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West Seattle development: Link crane leaving, and other updates
September 8, 2010 12:01 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Development | Triangle | West Seattle news

Thanks to Sharonn Meeks in Fairmount for noticing this morning that the big crane at the Triangle construction site for Link (38th south of Fauntleroy) appeared to be coming down – we went over to take a look (another crane is there to help dismantle it), then confirmed with Harbor Properties‘ Emi McKittrick that’s indeed what’s happening, seven months after the crane’s arrival. We asked McKittrick for other project updates: Link is scheduled to open around the end of March, and will start pre-leasing apartments in January, she says. They have a letter of intent from vegetarian restaurant Chaco Canyon Café – remember the big reaction to word that Chaco Canyon was looking at Link? – and are negotiating with them. As for the two other retail spaces in Link, she says “a day-care provider” has signed up for one space and will make its announcement soon, while they’re still negotiating with a potential tenant for the third space. McKittrick tells WSB they’re also really excited about the plans for Link’s rooftop garden – they’re planning “urban agriculture” with an edible garden that’ll grow lettuce, carrots, and other types of produce that residents can “take care of, and harvest, and eat!” There’s more Link info online at linkapts.com.

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And more West Seattle business news: Skylark Café goes 7 days
September 8, 2010 10:40 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Lots of West Seattle business changes making news this week – first M3 Bodyworks moved a few blocks north, then Click! Design That Fits announced it’s moving to The Junction, this morning, Square One Books‘ closure, and now, news of changes at Skylark Café and Club (which like M3 and Click! is a WSB sponsor). Announced by proprietor Jessie SK via e-mail newsletter this morning:

Skylark will soon be 7 days a week. You asked for it, you got it…well, actually, you asked for it and we ignored you for a really long time. “We’re a small family-run biz,” we protested. “We need a day off.” The confusion persisted, however, since restaurants close on Mondays, and you all have insisted on perceiving us as a bar. (It’s okay, we forgive you, we don’t mind being a bar. You can bring your kids here though, I swear!)

When will we do the emergency building repairs? When will we sleep? How will our Kitchen Manager have a spare moment to take care of his first child who was just born this weekend? All these questions are answered by announcement number two…

We’re closing for weekday lunch. Fear not! We shall keep our extraordinarily long happy hour (3 pm to 7 pm all seven days of the week) and just open right up with said happy hour on weekdays. We shall most certainly keep our popular and delicious weekend brunch (9 am to 3 pm Saturday AND Sunday).

THESE NEW HOURS ARE EFFECTIVE AS OF TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14. So weekday lunch ceases at the end of this week, and Monday, September 20 at 3 pm is your first day to come hang out with us [on a Monday].

Feel free to e-mail us feedback or further suggestions, or better yet come on in on a Monday starting September 20th and say hi in person!

Skylark is at 3803 Delridge Way (map), just south of The Bridge, and you can call ahead for takeout, by the way. Plus their almost-world-famous no-cover live music continues – the full calendar can always be found here.

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West Seattle businesses: Square One Books permanently closed
September 8, 2010 8:21 am
|      71 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(Photo added 9:31 am – the letter is posted on the Square One storefront door)
The one-week closure announced by Square One Books in Jefferson Square has turned out to be permanent. Square One’s Gretchen Montgomery made the announcement this morning, asking us to share this letter with you:

I want to let all of my wonderful customers know that Square One Books is closing. I am greatly saddened to have to do this to our West Seattle community of booklovers who have been supporting the store for nearly 23 years. One of the hardest parts of the closing is that I have been unable to let you all know in advance. I wanted to be able to tell all of you and at least have had a closing sale where we could all reminisce and say our goodbyes.

Unfortunately, on the advice of my lawyer, I was unable to do this. I needed to close the store promptly, which meant not be able to say anything to you all when you expressed concern and asked if we were ok.

For the almost 8 years that I have owned the store, I have been trying my hardest to keep the store afloat. Many factors disadvantaged us: the opening of the Westwood Barnes and Noble, increased online purchasing, books being sold everywhere at steep discounts, the economy, high rent, and the recent trend toward e-books.

For years I have taken no salary and have personally taken on more financial debt to keep the store going. I cannot continue to struggle to pay my bills and to be constantly consumed with stress due to my situation. As much as I love the bookstore and my customers, owning the bookstore was no longer good for my mental health, my family and my financial state.

