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Road-rage report – from bicyclist towing 2-year-old daughter
September 26, 2009 11:54 pm
|      43 COMMENTS
 |   Gatewood | West Seattle news

Just out of the WSB inbox, a road-rage report – from a bicyclist who was towing his 2-year-old daughter uphill in the new California SW bicycle lane in Gatewood. Read on:Read More

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Fall chill in the air – can you spare a coat for a foster child?
September 26, 2009 11:10 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Even when the days are warm, the nights are now cool, and you’ve probably at least thought about bringing your sweaters and coats to the front of the closet. Maybe you can take it a step further – and get a coat to somebody who can’t afford one. At Sleep Country USA in Westwood Village, the annual Coat Drive for Foster Kids is under way now through November 1st. As the official announcement from Sleep Country puts it, “many foster kids arrive with only the clothes on their backs.” You can donate “new coats in every shape and size” at any Sleep Country USA store; the one at Westwood Village is in the section of the center anchored by Bed Bath Beyond. Or, you can donate through PayPal and Sleep Country will use the $ to buy coats (here’s the link). Want to know more? 888-88-SLEEP.

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Community Harvest: 1 house, 306 pounds of donated grapes
September 26, 2009 9:23 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

You’ve no doubt heard by now about Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle, which has been harvesting local produce, particularly fruit, with volunteer help, for donation to local food banks. One homeowner made what turned out to be a really big donation, and shared this note she got from Aviva at Community Harvest after 11 volunteers stopped by to pick grapes two days ago:

“I just dropped off the grapes at the food bank. 306 pounds!! Can you believe it? I would have to say that it is the highest yield/house this season, not to mention that the tree owners (kids included!) were the most fun. This has been a great way to end (well, almost end) the season – and puts us at 6400 pounds – just 100 away from our goal.”

The homeowner/grape donor (who also shared these photos, including that one of a volunteer with a big box of the grapes) added:

So, if your yard has some fruit that you aren’t going to use, please contact Aviva so they can reach the 6500 pound goal! Speaking as the homeowner who donated grapes yesterday, I can personally attest that these people are wonderful– they come to your place, pick and bag the fruit, then take it away. That is about as easy (for the homeowner, lol) as it gets! No more wasted fruit, no nasty mush in the yard, and best of all, lots of good fruit for the food bank.

Contact info for Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle is online at gleanit.org.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stadium scare
September 26, 2009 5:43 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Thanks to Brenda for e-mailing to ask what we knew about an incident at West Seattle Stadium earlier today, reported to her by a witness; we just checked with the Seattle Police media unit and here’s what they found out: A man in the stands at noon today during a youth football game spotted a man “with whom he had an ongoing disagreement,” as Det. Mark Jamieson put it, and pointed a gun at that man. Others apparently tried to intervene. No shots were fired and nobody was hurt; police were called, but the two men were both gone before they arrived. Witnesses had a description of the car in which the man with the gun left; Det. Jamieson says a car matching that description was stopped in the 6900 block of Delridge (about 2 miles away; map), but the suspect wasn’t in it. Nobody arrested or hurt, and police didn’t find the gun, but Brenda says the witness told her game was stopped for a while as all this played out.

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West Seattle High School Class of 1999 reunion tonight!
September 26, 2009 5:06 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle High School Class of 1999 reunion tonight!
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Just got a reminder note – West Seattle High School Class of 1999 (yearbook photos above) reunion is tonight at Mission, 8 pm. FREE to WSHS grads and family/friends. It’s a time/location change from the original plan, so they want to be sure everybody got the word.

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Happening now: Open house/1st anniversary at “Nickelsville”
September 26, 2009 4:17 pm
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

Dozens of visitors – many also with cameras and notepads – are at the West Seattle homeless encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville” right now (Terminal 107 Park), for a “1st birthday” open house presented by its residents and sponsors, also intended as a fundraiser – a rep from the sponsoring organization Veterans For Peace told visitors it takes $1,000/month just for the portable toilets they rent. (We’ll add video later.) You can see them in the background of this photo we took today:

After a few speeches, including reminiscences about the past year since more than two dozen people were arrested at the encampment’s original site on city property at Highland Park Way/West Marginal Way, there was a slide show with photos and newspaper clippings telling the same story:

The encampment has been at T-107 Park, which is port property, for two months (here’s our story about their arrival). The port says time’s run out and they need to clear out by Wednesday; encampment organizers say they won’t go. Perhaps as a hint of what’s to come, we saw two port officers walking the periphery just as we arrived a few minutes after 3:

As far as we could see, they stayed outside the orange webbing that surrounds the encampment; we didn’t see them in the group that gathered to listen to speeches and watch the slide show. The event is expected to continue for the next few hours if you want to go see the encampment for yourself.

