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Helicopter alert: Advance explanation of one you might see
July 8, 2011 12:21 pm
|    Comments Off on Helicopter alert: Advance explanation of one you might see
 |   Health | Helicopter | West Seattle news

We don’t often get advance warning of helicopters that might give you cause for concern, but here’s one: The state is doing a survey of urban radiation levels, with a chopper that will be based out of Boeing Field over the next couple weeks. No, they say, it has nothing to do with the quake/tsunami-related nuclear trouble in Japan – they’re taking baseline readings of “normal” levels as part of a project that started two years ago. Seattle-based Local Health Guide explains the plan here; the state’s own webpage, with even more details, is here. Flights are scheduled to start next Monday, and so far we do not have a schedule of when, or even if, you might see the chopper here.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Tagging vandals strike again
July 8, 2011 11:51 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

If you routinely drive along Fauntleroy near 35th, just west of the entrance to the West Seattle Bridge, you might have noticed a more-visible-than-usual burst of tagging vandalism earlier this week. Part of it is shown above (with the tags themselves blurred, as is WSB policy). Tagging is always a double crime – not only has someone’s property been vandalized, but the owner is usually expected to clean it up, and that can cost. Bob Heinemann knows this firsthand, since the vandalized building is the place where he’ll soon be moving his SIMA Martial Arts studio (it’s currently in the 42nd/Alaska building that will come down when the Conner Homes project starts going up). Just after we took the photo, we met him there, talking to someone about getting it painted over. (By the way, the city has a new paint-out program this summer – check it out here.)

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West Seattle Summer Fest 2011 in The Junction: It’s on!
July 8, 2011 10:00 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

From the SDOT traffic camera pointed north along California SW from SW Alaska – a “live” overview as West Seattle Summer Fest is now officially open! A few more reminders and preview notes, including info from businesses and organizations that shared information when we issued an open invitation, are ahead – but first, the basics:

TODAY’S HOURS AND HIGHLIGHTS: 10 am-10 pm, with vendors till 6 pm and food till 8 pm. The music schedule is here – Caspar Babypants is at California/Alaska (informal performance area) at 6:30 pm and the long-awaited The Fastbacks reunion is at the California-north-of-Oregon stage at 8 pm. The vendor list and map are here. Kid-zone rides/pricing/hours here.

HACK-CYCLE – BRING THAT NEGLECTED/OUTGROWN BIKE: If you missed our story about metal artist Rusty Oliver‘s participation in Summer Fest to help you transform a neglected/outgrown bicycle into a work of hopefully rideable art – see it here. Just make sure the bike you bring is still intact. The Hack-cycle area is on the east end of the SW Alaska festival zone, by Junction Plaza Park (next to bicycle parking and other recycling).

HELP SUMMER FEST BE AS GREEN AS IT CAN BE: Just in case you missed this call for volunteers, one more time – the Zero Waste effort at Summer Fest could use a few more bodies:

Volunteer Friday 3 pm-8 pm or Sunday 11 am-2 pm. Help educate festivalgoers on how to recycle and compost. Help make the festival a Zero Waste event! Contact Liz@wsjunction.org ASAP …

ONE MORE WAY TO BE GREEN – CORK RECYCLING AT BIN 41: Got wine corks? Bring them to Bin 41 wine shop, on the west side of California just south of SW Alaska:

Many of you are aware (and have been contributing, thank you!) to our cork recycling efforts at the bin. We’re teamed with Recork of Amorin, serving as a Public Collection Partner. Cork is a renewable, fully reusable natural material. Let’s join together to keep the life cycle of this amazing product in action. WE WANT YOUR CORK. This weekend we’ll have our collection box outside at our table to get the word out. Bring in a minimum quart size bag of corks (natural only, sorry no synthetic / plastic) and enter your name into our cork-a-thon raffle. We’ll draw the winner of a wine accessories medley on Sunday before we close.

SPEAKING OF WINE (AND BEER): Tastings in The Junction during Summer Fest – Bin 41 has its regular Friday night tasting tonight, 6-7:30 pm (details here) … The Beer Junction (4707 42nd SW) has Friday and Saturday tastings this week – 5-7 pm tonight, it’s 21st Amendment Brewing.