We have had the store for sale for 1.5 years, and while many people want to own a bookstore, there was no interest in purchasing a store with the overhead costs we are carrying at this location. I believe that a new, independent bookstore is needed in West Seattle and that one could succeed in a more favorable spot. I wish I could be the one to move and start again, but I cannot, and I hope that someone is willing to give it a try.

We, myself and my staff, hope to see you all around West Seattle as we have gotten to know so many of you so well over the years. We will miss our bookstore friends; you are all very special people to us. Again, I wish I could have stayed in business for you, and I thank you all for your years of support. I know you tried very hard to keep us here.

Take care,
Gretchen & the Square One Books Staff

ADDED 2:39 PM: We contacted Gretchen to ask a few questions that surfaced in comments and/or were directly e-mailed to us. Here’s her reply:

I will put up info on our door about how gift cards can be handled. … I am in the process of contacting everyone personally that I had special orders for, and if people have any questions, they can email me at gtm@square1books.com or leave a message on our store voicemail at (206) 935-5764, and I will get back to them as soon as I can.

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New rabbi at West Seattle’s Kol HaNeshamah for High Holy Days
September 8, 2010 7:45 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

The Jewish High Holy Days are early this year – starting with the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, tonight – and local synagogue Kol HaNeshamah is observing for the first time with its new leader, Rabbi Zari Weiss. She spoke with WSB while preparing her sermon for tonight’s service, which along with other High Holy Days celebrations will be held outside West Seattle because there’s just not enough room in their regular home – they’re co-housed with Alki UCC Church.

Rabbi Weiss joined Kol HaNeshamah two months ago, and says she’s gotten to know the congregation as an “incredibly intelligent, creative group of people.” Since KHN has only been in operation for seven years, “parts of the infrastructure are not (yet) in place” – but she’s been working on that along with a new board and new educator, to “build on what’s already been built these last seven years.” High Holy Days, says Rabbi Weiss, provide the synagogue with an opportunity for outreach, since many “non-affiliated” Jews come to the services – KHN will use the chance “to let people know we have a congregation, we have a new rabbi, a whole new way of approaching things.” That includes what she draws from her background in areas such as healing and spiritual exploration – and she says, “by virtue of the fact I am a woman rabbi.”

One thing Kol HaNeshamah has always done differently – no tickets required for High Holy Days services – rather than raising money by charging admission, they have counted on donations, whatever people wish to give. But the services are being held at Seattle First Presbyterian downtown (map) since they may have up to 700 people and there’s just no room for that at Alki UCC.

So what’s in her sermon for tonight? Rabbi Weiss laughed and said she didn’t want to give it all away, but it’s “about the changing nature of the Jewish community.” Her life has changed as well – her last full-time role as a rabbi was in Berkeley, California, before she moved to Seattle in 2001 (ten years after her ordination), but she has served many congregations in this area in a part-time role: “I hadn’t yet found the right community (to serve full-time) – and now I have.”

We asked what’s ahead after the High Holy Days; Rabbi Weiss is planning a series of classes, workshops, readings, discussions, and more, to “explore what it really means to be Jewish, and to be a Jewish community in the 21st century.” The dates aren’t all worked out yet; you can watch the KHN website for details. And if you haven’t already checked out the synagogue – you are welcome at their services and celebrations this season, wherever you are on your spiritual journey. Here’s the official announcement of what’s planned and where:

WHERE: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services are held at Seattle First Presbyterian, 1013 8th Ave., Seattle.
WHEN: Wed., Sept 8 – 7:30 p.m. Rosh Hashanah Evening service
Thurs., Sept. 9 -9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m., Rosh Hashanah Children’s service
10:30 a.m., Rosh Hashanah morning service; Tashlich picnic follows at Madrona Park Picnic Shelter, 853 Lake Washington Blvd.
Fri., Sept 17 – 7:30 p.m. Kol Nidre service
Sat., Sept. 18 – 9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m., Yom Kippur children’s service
10:30 a.m., Yom Kippur morning service
2 p.m. – 4 p.m., study sessions
4 p.m., Afternoon services with light break fast following

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West Seattle Wednesday: Back to school! – and more
September 8, 2010 6:37 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS miscellaneous

Hours after the big ribboncutting celebration at Chief Sealth International High School, work continued to get the renovated campus ready for about 1,000 students to arrive today – including installation of the electronic screen atop the school’s new streetside sign. And a few blocks west:

