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West Seattle holiday giving: Alki Tours’ surprise gift
December 1, 2012 3:27 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL SATURDAY AFTERNOON REPORT: We’ve heard from multiple sources that Morgan Junction-based Alki Tours has given quite a gift today … Their “Snow Train” trip to Leavenworth was canceled by a slide – as noted on Facebook – leaving them with boxed meals for passengers they wouldn’t be serving. So, they filled cars with the food and took it to feed homeless people, including the campers at Nickelsville.

ADDED SUNDAY: A photo montage is now atop this story; thanks to Jayme for replying to our request, made in the comment section, which is also where you’ll find more on how it unfolded, including this note from “Bsmomma”:

I was one of the saddened workers that got the call at 5:10am that the train was cancelled. :( Working on the train is the source for Christmas money for a lot of people. BUT instead of bumming out all day about it, we jumped on the phones to inform passengers (who were all awesome about it btw!) And then hung around for the food to be ready to go. My sister and I chatted with so many grateful people around Seattle. A huge Thank You to Alki Tours for making that possible. And another big Thanks to the people at Gretchen’s for getting it all ready for us! I am a true believer in Everything happens for a reason. Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

P.S. If you’re looking for non-surprise holiday giving opportunities, we’re continuing to add to the list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.

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Happening now: ‘Santa Paws,’ to help West Seattle Food Bank & Toys for Tots
December 1, 2012 12:43 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening now: ‘Santa Paws,’ to help West Seattle Food Bank & Toys for Tots
 |   Holidays | Pets | West Seattle news

Thanks to Alice Kuder for sharing the photo from the first of this season’s “Santa Paws” events – happening till 3 pm at Prudential NW, Suite 600 at Jefferson Square (4700 42nd SW). From the invite in the WSB West Seattle Holidays Guide: “Bring your dog, cat, friend, or family for a complimentary photo with Santa! Or, just drop by to say hello, and enjoy some coffee and holiday treats.” You don’t have to bring a donation for the West Seattle Food Bank and/or Toys for Tots (which takes new, unwrapped toys), but they’re welcome!

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West Seattleites invite you to ‘Holidays at the Hospital’
December 1, 2012 12:17 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Health | Holidays | West Seattle news

Evi Feltus from Swedish Medical Center says she and another West Seattleite working on this event would love to see community members there, since the hospital serves kids from all over the area: “Holidays at the Hospital” is happening tomorrow (Sunday), 1-4 pm, fun and free. Here’s the online invite:

We hope you can join us for a winter wonderland celebration for Swedish Pediatric patients, families, & friends!
This is a fun, festive holiday celebration for the community that will feature:
Photos with Santa, Carolers, Teddy Bear Clinic, Cookie decorating, Face painting, Holiday activities and crafts tables Plus, we’ll have a super special guest from the Seattle Sounders, Roger Levesque!

We’ll also be collecting toys for children up to age 18 as well as donations for art supplies and games. Donated items will be given to children at the hospital receiving care and treatment.

This is at Swedish on First Hill downtown, 1101 Madison.

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West Seattle Saturday: Junction Tree Lighting & other holiday happenings; Westside School open house; more…
December 1, 2012 9:31 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

That’s the Junction Plaza Park Christmas Tree – photographed Friday afternoon, just about ready for tonight’s gala Hometown Holidays lighting ceremony at 5 pm (see you there)! That’s one of many events from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide (and our regular calendar) in this morning’s list of highlights:

WEST SEATTLE KIWANIS COMMUNITY PANCAKE BREAKFAST: As mentioned earlier this morning, it’s happening right now! Pancakes, juice, Husky Deli ham, photos with Santa, and more, till 11 am at the Masonic Hall, 40th and Edmunds. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots if you can (and note that West Seattle Hi-Yu is selling their blown-glass ornaments, too).

THE COVE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 9:30-11 am today, come check out this West Seattle preschool (WSB sponsor) – details here.