SALES, SALES, SALES: Honoring Summer Fest’s origins as The Junction’s “sidewalk sale,” many merchants are offering deals – be sure to shop the stores that line Downtown West Seattle 365 days a year, in addition to browsing the festival booths. Among the sales: Summery items at WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits (detailed on their blog-format website) … Again and A Gain children’s consignment store on California SW just south of SW Edmunds is offering this sale: “$5 off Keen Sunport sandals, 20% off Giggles dance / costumes and Half Off selected Girls Dresses, Boys Tops, Toys, Crib Aquariums & Bedding, Baby Baths and Maternity Wear!” … WSB sponsor J.F. Henry has its big sale under way too, as detailed in our official “welcome” story yesterday … And Easy Street Records has its traditional megasale too.

HEALTH FREEBIES: Freebies at Summer Fest include this one that West Seattle Whole Health Center e-mailed to tell us about – free acupuncture and Pilates lessons, on this schedule:

Free acupuncture: Friday 10 am – 1 pm, Saturday 10 am – 2 pm, Sunday 2 pm – 5 pm* – Free Pilates: Friday 1 pm – 4 pm, Saturday 2 pm – 6pm, Sunday 11am – 2pm

You can look WSWHC up on the vendor list (which links to a clickable map), booths 155-157.

KIDS’ ACTIVITIES: We just snapped that photo of Laurie Paul, director of Bright Horizons-West Seattle at Summer Fest – BH is a major sponsor of the kids’ area in the Wells Fargo parking lot at 44th/Alaska. We published pricing/ride info in this story yesterday, but remember there’s plenty of free fun too, including art activities coordinated by Pathfinder K-8.

LOTS more to come – we’re live on site at the Summer Fest information booth at California/Alaska, along with reps from the festival-presenting West Seattle Junction Association, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, neighborhood groups, and more). (But no worries, we’ll be covering lots of OTHER West Seattle news throughout the day too.)

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Barton Street P-Patch: ‘We are beginning to form the web’
July 8, 2011 9:11 am
|    Comments Off on Barton Street P-Patch: ‘We are beginning to form the web’
 |   Gardening | How to help | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Kate Farley)
From back when it was just an idea for what to do with a big empty city-owned lot, through Parks and Green Spaces Levy funding, community meetings, and now, volunteer-powered site work, the birth of the Barton Street P-Patch (34th/Barton) has charged forward. Of all the work parties they’ve had, this weekend is among the most pivotal – they’re starting to “form the web” that makes up the garden design, and they need labor help the next two weekends – including anyone with construction skills -as well as donated materials, and some tools (all the way up to a cement mixer – they have one, and need one more) – read on for details:Read More

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West Seattle’s newest 5K: ‘Breathe Deep’ signup party tomorrow
July 8, 2011 8:14 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle’s newest 5K: ‘Breathe Deep’ signup party tomorrow
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

A brand-new fundraising 5K is launching in West Seattle this summer – and this one will be in Lincoln Park instead of the popular route along Alki. The date for the Breathe Deep Seattle run/walk is August 13th; it’s a fundraiser to fight lung cancer. And tomorrow, noon-4 pm, you can find out more about it at a registration party at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor; California/Charlestown).

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Hours till West Seattle Summer Fest: In the streets tonight
July 7, 2011 11:56 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)
You can’t have a festival without … relief. So this was one of the most important arrivals in The Junction tonight, after the West Seattle Summer Fest zone was closed to traffic and open for both festival setup and general WSSF eve revelry:

In the street outside Elliott Bay Brewing, the Bubbleman is an annual Summer Fest Eve tradition. During the festival itself, you’ll see fun performances in a not-quite-a-stage area set up right at California and Alaska:

And while there are long rows of booths for vendors and groups both local and non-local, remember your West Seattle Junction businesses are really bringing it for the big weekend too:

One of The Junction’s newest businesses, the Tuscan Tea Room, was putting up a banner for its new features. Just down the block, West 5 hosted the band Diminished Men – outdoors, of course:

We’ve received info from other local businesses, and that’s going into our morning preview on the other side of dawn, along with a reminder of some of what we’ve already previewed over the past couple weeks – Summer Fest starts up at 10 am Friday; Team WSB is in the Information Booth at California/Alaska once again this year, wave as you walk by! (Music schedule, vendor list, GreenLife demo schedule, maps, and lots more can all be found at wsjunction.org/summerfest.)

