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Membership drive ahead for Delridge’s co-op grocery store; planning meeting Monday
February 24, 2013 2:52 pm
|    Comments Off on Membership drive ahead for Delridge’s co-op grocery store; planning meeting Monday
 |   Delridge | How to help | West Seattle news

Your chance to get an early membership in Delridge’s future co-op grocery store is less than a month away. The Delridge Produce Cooperative has announced Saturday, March 23rd, as the date for its first membership-drive event (11 am-1 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center). And tomorrow (Monday, February 25) is the date for DPC’s next planning meeting (6:30 pm at Delridge Library, across from the grocery store’s expected home in the future DESC Delridge Supportive Housing complex). Even if you haven’t been previously involved, you are welcome, and DPC says it’s looking for two “specific (types of) volunteers”:

We would love to find someone with the time and inclination to manage our social media outreach (i.e. Facebook). We also need some occasional tax advice. If you are able to volunteer for either of these roles (or any other area), please e-mail us!

The group’s reachable at delridgeproducecoop@gmail.com.

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Want to volunteer with Seal Sitters? RSVP for March 9 training
February 24, 2013 12:21 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Seal Sitters photo by Robin Lindsey)
You’ve probably seen the familiar yellow tape and traffic cones on the shore, marking the perimeter around a resting seal or sea lion, with at least As Seal Sitters‘ Robin Lindsey mentioned at The Whale Trail‘s orca (and more) talk this past Thursday, the next volunteer-training session is scheduled for March 9th, and you are invited to RSVP ASAP if you are interested. One particular point of interest from Robin:

Unlike most marine mammal stranding networks, Seal Sitters encourages children to participate. It is very empowering for a child to learn about our fragile ecosystem and be able to do something to protect seals and other marine mammals.

The e-mail link for RSVPs is in this announcement on the Seal Sitters’ site, which also includes location/time details.

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Something to say about Seattle Public Schools? Survey ends soon
February 24, 2013 11:53 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Seattle Public Schools‘ current five-year strategic plan “Excellence for All” expires this year, and the district is working on a new one. An online survey that’s part of the process is ending in a few days, and the district is asking feedback from everyone – “families, students, staff, and members of the community” included, according to a reminder recently sent. It’s a quick survey, the district promises, and it starts here. Find more background – and links to take the survey in more languages – here. This Wednesday (February 27th) is the deadline.

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West Seattle Sunday: Oscar parties; Relay for Life kickoff; 2 soup events; clothing swap…
February 24, 2013 7:20 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Dinner will be served soon

(Great blue heron at Lowman Beach, by Flickr member “old desolate,” shared via WSB Flickr group)
Possibilities for your Sunday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

99 CLOSURE REMINDER: As crews prepare for tomorrow’s start of the “Timber Bridge” rebuilding project on Highway 99 south of the West Seattle Bridge, southbound 99 is closed from the Battery Street Tunnel to South Nevada Street, while northbound is closed only from S. Nevada to the WS Bridge (the eastbound bridge exit to northbound 99 remains open).

YES, THAT’S A CRUISE SHIP: As we write, the German cruise ship Amadea is in Elliott Bay, bound for Pier 66 downtown. Cruise ships don’t usually visit this early – but this one isn’t on the Alaska run that brings ships here throughout the summer; it’s on a worldwide cruise.

RELAY FOR LIFE-WEST SEATTLE KICKOFF: The cancer-fighting overnight event is four months away, but registration, planning, and organizing are under way, and today’s the gala kickoff for Relay of Life-West Seattle. Visit the Menashe Gym at Seattle Lutheran High School (41st/Genesee) 11 am-3 pm today to join in; details here.

SOUP-MAKING AT WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Chaco Canyon Café is scheduled to be at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market today, 11 am-1 pm (the full market runs 10 am-2 pm), to demonstrate soup-making with winter squash. 44th and Alaska.

CAMPAIGN COFFEE: City Councilmember Tim Burgess brings his mayoral campaign to Cupcake Royale (California/Alaska) 1-2 pm for a coffee event to talk with voters.

COOKING CLUB’S ‘SOUP OFF’: The West Seattle Cooking Club‘s “Soup Off” starts at 3:30 pm at Big Al Brewing – details (and map) here.

OSCAR PARTY AT THE FEEDBACK: Drink specials and “razzle dazzle” promised at the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) Oscar party: “The media snarkiness over clothing begins at 4 PM with the actual awards ceremony starting at 5 PM.” 6451 California SW.