WESTSIDE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-noon today, you are invited to drop by Westside School (WSB sponsor), an independent elementary/middle school, at 7740 34th SW – last open house during this admission season. Official invitation with details here!

HOLIDAY ARTS AND CRAFTS: 3rd annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Show. 10 am-4 pm at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation Social Hall, 7141 California SW. “You’ll find original and one-of-a-kind gifts: felted hats; knits; jewelry; watercolor paintings; designer bags and accessories; greeting cards and stocking stuffers; edible holiday goodies; glass art; Shibori fiber art; and more. Enjoy free refreshments. Cash and checks only.”

DRUM, DANCE, AND SING: 11 am at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW), for kids and parents – details here.

AVALON GLASSWORKS OPEN HOUSE: Holiday Open House at Avalon Glassworks (2914 SW Avalon Way), noon-4 pm. Details on the Facebook event page. Buy a beautiful glass apple to benefit White Center Food Bank!

BENEFIT PET PORTRAITS: Noon-6 pm at Mind Unwind in The Admiral District, benefiting Art for Animals’ Sake. Details here.

‘SANTA PAWS’: Noon-3 pm, 4700 42nd Ave SW, Suite 600, Jefferson Square Shopping Center: Bring your dog, cat, friend, or family for a complimentary photo with Santa! Or, just drop by to say hello, and enjoy some coffee and holiday treats. Hosted again this year by Prudential Northwest Realty and West Seattle Food Bank. Accepting donations for the Food Bank & Toys for Tots, but no contribution is required. Appointments recommended but not necessary – 206-932-4500.

FREE HOME-RENOVATION WORKSHOP: 1 pm at Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor; California and Findlay), but call to see if there’s room – get the number and more info, here.

SNAP NEIGHBORHOOD-PREPAREDNESS MEETING: 1 pm at Hiawatha Community Center.

(“Ex-Westwood Santa” – photo courtesy Lisa Myers of CAPERS)
‘EX-WESTWOOD SANTA’ AT CAPERS: That’s where the Santa some knew as “Ex-Westwood Santa” (from 2010 and previous years) can be found. From CAPERS‘ Lisa Myers – It’s a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank. Cash and canned food will be collected to share with our neighbors in need. 2-6 pm today (for other dates, and other Santas, see the Holiday Guide).

JUNCTION TRIVIA CRAWL: Starts at 3 pm today, but you have to sign up! Get the info here.

ART UNDER $100: South Park’s big annual event, 3:30 pm-9 pm, full details here

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AT FLEURT: 4-7 pm at Fleurt (4536 California SW). Proprietor Sam says, “We will be offering light snacks, a raffle, and door prizes. We would like our guests to bring along a food item for donation to the West Seattle Food Bank.”

HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS TREE LIGHTING IN THE JUNCTION: West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Christmas Tree Lighting, 5 pm. Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska). Here’s the lineup, as published on WSB earlier this week, including live entertainment.

‘ROCKY HORROR’ AT THE ADMIRAL: Midnight tonight (like the first Saturday of most months) at Admiral Theater, it’s “Rocky Horror Picture Show” with shadow cast and all.

As long as this list is, it’s just part of what’s happening – see the Holiday Guide for more Santa photos, for Christmas tree sales, etc., and see the regular calendar for non-holiday events.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Alki mudslide reported
December 1, 2012 8:38 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Weather Watch: Alki mudslide reported
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to the WSB’er who shared the photo; after a night of pounding rain, a mudslide behind a building in the 1300 block of Alki Avenue SW is reported to have damaged three vehicles, pushing them into each other. We’ll be checking to find out more; the National Weather Service‘s newest forecast says showery, breezy weather will continue today. Any weather trouble where you are? Let us know – thanks!

