West Seattle, Washington
08 Friday
(WSB photo from November 2010 Feedback Lounge holiday bazaar, with Ivette, Mary, and Bradi)
Christmas Eve is exactly seven weeks away. Some like to shop early, some like to wait till the holidays are closer. This year, the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) is having its Holiday Bazaar on the later end of the season – so it’s time now to send out their call for potential participants:
……………………..Call to Crafters, Artists, Creators!
Feedback Lounge in West Seattle is holding our 3rd annual Holiday Bazaar, on Dec 11th!
We are interested in having your creations at our Bazaar.
The event will be from:
11:30 am to 6 pm at
Feedback Lounge
6451 California ave SWTable with floor space available per vendor. Table sizes vary at approx 3’x5′—3’x8′ etc. (smaller & larger tables are options as well) with plenty of floor space. Vendors are invited to bring their own table as well. $25 per table space all day.
We can work with you on any amount of space, table size, etc, that you might need, just let us know!
If you are interested in selling your wares at this event, please contact me directly (see my contact info below).Crafters, Artists, Shoppers, Awesome Food, Award-winning Cocktails and You!
It’s going to be a great time, and hopefully prosperous afternoon for all, so let us know if you’d like to be a part of the day! Please see attached poster.
Thank you,Gianetta Griffitts
Feedback Lounge
giagriffitts@yahoo.com
The high-school-football postseason continues for two local teams: Seattle Lutheran High School defeated Bellevue Christian, 21-19, Friday night; according to the SLHS Twitter feed, the Saints will play on Tuesday for the chance to go to the state tournament. Meantime, West Seattle High School plays Capital in Olympia tonight (Saturday) at 7. (We’re keeping an eye on other sports too, with the help of our partners at the Seattle Times, but the results aren’t always up to date, so any sports reports you have from SLHS, WSHS, or Sealth, are always welcome – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!)
Octopus’s Junkyard from Laura James on Vimeo.
A sea-life doubleheader tonight! Also just received this from diver/underwater photographer extraordinaire Laura James – not an “Octopus’s Garden,” as the soundtrack goes, but rather, an “Octopus’s Junkyard” off Alki. (Thanks to Laura for continuing to share the submerged sights for us landlubbers!)
News tonight from Robin Lindsey of Seal Sitters:
I thought your readers might want to know that seal pup Spanky was rescued successfully today after falling off a high rock, deep into a hole between immense boulders late yesterday afternoon. It was quite a challenging predicament for the little pup who could not climb back out – and we could not reach in far enough to get him. Spanky has been a fixture along the west side rocks since we first discovered him on October 5th, entertaining volunteers and onlookers almost daily with his antics. We want to thank everyone who has respected the stranding network’s tape perimeter which has been put in place on busier days so he could rest undisturbed. Thankfully, we have had a good ending to this nerve-wracking incident and we hope Spanky returns to his rocky stretch of beach – just not to this particular rock!
Robin says a state wildlife worker turned into a seal-rescuing “superhero” to get Spanky out of there – she tells the story on Seal Sitters’ “Blubberblog” site. (And remember that if you see a seal, or any marine mammal, on a local beach, call 206-905-7325 [SEAL] to let SS know.)
The City Council hasn’t taken its final budget vote yet, but the plan to move West Seattle’s lone Neighborhood Service Center into what is now the Southwest Community Center may already be considered a done deal, if you consider the fact that the space has just been put up for lease. We got the word from real-estate broker Kelsey Diller at City Closers, who sent us the link to the new listing for 5405 Delridge Way SW (see it here, including a photo from inside the NSC), describing it as a followup to this story we published in September, after the budget proposal for community-center changes was announced. Just this afternoon, City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen visited SWCC to meet with community members who don’t want it to be changed into an NSC and Teen Life Center (separate story coming up later); the council is supposed to start finalizing budget tweaks next week, with a final vote due two weeks later.
ORIGINAL 2:55 PM REPORT: Just in from WSDOT:
The right lane of southbound SR 99, approximately ½ mile north of the West Seattle Bridge, is closed for emergency road repair work. The lane will be closed through the evening commute. During the 6-hour closure, crews will place a steel plate in the lane. When the road reopens, motorcyclists should use extra caution near the steel plates. The 40 mph speed limit will not change.
ADDED 3:31 PM: On the WSB Facebook page, at least one person with a view of the Viaduct says it’s already a mess.