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Alki Beach 5K tomorrow – register today at CAPERS
September 26, 2009 12:27 pm
|    Comments Off on Alki Beach 5K tomorrow – register today at CAPERS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Online registration is closed for tomorrow’s Alki Beach 5K Walk/Run (WSB sponsor) to benefit breast-cancer patients through Northwest Hope and Healing – BUT if you’re not already signed up, you can do it at CAPERS in The Junction till 2 pm. (Same-day signups start at 8 at Alki Bathhouse tomorrow; the 5K starts at 9 am.)

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Attention, artists: Last call to “Have a Seat at the Table”
September 26, 2009 8:01 am
|    Comments Off on Attention, artists: Last call to “Have a Seat at the Table”
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | White Center

With the White Center Food Bank‘s annual Harvest Dinner/Auction less than a month away, it’s “last call” time for artists who can decorate chairs to donate in the “Have a Seat at the Table” portion of the auction. Lynne Ingalls says, “There may still be some chairs available free for artists to decorate, otherwise, choose your own … they must be completed and submitted by October 10.” You can contact her at btrees@comcast.net or 206-933-2547 to get a chair (and more information). And regardless of whether you’re an artist, you are welcome to attend the October 17th event and support the food bank, which serves part of West Seattle as well as all of White Center: Call 206-762-2848 for tickets, or go to www.whitecenterfoodbank.org.

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West Seattle CoolMom searches for gardenable spot for 350.org
September 26, 2009 6:07 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Gardening | How to help | West Seattle news

That’s a simulation of what West Seattle CoolMom and other area environmental groups hope to muster enough people to create at Seattle Center in a month, as part of the 350.org Day of Action. And CoolMom’s Terri Glaberson says her group is looking for the perfect spot to do something smaller, closer to home, too:

In recognition and support of 350.org International Day of Action taking place on October 24th, West Seattle CoolMom is trying to locate a plot of land that could be home to 350 square feet of garden. The idea is to create a new garden space for a local business, school or church so that the community can benefit from an ongoing working garden. Instead of CoolMom trying to locate this land by searching ourselves, we thought of asking the community for help.

What we would like is to have the community raise their hand in offering this plot of land to CoolMom so that we may establish a garden, but with understanding that this land would be maintained after October 24th by the owners of the land.

If you can suggest a site for this garden, e-mail Terri at admin@coolmom.org. And she invites you to make plans to be part of the big “350” at Seattle Center, 2 pm October 24:

The event includes exhibitors, speakers, live feed of neighborhood action events, the cities new carbon calculator-created to be user friendly for families, and a large photo op of a “three”, “five” and “zero” near the fountain. We are going to need a lot of folks to come out to form these numbers, but more importantly we want people to get involved and learn about climate change and what each individual can do to make a difference in his or her community.

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Tonight’s high-school football: All three West Seattle schools win
September 25, 2009 10:12 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle video | WS & Sports

After scoring its first win in two years last week, Chief Sealth High School (2-2) has now won two games in a row, winning at Ingraham tonight, 21-14. West Seattle High School (3-1) won big over Nathan Hale at Southwest Athletic Complex, 40-7, and Seattle Lutheran (2-2) beat Concrete on the road, 25-12. We’ll add details, and video from the in-town games, shortly.

ADDED 11:35 PM: First, the Wildcats (covered by Patrick): West Seattle shook off last week’s loss to O’Dea and defeated Nathan Hale 40-7 on a night that saw lots of big plays. The Wildcats had an explosive second quarter, running up 28 points before the half. In that quarter, running back Nikko Emm had 78 of the 97 yards he’d finish the night with. Hale’s only drive before halftime was disrupted by Markeem Adams, who came up out of his defensive back position to intercept Hale quarterback Travis Wilson and take it down to the 12-yard line, which led to Danny Phan scoring on the next play. It was not Adams’ only big play of the night — here, just after the start of the third quarter, he scores on a 52 yard pass play.