OSCAR PARTY AT OUTWEST: 4 pm, California/Brandon, per the bar’s event calendar.

OSCAR PARTY ON VASHON: When we put out an open call for Oscar parties, we also heard from Eileen Wolcott, a third-generation West Seattleite and owner of the Vashon Theatre. A short ferry ride away, her theater has a big bash too, starting at 4 pm – “… the best Oscar event ever! Hop on the 3:40 boat to Vashon and watch the Oscars on the big screen, limo rides, catered dinner, costume contests, and live entertainment replace the commercial breaks. … It is our 10-year anniversary as owners, and we are donating all the prizes!” Find more details on the theater’s website.

BENEFIT CLOTHING SWAP: This is also the big night for the women’s-clothing swap to benefit moms-of-babies support organization Early Days, 5:30-7:30 pm at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW – details in our earlier preview.

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Roxhill Castle progress report: Help still welcome
February 24, 2013 6:34 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(First two photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Inside the tiled turret on the Roxhill Castle play structure, that’s a view that soon only children will see. We got a peek when we dropped by the soon-to-open renovated playground on Saturday to see how “artist in residence” Mike Henderson and volunteers are doing:

There’s still work to be done, and more help would be welcome. The playground’s not ready to open yet, but that’s not because of the turret project – remember, there’s a skatespot going in next door, too:

(Aerial photo by Long Bach Nguyen)
From the air, you can see the scope of the project. Here’s the skatespot view from ground level:

(This photo and those below are by Nick Adams for WSB)
WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams photographed it during a visit to the site earlier this week. But the skatespot is a separate project, out of the playground volunteers’ control. So they’re working on the mosaic, which includes the face of a dragon …

… and the grace of an astronaut:

The tile work is proceeding under a tarp:

Mike told us they’re not ready to grout yet and would still appreciate help – e-mail him at centerforawesome@gmail.com to coordinate when and how you can assist. These are the finishing touches on the project, most of which went up thanks to days of volunteer work back in November, with the replacement “castle” accompanied by new features awaiting the go-ahead for playtime:

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Package-pushing; parking-garage theft
February 23, 2013 10:40 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

That surveillance camera image, says Pete, shows a thief rolling his package away – after an earlier image showed her heading toward his house with nothing in the stroller/cart. He says the theft happened Friday of last week: “I reported it to the police but I was seeing other people in the Highland Park area also reporting missing packages. … I live in the area of 14th and Thistle … be on the lookout for people using this tactic.”

From Admiral, Brian reports his vehicle was broken into – in the underground garage of his building in the 2600 block of 42nd SW:

Sometime during the night of 2/20 or early morning of 2/21 my Suburban was burgled while parked in the underground parking garage. They smashed two windows and stole several thousand dollars of professional video and audio equipment. The officer who took my report said there had been several other parking garage incidents in the WS area, going along with the general rise in crime in our neighborhood.

Be careful … parking in a “secure” garage isn’t a guarantee of safety!

And a reminder: Your next chance to learn more about crime prevention/crimefighting is this Tuesday night when the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meets at 6:30, Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster) – mail theft and mail fraud are the focus. All welcome, even if you’re not part of a Block Watch (yet).

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Schmitz Park Elementary hosts first West Seattle Chess Tournament
February 23, 2013 8:14 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The Schmitz Park Elementary gym hosted a tournament all day – but its standard equipment, the hoops and climbing wall, went unused: This was the first-ever West Seattle Chess Tournament, as announced here a month ago. All day long during the five-round tournament with students from around the city – not just SP – young players faced off (our photos were taken just before a round), then waited for their next opponents to be posted, while the room was set up again:

Parents took photos and judges kept watch.

As the day progressed, trophies awaited:

The tournament was presented by the educational Chess Mates Foundation, led by chess champion/International Master Georgi Orlov, whose organization is working on something that has people excited for next year, when for the first time, the Washington State Elementary Chess Championships will be held in Seattle in 2014 (a website is in the works here). That event’s project manager Ryan Schmierer talked with us on the sidelines of today’s event and told us it hasn’t been held in Seattle before because of venue size challenges – but it’s set now for the relatively new Seattle cruise terminal at Magnolia’s Smith Cove.