Portable speed monitors are up on SW Thistle, both directions, between 38th and 39th. Not that the weather this morning is too conducive to speeding, but this is a busy arterial leading to both Sealth and nearby Denny International Middle School. Sealth and Denny are just two of the Seattle Public Schools campuses in West Seattle that start classes today – also including West Seattle High School, Madison Middle School, Pathfinder K-8, and these elementaries: Roxhill, Arbor Heights, Highland Park, Gatewood, Sanislo, Schmitz Park, Lafayette, and Alki (West Seattle Elementary opened last week) – this is the first year of the transition to a “neighborhood school” system, with entering classes such as K, 6th, and 9th the first to get the new assignments. Independent schools Westside School, Explorer West Middle School, and Shorewood Christian School are open starting today too – be careful EVERYWHERE you drive. Also happening today/tonight: As previewed here yesterday, the 34th District Democrats meet tonight, with the agenda including their endorsement decision in the 34th District State House Position 2 race (7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy) … West Seattle synagogueKol HaNeshamah celebrates Rosh Hashanah at 7:30 pm, Seattle First Presbyterian (1013 8th Ave.), more on that in a story coming up later this morning … at noon, Alki Lumber Jim Sweeney receives the Kiwanis Everyday Hero Award from the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle at 12 noon at Be’s Restaurant (4509 California – $8 for lunch) … And it’s opening night for “Reasons to Be Pretty” at ArtsWest … More on the calendar!

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Update: Schedule for Alki Family Fun Day – dog parade and all!
September 8, 2010 6:14 am
|    Comments Off on Update: Schedule for Alki Family Fun Day – dog parade and all!
 |   Alki Statue of Liberty | Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

This Sunday’s the big day for the Alki Community Council-presented Family Fun Day and Bluegrass Concert (first previewed here last month) at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. And this morning, the schedule of events is out, starting with a welcome at noon and the Dog Parade at 12:30, continuing through a Kids’ Talent Show and other entertainment, then concluding with a bluegrass concert. In addition, ACC says 25 vendors will have booths by the plaza, including “an authors’ table open to published writers of West Seattle.” Read on for full (free!) details:Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Car-theft wave
September 7, 2010 10:18 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

First, we received this West Seattle Crime Watch report e-mailed by Melody:

Our neighbor on 13th Ave SW has his car stolen sometime on Sunday evening. It was found on 11th Ave SW in good shape– and nothing went missing. The cops said this was the 7th car in the last week to have been stolen within a 4-block radius of 13th and Henderson.

I just think it’s important to note that 7 cars have been stolen within a 4-block radius in Highland Park…

To verify that, we checked the online-police-report system, which doesn’t always have details but at least have a record of the block and crime type. Here’s what we found in that general vicinity – not sure if it’s within that “4-block radius” since we don’t have the block number of the 13th SW theft, though – the theft of Melody’s neighbor’s car is not in the publicly viewable system yet:

Sep 5 2010 10:00PM – VEHICLE THEFT – 90XX BLOCK OF 13TH AVE SW
Sep 5 2010 10:00PM – VEHICLE THEFT – 88XX BLOCK OF 10TH AVE SW
Sep 5 2010 11:58AM – VEHICLE THEFT – 88XX BLOCK OF 8TH AVE SW
Sep 4 2010 4:15PM – VEHICLE THEFT – 88XX BLOCK OF 16TH AVE SW
Sep 4 2010 4:00PM – VEHICLE THEFT – 88XX BLOCK OF 15TH AVE SW
Aug 31 2010 3:00AM – VEHICLE THEFT – 90XX BLOCK OF DELRIDGE WAY SW

Southwest Precinct leadership confirmed two weeks ago that there’s been an increase in auto theft lately (as we reported here). And we’ll get our next update on local crime trends a week from tonight, when the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council resumes monthly meetings after a 2-month summer hiatus – 7 pm Tuesday, Sept. 21, at the SW Precinct meeting room.

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Taqueria Contreras: New taco truck in West Seattle
September 7, 2010 7:36 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Haven’t had dinner yet? Like Mexican food? New option – West Seattle’s second taco truck has arrived (the first one is El Rey Del Taco, which has been north of Home Depot for more than 2 years). Thanks to Brent for the tip – Taqueria Contreras is now open outside the Super 24 at 5455 Delridge Way. It’s along the north side of the store, and even if you are driving south, it’s not easy to see – but you can park on the south or west sides of the store. They say they’re open 10 am-10 pm, seven days a week, and this is their first week; according to the business-card-size menu they gave us, their offerings include:

Tacos $1.25
Burrito $5.50
Torta $6.50
Quesadilla $5.50
Mulitas $2
Sopitos $2.50
Alambres $8.99
Enchiladas $7.99
Burrito Mojado $7.99

Special #1 – 5 tacos, 1 can soda $6.75; special #2, 1 burrito, 1 taco, 1 can soda, $6.75

Their list of meats: Beef, pork, barbecue pork, chicken, beef tongue, beef cheeks. You can call in advance for a to-go order, 206-391-7608.