5:35 PM UPDATE: WSDOT has reopened the lane hours earlier than projected.
LATE-NIGHT UPDATE: And WSDOT says it’s closed again.
SATURDAY MORNING UPDATE: And … reopened.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
In King County Superior Court Judge Joan DuBuque‘s courtroom, the third of the three men found guilty of murdering Steve Bushaw in West Seattle in early 2009 has just been sentenced: One of the two triggermen who pleaded guilty, John Sylve, was given a sentence of 20 years total.
His sentencing originally was to be on the same day as that of the other triggerman, Danny O’Neal (here’s our Sept. 30th report), but Sylve’s family was a no-show in court on that date and all parties agreed to a postponement, including the victim’s family.
As the hearing began, the 26-year-old victim’s mother Meg Bushaw spoke:
At Westside School (WSB sponsor), they’re getting ready for an Open House tomorrow – the type to which prospective families are invited, so they can check out the campus. This afternoon, we got a firsthand look at some of the ways Westside students are integrating the newest technology into their work – iPads in math class. Above, teacher Marsha Lovely‘s kindergarteners; below, David Preston‘s 6th graders:
We’re told the middle-schoolers (this is Westside’s first year of middle school by the way – it’s being phased in, so they’ll add seventh grade next year) gave presentations to parents earlier today too, to show them what they’re doing with the iPads. Sixth graders get to use the iPads “full time,” we’re told, while the younger students share. You can find out more about Westside tomorrow at 10 am, which is when the open house begins – but if you can’t make it, you can also inquire about their weekly tours. They’re at 7740 34th SW.
(Editor’s note: After we had published this news release, SSCC sent a corrected version saying the flag-raising will actually be on the 10th, so we have made the change inline.)
Just out of the WSB inbox from South Seattle Community College:
On
Friday, November 11, Thursday November 10, at 11:11 am, a ceremony/flag raising will take place on the campus of South Seattle Community College to recognize Veterans Day. Throughout the day, the campus screens will feature a slideshow of South veterans and their family members who served. No classes are held November 11, but campus offices remain open and staffed.Nearly 200 student veterans reflect and add to the rich diversity of South’s student body. They come from all over the world, represent every branch of the military and, while they share some strong common bonds as veterans, all are following their individual paths to academic and career success.
South a “Military Friendly School”
For the second year in a row, South Seattle Community College has been designated by G.I. Jobs magazine as a “Military Friendly School” for 2011 – 2012 based on its role in accepting America’s veterans as students.
Seattle Public Utilities says it’s almost finished with the hydrant upgrades promised after water-flow problems hampered firefighters’ 
work to extinguish the flames that destroyed an Arbor Heights home on August 27 (WSB photo at right). We spoke with SPU today, after Arbor Heights resident Kevin McClintic clued us to work that’s been under way in the area this week (and shared the photo atop this story).
According to SPU’s Ingrid Goodwin, “Ten of the 12 hydrants that were identified for upgrades have been replaced with larger, standard-sized hydrants. The remaining two hydrants, located at 107th SW and 35th Ave SW, and 100th Street and 35th Ave, are scheduled to be replaced by the week of November 14.”
During work yesterday, several Arbor Heights residents noted on the WSB Facebook page that they lost water service but hadn’t received advance notification. Goodwin says SPU had warned “about 15 to 20 homes along 100th between 39th SW and 44th SW” that they would lose water yesterday, but the shutdown affected more homes than those. She said, “This was not supposed to happen, and we apologize for the disruption in water service to those customers. SPU is investigating why those homes, outside of the shut-down area, were affected.”
The new hydrants are painted yellow “for greater visibility,” Goodwin says, adding that while they originally planned to upgrade 11, a twelfth was identified and added to the list.
Ahead – see the list of the replacement hydrants’ locations:Read More
Last week, the Seattle Police Aggressive Drivers Response Team was out enforcing the bus lane on the West Seattle Bridge during the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure. This week, they’re back to speed enforcement (among other things), with 4 West Seattle school zones on the latest roundup list, plus Highland Park Way (including a ticket for 51 mph in a 30 zone) and Admiral Way (with one for 52 in a 30 zone). See the full list on the SPD Blotter site, here.