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2 weeks till sale season: West Side Presbyterian’s announcement
February 23, 2013 4:44 pm
|    Comments Off on 2 weeks till sale season: West Side Presbyterian’s announcement
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

March 8-9 will launch spring/summer sale season in West Seattle – we’ve already published one reason why, and here’s the other! From West Side Presbyterian Church:

Come to West Side Presbyterian March 8th from 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday March 9th from 9 am to 2 pm. Over 200 families contribute to this famous sale! Quality clothing, housewares, furniture, jewelry; real and costume, books, and more! Free coffee available all day and baked goods for sale. All proceeds from this sale benefit youth-outreach programs at West Side Presbyterian Church. 3601 California Ave SW, 206-935-4477

Two side notes:

1. WSB-sponsored West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day is May 11th – we’ll start talking here (and on the WSCGSD Facebook page) about signups in just a few weeks.

2. When time comes for your own garage/yard sale – here’s how to share the news via WSB.

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Happening now: Happy 5th anniversary, Atomic Boys!
February 23, 2013 3:49 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

The Atomic Boys namesakes themselves, Max and Quinn, had stepped out just before we stopped by, but we did get their atomic parents Parris and Kent Sadow to pose in honor of their Admiral District shop’s fifth anniversary. You are welcome to stop by the retro toys, novelty, candy, etc. shop till about 6 today (4311 SW Admiral Way) and enjoy a five-cent retro soda in honor of the occasion. We asked what’s new – always a challenging question if your shop deals in what’s old as well as new – and did learn they are now official Kit-Cat Clock dealers:

No small feat, we’re told. The distinctive moving-eyes-and-tail clocks are celebrating their 80th anniversary, Kent pointed out. While 5 years is a fraction of that, we can attest to the fact it’s a big deal for a small business (having marked our own 5th two months ago), so congratulations, Atomic Boys!

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Also next Saturday (and beyond): SSCC students welcome volunteer forest helpers
February 23, 2013 12:45 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

(City of Seattle photo)
Another chance to dig in and help out next Saturday (and in this case, beyond)! South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) is right next to the West Duwamish Greenbelt, the largest remaining contiguous forest in our city, and some of its students are hoping to round up some help as they join the ongoing work to help it recover:

Join the South Seattle Community College Ecological Restoration Class, along with our sponsoring partners, the Nature Consortium and Green Seattle Partnership, as we turn a section of the forest from a long- neglected and wounded place to a once again vital forest habitat, protecting the bank from erosion, building habitat for wildlife and reinvigorating and extending the life of our neighborhood backyard forest.

Volunteering can be very rewarding! This work will be!

3 CHANCES TO PARTICIPATE Sat, March 2nd, Thurs. Mar. 7th & Sat. Mar. 9th 10 am-2 pm

Meet at 10:00 a.m. at 14th & Holly (Holly is two blocks south of campus). Wear warm clothes (layers allow for fluctuations), long- sleeves and good sturdy boots (Wellingtons okay). You will get dirty! And so will your clothes and your shoes and your nose; that’s all just a part of the fun. Tools, work gloves, snacks and coffee will be provided.

Please bring a bottle of water, preferably reusable. Litter in the forest is comprised of pine needles and other natural debris!

3 Chances to Serve/Work/Volunteer/Give Back Any way you want to think about it, get outside and be a part of nature as you contribute to making it a better place for all.

Contact Daniel at dmcollins1962@gmail.com to RSVP or just show up at 10!

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‘Creeps’ cleaning up Alki next Saturday – with your help/donations
February 23, 2013 11:20 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(Not the cleanup site, but not far! Beauty shot from Michael of the Beach Creeps)
Even before the crowds of spring and summer arrive, Alki Beach and points south need a helping hand or two, or ten, or a hundred. A group of bicycling friends is hoping you’ll lend yours for their planned cleanup one week from today – or at least donate trash bags and gloves:

The Alki Beach Creeps Bicycle Club is planning on doing a beach cleanup, March 2nd at noon.

We are going to start at Constellation Park and pick up as much of the trash as we can that afternoon. There is a HUGE mass of styrofoam and plastic on that side of the beach, along with a lot of random trash. We feel that it’s important to give back to our community and will do our best with our limited resources to do our part.

We have 15 members or so but anyone is free to attend. Trash bags, gloves, and beer (to keep us motivated) will gladly be accepted. Thank you very much and we look forward to your help keeping Alki looking creepy!