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Video: Seattle City Council committee visits ‘Nickelsville’
July 7, 2011 9:50 pm
|      46 COMMENTS
 |   Nickelsville encampment | West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle politics

Four members of the Seattle City Council spent an hour-plus this afternoon at the encampment that’s called itself “Nickelsville” since its inception three years ago at the West Seattle site to which it returned in May. Our video above is the entire visit – an official meeting of the Housing (etc.) Committee – unedited, beginning after chair Councilmember Nick Licata convened the meeting and had members sign in at the camp’s front desk. (Also in attendance – Councilmembers Sally Bagshaw, Sally Clark, and Tom Rasmussen.)

First, everyone got a guided tour of the camp, from the kitchen area near the entrance, to the two goats’ grazing area on the eastern end. It currently has 91 residents, camp leaders say. Then, there was a sitdown roundtable discussion. A few headlines emerged: Operation Sack Lunch plans to start bringing lunches to Nickelsville five days a week starting next Monday; the camp is asking the city to help them get hooked up with utilities – not with paying for them, just with getting them hooked up. They also are waiting to hear the city’s longterm intent on whether they will be able to stay at that location; as we first reported shortly after their return to the site, Mayor McGinn said he would not seek eviction, but the Council has not taken a formal position.

The tour stopped short of this noteworthy sight:

That’s the play equipment procured and installed thanks to the efforts of WSB Forums members, who have taken a special interest in – and have been providing lots of help to – Nickelsville and its residents, who include longtime Forums member/WSB commenter “miws” Mike. He has just taken on a brand-new Nickelsville position, pet coordinator; you’ll see him in our video too (he and others in leadership positions got a chance to explain their work to the visitors). As for who will use the swing set – four children are among the camp’s current residents, councilmembers were told.

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West Seattle Summer Fest 2011 eve: Street closure, and more
July 7, 2011 7:50 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

As the West Seattle Summer Fest motto goes, “Let’s close the streets and see what happens.” And as of this evening, till sometime Sunday night, closed they are – California SW between Alaska and Edmunds, and Alaska between 44th and 42nd. Setup is under way, but so is fun – The Junction’s third Shop Late Thursdays of the summer (till 9 pm – participating businesses are listed here), and more. We’ll have a full report later, but just wanted to remind you about the streets, for starters. P.S. Can you help make Summer Fest as green as green can be? There’s a need for volunteers on two shifts:

Volunteer Friday 3 pm-8 pm or Sunday 11 am-2 pm. Help educate festivalgoers on how to recycle and compost. Help make the festival a Zero Waste event! Contact Liz@wsjunction.org ASAP …

P.S. Our favorite pre-Summer Fest photo thus far:

Summer Fest officially opens tomorrow morning at 10 – we’ll be in the information booth again this year (at California/Alaska); come by and say hi!

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Repose, wake, Mass set for longtime West Seattleite Joe Butzerin
July 7, 2011 5:41 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

From the family of Joe Butzerin, a longtime West Seattleite known for many endeavors:

A Requiem Mass will be held for Joe Butzerin at Holy Rosary Catholic Church at 10:30 am on Monday, July 11th. Starting Friday, July 8, at noon, Joe will be in repose at the Butzerin home at 4903 SW Hill Street, where visitors will be welcome at any time. A wake will be held on Saturday at 7:00 pm.