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Happening now: Holiday Shopping Spree for almost 100 students, courtesy of West Seattle Rotary Club and friends
December 1, 2012 7:17 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | Rotary Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

The first students have crossed the bridge and arrived at Sears SODO for the biggest event the Rotary Club of West Seattle organizes every year, the Children’s Holiday Shopping Spree. They’re coming here from five elementary schools in West Seattle – 96 kids [updated number], greeted by a corps of volunteers more than double that size:

A little breezy this morning! Inside, volunteers of all ages – from high-school students to retirees – have already been busy in the pre-dawn hours, getting ready:

The tasks range from assembling bags for the kids – who are from Arbor Heights, Highland Park, Sanislo, Schmitz Park, and West Seattle Elementaries – to keeping track of the volunteers:

They’re not just West Seattle Rotarians, but also Panhellenic sorority and fraternity members, as well as the aforementioned students, including University of Washington Rotaract members and Mercer Island High School Interact members. They’ve all just heard the morning’s order of events from West Seattle Rotary president Andy Horner:

He noted this has been growing since 1972, when the West Seattle Rotary held the first shopping spree … for nine students. With him in that photo, at left, is Martha Sidlo, who organized this year’s shopping spree. Next up – volunteers are paired with kids, for breakfast, followed by shopping – $100 gift cards, to be used to purchase essentials (with a 10 percent discount) – Santa photos, and lunch.

ADDED 8:14 AM: Before shopping, there’s the waiting …

Then the smiling (with Rotarian Josh Sutton):

The shoe-fitting:

The coat-choosing (with Rotarian Dr. Susanne Gee):

And inside Sears, the shopping (that’s Anissa the Elf, offering a greeting)

ADDED 11:48 AM: Santa listened to many wishes, and posed for many photos, but this scene said it all:

To make this happen, it takes many donors and sponsors – they had big thanks, for example, for their baked-goods donors The Essential Baking Company and Macrina Bakery, as well as for SODO Kitchen, the venue in the Sears/Starbucks building where everyone gathered – and you can donate too: A link to the Shopping Spree fund is on the Rotary home page.

P.S. Some extra info from WS Rotary president Andy: 256 was the final volunteer count – 35 Rotarians, 221 non-Rotarians. Four drivers from First Student transported the kids – Chuck, Robert, David, Jim. The schools each had coordinators – including Arbor Heights principal Christy Collins, Pam Rago from Highland Park, Nina Bowman from Sanislo, Jennifer Toth from Highland Park, and Tracie Thompson from West Seattle Elementary.

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Update: Hundreds enjoy pancakes with West Seattle Kiwanis and Santa!
December 1, 2012 7:00 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Kiwanis Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

(Photo by Nick Adams for WSB, added 8:41 am: Brian Riggs, right, making pancakes)
ORIGINAL 7 AM REPORT: Don’t cook breakfast this morning – let the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle cook it for you! Their annual Community Pancake Breakfast is set to start right about now – 7 am till 11 am, at the Masonic Hall in The Junction (40th and Edmunds, plenty of parking). You’ll see Santa Claus there, as well as dozens of volunteers, and even West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival Junior Court royalty. In addition to the low, nonprofit-benefiting admission price ($7 adults, $3 kids, if you don’t already have an advance ticket), they’re also collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. More photos later!

ADDED 3:33 PM: The pancake breakfast drew a crowd – all morning long:

That’s Hi-Yu Junior Court Princess Emily Galvin talking with breakfasters about buying one of the Hi-Yu benefit blown-glass ornaments. As always, local Boy Scouts volunteered to help serve:

In a more serious moment, the Scouts gathered onstage for a big “thank you”:

Back to the pancakes:

5-year-old Everett Burdett particularly enjoyed his:

This morning also was a time to give:

Marine Cpl. Justin L. Knox, there for Toys for Tots, shook the hand of Andrew Archide, one of the breakfast attendees who brought a toy to donate. Speaking of toys … we haven’t yet mentioned the most famous toy giver of all:

Santa, of course, held court onstage – where, in our photo, he was joined by Karl de Jong from West Seattle Kiwanis, while the Hi-Yu Junior Court spoke. Kiwanis of Industrial Seattle was on hand too – Angelika Tam showed off a wreath:

This was the 66th annual Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast; its history is in this preview from last month.