For questions about donations, please feel free to E-Mail: Michael D. Adams (Director of Marketing) at brothamichael@mac.com

Sincerely,
Guy Olson/Willis Mathiasen
Co-Presidents
Alki Beach Creeps Bicycle Club

Yes, we’re sure they know the rules; the beer’s no doubt for afterward. Anyway, now that spring cleanup season is here, let us know about yours – editor@westseattleblog.com – we already have a few more announcements in queue.

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West Seattle schools: Arbor Heights’ Global Reading Challenge day
February 23, 2013 8:50 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Meet the 7 Pirate Pandas – from left, Max, Ethan, Jonathan, Marcel, Lucas, Max. They are the winning Global Reading Challenge team from Arbor Heights Elementary after competition on Friday afternoon. Ten teams of 4th and 5th graders started the afternoon, answered questions about the 10 books that had to be read by this year’s competitors — and the Pirate Pandas, all 4th graders in Ms. Boitano’s class (per a parent volunteer who shared info and the photo), emerged victorious. The GRC is a Seattle Public Library-led program, and seven West Seattle elementaries are among the contenders again this year. The semi-finals are at the downtown library the week of March 11th, and then the finalists face off there on March 26th.

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West Seattle Saturday: Atomic Boys’ 5th; The Bridge’s 2nd; Rat City Rollergirls; Purim; comedy benefit; more
February 23, 2013 6:30 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Northern Flicker photographed in Lincoln Park earlier this month by Mark Wangerin)
Happy weekend! Just some of what’s on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today/tonight:

ATOMIC BOYS’ 5TH ANNIVERSARY: The retro toy/candy/more shop in The Admiral District is celebrating its 5th anniversary 10 am-6 pm today with specials including five-cent retro soda. 4311 SW Admiral Way; more here.

THE BRIDGE’S 2ND ANNIVERSARY: Specials and raffles as the drinks-and-food-and-fun place on 35th SW just south of SW Avalon Way turns two. Raffling starts at 8; details here.

BARLEYWINE BACCHANAL: Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) launches its 11th annual celebration, with today’s focus on Washington beverages, as listed here. Starts at noon.

DADDY-DAUGHTER DANCE: 4-6 pm at the West Seattle Christian Church Activity Center on 42nd between Genesee and Oregon. Free admission, but registration appreciated.

RAT CITY ROLLERGIRLS IN WHITE CENTER! Four teams from RCRG will bout at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW), doors open 5:30 pm, skating at 6 pm. Details in our calendar listing.

PURIM CELEBRATIONS: Two local celebrations of the Jewish holiday – 5:30 pm at Kol Haneshamah (62nd and Hinds), details here … 7:30 pm with the West Seattle Torah Learning Center; RSVP requested by e-mail or phone, contact info’s in the calendar listing.

OWL PROWL AT CAMP LONG: Check fast to see if there’s still room! Here’s how. 5:30 pm, 5200 35th SW.

TALK MONEY AND POLITICS: The social-justice committee of WSUU invites you to join the discussion – detailed here – 6 pm at the church, 7141 California SW.

FAUNTLEROY FUNDRAISER: Roo and The Few with Delia Finney, performing a benefit at the Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall (9140 California SW), 7 pm.

HA-HA’S FOR TA-TA’S: Help breast-cancer-fighting Team Tracy raise money, while laughing it up with local comedy at ArtsWest (4711 California SW), 8 pm. Ticket info’s on the Facebook event page.

MORE NIGHTLIFE: Live music in more than a few places – see the calendar.

NOT IN WEST SEATTLE, BUT … #1: The Northwest Flower and Garden Show continues today and tomorrow at the Convention Center downtown, and is sponsoring WSB to make sure you get the word about the big show.

NOT IN WEST SEATTLE, BUT … #2: The Seattle Home Show continues today too, with exhibitors including WSB sponsor Potter Construction.

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West Seattle traffic reminder: 99 closure starts now
February 23, 2013 4:36 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle traffic reminder: 99 closure starts now
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(99 at S. Atlantic. You should see NB traffic on the right through the weekend, but no SB traffic on the left)
WSDOT is scheduled to be closing Highway 99 right now for a weekend of preparations preceding a year-plus of work to rebuild the so-called “Timber Bridge” section south of the West Seattle Bridge. Here’s what’s closed:

NORTHBOUND 99
*Only closed from S. Nevada to the WS Bridge – the exit from the eastbound WS Bridge WILL stay open and you CAN go NB on 99 from here

SOUTHBOUND 99
*Closed from the Battery Street Tunnel to S. Nevada, so this weekend you CAN’T get to the West Seattle Bridge from SB 99

DETOUR MAP
*See it here

TRAFFIC PATTERN WHEN THE CLOSURES END MONDAY MORNING
*The “Timber Bridge” will run two northbound and one southbound lane throughout construction. Here’s a look at how that’s supposed to work.

