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Welcoming a new WSB sponsor: Four Legs Photography
April 20, 2009 4:22 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Pets | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Today, we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors, Jen Flynn‘s Four Legs Photography. Jen brings her fine-arts-photography background to taking pictures of people’s pets. She says that experience helps her find your pet’s character and capture it on film. Jen does both dog and cat photography in the owners’ homes and occasionally in parks or at the beach [photo at left is C & P Coffee‘s “shop dog” Adie]. When working in a client’s home she says she is careful not to bring her equipment in immediately so that she can get to know the dog or cat she’ll be photographing. Prior to an appointment, Jen also has several tips on how to get your pet’s energy out and still look fresh for a picture. She says that taking this time to establish herself in the pet’s home has led many of her clients to say they were amazed their pet sat still to have a picture taken. Jen also works with several animal rescue and adoption groups and she’s involved with the Northwest Photographic Center. Her work has been seen in West Seattle at Next to Nature in the Junction and at The Kenney during February’s West Seattle Art Walk. She has an upcoming show at Plasteel Frames in June, and she is a frequent contributor to West Seattle-headquartered City Dog Magazine. You can find Four Legs Photography online at fourlegsphoto.com, or call Jen at 206-890-8295.

Thanks to Four Legs Photography for choosing to grow their business and support 24/7 West Seattle community news, information, and discussion by sponsoring WSB; this page has our full sponsor list and info on how to become part of it!

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West Seattle Golf Course driving range? Parks Board, this week
April 20, 2009 3:17 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Warm weather got you in the mood for golf? A big decision about the West Seattle Golf Course‘s future is days away. Thursday, the Seattle Board of Park Commissioners is scheduled to make its final recommendations on the citywide Golf Course Master Plan. After previous hearings and discussions, what’s known as “Option 4B” (see a summary of costs and timetables here) is in the forefront; under that plan, the first two elements slated for construction in West Seattle would be a double-level driving range ($3.4 million) and cart paths ($155,000), both scheduled for planning/design next year and construction in 2011. As shown in the Parks schematic above, the driving range would be on the western side of the golf course, south of the stadium and parking lot. Four other improvements — clubhouse, cart barn, maintenance facilities and perimeter trails — would be scheduled, under that “option,” for planning/design in 2013, construction in 2014. The Parks Board meets at 7 pm Thursday, department HQ at Denny Park (map); full documentation for this agenda item, and other agenda topics including athletic-field scheduling and park operating hours citywide, is linked from the board’s webpage.

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Update: Delridge house fire ruled an accident
April 20, 2009 2:23 pm
|    Comments Off on Update: Delridge house fire ruled an accident
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

Update from Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen on the house fire in the 8100 block of Delridge (here’s our coverage from yesterday): Investigators have determined how it started — accidental, blamed on a “malfunctioning light fixture.” Nobody was hurt, but Delridge was closed from Holden to Thistle for a few hours because of the major fire-crew presence required to extinguish it.

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Chief Sealth break-in/vandalism: Help solve a $200,000 crime
April 20, 2009 10:59 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Denny-Sealth | West Seattle news

We usually do not publish complete “tags” on WSB, as it’s believed publicity may further encourage tagging vandals, but this time, police actually are asking us to show you these two photos in hopes you might be able to solve a costly crime: One month after we first told you about a break-in and vandalism spree at the permanent Chief Sealth High School site (WSB coverage here and here), currently closed for renovation work, Southwest Precinct Detective Nick Bauer tells WSB the damage now totals $200,000; much of that damage was from a fire set by the burglar(s), but they also broke windows, skylights, and even some equipment in the library. Believed to be linked to the break-in: Graffiti vandalism on the roof, as seen above and below:

What police are asking is this: If you have seen graffiti/tagging in a style resembling either of these photos – or if even better, you have any idea who the “writer(s)” might be – please give them a call. CrimeStoppers of Puget Sound is a good place to start, since you can tip anonymously: 206-343-2020 or 800-222-TIPS. SPD also has a non-emergency line, 206-625-5011. Just one of the ways in which your tip could help: Police can check their databases for known taggers, and if it turns out that something you have seen has already been linked to a certain offender, that may help them make the connection that cracks this case. Side note: The white blob in the top photo is our edit to block a profanity; investigators wonder if “f— the merger ” might be a reference to the end result of the work that is under way now, not only renovating CSHS but also building a new Denny Middle School on the same campus.