(Purse seiner off Alki Point – explained by Beach Drive Blog; photo by Danny McMillin via Flickr)
Happy Friday! From the West Seattle Events calendar:
FOOD TRUCK POD: 1 truck due at lunch, 3 for dinner, at Uptown Espresso lot on the south end of The Junction, schedule here
SPA DAY AT PHARMACA: It’s Spa Day at Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy (WSB sponsor), 1-5 pm (p.s. did you know they have a longstanding discount coupon here on WSB? find it and print it here).
COUNCILMEMBER VISITS SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY CENTER: Supporters of SW Community Center, which faces major changes under the mayor’s proposed budget, invite community members to join them in talking with City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen at 2 pm today – more details here.
IN-STORE WINE TASTING: At Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) in Admiral, 5-7 pm
WASHINGTON WINE MEDLEY: That’s the theme of Bin 41‘s weekly wine tasting, 6-7:30 pm.
‘THE FOREIGNER’ IN FAUNTLEROY: You’re invited to a community play this weekend at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California Avenue SW), with four performances through Sunday, starting at 7 pm tonight. The Fauntleroy Players of yore come to life again with “The Foreigner,” a comedy for all ages. More details and ticket info here.
‘THE DESPERATE HOURS’: Final performance for West Seattle High School’s Drama Club production, 7:30 pm at WSHS Theater. More info here.
This fall, the WSB Forums – added 2 years after the site’s debut – turn four. They were created when the requests for local recommendations – “where do I find a …” – started to overwhelm the front-page news stream. 
That’s a form of “people helping people,” and the Forums also have yielded face-to-face versions of that … as members joined together to reach out to people who need more than information. Sometimes, that’s meant face-to-face events, like the one coming up Sunday at the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), a fundraising silent auction for Jan Seeley, a longtime Forums and comment-section participant you’d recognize as “JanS.” But much more than a screen name, she is a West Seattle community member, wearing hats including independent businessperson and mom.
Jan’s had health trouble for a while, and has won some victories, beating breast cancer, among other things. Right now she is in another health battle, waiting for a kidney transplant, because of a rare disease called fibrillary glomerulonephritis. Jan’s daughter Jessica had hoped to be a match, but tests revealed that was not to be, so Jan is still waiting and hoping. But Jessica, friends, and Forums members have done something else to help – organized Sunday’s fundraiser, including rustling up some unique auction items. Drop by The Feedback 2-5 pm Sunday to bid on something and enjoy Happy Hour (with proceeds from a special drink and appetizer going to Jan’s fund), as well as chair massage. Auction items mentioned in the ongoing WSB Forums discussion about the event so far include: great wine, coffee baskets, photographs, art, pest control services, massage gift cards, yard work, bagels from Zatz’s, an Angelina’s gift card, Curves membership, and handblown-glass ornaments. (Tis the season!) The Feedback is at 6451 California SW. By the way, its co-proprietor Jeff Gilbert is also a graphics artist extraordinaire and designed the poster art above (as well as the many others you’ll see on the Feedback’s site regarding the other events it hosts/presents).
Two years after the city started allowing them everywhere, “backyard cottages” continue to generate buzz. Our partners at the Seattle Times featured them in a story this past week. One of the companies mentioned in the story is West Seattle’s own Ncompass Cottage Company (WSB sponsor), which is putting on a free workshop next week to demystify backyard cottages, with information about everything from design to construction to financing. Not only will Ncompass’s team (and other experts) answer questions about backyard cottages, you can even ask one of the people for whom they’ve built one, Sean McClintock, who is featured in that Times story. The workshop is at the Community School of West Seattle at 7 pm next Wednesday (November 9th), 9450 22nd SW. RSVP by e-mailing stefan@ncompass-llc.com or calling 206-933-5961. (City of Seattle photo)
Winter’s on the doorstep – and that means West Seattle Helpline will be getting more requests for help from people in difficult circumstances, maybe just for something as basic as staying warm and dry, with a roof over their head. Making sure WS Helpline will be able to offer that help, was the goal of tonight’s gala dinner and auction at the Duwamish Longhouse in West Seattle.
Above are Helpline board members Terry Burns (who emceed) and Rev. Ron Marshall. Ahead – other community leaders/members who attended tonight to show their support:Read More
From an anonymous tipster in Arbor Heights:
A friend was just (7:30 p.m. Thursday) walking her dogs between 34th SW and 35th SW where SW 108th is a narrow path, and encountered a coyote. The coyote went nose-to-nose with one of the dogs, who was in full attack mode towards the coyote. Happily, the person was able to get herself and the dogs away before the situation escalated, but the coyote only moved back into the bushes– the friend could still see the eyes, so the coyote wasn’t scared away by the commotion! Please be very careful if you are in this area.