Joe passed away peacefully on July 5th at his home, surrounded by family after complications from heart failure. Joe was born July 25, 1931 in Minneapolis, but he had resided in West Seattle since shortly after his marriage to Kathryn Freitas-Fox in 1958. Joe served as a first lieutenant in Korea after ROTC at Gonzaga University. He started his civilian career in Seattle as a math teacher, first on Vashon Island and later at Chief Sealth High School. To help support his growing family, Joe worked summers as a meter reader at Seattle City Light, where he eventually became a full-time lighting consultant. Joe retired from City Light in 1997 after more than 35 years of service.

Joe served as Chairman of the 34th District Democrat Club for two terms. He was an exuberant activist in both local and national political campaigns, serving as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1980 [photo at right]. He greatly enjoyed his service on the King County Fair Board. Joe also served as Chair of the Holy Rosary Conference of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul.

Joe always said he was most proud of being a father to his six children: JoAnne, Teresa, Carla, Peter, Robert, and Mary; and his 14 grandchildren. He was dearly loved and will be sorely missed.

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Space history tomorrow: 2 unique local ways to experience it
July 7, 2011 4:45 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Assuming the last-ever space-shuttle launch goes off as scheduled tomorrow morning, here are two unique, local ways to experience it: West Seattle’s NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen will comment and discuss via Twitter – she explains on her Alice’s Astro Info site how that will work. Not far from West Seattle, you can also join a free viewing party at the Museum of Flight, which will open early for the occasion. The launch is scheduled at 8:26 am our time; the museum will open at 8 am, and you can watch in their big-screen theater. (If you want to see the rest of the museum afterward, that’ll still cost you.)

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West Seattle wildlife: Coyote in Fauntleroy Park
July 7, 2011 4:12 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

In case you still haven’t seen a coyote, or haven’t seen one close up, this is the clearest photo we’ve received in a while – thank you to Mark for sharing it after a sighting in Fauntleroy Park, where he says you hear them howl at night and/or when a siren goes by. Also an opportunity to remind you that “coexisting with coyotes” doesn’t mean just standing around and watching them; as many have pointed out in recent discussions, it means taking steps to ensure that they remain wary of humans – because if they don’t, it’s not good for them or us. At the very basic level, that means not leaving food out for them, but it also means if you’re close to one, scare it away – throw rocks, wave your arms, etc. Read this for more advice.

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J.F. Henry: Welcoming a WSB sponsor, with Summer Fest sale!
July 7, 2011 2:02 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(From left: Tom Henry, Patty Henry, Carol Middleton)
Today we welcome, as a WSB sponsor, J.F. Henry Kitchen, Tableware & Gifts, which since 1984 has been West Seattle’s only full-line kitchen store and fine dinnerware showroom. Today through West Seattle Summer Fest weekend, JF Henry is having its annual clearance sale. Tom Henry says this is where you can find “really cool, quality, can’t-live-without, you just gotta have, surprises.” During Summer Fest this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, you will be able to browse J.F. Henry‘s outdoor tables and save 50 percent or more on placemats, totes, Italian stainless steel, hand-painted table linen, and seasonal barbecue sets, to name a few things.

Tom and Patty say J.F. Henry Kitchen, Tableware & Gifts is one of the few places where you can still shop hands-on for fine dinnerware. Their showroom allows you to not only see, but also to touch and feel china that can be used for special occasions or everyday use. Tom also says they’re there to also help you find kitchen and tableware that fit your needs and budget. No need to go to a mall, says Tom – you can completely supply your kitchen, and have full dinner-table settings, without leaving downtown West Seattle, and you can make an “informed decision” about what to get for your home. J.F. Henry is at 4445 California SW, 206-935-5150; they’re open till 8 tonight for Shop Late Thursdays, and you can check out the sale throughout Summer Fest.

We thank J.F Henry Kitchen, Tableware & Gifts for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

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Another traffic alert: ‘Spot repairs’ for south end of 35th SW
July 7, 2011 1:59 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Another paving alert from SDOT:

Paving crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation plan to perform spot paving repairs on Thursday, July 14 at several locations around the curve where 35th Avenue Southwest turns into Marine View Drive SW. The crews will work between 11039 Marine View Drive SW and the intersection of SW 111th Street and 35th Avenue SW, grinding off old pavement and laying new asphalt, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Traffic flaggers will assist drivers around the work areas.