After the game, West Seattle coach Davis Lura talked about how his team came together tonight.

On the night, WSHS had 178 yards rushing on 20 carries, with 221 yards passing. Markeem Adams finished the night with 122 yards and two touchdowns, while Nikko Emm had nine carried for 97 yards and one touchdown.

From the Sealth game (covered in part by Tracy): We hadn’t originally planned to go up to Ingraham but changed our mind and headed north to see how the Seahawks were doing in the followup to last week’s win over Cleveland. When we arrived in the second quarter, the score was 14-13 Ingraham, but it wasn’t long before Sealth took the lead with a touchdown followed by a 2-point conversion – we caught the TD on Flip video, from a distance:

With that, the score was 21-14 Sealth, and that’s how it remained for the duration of the game. Stat highlight: Senior quarterback Daniel Davis had 1 TD passing, 1 TD rushing. As for the SLHS game – here are some game stats from our partners at the Seattle Times.

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Well-known West Seattle DJ Marty Riemer out at The Mountain
September 25, 2009 7:15 pm
|      144 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Radio’s a rough business. Your editor here spent a few years as a DJ long ago and experienced the classic case of getting fired after your show, with no good explanation except “we’re making a change.” According to this story published tonight at seattletimes.com (WSB partner), that’s what happened today to well-known DJ Marty Riemer, a West Seattleite, along with his on-air partner Jodi Brothers, who told The Times, “”The Marty Riemer Show has temporarily relocated to Alki, where Marty and I will be drinking coffee in the morning.” On his Facebook page, which is full of comments from outraged fans, Riemer replied to one of them, “You are so right about Facebook being able to soften the blow of a radio ending. There was a time when from one day to the next a radio personality would disappear and you’d never know what happened to them. Silver lining :-)” He’d been with the station a dozen years, which is a remarkably long tenure in radio.

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4 new West Seattle traffic cameras, plus bridge cams explained
September 25, 2009 6:54 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Several people have e-mailed us recently to ask why the city’s West Seattle Bridge cameras – including the one we’ve had linked in our sidebar for a long time – just don’t seem to show the traffic any more (example above). We in turn asked SDOT‘s communications chief Richard Sheridan, and also threw in an inquiry about the status of additional cameras that had been in the works for West Seattle. Here’s his reply, including news of 4 new cameras on the way (we had reported plans for 3 more in May but looks like one’s joined the list):

The (bridge) structure’s north and south side cameras are controlled using wireless operation and have proven to be unreliable. The south side camera will be upgraded with a fiber optic control system as part of a larger project that starts next week. So your readers will be able to see bridge images shortly. We also want a fiber optic system for the north side and are trying to find money in this year’s budget for it.

With the work underway next week, we will install two other West Seattle cameras beyond the south bridge camera. They will be at Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Cloverdale (near Lincoln Park/Fauntleroy Ferry) and at the West Seattle Bridge near the pull-out by the [Walking on Logs] sculpture (east of the pedestrian overpass.)

Two other cameras will be installed in early- to mid-October and will be operational in November (along with several other locations not in West Seattle.) Those cameras will be located at SW Alaska St and 42nd Ave SW, and SW Alaska and California Ave SW.

So we’ll take the bridge-cam link out of the sidebar till SOMETHING is working – and will keep an eye out for those extra cameras. Here’s the city page where you can find all SDOT cams; the state cams (I-5 etc.) are separate, and can be found here; the county’s cams are here. We’ll also update the WSB Traffic page when those new/fixed ones come online.

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Got popcorn? Buy it from West Seattle Boy Scouts!
September 25, 2009 5:03 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

From left, that’s Callan (5th grade) and Trent (3rd grade) from West Seattle’s Boy Scout Troop 284 (celebrating its 94th anniversary this year!) stationed outside West Seattle Thriftway till 6 tonight, selling popcorn and trail mix. We went over to check out the sale after Suzanne e-mailed WSB to let everyone know it’s time for this fundraiser (which will be happening for the next few weeks all over West Seattle):

It’s that time again. You’ll see a whole bunch of Scouts selling popcorn, caramel corn, chocolate covered popcorn, cheese popcorn, unpopped popcorn (both airpopper/stove top and microwave varieties) and trail mix at various grocery store locations throughout West Seattle. Don’t like popcorn or can’t eat but still want to support your local scouts? You can make a donation to buy popcorn for the troops and have your popcorn sent to those serving our country. Popcorn sales last for the month of October. Thank you West Seattle for your support.