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Westside School families, staff celebrate their new campus
September 7, 2010 6:37 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

This afternoon, Westside School‘s head of school Jo Ann Yockey led a joyful ribboncutting ceremony outside Westside’s new campus – the old EC Hughes Elementary in Sunrise Heights – just before hundreds of students and parents streamed in to get a look at the spruced-up classrooms and other facilities, the night before classes begin. Their tour guides were incoming 5th graders, who’ll be the new campus’s first “graduating class”:

Inside the school, which has been vacant for 2 school years, since South Lake High School used it as a temporary campus, cheerily labeled classrooms beckoned:

In one of those classrooms, a friendly, furry face drew attention:

Fresh paint and polish made the school’s classic features gleam – including the auditorium/cafeteria space:

Westside families and staffers followed their tours with a celebration on the playground, where two of Seattle’s famous street-food vendors were catering: Molly Moon Ice Cream and Dante’s Inferno Dogs. Earlier in the day, by the way, the neighbors from Fire Station 37 (whose own new location will open soon) had stopped by to help put up a sign over the front door:

Thanks to Westside’s David Bergler for that photo (our video and other photos are by WSB staff). He says Westside will have 235 students, preschool through 5th, when classes begin tomorrow morning. It’s only been five months since the school announced (as first reported here) it would lease the Hughes campus – which has room for Westside to grow, unlike its former home on 28th SW south of Roxbury, where some of its students had long been in portables.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Highland Park ‘home invasion’ charges
September 7, 2010 4:51 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

Charges are now filed against the two men who’ve been jailed in lieu of $1 million bail in connection with the Aug. 26th “home invasion” robbery in Highland Park. 45-year-old Sean Oie and 37-year-old George Augustine, Jr., are each charged with one count of 1st-degree burglary and one count of 1st-degree robbery. On first quick read, the story told in the court documents, regarding what happened and who did what, is the same one we published when Augustine appeared in court; the only additional detail is regarding additional possible suspects – as noted in the previous documents, Augustine claimed that the younger woman who was in the house at the time of the robbery helped set it up, and this set of documents explains that she is Oie’s ex-girlfriend. Still no indication of whether she’ll face charges, though, and the documents mention another potential suspect – besides Oie and his ex-girlfriend, Augustine claimed there was one other person involved, described only as a man “nicknamed Wiz.” Augustine also is the man shown in the bank surveillance photos that helped crack the case (at left; we don’t have a photo of Oie but will be seeking one) and as per another claim in the previous documents, prosecutors say this indeed, if resulting in a conviction, would be his “third strike.” Both suspects are due in court on September 20th to answer the charges. ADDED: State prison system’s photo of Augustine, for the record:

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Another business A-board stolen
September 7, 2010 2:21 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

At least a few times a year, we hear about West Seattle businesses’ promotional A-boards being stolen – and it’s happened again. Christen Cottam from knows perfume, relatively new in The Junction, sent the photo:

My beautiful sandwich board was stolen … some time between when I closed the shop on Sunday at 5:00 and when I came in at 11:00 today. Courtney from Wallflower Framing made it for me, and I just got it a few weeks ago – it’s so beautiful!

For those who invariably bring it up every time one of these thefts happens, here’s the city code. Anyone who feels there’s an encroachment can report it, rather than resorting to theft.

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Election 2010: Endorsement(s) ahead for 34th District Democrats
September 7, 2010 2:03 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   34th District State House 2 | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Just eight weeks till the general election, and of course voting will start a lot sooner, because of the mail-in system. West Seattle ballots will include two races for major seats with no incumbents in the running, and tomorrow night, the 34th District Democrats are scheduled to decide who to endorse in one of those races. They’ve already endorsed State Sen. Joe McDermott for King County Council Position 8 (he and Diana Toledo are the candidates in the nonpartisan race), but their original endorsee in the 34th District State House Position 2 race, Marcee Stone, didn’t make it to the general, so they have to decide between Joe Fitzgibbon of Burien and Mike Heavey of West Seattle. While Heavey took himself out of the running for the pre-primary endorsement, he tells WSB today that he does plan to seek the 34th DDs’ endorsement tomorrow night. The meeting’s at 7 pm tomorrow (Wednesday), The Hall at Fauntleroy; the agenda says other endorsements TBD might be discussed as well.