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Update: Truck crash at 48th and Hudson, driver OK
February 23, 2013 1:04 am
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(First two photos by WSB’s Katie Meyer)
1:04 AM: Most of the units are being canceled, but if you’re west of The Junction in the 48th/Hudson area, the initial response was for a “heavy rescue” call related to a crashed truck. First crews on the scene say the person in the truck got out OK, so there’s no need for “heavy rescue,” which usually means someone has to be cut out of wreckage.

1:30 AM: WSB’s Katie Meyer reports from the scene that the driver is indeed OK; the truck is on its side against a hedge. This is an intersection with a traffic circle, since 48th SW otherwise is a long straightaway – through residential neighborhoods – from Seaview to Genesee (and this intersection also is where you can head west toward Jacobsen for access to Beach Drive). We’re adding a photo from neighbor David atop the story for starters. Katie, meantime, says that the intersection is not blocked, so late-night drivers can still get to/through that area.

2:07 AM: Added Katie’s photos; neighbor David sent new ones as the wreckage was handled by a tow crew, so that’s what you see over this paragraph. Katie was told at the scene that it did not appear to be a high-speed crash – maybe 30 to 40 mph, though that’s fast enough at an intersection with a traffic circle.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON P.S. This has been classified as a DUI investigation.

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West Seattle weather: Rainbow at the end of the road(s)
February 22, 2013 8:05 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

Two local businesspeople e-mailed to share photos of this afternoon’s rainbow – seemingly at the end of the road(s), east of West Seattle. Above, Jon Daniels of Seattle Fish Company caught the view looking down SW Genesee; below, Anne Higuera of Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) stopped to rainbow-watch along SW Findlay:

Though it’s been a wind-whipped afternoon, the forecast suggests it’ll calm down in the hours ahead – breezy, chilly, maybe showery.

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West Seattle road work: Delridge-Trenton closure rescheduled – and expanded
February 22, 2013 5:11 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

SDOT has just announced the new plan for the Delridge/Trenton intersection closure that’s part of the ongoing Delridge repaving project – but note that it will start with a closure for part of Trenton itself beginning at 7 am next THURSDAY, with the intersection closure starting Friday (March 1st) night. Here’s the announcement:

The Seattle Department of Transportation will close a portion of SW Trenton Street next weekend starting Thursday morning, and the intersection of Delridge Way SW and SW Trenton Street next weekend starting Friday night. This work is part of the first phase of rebuilding Delridge Way SW between SW Orchard and SW Roxbury streets.

SW Trenton Street will be closed between Delridge Way SW and 20th Avenue SW beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday, February 28 for crews to break up and remove pavement on the east side of the intersection. This will reduce nighttime noise impacts during the around the clock intersection work that begins Friday at 7 p.m. and allow the concrete pour to begin earlier on Saturday. All areas are expected to re-open to traffic by 6 a.m. Monday, March 4, at the latest. Local access will be maintained.

For the closure of the Delridge/Trenton intersection, the detour will be as follows:

· Northbound Delridge Way SW to SW Barton Place/Street to 35th Avenue SW to SW Thistle Street to Delridge Way SW

· Southbound Delridge Way SW to SW Thistle Street to 35th Avenue SW to SW Barton Street/Place to Delridge Way SW

· Westbound SW Trenton Street to 16th Avenue SW to SW Henderson Street to SW Barton Place to 25th Avenue SW to SW Trenton Street

· Eastbound SW Trenton Street to 25th Avenue SW to SW Barton Place to SW Henderson Street to 16th Avenue SW to SW Trenton Street

This work is rescheduled from last weekend, when it was cancelled due to inclement weather.

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West Seattle’s Allstar Fitness has a buyer: Ex-Seahawk Sam Adams
February 22, 2013 2:50 pm
|      46 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS Health Club/ex-Athletic Club/ex-Allstar Fitness

WSB has just confirmed that Allstar Fitness, put up for sale as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy (as first reported here February 5th), has a buyer – a company owned by former Seahawks player Sam Adams, who already owns other former Allstar locations.