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West Seattle holidays: Savoring the season at Husky Deli open house
December 1, 2012 5:50 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(WSB photos by Katie Meyer)
Another holiday-season-opening tradition in West Seattle last night – the annual Husky Deli open house in The Junction. Purple-and-gold-shirted elves assisted all around the store, with Husky proprietor Jack Miller himself at centerstage:

Other West Seattle treats were showcased – here are Gretchen and Noah serving up cake from nearby Bakery Nouveau:

And Peter Bos of Northwest Wine Academy poured samples of the wines (including rose, riesling and merlot) made by his students at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor).

Spotted sharing the season’s spirit – Mr. and Mrs. Claus, aka Paul Carr and Libby Carr from the forthcoming premiere run of “Santa’s First Magical Ride, The Musical“:

Their show plays at West Seattle’s Youngstown Cultural Arts Center starting next Friday (December 7th) and continuing Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays.

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Traffic alert: Saturday work on the 1st Avenue South Bridge
November 30, 2012 10:18 pm
|    Comments Off on Traffic alert: Saturday work on the 1st Avenue South Bridge
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

You’re going to want to avoid the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge tomorrow morning. An alert from WSDOT:

Two lanes on the northbound 1st Avenue S. Bridge will close Saturday morning, Dec. 1, while crews repair the metal grating on the bridge deck.

Washington State Department of Transportation bridge crews will close the two right lanes from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The exit to S. Michigan Street will remain open. The work may also require some short-term openings of the bridge drawspan.

During the lane closures, crews will weld steel plates to the bridge deck to cover small cracks and holes that periodically occur on the bridge.

You can check the bridge cam on the WSB Traffic page if you have to head that way and wonder how traffic’s going.

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Update: Police investigate shooting at South Delridge bus stop
November 30, 2012 8:24 pm
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

FIRST REPORT, 8:24 PM: Police are investigating a shooting in the 9200 block of Delridge Way. Per the scanner, a man around 30 years old was shot in both legs. They’re looking for at least three people reported to have fled the scene.

8:55 PM UPDATE: Just back from the scene, which cleared fairly quickly once the medic unit left to take the victim to Harborview Medical Center. We talked with James from Greenlight across Delridge, who told us he heard what sounded like six gunshots and went outside and saw the victim in the small triangle mini-park across the street by the bus stop. We also talked to a sergeant who remained at the scene while other officers fanned out – no word of any arrest so far, but police are searching.

9:17 PM UPDATE: SPD Blotter says the victim is 17 years old and was shot after two “unknown male suspects” approached him at the bus stop. (No mention of a female who was reported in initial scanner traffic to have fled the scene.) Here’s their update, which also describes the victim’s wounds as non-life-threatening.

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West Seattle holidays: Menashe family’s Beach Drive lights are on
November 30, 2012 7:59 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

When we stopped by Jack and Linda Menashe‘s Beach Drive home last Sunday to see how the first day of decorating was going, the family was planning to ceremonially turn on their dazzling display tomorrow night. Then we spotted a post on the Menashe and Sons Jewelers (WSB sponsor) Facebook page this afternoon announcing it would happen tonight instead. The actual “lighting” is generally casual anyway – the lights were on when we pulled up around 6:45, and then there was a quick off-then-on lighting just after 7 to make it official.

If you’ve seen the lights but never met the family – here are Linda and Jack Menashe, stopping for a moment in tonight’s rain to pose under the light show that went up as usual with so many family and friends:

(added) Some new features this year – can you spot them in this closer look?

(If you’re going to see it, the house is in the 5600 block of Beach Drive – no close cross-street; it’s a little closer to the south end – Lincoln Park Way/48th SW intersection – than the other end.)