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Update: No new information on Alki shooting before tomorrow
September 7, 2010 11:23 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

ORIGINAL 11:23 AM REPORT: Since Seattle Police hadn’t released any new information since Saturday morning regarding Friday night’s shooting at an Alki home (original WSB coverage here; followup here), we checked first thing today with the SPD Media Unit. Sgt. Sean Whitcomb tells us some new details are likely to be available this afternoon – potentially, regarding the rifle police say the 59-year-old man pointed at them, and regarding the three officers who opened fire. Sgt. Whitcomb confirms the man – who was described in scanner traffic Friday night, before transport to the hospital, as having “one gunshot wound to the abdomen” – is still alive. We’ll publish a separate followup when we find out more.

3:30 PM: Just checked back with Sgt. Whitcomb, who says the SPD briefing on Friday’s shooting isn’t happening till tomorrow, so no new information will be forthcoming today.

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Celebration time at Chief Sealth International High School
September 7, 2010 10:21 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Ribboncutting video added over originally posted photo, as CSIHS PTSA president Amy Daly-Donovan and Friends of Sealth president Debbie Taylor call up participants)

ORIGINAL 10:21 AM REPORT: “It’s a great day!” enthused Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson moments ago, right after a ribboncutting celebration outside the renovated Chief Sealth International High School. Mayor Mike McGinn is here as are dozens of other dignitaries, plus students including the band (McGinn told them “You guys rocked it!”) and cheer squad (video of both added below).

11:12 AM UPDATE: Adding video, and more photos. Four Chief Sealth student leaders welcoming the crowd in four languages:

That’s student-body president Ressie Brown with the English version, junior class president Cecilia Silva in Chinese, student-body vice president Abubakar Dhubow in Somali, and student-body secretary Yesenia Barajas in Spanish. Sealth Principal John Boyd was joined by his soon-to-be-campus-sharing counterpart, Denny International Middle School Principal Jeff Clark (who didn’t wear his famous Denny Dolphins bright-blue suit, but was sporting blue shoes):

Clark confirms that his school will make their move right after this school year ends, so that summer classes and programs can be held in the new facility. More to come; speeches and performances wrapped up inside the Galleria just after 10:30.

Tours followed, though the visitors were reminded that it’s a working day for teachers and staff, with classes starting tomorrow. Read on for the official district announcement:Read More

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West Seattle Tuesday: Ribbons, returns, reopenings, and more
September 7, 2010 6:25 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Thanks to Jazmin for sharing that photo taken Monday night from the higher elevations of 42nd SW)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: Ribboncuttings today at renovated Chief Sealth International High School (9:30 am) and the new location of Westside School (4 pm) … It’s the first day of school at Seattle Lutheran High School, Tilden School, and Hope Lutheran School … Pathfinder K-8 has its back to school barbecue tonight, 5 pm (Facebook invite here) … The Seattle Public Library system reopens today after its week-plus budget-cut shutdown, except for the West Seattle (Admiral) branch, where roof work is scheduled to continue till a planned reopening on Saturday … Southwest Pool reopens today after a maintenance closure … And a couple traffic/work-zone alerts: 3 weeks of pump station maintenance work starts at Lowman Beach this morning, and there’s an overnight closure alert for 4th Avenue South for the next week and a half, north of The Bridge – details here. Even more on the calendar!

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Sing it! 2 West Seattle-based vocal-music groups are recruiting
September 7, 2010 2:19 am
|    Comments Off on Sing it! 2 West Seattle-based vocal-music groups are recruiting
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Love to sing and wish you had somebody to sing with? Both the Endolyne Children’s Choir and Seattle Glee Clubs (adults) are welcoming new members as their new seasons start this month. Endolyne’s Encore (grades 3-5) and Advanced (6th-9th) groups start rehearsals this Thursday; the Debut (grades K-2) group starts next Tuesday (9/14). Endolyne practices at St. John the Baptist Church in Admiral – e-mail info@endolynechoir.org with questions and/or check out endolynechoir.org. Meantime, the Seattle Glee Clubs’ three groups are starting their new season, looking toward a choral concert in January: Tonight, the Seattle Metropolitan Glee Club women’s chorus has a season-opening potluck supper where prospective new members are welcome to come meet returnees – for more information, e-mail musical director John Gulhaugen at the_met@seattlegleeclubs.org, or leave a message at 206-260-7393; that’s also the number you can call to find out more about the 8-part vocal-jazz ensemble The Offbeats, which start their season with a retreat next Saturday; and the no-audition, male-and-female Prelude Glee Club starts weekly rehearsals next Monday – email director Jerry Halsey at prelude@seattlegleeclubs.org. All SGC groups practice at Luna Park ActivSpace.