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Businessman, conservationist Stimson Bullitt dies in West Seattle
April 20, 2009 10:19 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Published this morning at seattletimes.com and seattlepi.com: Stimson Bullitt died over the weekend at his home in south West Seattle. He was well-known in the region for a variety of endeavors including conservation activism and running KING-TV in what was considered its heyday, a time when it drew national fame for quality local news broadcasts and other programs; he was a son of its founder, the legendary Dorothy Stimson Bullitt. He also founded Harbor Properties, which currently has three project sites in West Seattle, the almost-open Mural Apartments (WSB sponsor), the future mixed-use Link at 38th/Alaska, and the motel site (no design proposal yet) at 36th/Alaska. And one more note: As is written on his own website (from which the photo at left was taken), “Among honors he has received, perhaps the best known was Nixon’s ‘Enemies List’.” Stimson Bullitt was less than 2 months away from his 90th birthday.

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Homeless shelter’s stay extended at West Seattle church
April 19, 2009 10:20 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

As reported two months ago, the homeless shelter that moved into West Seattle Church of the Nazarene at 42nd/Juneau in March of last year was supposed to move to Ballard — but its planned new temporary home in Ballard fell through. Now, according to this story posted tonight at seattlepi.com, the shelter’s West Seattle stay has just been extended again — to June 1st — because parent organization SHARE hasn’t found a new place for it. The article also says the Community of Christ Church in Highland Park recently “evicted” a shelter it had hosted for seven years.

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Park problem: Illegal scooter “offroading” at Solstice Park
April 19, 2009 9:42 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

James sent photos with this explanation:

I was walking through Solstice Park with my baby and dog and noticed a bunch of skinny-tired donut (360 skid-out) tracks in the groomed gravel of the lookout. Following the tracks, they led to the culprits fixing their scooters up the trail.

He says the riders were 3 male teenagers/young men: “… the broken (scooter) was blue.” One of the other two, he says, had a license plate that starts with 78 and ends in 52; he says some of the ruts left behind in this small park, formerly known as Lincoln Park Annex — uphill east of the tennis courts across from Lincoln Park’s north end, and also home to a P-Patch — were almost half a foot deep.

James says he did call police to report this. Motorized vehicles, including scooters, are prohibited on Seattle Parks trails.

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Here’s a West Seattle summer-camp option for 2nd-9th graders
April 19, 2009 3:01 pm
|    Comments Off on Here’s a West Seattle summer-camp option for 2nd-9th graders
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

School may have two months left to go but as thousands of West Seattle families know, it’s prime time to get summer-camp options lined up. Here’s one: Registration is open now for this year’s Basketball and Life Skills Camp at Chief Sealth High School, but it’s not just for high-school students – it’s open to incoming second through ninth graders, both girls and boys. Sessions start June 22; here’s the brochure. This came to us, by the way, from Sealth’s Sam Reed, who will be CSHS athletics director next year, taking over from Nels Enquist, who Reed explains been in that role on an interim basis after retiring as assistant principal.

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Updates: House fire in 8100 block of Delridge
April 19, 2009 12:21 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(WSB cameraphone photo added 12:37 pm)
FIRST REPORT, 12:21 PM: On our way to a single-family residence fire call in the 8100 block of Delridge (map). Huge callout; more details momentarily.

12:25 PM UPDATE: South of the fire, Delridge is blocked to traffic at Thistle. Don’t know yet where it’s blocked on the north. The fire is centered in the basement, according to the scanner, and has just been declared “under control,” but not entirely out yet.

12:34 PM UPDATE: Looks like Delridge may be blocked to traffic as far north as Holden, north of the fire scene. Still lots of smoke and the house is quite charred, according to our crew on the scene; medic units are there but do not appear to be treating anyone – firefighters have searched the house and not found anyone inside, as of “primary search.” From the scanner, fire was “well-involved in the basement” of the house but is now “knocked down” aside from some hot spots. We don’t have official word at the scene yet if anyone was inside when this started, but we talked to neighbors who say they haven’t seen anyone at the house in quite some time.

1:02 PM UPDATE: Firefighters say nobody was in the house when it started; nobody hurt; cause won’t be known for a while, but it definitely started in the basement. While the fire’s technically out, they’ll be on the scene for a while monitoring “smoldering debris” as well as investigating the cause, so Delridge traffic north of Thistle will still be difficult for a while – we’ll check periodically so we can update you when it’s fully open again.

1:48 PM ADDITION: We shot that video clip is when we first arrived at the scene – you can see some smoke for starters, then more after firefighters break out some of the windows (you can hear the glass breaking, then you see more smoke and steam from a front window); our camera also looked southbound on Delridge, to show how far down the line of fire trucks stretched. Property records show the 1,000-square-foot house, built in 1955, has had the same owners since 1997. We’ll add an update whenever an official cause is announced.

