plunged them into the … 30s. That’s a palm tree near Alki Point’s Constellation Park, next to a frozen-in-place fountain, photo shared by Lisa. The latest forecast? Here you go – still a possibility of snow starting tomorrow night – “light” snow, then followed by a mention of snow possibilities in every daypart through Monday. Meantime, tonight’s expected to go down into the teens yet again.
It’s another WSB holiday tradition, along with keeping a list of holiday events (
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