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West Seattle Summer Fest 2011: The rides, & other kid-zone info
July 7, 2011 1:27 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Summer Fest 2011: The rides, & other kid-zone info
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

The kids’ activities for West Seattle Summer Fest – in The Junction tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday, with co-sponsors including WSB – are headquartered in the Wells Fargo parking lot along 44th SW, north of SW Alaska. You’ll find art activities coordinated by Pathfinder K-8, which are free, and you’ll find the bouncy rides, which are not. For your planning purposes – the West Seattle Junction Association shared the pricing information from Clowns Unlimited, which provides the inflatable rides/activities. All-day and three-day passes are “unlimited use”:

General Info – We will be featuring 10 rides this year – Dual Lane Slide, Tub’s O Fun, Bounce Slide Combo, Circus Train, Wacky World, Swing Chair Ride, Carousel Bouncer, Fire Truck Slide, All Star Obstacle Course and Climbing Wall. To play on all of these rides one time would cost the participant $23.75. …

Friday – Hours: 10 am to 8 pm
1) All Day Pass = $17.00 per person
2) Three Day Pass = $35.00
3) Individual Tickets = $1.25 per ticket (Each ride takes one to four tickets each)

Saturday – Hours: 10 am to 8 pm
1) All Day Pass = $17.00 per person
2) Two Day Pass = $27.00
3) Individual Tickets = $1.25 per ticket (Each ride takes one to four tickets each)

Sunday – Hours: 10 am to 5 pm

1) All Day Pass = $15.00 per person
2) Individual Tickets = $1.25 per ticket (Each ride takes one to four tickets each)

Yet another Summer Fest preview in the pipeline for later. Reminder, road closures in The Junction kick in at 6 pm, and that means some bus changes too.

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Parking scofflaw? Beware – ‘boots’ spotted along Alki
July 7, 2011 12:46 pm
|      30 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Thanks to Owen and Robert for tips – apparently the city’s new “parking scofflaw” program, “booting” your car if you are found to have four or more unpaid parking tickets, has taken at least one spin along the West Seattle shore. This morning, Owen e-mailed to report, “On my ride in this morning I saw several cars parked along Harbor Ave SW and Alki Ave SW sporting shiny yellow parking boots. Since they only went into effect July 5, it looks like Alki might have been one of the first areas targeted.” Robert also says he saw one along Alki. We took a trip to look for them ourselves and missed them – if you have a photo, please share! And if you have a parking-ticket backlog, pay it – more details here.

ADDED EARLY FRIDAY: Owen spotted a few more boots while heading home, and shared the photo we’ve added above.

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Seattle City Council to consider medical-marijuana regulation
July 7, 2011 12:17 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The Seattle City Attorney’s Office is working on a proposal for medical-marijuana regulation in the city, since the state efforts came to a chaotic end. It appears on the agenda for next week’s Housing/Culture/Health Committee meeting (2 pm July 13th), but the proposal itself isn’t ready for release, according to the city attorney’s spokesperson, Kimberly Mills, who tells WSB, “We’re fine-tuning the ordinance and it will go up on the council site at midnight Friday. You’ll be able to get a copy at that time, and our office and council staff can talk about it early next week.”

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West Seattle traffic alert: New Beach Drive asphalt next week
July 7, 2011 11:48 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Just in from SDOT:

Paving crews of the Seattle Department of Transportation plan to work on Beach Drive SW between Southwest Snoqualmie Street and SW Jacobson Road [map] on July 13 if weather is favorable. Traffic flaggers will control traffic from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. while the crews grind off the old asphalt and lay new asphalt. This work is part of the department’s annual street paving program.

Beach Drive Blog, meantime, is reporting on some oddly dated No Parking signs put out today. We’re checking to see if this is related.