5:40 PM UPDATE: Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen says damage from the fire totals $225,000 – $150,000 to the structure, $75,000 to its contents. The cause is not yet determined; she says investigators still have to talk to a few more people.

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2 more Earth Day notes: Sealth sign, Thriftway bags & contest
April 19, 2009 12:11 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

While at Chief Sealth High School for the Honor Choir/Mariachi Tamale Dinner last night, we noticed that sign on a courtyard window. The Wednesday activity reminded us of the passion with which restoration workers describe the need to get invasives up and out of our forests, yards, fields, anywhere you see them. (Here’s a list and photos of what to look for.) Meantime, we also have an update from West Seattle Thriftway regarding their big Earth Day plan: Not only will the store bag everything in reusable tote bags (while they last) – and no plastic for the day at all (aside from the health-code-required produce and meat/freezer bags), even if you insist you don’t want a tote bag – but the Movin’ 92.5 “Ladies Room” team will have a contest in the Thriftway parking lot, noon-1:30 pm, giving away a three-wheeled ECO Car. Michelle from Thriftway explains, “These cars are still in preproduction … so the winner will be able to customize the car to their liking…interior, color etc. There will be a model of the car on-site. They have a pre-determined list of contestants [from an ongoing contest], but will be choosing a handful of on-site individuals to participate (maybe 10-15). It will be a mix of some ECO trivia and sort of a ‘Supermarket Sweep’ type game to incorporate our store into the challenge.” Here’s a video of the DJs’ test drive of the three-wheeled car:

Found that on their site’s page with more info, here. Thriftway’s Earth Day page is here.

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Fun and fundraising on the menu: ARK Park, Chief Sealth dinners
April 18, 2009 11:56 pm
|    Comments Off on Fun and fundraising on the menu: ARK Park, Chief Sealth dinners
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

That’s the team we found in the kitchen at Arbor Heights Community Church for the ARK Park Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser tonight (the park-plan ringleaders we first introduced you to last summer were in the group – Jan Seidel with the salad, at left, Loretta Kimball with the spaghetti, second from right). We showed you the ceremonial groundbreaking last month; the church is raising money to turn a nearby parcel into a playground-centered park. Play figured into tonight’s event, too, with activities for kids in separate rooms after dinner:

By the time we arrived at the spaghetti dinner, 2 hours into the 3-hour event, they estimated they’d already fed more than 200 people! From there, we headed northeast to Delridge, where the Chief Sealth High School cafeteria was also full of good times and good food – plus good music, at the 7th annual Honor Choir and Mariachi Tamale Dinner. In addition to enjoying the talent of CSHS student musicians, diners also heard from guest groups such as Mariachi Quinto Sol, featuring University of Washington students and alumni – here’s one of the songs they performed:

While at Chief Sealth, we bumped into a former TV co-worker, Lowell Deo, who was there to work on a Seattle Channel TV feature about CSHS that will air in his ongoing CityStream series later this spring – he promised to let us know when it’s scheduled, so we can let you know to watch for it. (Lowell profiled us halfway through this CityStream episode six months ago [15 minutes into the program].)

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Another opening day announced: Coffee at the Heights
April 18, 2009 9:13 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Sunrise Heights | West Seattle news | WS beverages

Coffee at the Heights in Sunrise Heights is the third West Seattle business this week to announce its opening date (after Zeeks, 5/1, and Feedback Lounge, 4/25). That banner went up this afternoon, and the coffee shop at 7349 35th SW (map) will be open starting Monday, according to co-proprietor Paul Binder, who with David Robertson also operates PB&J Textiles on Fauntleroy Way as well as the laundromat next to Coffee at the Heights. It’ll be what Paul calls a “super-soft opening” – then on Tuesday, they’ll have full service with pastries, etc., and their grand-opening celebration (with prizes, as noted here) will kick off on Saturday, May 2nd (we’re expecting a little more info on that tomorrow, and we’ll add it here).

ADDED SUNDAY MORNING: That extra info: Hours 5:30 am-8 pm Monday-Friday, 6:30 am-8 pm Saturday/Sunday. Coffee from Caffe d’Arte, baked goods from Macrina. Sandwiches, soup of the day, bagels, and beverages. Plus, starting May 2, the “month of grand opening” will have specials and giveaways- here’s the list:Read More

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Author in West Seattle to honor Al Skaret, other Bunker Hill heroes
April 18, 2009 8:37 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

By Ron Richardson
Special to West Seattle Blog

Maxwell Taylor Kennedy came to West Seattle to pay tribute to Al Skaret and other heroes of the 1945 USS Bunker Hill attack.