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Video: Holy Rosary Tree Lot festival and blessing – indoors, too!
November 30, 2012 7:45 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The traditional Holy Rosary School Tree Lot (WSB sponsor) “Blessing of the Trees” was scaled down a bit this year, because of the rain – those four trees were brought inside and stood in for the rest of the lot. Father John Madigan joked that they had all the holy water they needed:

It’s part of the “Festival of Trees” happening at HR (41st and Dakota) till 9 pm – you’re welcome to stop by for everything from free family photos (under cover!) to kids’ craftmaking, and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” on the big screen. More to come.

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West Seattleite Marty Riemer leaving The Mountain, again
November 30, 2012 5:50 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Tomorrow night, he emcees the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting. Tonight – radio/podcast personality Marty Riemer has just made a big announcement: He’s leaving 103.7 The Mountain. Again. Last time, in September 2009, he and then-co-host Jodi Brothers (also a West Seattle resident) were booted; more than a year later, in January 2011, he returned to the station. Then today, we happened to be listening to the station and heard he’d be making a big announcement at 5:05 pm – so we tuned in and heard him say he’s leaving as of December 20th, and going “on to my next adventure.” He elaborates online that he’s not sure what that is, just yet; but for starters, we (and you) will see him at Saturday night’s tree lighting (5 pm, Junction Plaza Park at 42nd and Alaska; here’s the lineup).

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Bail set at $250,000 for suspect in car attack on Sealth students
November 30, 2012 3:59 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

The 37-year-old woman accused of driving her car deliberately into two Chief Sealth International High School students on Wednesday, sending the 17- and 18-year-old girls to the hospital, has just appeared in court for a bail hearing. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says bail was set at $250,000, and their deadline for filing charges is Tuesday. Probable cause was found for two potential counts of second-degree assault. While the 17-year-old was released from the hospital Wednesday night, the documents say the 18-year-old is in critical condition. Ahead, the police narrative from the court documents:

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Happening now: Firefly Café and Creperie open, Day 1
November 30, 2012 3:45 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

3:45 PM: As mentioned in the WSB morning roundup and on the WSB Facebook page, it’s opening day for Charell Estby and her team at Firefly Café and Creperie (California and Genesee; here’s our sneak-peek report from 2 weeks ago). We finally got a chance to duck in for a photo, and they were very busy – so it’s an action shot. Firefly opened today after a family/friends shakedown cruise night before last. Their hours and menu are online.

6:35 PM UPDATE: Charell posted on the Firefly FB page that for the first week, their “soft open” will be 8 am-6:30 pm, or so.

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Proposed park purchase in Junction goes to Council committee next week
November 30, 2012 3:27 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

The City Council Parks and Neighborhoods Committee will be asked next Thursday to approve the proposed purchase of a quarter-acre vacant lot at 4731 40th SW, as a future park site. According to documents made public today, they would be authorizing a purchase price of up to $1,440,000. We first reported four weeks ago on the city’s plan to buy the property with money from the Parks and Green Spaces Levy, approved by voters in 2008, including a $24 million acquisition fund to buy potential parkland in areas that don’t have enough – including The Junction. The price tag does not include money to actually turn it into a park; that would have to come from some other source at a later date. If the committee gives its approval on Thursday (December 6th), the full City Council would then be asked for final approval.

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West Seattle traffic alert: Junction crash, 1 hurt
November 30, 2012 2:07 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

2:07 PM: We’re in The Junction, where we happened onto a crash scene at California and Alaska, tying up the outside lane on northbound California at Alaska. The police response is more sizable than you might expect from a not-major rear-ender, because there’s a possibility, police tell us, that one of the cars was involved in an earlier crash. One man was hurt and was put into a private ambulance, but didn’t appear to have major injuries.

2:21 PM: The scene is mostly clear now, except for police and one of the vehicles.

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West Seattle development: Junction Flats in the works for 42nd SW
November 30, 2012 12:36 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

(The triplex and houses at the future project site – 4441, 4437, and 4433 42nd SW)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Another Junction apartment project has emerged.

This one, called Junction Flats, has a few differences from others in the works.

One, the project proposed to replace a triplex and two houses in the 4400 block of 42nd SW (photo above) – across from Hope Lutheran – will be four stories high.