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West Seattle businesses: Click! Design That Fits moving to Junction
September 6, 2010 9:00 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

For the second time today, we have news of a longtime WSB sponsor moving to a new location: This morning, it was M3 Bodyworks (story here); tonight, Click! Design That Fits. After six years in the Admiral District, Click! just announced it’s moving south, to the West Seattle Junction storefront recently vacated by Friends and Company (4540 California SW). John Smersh from Click! tells WSB, “We’re excited to move to the Junction and be a part of its retail core. Our blend of contemporary home accents, jewelry, accessories and gifts will be a great complement to the businesses there.” The Junction storefront is bigger, which means Click! can offer some new items, including an expansion of what John calls “the cornerstone of our business” – Smersh Design Jewelry – and more of the contemporary home furnishings for which they’ve become known, including the lighting that’s been a hit in their Admiral store. John says, “We plan to open as soon as possible in early October. We will remain open in our current location through the month of September – unless our buildout goes faster than expected and we move early! Our opening party is scheduled for Saturday, October 16th.” (P.S. Click! has a new art show coming up in its current location, with artist Alena Hennessy on hand for a reception next Saturday night.)

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West Seattle coyotes: Sad reminder from Seaview
September 6, 2010 8:25 pm
|      30 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

We’ve been gathering coyote updates for a larger story for a while now (still in the works) – but this one, while not unique, is an important, sad, reminder. Out of the WSB inbox tonight from Teresa:

I never wanted to add to the ongoing concern about coyotes in our neighborhood, but unfortunately, our family’s tragedy has been a painful reason to do so. My parents, who live in the Seaview neighborhood along Southwest Juneau Street, lost one of their beloved cats to a coyote last night. My parents thought their cat was in, but they did not see her personally, and now she’s gone. Their neighborhood is scarcely wooded, but it’s become all too obvious lately that that is no longer a deterrent for urban wildlife. It also seems there is at least one coyote frequenting this corridor, based on what you reported throughout July.

I know this comes up every few weeks or so, but please remind your readers, again, that small outdoor pets are highly susceptible. Owners should be particularly diligent about bringing them in at night. That certainty far outweighs the alternative.

Now, the link we’ve shared many, many times before – advice on coexisting with coyotes, both for you and your pets’ benefit, and theirs. And also note that other wildlife can clash with pets too – we’ve heard about bigger, bolder raccoons lately – here’s information about them.

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West Seattle schools: Ribboncuttings tomorrow @ Sealth, Westside
September 6, 2010 7:36 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle schools: Ribboncuttings tomorrow @ Sealth, Westside
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Five nights ago, photojournalist Cliff DesPeaux covered the Chief Sealth International High School “sneak peek” tour with that video for WSB – now, it’s the night before the ribboncutting ceremony to dedicate the school’s multimillion-dollar renovation project. 9:30 tomorrow morning, you’re invited to the event at the school’s main entrance (2600 SW Thistle; map) for the big event. That’s one of two school ribboncuttings in West Seattle tomorrow – we’ve also been reporting on Westside School‘s move from a campus on 28th SW just south of the city/county border to the former EC Hughes Elementary in Sunrise Heights (7740 34th SW; map), since first word back in March, and their ribboncutting celebration is at 4 tomorrow afternoon. (Both schools start classes Wednesday, and both have public open-house celebrations/tours at later dates – Westside on September 19th, Sealth on September 25th.)

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Deadline extended for free trees in 3 West Seattle neighborhoods
September 6, 2010 5:08 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

There’s a new deadline to apply for Trees for Neighborhoods – a partnership between EarthCorps and the city. EarthCorps’ Lina Rose reminds us that Roxhill, Westwood, and Highland Park are the West Seattle neighborhoods eligible for the tree distribution program this time around, because, she says, “they have the lowest percentage of tree canopy coverage in the city” (along with several other Seattle neighborhoods). The application (you can apply as an individual – doesn’t have to be a group request) is available online, where you’ll notice the new deadline is October 4th. Here’s where to go to get started!