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Update: Mayor’s budget announcement
September 25, 2009 2:06 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Though he won’t be in office next year, Mayor Nickels is still charged with presenting a budget proposal – and he’s doing that right now before the Seattle City Council; watch it live online via Seattle Channel. 2:35 PM UPDATE: The speech is over; it was more of a farewell address and list of accomplishments, than a detailed budget presentation (all that will be in the documentation – which you can find here). Among a few mentions: 446,000 potholes filled (and a plug for continuing to report them to 206-684-ROAD), 21 more patrol-officer positions to be added to Seattle Police, and six reservoirs covered or being covered (including Myrtle and West Seattle/Westcrest). As noted here yesterday, three budget hearings are coming up, all listed here.

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Memorial today for former West Seattle grocer Dean Fraker
September 25, 2009 12:08 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

frakerthen.jpg

Sorry for the short notice – we just found out the memorial is today: Dean Fraker, longtime operator of Fraker’s Market on SW Alaska near what is now Ercolini Park (noted here in a then-and-now story last year), died recently in Pierce County, less than a month after his 87th birthday, and his memorial is at 2 pm today at Trinity Community Church, 3807 Reith Road in Kent (map). We’re working on a longer story about his life and times and a unique slice of West Seattle history, but wanted to get quick word out now (and thanks to Dale for the original tip).

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2 repair updates: Fauntleroy/California signal; Southwest Pool
September 25, 2009 11:56 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

FAUNTLEROY/CALIFORNIA SIGNAL: You may recall our story from last week, in which the city’s project manager for the now-virtually-complete Fauntleroy Way road rebuild/repave/rechannelization, Jessica Murphy, said crews would be out this week to fix the Fauntleroy/California signal timing. According to longtime WSBer and nearby resident Mike, looks like they have been (we’re checking to see if SDOT will confirm 12:26 pm – just got confirmation from Murphy, “Fauntleroy and California has been restored to normal operation”).

SOUTHWEST POOL: Last week, the city Parks Department warned that a problem detected during federally mandated drain-upgrade work could further delay the reopening of West Seattle’s only city-run year-round pool. According to a note on the Southwest Pool home page, that seems to be the case – reopening is now tentatively scheduled for October 19; by then, the shutdown will have lasted almost two months.

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High school football tonight: Sealth, WSHS, Seattle Lutheran
September 25, 2009 11:41 am
|    Comments Off on High school football tonight: Sealth, WSHS, Seattle Lutheran
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle video | WS & Sports

All three of West Seattle’s high schools play football tonight, and all three games are at 7 pm: Seattle Lutheran (1-2) is at Concrete (2-1); West Seattle High School (2-1) is at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) against Nathan Hale (1-2); Chief Sealth (1-2) is playing Ingraham (1-1) at the Northwest Athletic Complex (map). Sealth is coming off its win against Cleveland last week; we went to the school this morning to talk with defensive coordinator Ernest Policarpio about tonight’s game:

We’ll have the results of all three games here tonight – our WS Sports coverage archive is the place to check any time for the latest; we’re also planning to tweet the WSHS-Nathan Hale game (check out our “live events” Twitter channel after 7 pm, @wsblive). For even more about high-school sports, check out our collaborative partners at the Seattle Times, with a huge database of info on schedules, scores, rosters and more (this is the starting page).

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Got an old carseat? Take it to WestSide Baby ASAP to recycle!
September 25, 2009 11:18 am
|    Comments Off on Got an old carseat? Take it to WestSide Baby ASAP to recycle!
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | White Center

That’s the crew at WestSide Baby – standing by for another hour or so to accept old carseats for recycling – just take them to 10032 15th SW (here’s a map).