(From left, John McNeil, Al Skaret, Lou Tice, Maxwell Kennedy, Art Shipe, Wilton ‘Hoot’ Hutt, Lou Biotano. Al, Art, ‘Hoot’ and Lou were all Bunker Hill crew members)

Over the past four years our neighbor Al Skaret has been interviewed and ultimately featured in Maxwell Taylor Kennedy’s 2008 book ‘Danger’s Hour: The Story of the USS Bunker Hill and the Kamikaze Pilot Who Crippled Her’ (you can see video clips on this page of the book’s promotional website).

This past Wednesday, Mr. Kennedy, son of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, came to the Pacific Institute in West Seattle to honor Al and crew members of the USS Bunker Hill. He gave an inspiring talk, like a good college lecturer, about the war in the Pacific, its origins, the struggle, the sacrifice and the final victory. Mr. Kennedy showed a collection of photos from the National Archives that illustrated episodes he discovered as he researched his book.

Maxwell Kennedy showed a photo of a handwritten note prepared by pilot Al Turnbull which said “Keep chute on in case wing comes off.”

Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Another burglary on 42nd SW
April 18, 2009 4:14 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Crime Watch: Another burglary on 42nd SW
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Just out of the WSB inbox:

This is Sean and Matthew from the 5200 block of 42nd Ave SW. [map] Our home was burglarized at about 11 AM on 4/16. The thieves kicked in the back door and stole a 52″ flat screen, laptop, Playstation, DVDs, games, and some jewelry.

That’s one day after Dan in the 4400 block of 42nd reported a break-in (part of this roundup). Reminder – if you’re concerned about crime in your neighborhood, this Tuesday night is your chance to talk with police leadership and community advocates at the next meeting of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (35th/Webster).

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Summer on the way: Seafair Clowns at YMCA Healthy Kids Day
April 18, 2009 2:21 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Before the sun went back behind the clouds, blue sky and a big crowd graced the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor) Healthy Kids Day fun at midday today – and WSB happened to be there as the Seafair Clowns rolled up. Great reminder that the heart of summer-fun season is just a few months away (the West Seattle American Legion Grand Parade is exactly three months from today – July 18 – and one week before that, on 7/11, the clowns’ “cousins” [?] the Seafair Pirates will storm Alki). Back to Healthy Kids’ Day – it’s an annual tradition, with indoor and outdoor activities:

The West Seattle Y was one of 10 around the metro area to celebrate Healthy Kids Day today.

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Happening now: Duwamish Alive! work parties, report #1
April 18, 2009 12:56 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Pigeon Point | West Seattle news

With coordination from EarthCorps and the West Seattle-based Nature Consortium, hundreds of volunteers are working at 20+ sites in the West Duwamish Greenbelt section south and east of Pigeon Point’s Cooper School, just one of more than a dozen Duwamish Alive! events today in honor of Earth Day (which technically isn’t till Wednesday). In a clearing close to the school, numbers mark where each group’s supplies were gathered:

EarthCorps told us we were the first media visitors of the day; they were expecting a few high-profile political visitors too, including County Councilmember/Executive candidate Larry Phillips, who was there (at right in the photo below) during our stop (expected this afternoon, two West Seattleites: County Councilmember/Executive candidate Dow Constantine and Mayor Nickels):

The heart of the work: Tearing out, pulling out, pulling down the invasive plants that choke the life out of the forest and its native understory – this gentleman was doing battle with a thickly trunked Scotch broom:

Some invasive plants like Scotch broom and ivy are still sold for planting, but even if you think they’re great in your yard, birds can eat the seeds and distribute them far and wide, so think twice before using them in your landscaping. More on Duwamish Alive! after we go back for this afternoon’s community festival at Cooper, 2-5 pm (and you’re invited), and we’ll add some video later, including the musician serenading the volunteers in the meadow.

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Happening now: Digging in, at Delridge’s Longfellow Creek Garden
April 18, 2009 10:29 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Gardening | How to help | West Seattle news

We first told you last year about Longfellow Creek Garden, an “urban farm” in the Delridge area — with volunteers tending it and reaping the benefit. All day today, its first major work party of the year is under way – getting the rows ready, composting the herb-garden area, tackling a list of tasks that even includes “who brought the beer?” That part of the plan, of course, will be skipped by the youngest members of the team:

And alumni of Minnesota’s St. Olaf College are even pitching in for their day of service – here’s their official check-in station along the nearest road:

The tool table has a pair of guards, brought along by Shannon and Jason from the newly formed Longfellow Creek Garden Board of Stewards:

To get involved with Longfellow Creek Garden, e-mail lazylocavores@me.com – you too can help with this adventure in “urban farming” – LFCG is on Facebook, too. Today’s work party continues till 4 pm.