As always – here’s the advice on what to do (including trying your best to scare a coyote away).
A little more than a year after the field got its new name – honoring Seattle’s first African-American Superintendent of Parks – Walt Hundley Playfield has its new turf. The completion of the $1 million Parks and Green Spaces Levy-funded renovation has just been announced, and the Seattle Parks news release says that West Seattle Soccer Club will officially kick things off with a day full of games this Saturday. The city announcement quotes WSSC board member Tim McMonigle as saying “this will be one of the very few synthetic lined U-10 and U-11 surfaces in the Puget Sound area.” The field (south of High Point Community Center) also has football and Ultimate Frisbee reference markings. It’s the third West Seattle playfield to get new turf in less than two years, after Hiawatha and Delridge.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Metro‘s proposed restructuring of West Seattle’s route system is an emotional topic for some.
That was clear when what Metro calls its “concepts” for change came out last week, drawing triple-digit reaction here.
It was also clear last night when things got somewhat testy among community members who came to the Southwest District Council meeting for the first chance to hear from Metro reps, before two events in West Seattle on November 9th and 17th.
The Metro discussion was part of a one-two transit-related punch that took up most of the meeting, starting with an SDOT update on road changes to accommodate Metro’s RapidRide, the new style of bus service that also is the reason for the planned route restructuring. Some of those changes were questioned pointedly by SWDC members, too.
Today we’re welcoming one of our newest WSB sponsors, presenting information they want to share so you know more about their business: Cascade Dizziness and Balance Physical Therapy provides caring and personalized treatment for people with dizziness and balance problems. We combine years of experience and state-of-the-art 
technology with our passion for helping people return to the activities they love. Our patients are amazed by what they achieve with physical therapy. You don’t have to live with dizziness, imbalance, or a fear of falling. Cascade Dizziness and Balance PT can help you feel better, move better, and do more with your life.
Cascade Dizziness and Balance PT is owned by Lisa Eaton, DPT, OCS. We accept all major insurances. Our treatment sessions are one-on-one 55-minute sessions designed to meet the unique needs of each patient. Call 206-925-3762 to schedule an appointment, or book online on the Cascade website.
We thank Cascade Dizziness and Balance PT for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; see our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
ORIGINAL 12:56 PM REPORT: The Fauntleroy wait wasn’t much last time we checked that semi-live image from the dock camera, but the state warns that people leaving Vashon might face quite a wait this afternoon till they are back to three boats. We were just talking here the other day about the aging ferries, particularly the half-century-old Evergreen State class, and one of its vessels, the Klahowya, is currently broken down and being checked out. That leaves only the Issaquah and Tillikum on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run at the moment. Here’s the two-boat schedule; here’s the place to check for updates later (we will too).
8:48 PM UPDATE: WSF says that Klahowya is fixed and back in service.
(Sketch from West Seattleites’ 2008 presentation to the City Council about a “boulevard” vision for Fauntleroy Way)
All week long, the City Council has been listening to presentations about possible changes to the Mayor’s budget plan. Just because a change is presented, doesn’t mean it’ll make it into the final plan, but with that in mind: One of the proposals that will be heard this afternoon would allot a quarter-million dollars to start working toward what’s dubbed the “Fauntleroy Way Green Boulevard.” This is a concept that has been under discussion for more than three years, including as a component of the West Seattle Triangle vision. Just last night, in fact, members of the Southwest District Council brought it up briefly while reviewing what’s transpired with the Triangle. It’ll be one of many budget-change options presented during this afternoon’s City Council session. Here’s part of the description, from the “Green Sheet” for the proposal (which you can see in its entirety here):
This project will transform Fauntleroy Way SW into a green boulevard. Preliminary engineering will address project elements identified during conceptual design, including: a planted median with signature lighting fixtures, a pedestrian zone with sidewalks and planting areas including street trees, pedestrian lighting, potential green stormwater infrastructure and art, and safety improvements for crossing movements for all modes, including bicycle improvements and pedestrian crossings, signals, and reconfigured intersections and bulbs. Funding will be used to complete preliminary engineering in 2012, including public outreach, preliminary design, and construction cost estimates. Alternative project designs will be developed (with and without the relocation of a 28? drainage and wastewater main) that seek to balance green boulevard design elements with Major Truck Street treatments.