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Kenney, Admiral Safeway set to return to Design Review
September 25, 2009 8:53 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Development | The Kenney | West Seattle news

A sign of the development slowdown – the Southwest Design Review Board hasn’t met in 2 months – no projects to review. But now the schedule shows encores for two redevelopment projects that have both been before the SWDRB at least once: The Kenney and Admiral Safeway (each of those links will take you to the official city project page). The city’s scheduling page cautions that this date is tentative, but for now, they’re both on the schedule for a SWDRB meeting on October 22nd at Youngstown Arts Center in North Delridge. The last review for The Kenney was in May (WSB coverage here); since then, its iconic cupola-topped Seaview building has been declared a city landmark. The last review for the Admiral Safeway project was in November (WSB coverage here); last Tuesday, the city announced it’s seeking comments on the request to “vacate” an alley section that goes through the site. If the scheduling doesn’t change, The Kenney is scheduled for a 6:30 hearing October 22, followed by the 8 pm review for Admiral Safeway.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Heavy loot; burglary bulletin
September 25, 2009 3:10 am
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

From Matthew:

Gatewood hill area behind Thriftway. (Wednesday) night an air compressor was stolen from the back of a pick-up parked on the corner of Heights Ave and 41st Ave SW [map].

He says the item is so heavy that it would have taken at least two people to move it from that truck. Meantime, from a Fairmount Springs resident, a report that’s also a question:

I am writing because I came home (Thursday) night to find an SPD burglary alert flier on my front porch. I live on the corner of 40th and Juneau [map]. It states that a burglary occurred within my block.

However, the resident went on to say, she can’t find any reports about that burglary online – here or elsewhere. So she’s wondering if anybody else knows what happened and where. (You can answer in a comment, or feel free to send us the info and we’ll update.)

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West Seattle scenes: 2 from High Point
September 25, 2009 2:34 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle scenes: 2 from High Point
 |   High Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Full house Thursday night at High Point Library for Gatewood author Lyanda Lynn Haupt as she discussed and read from her buzzed-about new book “Crow Planet.” From two nights earlier — we forgot to share one of the photos we got during the “Faces of High Point” mural shoot at Commons Park Amphitheater:

With more than an hour to go during the shoot, they’d already had 50 people show up, and more were in line. The photos of High Point residents will be incorporated into a mural at the new Neighborhood Center, scheduled to open November 14th.

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What will you be voting on? School levy meeting in West Seattle
September 25, 2009 2:13 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Next February, you’ll be asked to approve two Seattle Public Schools levies: Operations and BTA III. Last night at Madison Middle School, district employees gathered to outline the plan and answer questions. Only a handful of concerned/curious citizens showed up (including West Seattle-residing district watchdog Chris Jackins); the planning meeting here last October didn’t draw a crowd either. We did get some information about what’s in the plan for West Seattle: A water-line replacement for Arbor Heights Elementary, masonry reinforcement for Gatewood Elementary, fire-suppression upgrades for Lafayette Elementary, energy-efficient light switches and turf replacement for Southwest Athletic Complex. (That work isn’t due immediately, but, it was explained, money from this levy will be stretching out to 2020, and the turf will need replacing before then.) Also, if the ground-source heat pump that Madison is using now shows significant promise for helping other schools, there will be money in February’s vote to install it elsewhere. One of the district-affiliated people at the meeting, West Seattle’s school board rep Steve Sundquist, said it’ll be important for the district to promote the “green” elements of the levy plan, since local residents are interested in sustainability. Levy-planning info is here; next step, the proposals will be presented to the School Board in early November, which is also when a public hearing will be set, before a board vote in mid-November and then the election next February.

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Help your high schools! Chief Sealth, WSHS fundraisers Friday
September 24, 2009 11:37 pm
|    Comments Off on Help your high schools! Chief Sealth, WSHS fundraisers Friday
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

CHIEF SEALTH JAZZ BAND CAR WASH FRIDAY: Just got word that a fundraising car wash for the Chief Sealth High School Jazz Band is happening Friday afternoon. From Monica Kenny:

The forecast for this weekend is sunny, is your car ready? Bring it to the Chief Sealth Jazz Band car wash fundraiser and let us do the dirty work! Friday, September 25th from 3-5PM in the parking lot at Sealth @ Boren (5950 Delridge Way SW).

Here’s the Chief Sealth Music website; here’s a map to the car-wash location.

WSHS GRAD NIGHT FUNDRAISING BOOKFAIR NEXT 3 DAYS: West Seattle High School Grad Night 2010 will get up to 15 percent of the proceeds of any purchase Friday-Saturday-Sunday at any Barnes and Noble (not online) if you use Voucher 10001295 – this was provided through WSHS but we’re told you can also give the number at the register and it’ll count.

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