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Morgan Junction’s Feedback Lounge announces its opening date
April 18, 2009 8:31 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS beverages

(note at left, Zeeks has put in its glass)
They promised they’d announce their opening day/time today, and indeed, here it is, announced online: 6 pm next Saturday, April 25, the doors open at Feedback Lounge (between the new Zeeks Pizza opening May 1st and the old Beveridge Place Pub location that opened exactly a year ago immediately south of the new one).

ADDED 9:45 AM: More details from the e-mail announcement that came in about 45 minutes after we originally published this item – if you’re not on the FL e-mail list and haven’t seen it, read on:Read More

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Using Twitter — even to find out diving conditions at Seacrest!
April 17, 2009 11:28 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

With Oprah talking about it today, Twitter is suddenly The Next Big Bandwagon. We’ve been talking about Twitter here for a long time – WSB has been using it since November 2007, and we added a page here last year enabling you to check out recent tweets by almost anyone mentioning West Seattle, plus our latest tweets. You don’t need to sign up for Twitter to see what’s on it — just as long as you know who you’re looking for, you can check out their latest tweets on the Web; for example, we are @westseattleblog, so you can see what we’re up to at twitter.com/westseattleblog, Twitter member or not. Enough about us: We got word via Facebook (where you can “friend” us: WS Blog) from local diving instructor Dave Rintoul of Dive Canuck SCUBA that he’s set up a Twitter account – inspired by one in Malibu – to share info on Seacrest diving conditions. Find him at twitter.com/seacrestdiving – he says he’ll be looking for more divers to share the responsibility of posting condition updates.

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California Place Park: Design workshops end – now what?
April 17, 2009 4:14 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   California Place Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Much has changed since the first public discussion of possible changes to little California Place Park in North Admiral – and much has not.

What has changed:

*After going through the design process funded by a $15,000 city matching-funds grant, the proposal for possible park changes does not include anything resembling a children’s play area.

*The so-called “southern triangle” of city-owned land, southwest of the park itself, is now under Parks Department supervision since the process brought to light the fact it was somewhat neglected SDOT-owned right-of-way.

*Life has changed for one of the leaders of Friends and Neighbors of North Admiral — Manuela Slye is moving her Admiral District home-based bilingual Cometa Playschool — which some critics had suggested was a motivation for proposing park changes — to part of the former Prudential NW space about two miles south.

What hasn’t changed:

Those opposed to any changes in the small triangle of lawn and trees remain resolute, particularly nearby resident Jan Bailey, who has spent many hours standing in the park with her NO CHANGE TO PARK sign, gathering almost 700 petition signatures, and brought her sign and flyers to last night’s meeting, greeting neighbors at the door, then keeping vigil at the back of the room.

Also unchanged, one stark reality: The fact that intensive community fundraising would be needed to make any changes to the park.

Read More

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Also this weekend in West Seattle: Officers, teens, football!
April 17, 2009 3:10 pm
|    Comments Off on Also this weekend in West Seattle: Officers, teens, football!
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WS & Sports

Will add this to the West Seattle Weekend Lineup too, but wanted to share the entire announcement just in from King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson John Urquhart – a big football event in West Seattle tomorrow, presented by an organization led by both KCSO and Seattle Police – read on for details:Read More

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More West Seattle restaurant news: New ownership for Alki Cafe
April 17, 2009 3:01 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants


View Larger Map

Thanks to the anonymous e-mailer who tipped us to this last night; we confirmed it in person this afternoon: Alki Cafe‘s longtime owners Carol and Steve Roaldson have sold the restaurant. It’s now owned by John Bang, who was there today, greeting customers, too busy to talk in detail at the time but promising to share more information about his plans shortly.

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Details: Mayor goes public with more Seattle city budget cuts
April 17, 2009 11:51 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Announced this morning: $13 million in planned cuts to the general fund, plus $5 million to be pulled from the so-called “rainy day fund” (a sixth of its total), to help make up for that $40 million-plus shortfall in last week’s revised city revenue forecast. Here’s the city news release; there’s also a doc online with all the details, line by line (the very last page includes planned Seattle Public Library cuts, such as a weeklong closure saving $655,000).

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