The proposal is officially from Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the Transportation Committee and has long been involved in discussions about improving the Fauntleroy Way “gateway” to West Seattle. His office says the goal of this item is to get the project on the city’s Capital Improvement List and start studying what it would take to make it happen. This presentation is part of the council’s afternoon agenda (full list here), scheduled to start at 2 pm; you can watch live on Channel 21 or seattlechannel.org (or of course by going to City Hall downtown). Budget-change decisions are scheduled to start next week, with a plan finalized before Thanksgiving.
Our recent photo of the Fauntleroy ferry dock includes the type of weather said to lie ahead for us today (remember, we have a weather page!) – nice till clouds creep in late in the day. Meantime, here are some of tonight’s highlights, from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
HOLIDAY FOOD TASTING: The annual West Seattle Thriftway holiday-food tasting is 4-7 pm, and they’re having a wine tasting at that same time as well (Fauntleroy/California).
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOD TRUCK: The Junction’s new “food truck pod” in the Uptown Espresso lot will have its first Thursday night visitor – I Want Curry Now is scheduled to be there for dinner tonight, 5-8 pm.
SHOP LATE IN THE JUNCTION: It’s back, just in time for the holidays. 6-9 tonight, at participating merchants (listed here), and every Thursday till the last one before Christmas.
HELP THE HELPLINE: From the official announcement by West Seattle Helpline: “Give the gift of warmth and light this year! We are holding our 14th annual fall fundraiser dinner event for West Seattle families that are facing a one-time emergency. Proceeds will be used to help families that have faced emergency situations with rent and utilities so that they may remain in their homes with heat and water. This mission becomes even more vital as the weather turns colder and the need is especially great this year.” 6-9 pm tonight at Duwamish Longhouse; tickets can still be purchased this morning – call 206-932-2746 (or go online).
BOOK SIGNING: Party at The Cask for author/entrepreneur/athlete/basketball coach Sonya Elliott, 6-8 pm (more info here).
GET READY! Not sure you’re ready for disaster – be it a winter storm, an earthquake, or who knows what? Check out tonight’s free city-presented SNAP (Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare) preparedness class at Southwest Library, 6:30 pm.
STORMWATER: LIFE IN THE GUTTER: One-man performance written and performed by Stokley Towles, tracing a tale of rainwater and runoff in a way you’ve never seen or heard it before. Free! 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW.
(added) POTLATCH AT ALKI ELEMENTARY: Just in from the school’s arts-ed rep Karen Hinkey: “Alki PTA has been thrilled to welcome Ronn Wilson as this year’s Artist-in-Residence. “Of Cedar and Salmon” is a multicultural, hands on enrichment program which has allowed all students to experience the native arts and cultures of the Pacific Northwest Coast. For the past 5 weeks, students in every classroom have been immersed in Native clans within the school and have learned arts and crafts, games, legend writing and more… During the residency, Ronn’s artistic talents have been on display while creating an original piece of Native American artwork which will be presented to the school at tonight’s potlatch ceremony. Reflections of a potlatch will include an artistic replica of a Kwakwakawaka ceremonial house and a dramatic presentation of traditional Northwest Coast art. The ceremony begins promptly at 7 pm in the school gym and doors will be closed at that time. Please, NO photographs or video during the performance at the request of the Wilson family. Photographs can be taken after the performance. ”
‘THE DESPERATE HOURS’: Your second-to-last chance to catch West Seattle High School’s Drama Club production, 7:30 pm at WSHS Theater. More info, photos, cast list, etc., can be found here.
9:26 AM: Information on this one is still a little sketchy – but it’s happening right now and we’ve received questions about why police cars were outside West Seattle High School, so here’s what we have found out so far: They are searching the area around the school for a report of one or two men seen with a knife or knives. The school district says WSHS went into “shelter in place” mode for this, around 8:45 am. According to Det. Mark Jamieson in the SPD media unit, so far they haven’t found anything or anyone. No one is reported hurt – by all accounts so far, this is just a case of someone seeing something alarming. If we get new information later, we’ll update.
10:12 AM UPDATE: The district says the “shelter in place” situation is over; police didn’t find the person(s) they were looking for, but again, everybody’s OK.
| 2 COMMENTS