Allstar’s staff received word of the sale this morning, and a handout about the announcement is available at the club’s front desk, Allstar’s Chapter 11 trustee Richard Hooper tells WSB. Hooper confirms that the prospective ownership company is West Seattle Athletic Club LLC, which state records verify is owned by Adams, who was a Seahawk for six seasons and was then part of the Super Bowl-winning Baltimore team in 2000. The former player owns five fitness clubs under the umbrella of Oregon Athletic Clubs, four including former Allstar locations in southwest Portland and in Tacoma. According to the Portland Oregonian, Adams bought the other three Oregon clubs last fall. (He also was reported in 2011 to have owned a downtown Seattle club that moved into a former Allstar space, though we haven’t been able to verify its current ownership.) Adams is a Kirkland resident, according to this recent story on the Seahawks website. Trustee Hooper tells WSB that nothing will change with West Seattle Allstar – “it’s status quo … a great place to work out” – until and unless the bankruptcy court approves the sale, although he doesn’t expect that to take more than a few weeks.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglary arrest near Camp Long
February 22, 2013 1:51 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

1:51 PM FRIDAY: Thanks to the WSB’er who texted us about police cars near Camp Long. Just checked with Seattle Police, whose Det. Mark Jamieson says an arrest was made shortly after a neighbor called 911 about a burglary in the 5000 block of 35th SW, which would be just north of the park. The neighbor reported seeing someone break into the back of the house just after 1 pm; an officer arrived quickly and reported a suspect in custody at 1:06 pm. There was some discussion of a possible second suspect, Det. Jamieson says, but officers concluded that the person they arrested was alone. No other details about the case or the suspect so far.

SATURDAY NOTE: The arrest is on SPD Blotter today.

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‘100th day of school’ food drives: West Seattle Food Bank’s thanks, plus Schmitz Park, Alki, STEM results
February 22, 2013 12:33 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

We photographed that big pile of donated food this morning at the West Seattle Food Bank – just part of what’s been brought in as part of the “100th day of school” food drives at several local schools, with more on the way. Marveling at what the local schools accomplished so that WS Food Bank could help its clients, operations director Steven Curry told WSB, “This drive could provide us with the largest food buffer we have ever had at this time, (during the) usual lull in giving after the holidays. What a fantastic story on how something so simple communicated to a community, listening and caring, will serve so many people.”

He says the donated food in the photo is from Schmitz Park and Alki Elementaries – both of whom, in fact, sent in their reports overnight. First, from Schmitz Park, kindergarten teacher Mandy Cook reports:

Schmitz Park Elementary totaled in at 1,193 food items!!! The West Seattle Food bank had to come back and collect overflowing barrels 4 times! Staff and students had fun collecting, competing and tallying by classroom. Thanks again for the wonderful opportunity Arbor Heights. Count us in for next year!

And from Alki, fourth-grade teacher Anna Coghill reports:

Alki Elementary is happy to report we collected 1,319 items for the West Seattle Food Bank. Thank you for the inspiration Arbor Heights students and teachers. It was a great success.

That’s a reference, of course, to AH teacher Marcia Ingerslev and her class, which issued the original challenge to other schools/classes in the area. We reported their results (4 AH classes in all) here; Gatewood Elementary here: Holy Rosary School here; Cometa Playschool here. Still awaiting at least one more report. Congratulations to all!

ADDED 5:53 PM: Robin Graham from the West Seattle STEM PTA reports their donation is part of what you see in our photo from the food bank:

STEM dropped off our food Thursday afternoon … At least 200 items donated from the families at STEM. Thanks, Arbor Heights, for the great idea – we would love to do it again next year!

And from Arbor Heights, Marcia Ingerslev shared a photo of her visit to the White Center Food Bank:

She explains in the comment section below – and expresses her pride at everyone’s contribution, too.

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West Seattle traffic alert: Crash aftermath closes Croft
February 22, 2013 12:29 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle traffic alert: Crash aftermath closes Croft
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news

Thanks to Michelle for sharing the photo. She says that car went off the road on Croft just uphill from the Boren campus – and apparently went unnoticed for a while. Right now, she says, the road is closed for repairs and investigation. No word on injuries – by the time the wrecked car was noticed, according to a report on the North Delridge e-mail list, no one was in the car. We’ll be checking with Seattle Police to see whether the car’s driver and/or owner was found.