That’s the maximum allowed for that block, explains Brandon Nicholson, the West Seattle architect/developer who is part of the ownership group. And that itself is another difference, Nicholson told WSB when we contacted him to ask about the project – it’s West Seattle-owned, unlike most of the other projects now in the pipeline. “We’re not builders or flippers – we’re a group of local West Seattle people (developing a building) that we all intend to keep for a long time” – even the financing (40 years) underscores that, he says.

We found out about Junction Flats when its tentatively scheduled Early Design Guidance meeting turned up on the city website.

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Car2Go gets Council committee green light, though West Seattle’s not included
November 30, 2012 11:36 am
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

This morning, the City Council Transportation Committee gave its approval to something that’s been catching West Seattleites’ attention for a while now (though our part of the city apparently isn’t part of the initial plan). WSB Forums members have been talking about a lot near the east end of the West Seattle Bridge that is a holding zone for hundreds of Smart Cars awaiting the green light Car2Go, a car-sharing service that enables members to drive borrowed cars 1-way instead of roundtrip like Zipcar (the difference is explained in this city memo). The holding-lot video above was shot and published to YouTube a month ago by West Seattleite Jerry Whiting of JetCityOrange.com.

Today’s meeting was previewed in this story by reporter Lynn Thompson on SeattleTimes.com (WSB partner). It points out that West Seattle is one of the areas NOT in the initial service plan for Car2Go’s Seattle launch. Before the Transportation Committee’s 4-0 vote this morning, the fact some areas will be left out got “a lot of good discussion,” says Brian Hawksford, legislative assistant to West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, the committee’s chair. Hawksford says Car2Go expects to “be responsive to market demands from areas not in their initial boundaries.” Next step for the proposal: A vote by the full City Council on Monday afternoon.

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Followup: Highland Park’s trashed trailer towed away
November 30, 2012 10:46 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news

Thanks to “GBaldwin” for sharing the photo taken a short time ago as cleanup and towing crews showed up to take away the trashed trailer that’s been alongside Riverview Playfield at 12th and Myrtle for more than a week and a half – tagged with a 3-day warning notice on November 21st. We’ve been covering it all week long since hearing about it from Monica on Monday; last night, our friends at KING 5 News picked up the story too. And as both we and they were told last night would happen – it’s out of here. After GB shared the photo, we sent a WSB crew over and found there’s nothing left but trash on the curb, which will be Seattle Public Utilities‘ responsibility to come get.

(Photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand, added 11:05 am)
As noted in our story last night, anybody with information on the trailer’s owner should contact Community Police Team Officer Jonathan Kiehn via e-mail at jonathan.kiehn@seattle.gov. If you have an abandoned vehicle (trailer or not) in your neighborhood, you can report them online by going here.

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West Seattle Friday: First big weekend of holiday happenings!
November 30, 2012 10:24 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Friday: First big weekend of holiday happenings!
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Lise Thivierge for the photo from Seacrest showing this morning’s high tide at the West Seattle Water Taxi dock. You could say the holiday tide is rising – with lots happening this weekend, starting tonight! From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide (which we’re continuing to update daily!) and WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (updated daily year-round):

SANTA PHOTOS: Today “Santa Al” will be available for photos – free with your camera, or have a photo taken for $5 – at Small Clothes today (and tomorrow), 10:30 am-1:30 pm, first of several appearances in West Seattle. Westwood Village’s Santa photos continue daily too. And check the Holiday Guide for lots MORE Santa this weekend – “Ex-Westwood Santa” starts his rounds tomorrow, and the Junction Santa will be at City Mouse on Sunday – this first time is BRING YOUR OWN CAMERA, though. All the details here (scroll to the Santa Photos section).

FIREFLY CAFE AND CREPERIE’S OPENING DAY: The new eatery at California and Genesee has a sign on its door saying it’s opening no later than 11 am.