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New location for West Seattle projects’ Design Review meeting
July 7, 2011 10:35 am
|    Comments Off on New location for West Seattle projects’ Design Review meeting
 |   Development | West Seattle news

The official notices for an upcoming two-project Southwest Design Review Board meeting are in today’s Land Use Information Bulletin from the city. They include two changes from what was on the city schedule when we published first word of this meeting two weeks ago. The meeting is still on July 28th, but the location and order have changed. The meeting is now planned for the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon): At 6:30 pm, the board will take its first look at the 117-unit proposal for 3261 SW Avalon Way (site photo at right; here’s the notice); at 8 pm, the board will take its second look at Nova, the 62-unit Harbor Properties proposal for 4600 36th SW (here’s the notice).

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglary investigation – with prints
July 7, 2011 10:02 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Christina shared that photo of police checking for prints after a burglary at her home on Wednesday:

I came home (Wednesday) to find my house (in the 9400 block of) 14th Ave SW had been burglarized. They broke the lock on my bathroom window and entered through there. They were able to get 2 laptops, 2 digital cameras and a handgun. None of our neighbors saw or heard anything and I happen to have 3 dogs that were kenneled at the time. Once they got what they wanted from the house, they left through the side door. This happened between 11 am and 430 pm. The police were able to life several fingerprints from the window screen that they removed.

Side note: Checking the city online map (which lag at least several hours after incidents are reported), while this does not seem to be a prolific week for burglars so far, nine car thefts have been reported in West Seattle since Monday alone.

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Your chance to be a Seal Sitter: Training session this Sunday
July 7, 2011 9:26 am
|    Comments Off on Your chance to be a Seal Sitter: Training session this Sunday
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

(Photo of Queen Latifah is by, and used with permission of, Robin Lindsey)
Seal Sitters‘ first responder/photographer/writer Robin Lindsey says a few spots are open for prospective new volunteers to join their training session this Sunday (July 10th) 2-4 pm at Camp Long (5200 35th SW). Robin says, “We’ll be discussing the workings of the NW Marine Mammal Stranding Network and protocol for responding to marine mammals on shore, seal and sea lion biology, life in a harbor seal rookery and the challenges posed when pups (and adults) visit our largely urban beaches. We will have a followup on-the-beach session soon for all new volunteers who have completed this intake and training.” RSVP to sealsitters@me.com if you’re interested so they can save you a spot – and browse the Seal Sitters’ Blubberblog to keep up to date with marine mammals’ (and human helpers’) activities on our shores.

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West Seattle Thursday: Summer Fest eve; Fixers’ Collective…
July 7, 2011 8:53 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

(WSB photo of Bubbleman in The Junction, Summer Fest Eve 2010)
SUMMER FEST EVE! ROADS CLOSE; SHOP LATE THURSDAY; BUBBLEMAN… Since West Seattle Summer Fest starts tomorrow, the main festival zone will close tonight at 6 – California between Oregon and Edmunds, Alaska between 44th and 42nd – for setup. You’re welcome to come down and roam The Junction – for most of the evening there will be lots of room to roam. As mentioned in our latest Summer Fest preview, street performances are scheduled around 7 pm – Bubbleman outside Elliott Bay Brewing, the band Diminished Men outside West 5. Plus, it’s this summer’s third edition of Shop Late Thursdays in The Junction, 6-9 pm – participating merchants are listed here.

SSCC GARDEN CENTER OPEN: Support South Seattle Community College‘s horticulture and landscape students. Plants on sale 11 am-3 pm (north end of campus, 6000 16th SW), details here..

LEARN TO JUGGLE: In nearby South Park, the SP Community Center presents Juggling Through the Ages at 1 pm, free – a hands-on chance to give juggling a try. 1 pm, 8319 8th Avenue S.

CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE VISITS ‘NICKELSVILLE’: The encampment at West Marginal Way SW and Highland Park Way SW will be the site of an official special meeting of the council’s Housing (among other things) Committee, 2:30 pm (agenda here).

BRAINDANCE: For people with Parkinson’s Disease at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), Thursdays through August 4th, 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm. Cost: $10 or pay what you can, free to caregivers. Class builds movement confidence and improves balance of mind and body. Exercise to promote reorganization of neurological system. Live music. Call D’vorah if you are interested at 206.932.4044 ext 2 or register with Ingrid, 206.473.0024.