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Thanking you on this Labor Day – as we note 2 WSB milestones
September 6, 2010 2:59 pm
|      37 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Now that the news seems to have slowed down a bit, on the final day of this holiday weekend, we are writing this note to thank you, and to let you know about two WSB milestones.

Thank you for continuing to be part of WSB – whether you “just read,” or have contributed anything from a comment to a news tip to a photo (or more – e-mail with questions, for example, often leads to the best followup stories!). The number of people who are part of WSB keeps growing – 27,000 homes/businesses currently visit the site at least once a week (more than a third of them, at least once daily) – and as a result, a longstanding WSB record just got broken. The monthly-pageview record had stood since the who-can-forget “Snowpocalypse“ month of December 2008. So many people were here that month, getting and giving information about roads, buses, snowfall, and more, that WSB pages were read 829,588 times in December 2008. (Photo above was courtesy Sage K, from our 12/20/08 coverage.)

While continued growth brought us close this year, the record stood until last month – the August 2010 traffic for WSB (per Google Analytics, the industry standard) was 834,935 pageviews. We had long since eclipsed other numbers from December ’08, such as visits and visitors, but pageviews are a point of pride; since the “blog” format has few “jumps” – unlike newspaper or TV websites, which usually require you to click to another page to get the full story – pageviews are more difficult to stack up.

Part of the August record is because of August 17th, the day of what some dubbed “Obooma!” – the startling sonic booms from jet fighters scrambled out of Oregon when a floatplane violated airspace restrictions during President Obama‘s brief Seattle visit. (Photo at left, as Air Force One departed Boeing Field, courtesy of David DeSiga)

A moment after the booms rocked WSB HQ, we published one line – headlined “Yes, we heard it too,” to let people know we were checking to find out what it was – and that was our last website update for 10+ minutes. So many people came to WSB to seek information, it briefly crashed our previously-beefed-up server; thanks to our server-management firm WiredTree for boosting capacity immediately (and permanently, now that we know what might happen in case of a sudden big event), while we continued updating Twitter and Facebook (which we would have done anyway – we do breaking news on all three major “channels”).

But there were other big days and events. The sonic-boom report wasn’t even August’s most popular (shared/linked) WSB story – here’s what was: The hot new band Fistful of Mercy performing at Easy Street on August 26th. We didn’t realize how big it was till we started getting word from people at the show that the crowd was spilling out into the street (as shown in Christopher Boffoli‘s photo). After that, and the sonic booms, the third biggest story of the month was the “musical protest” video shot inside West Seattle’s Target store and publicized nationwide – thanks to a note from WSB’er Amy, we got, and shared, word of the “local angle” before most of the rest of the region.

Second milestone: Since we’ve been running WSB as a 24/7, multiple-channel news service for three years (our unofficial anniversary was August 28th, the date in 2007 of our first and only “Pledge Day” to raise $ to formalize this as a business) – we haven’t really taken time off, out of 24/7 broadband range. Not that we’ve particularly wanted to, really – we are privileged to be able to make a living doing this, and we chose to do it full time. But people often seem to have a note of concern in their voice when they ask, “Don’t you ever take a vacation?” Well, guess what – we did. Your co-publishers here were out of town for a week recently. We weren’t completely unplugged from WSB, but unplugged enough to relax a bit, and that’s only thanks to some INCREDIBLE people who covered the news 24/7 in our absence:

First and foremost, we want to thank Christopher Boffoli, who has worked with WSB for three years – originally as a volunteer (till we started paying professional contributors in 2008). Christopher is a vital part of Team WSB, a talented photojournalist, thorough writer, and so quick to spot breaking news, he’s often on the scene before we’ve heard about it back here at HQ. While we were away, in addition to stories ranging from a car fire to a concert to the Southwest District Council, Christopher handled the 24/7 news-tips-and-business-calls line, which rings a LOT (thanks to everyone who calls – we really do answer round the clock!).

We also want to thank Jason Grotelueschen, a relatively new contributor to Team WSB, but an experienced online editor/writer who handled “the desk” most days we were gone – including a very busy mailbox – as well as some in-person coverage. And big thanks also go to Katie Meyer, who kept watch on the scanners, to ensure that our vacation didn’t affect fulfillment of the WSB commitment to timely, accurate coverage of breaking news, around the clock; Katie also went downtown to check on some big court cases too. Important stories in West Seattle also were covered while we were on the road by Keri DeTore, Edgar Riebe, and Cliff DesPeaux, and for our White Center site White Center Now, contributor Deanie Schwarz reported on the week’s biggest WC events.