SAMPLER TOUR OF ARTISTS’ GALLERIES “Sampler” tour of local artists’ galleries, 4-9 pm tonight (and continuing this weekend) – full details here.

HOLY ROSARY LOT ‘FESTIVAL OF TREES’: As previewed here yesterday, the Holy Rosary School Tree Lot (WSB sponsor) will celebrate the first big weekend of the season with the first “Festival of Trees” 6-9 pm tonight at the lot, north of the school at 41st and Dakota. You don’t have to wait till then to get your tree, though – it’s open 3-9 pm on Fridays (and 9 am-9 pm Saturdays/Sundays, 4-8 pm Mondays-Thursdays).

HUSKY DELI OPEN HOUSE: The famous, tasty holiday open house at Husky Deli in The Junction is scheduled for 6-9 pm tonight.

LIVE MUSIC: Tonight’s venues featured in the regular calendar – follow that link to see the individual listings – include Sid Law @ C & P, Barbie Anaka @ Salty’s (those first two venues are WSB sponsors), BOWI @ A Terrible Beauty, three acts at Skylark, The Slags and more @ Benbow Room.

‘THE WINTER WONDERETTES’: At ArtsWest, it’s the “new ’60s Christmas musical,” continuing at 7:30 tonight. Details and ticket sales are on the ArtsWest website.

Preview this weekend’s HUGE holiday happenings (including the West Seattle Junction Christmas Tree Lighting Saturday night at 5) by going here!

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West Seattle development: 3062 Avalon Way passes early-design review with standing-room-only attendance
November 30, 2012 8:35 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Dozens of vigilant neighbors comprised a standing-room-only crowd in the Senior Center of West Seattle‘s upstairs meeting room as another 7-story Avalon Way apartment-building proposal debuted before the Southwest Design Review Board last night, second one in two months.

The residents of 32nd SW, north of the proposed development’s vicinity, again wore “Love The ‘Hood” stickers, as they had at the September meeting for 3078 Avalon Way, a similar building proposed next to the site of this one. In this rendering, 3078 is at the left, 3062 (with some coloring) is at right:

At the meeting’s start, people were still streaming in, then waiting in line to get their names on the city’s sign-up sheets for e-mail notification about actions related to the project.

They were a little feistier at this meeting, with two 7-story buildings now proposed to rise south of their neighborhood, a more acute reminder that there is no transition zone between the dense Avalon Way apartment/condo strip and their neighborhood of single-family homes.

The neighbors’ pre-meeting research turned up a planning document from years earlier that exhorted “protecting” the character of their neighborhood and two other pockets of single-family residences in the greater “West Seattle Junction urban village” area, but that, they were told, did not mean the Avalon properties couldn’t be developed to the full size their zoning allowed.

Nonetheless, this meeting brought a reminder that strong public presence and comment can inspire even-more intense scrutiny by the board, which discussed details and ideas at length – more length than often seen/heard – before arriving at the decision: Allow the project to pass Early Design Guidance and move to the second phase of Design Review, but with a two-and-a-half-hour meeting worth of input to guide revisions.

Here’s how it unfolded:

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday roads, buses, boats
November 30, 2012 6:57 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday roads, buses, boats
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
No road woes as the commute ramps up, but rain’s returning.

LOOKING AHEAD: If you use the Fauntleroy ferry dock, or travel the stretch of Fauntleroy Way north of it, note that it’ll be down to one tollbooth starting Monday, for about two weeks, because of the pump-station project north of the dock – as reported here. Here’s a recent aerial view of the project and dock, from West Seattle photographer/pilot Long Bach Nguyen:

The north tollbooth/lane is what’s closing, closest to the pump-station work. Washington State Ferries says the project will be discussed during a public meeting for the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route Monday night in Port Orchard, along with “proposed service reductions on some routes, new ferry construction, liquefied natural gas as a potential fuel for the fleet, and route-specific issues.” Meeting details and documents are here.

10:28 AM UPDATE: Crash on the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct has led to the backup you’re seeing on the bridge cam right now.

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