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West Seattle Friday: ‘Lucky Them’ movie crews; ‘crime avoidance’; Rainbow Bingo; robotic spaghetti; more
February 22, 2013 10:27 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Still no official weather alert, but we have a stormy Friday on our hands – and a busy one, too! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, and from our news files:

‘LUCKY THEM’ MOVIE CREWS: Thanks to the WSB’ers who tipped us to advance warning in their neighborhoods that the movie “Lucky Them” was coming back to West Seattle to shoot. Here’s what we published last night; the photo was taken this morning in Gatewood, where crews are shooting, as well as in the Alki area. We’ll be checking back later.

CAR2GO: As mentioned here on Wednesday, the new car-borrowing service says it will soon add West Seattle to its coverage area. It’s planning to have a street team here again today, noon-5 pm (check Twitter), to show off one of the cars and answer questions. We took the photo above yesterday while one of their teams (who insisted we only photograph the car, not the people!) was out in The Admiral District.

WEST SEATTLE GARDEN CLUB: Their monthly meeting has just started with registration; there’s still time to get there for a lecture and more, since the meeting continues till 2 pm; all welcome. It’s at Daystar (2615 SW Barton) – details in our calendar listing.

RAINBOW BINGO AND CHICKEN DINNER: Mardi Gras-themed Rainbow Bingo at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon; WSB sponsor) tonight, doors open at 6, bingo at 7. Call for reservations ASAP! Info’s all on the center’s website.

FREE CRIME AVOIDANCE LECTURE: 6 pm at West Seattle Karate Academy (9455 35th SW), you can come hear from Marc “Animal” MacYoung, “author, lecturer, and martial artist known for his street-violence survival courses and personal safety books. … Marc is in town for a seminar and as a public service is providing this free threat recognition and crime avoidance lecture. In ninety minutes, you are going to know more about the way a criminal thinks, and be able use that information for your own safety,” says WSKA head instructor Kris Wilder. “Registration is not required, and there is no cost. This is an interactive lecture and not a hands on seminar. Be cautioned adult themes are going to be addressed, parental discretion is advised. No children.” Questions? WSKADOJO@Gmail.com

SPAGHETTI FOR ROBOTS: Enjoy spaghetti, the knowledge you’re helping the Seattle Lutheran High School robotics team, and a chance to try some of their older robots, all at a benefit dinner tonight at SLHS’s Menashe Gymnasium. 7 pm – details on the school’s website.

FIDDLING AND FOLK: The Lonely Coast and The North Sea, 7:30 tonight at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) – details in our calendar listing.

NIGHTLIFE: Sid Law at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 6 pm; hree bands at Skylark Café and Club, 8 pm; Leo Gunn at The Cask, 8 pm; two bands at the Benbow Room, 9 pm; the Flat 5 at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9:30 pm; more details, including maps, in the listings on our calendar.

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Video: ‘Power of the pod’ at The Whale Trail’s Orca Talk 2
February 22, 2013 9:21 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Video and photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
The Whale Trail drew another full house at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) Thursday night – our video above shows the hour-and-a-half “Orca Talk 2” in its entirety. Lynn Barre from NOAA was the spotlighted speaker, with an overview of how the Southern Resident Killer Whales (aka our local orcas) are doing, following the all-star lineup of TWT leader Donna Sandstrom, Seal Sitters‘ Robin Lindsey (who talked about their upcoming volunteer training – we’ll have a separate report on that later today), and “Diver Laura” James on behalf of the Tox-Ick.org anti-toxic-runoff campaign. Joining the lineup this time (but not speaking, so he’s not in our video), photographer Mike Russell:

Also on hand – bags of Whale Tails tortilla chips, which, as you’ll hear Donna mention in the video, is the first “sustaining corporate sponsor” for The Whale Trail, donating six percent of all their Oregon and Washington sales after connecting with TWT through what she described as “the power of the pod” (in this case, “pod” of human supporters):

You can buy the chips here in West Seattle at Husky Deli – the first store in our state to carry them. Donna also announced TWT has four more signs in the works – at Point Roberts along the U.S./Canada border, Lime Kiln Park on San Juan Island, Olympia, and a Kitsap County site. Meantime, watch for word of the third Orca Talk, date TBA, likely late March.

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