This was a milestone for more than the fact your co-publishers took a bit of a breather before what could be another intense fall/winter: It meant this has grown beyond something that critics insisted was teetering precariously on the shoulders of two overworked people. WSB is a news service – a growing, sustainable business, dedicated to serving the community, in partnership with the community as well as with professional contributors. We were deeply honored to have those attributes recognized and celebrated within the community, when the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce named WSB “Business of the Year” this past spring, and when American Legion Post 160 presented WSB with the West Seattle Grand Parade‘s Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community. We want to hear from you about how WSB can better serve you and all of West Seattle – and you’ll hear soon about a new way we will be inviting that feedback, beyond all the ways you can reach us 24/7/365.

P.S. Another milestone is imminent for participants in the WSB Forums – sometime this week, the number of posts in the Forums, which became part of WSB in December 2007, will surpass 100,000. This is a standalone area of WSB where people interact directly with each other and launch their own topics beyond home-page news stories; it has grown from its original mission, meant first to be a place for recommendations like “where’s the best Thai restaurant?” or “who sharpens knives?”, to add free listings for jobs, as well as yard sales and freebies, as well as conversations about politics, schools, and more.

Again, thank you for being part of WSB, and part of the incredible community we are thrilled to call home: West Seattle.

-Tracy Record and Patrick Sand, WSB co-publishers

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West Seattle business news: M3 Bodyworks Massage Clinic moves
September 6, 2010 12:43 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Health | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Just announced by Michael Mandell of M3 Bodyworks, a longtime WSB sponsor – a new location a short distance north of M3’s old one!

As of September 6th, 2010, M3 Bodyworks Massage Clinic is pleased to officially announce its relocation from the old clinic at 5410 California SW to our new space at 5236 California SW (map)!

Our new clinic is only a block away from the old one, but it offers many exciting improvements. We will be more visible and accessible, with a front entrance right off the street. We will have more treatment rooms, which will make it much easier for us to accommodate your scheduling needs, especially those last-minute appointment requests (you know who you are)! We will also have a small courtyard where you may sit and relax before or after your massage.

We at M3 Bodyworks believe that this move will help us fulfill our mission to provide the community of West Seattle with outstanding massage therapy at a great price. To help welcome you to our new home, we would like to offer you $10 off your next 60- or 90-minute cash visit*. Just mention “West Seattle Blog $10 off“ when booking your appointment. We are looking forward to seeing you for many years to come in our new clinic!

M3 Bodyworks Massage Clinic, 5236 California Ave SW, Suite D, Seattle WA 98136
(206) 331-3999
M3bodyworks.com

(*Only one per customer, valid for new or existing customers. Not applicable toward package discounts or copays, not valid when combined with other coupons or discounts)

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Followup: Your next chance to help Family Promise of Seattle
September 6, 2010 9:41 am
|    Comments Off on Followup: Your next chance to help Family Promise of Seattle
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

When we brought you first word that the West Seattle-based – but operating citywide – shelter for homeless families, Family Promise of Seattle, had to temporarily close for lack of $, board member Laura Bermes promised word would be forthcoming about fundraisers. Here’s the first big one, just out of the WSB inbox:

Family Promise of Seattle, our West Seattle Shelter for homeless families, is looking for individuals and teams to help raise funds in a FUN way! FP is hosting its first-ever Rock and Roll Glow Bowling Tournament called PINS FOR PENNIES. Pins for Pennies is a simple way for individuals in our community to MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

To participate, interested bowlers (or teams of bowlers) contact Laura Bermes at lbermes@comcast.net or 206-219-9173 to get a pledge packet. The idea is that each bowler collects donations and then shows up to bowl on Friday, October 8th from 6-9 pm at Roxbury Lanes. Every bowler that collects $200 or more in donations will be entered into a raffle for an iPod nano. This is a perfect opportunity for office friends, youth groups, Scout troops, reading groups – think of the groups you belong to that might enjoy making a difference in the lives of local children who are homeless. For more information about the Family Promise of Seattle and our upcoming Pins for Pennies fundraiser, check out our website at www.familypromiseofseattle.org.

Seattle, we NEED your HELP! Please consider participating in this fun opportunity to help Family Promise of Seattle get back on track to caring for homeless families!

Our Family Promise story was recently showcased when the Seattle Times focused on the plight of homeless families and included stories by its neighborhood-news partners – here’s the regional roundup; here’s the Times’ followup on reaction to its series.

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