FIXERS’ COLLECTIVE: Remember this report about the first meeting? Tonight, the Fixers’ Collective meets again at West Seattle Tool Library – tinker and talk! 6 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center‘s northeast side (4408 Delridge Way SW).

READ THE KORAN IN 4 WEEKS: Pastor Ron Marshall of the First Lutheran Church of West Seattle has been teaching this 4 times a year since 2003 – tonight’s the first of four sessions in the next series. Call with questions or to see if there’s room; 935-6530.

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West Seattleite to open mobile art gallery in an Airstream trailer
July 6, 2011 10:42 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle video | WS culture/arts

Video, photos, and reporting by Christopher Boffoli
For West Seattle Blog

Brenda Scallon is a little more than one week away from the first show for her mobile Airstream-trailer art gallery.

Scallon is a 26-year resident of West Seattle who formerly co-owned the Black Lab and Parlour gallery in Ballard.

She’s also a musician with the band Daughters of Joy. Brenda, her husband and children, live at 3815 46th Ave SW, and in this case, the specific address matters, since that’s where her trailer/gallery’s first show will be.

First, the backstory: A couple years ago she got the idea to do a mobile gallery in an Airstream trailer. She started looking around and ultimately found a 1974 Airstream in Lake Stevens for $5,000. She has been renovating bit by bit since she brought it home.

Airstream trailers, first produced in the 1930s, continue to have something of a cult following in the US. They’re desired for their classic retro, riveted aluminum design.

Scallon’s Airstream has required quite a bit of work.

She has had to seal up leaks, replace flooring and paint some of the interior surfaces. There were also a few dents to bang out, some of which occurred in her driveway when a neighbor’s tree fell on the trailer in a windstorm. Scallon has added some modern electrical components but has kept the ’70s-era sound system, which includes an 8-track tape player.

Unlike most art galleries, the trailer is not exactly spacious. So Scallon plans to put up various tents around the trailer to expand the gallery space. She is planning to do quarterly shows in various locations. The first show and open house, featuring artists Michael O’Driscoll (), E. Grace Dager, Band of Toy, and Scallon’s own art, will be on Friday, July 15th, 7-10 pm, at 3815 46th Ave SW.

Scallon is inviting local artists to contact her if they want to participate in future shows. She can be contacted at: brenda@acaravan.com

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West Seattle schools: Can you host a visiting teacher?
July 6, 2011 9:53 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Got room to be a host, in a way that will affect lives far beyond that of the person you play host to? Chief Sealth International High School principal John Boyd says they’re still looking for a place for their new visiting teacher from China to stay:

As you may know, Chief Sealth and Denny have hosted Chinese Guest Teachers through an exchange program with the College Board for the last three and a half years. This has been a great experience for both of our schools, led to the creation of a K-12 Mandarin Chinese program in SPS, and helped us make the connections that resulted in our schools hosting the Confucius Institute for the State of Washington.

Our current Guest Teacher, Mr. Yang Dawei, is returning to China this year after two years of service to us. We are very excited to be welcoming Ms. Xilong Zeng, who also uses the English name of Celine. Ms. Zeng has been teaching English to Chinese secondary students since 1998.

We are in need of a host family for Ms. Zeng to stay with starting on July 28. Ms. Zeng would stay with the host family for all of the 2011-2012 school year. This is a great opportunity to learn about Chinese culture and pick up some Mandarin Chinese, while doing a great service for our schools. Hosting the Guest Teacher is much like hosting an exchange student, families are responsible for providing the teachers with a room of their own, including the teachers in family meals, and providing them access to things like a washer and dryer. The teacher will receive a modest salary through the Chinese Ministry of Education and the Confucius Institute, and will be provided a insured car from the schools as transportation.

If you are interested in serving as a host family, or know of someone in West Seattle who would be interested, please have them contact principal John Boyd or Marta Sanchez at the Chief Sealth Main Office at 252-8550.

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