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Spotlight Stories

FOLLOWUP: M/V Sally Fox takes over Vashon Water Taxi run starting Wednesday afternoon
April 7, 2015 4:01 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, taken from Vashon Island on March 29th)
You’ll be seeing a lot more of the M/V Sally Fox off West Seattle shores starting tomorrow afternoon: Vashon Island’s new Water Taxi officially goes into service with the 4:30 pm run on Wednesday, as just announced by the county. Here’s our coverage of the Sally Fox dedication ceremony on Vashon a week and a half ago. It’s a twin to the M/V Doc Maynard, under construction now and due to take over the West Seattle Water Taxi run in October.

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HAPPENING NOW: Rent-A-Ruminant goats on duty alongside Delridge/Holden stairway
April 7, 2015 1:56 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Safety | West Seattle news

The first goats ever booked for West Seattle work by SDOT are now on the job – Rent-A-Ruminant‘s goats are at work along the Delridge/Holden stairway:

We first told you back on Friday about the plan for them to spend a few days tidying up the overgrowth that has created safety issues along this stairway, which was the site of one of the student-targeting robberies earlier this year.

We will of course be checking in to see how it’s going. Note that this is not a particularly spectator-friendly site – on either end – busy roads bookend the stairway (Delridge and 20th SW). Rent-A-Ruminant proprietor Tammy is on scene to keep watch over her herd. We’ll be adding more photos later.

ADDED 3:45 PM: Went back over to check in – here’s a bit of Instagram video, from through their protective fence:

Tammy tells us about 40 goats are on the job here – her first job of the season; she generally works with them April through October. In all, she has more than 100 goats; they’re based on Vashon Island.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Police search in Westwood after home-invasion robbery
April 7, 2015 11:48 am
|      66 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photo: SPD vehicles around the corner from reported crime scene)
11:48 PM: Seattle Police just tweeted that they are investigating an armed robbery reported at a home in the 8100 block of 22nd SW. We are arriving in the area and see police along Thistle west of 22nd. More to come.

12:03 PM: Yes, that’s a TV helicopter. Meantime, police at the scene tell us they’re still sorting out the circumstances – whether robbery or burglary.

12:24 PM: The police search spans several blocks in all directions from the house where an intruder was spotted, so if you’re seeing police anywhere from Sunrise Heights to Westwood, it’s likely related. Seattle Public Schools spokesperson Stacy Howard tells us that Sealth/Denny are NOT on lockdown or shelter-in-place, in case you are wondering.

12:34 PM: Update – now Howard says these schools are sheltering in place: Sealth, Denny, WS Elementary, Highland Park, Sanislo.

12:50 PM: Police tell us they have confirmed this was a home invasion. More just posted to SPD Blotter:

Police are searching for a man who entered a West Seattle home Tuesday morning and pointed a gun at the resident before fleeing with several stolen purses.

A woman called 911 around 11:30 AM saying a man armed with a shotgun had entered her home in the 8100 block of 22nd Ave SW and locked her and her four-year-old son in a bathroom. The woman and her son climbed through a bathroom window and ran to a neighbors house where she called 911.

According to the victim the suspect left the home after stealing two purses and some prescription medications. The suspect is described as a white male, about 5’4″, thin build, with “scruffy” facial hair, wearing a black Kangol hat, black jacket, dark pants and sunglasses.

Officer searched the home and neighborhood and are still working to locate the suspect. Robbery detectives will be handling the investigation.

1:01 PM UPDATE: SPS says shelter in place lifted at all 7 schools that had one because of this.

5:27 PM UPDATE: As pointed out in comments, the address turned out to be on 24th, not 22nd as per both of SPD’s initial reports above.

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Inspection report finds central Alaskan Way Viaduct still settling
April 7, 2015 11:25 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news

WSDOT has gone public this morning with a summary of what was found during the twice-yearly inspection that closed the Alaskan Way Viaduct a week ago Saturday. Toplines:

Survey crews measure 1/8 to 1/4 inch of additional settlement near Seneca Street. Some widening of existing cracks noted. Additionally, crews note two new cracks on columns near Yesler Way. New crack gauges and focused monitoring in these areas. Other crack measurements are stable.

Despite the new cracks and added settling, WSDOT says, “The viaduct remains safe for everyday use.”

SIDE NOTE: The West Seattleite who has delivered so many briefings on the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project – going back years pre-tunnel, too – is leaving WSDOT after 23 years. Deputy program administrator Matt Preedy announced last Friday that he’s moving to Sound Transit later this spring. In his announcement, forwarded to us by a recipient, Preedy wrote to his colleagues, in part, “Together, we have overcome a number of obstacles and challenges on this very complex construction project. No one ever said building a tunnel under downtown Seattle would be easy but I am confident we have the right team to see it through. … The Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program will always remain the highlight of my career at WSDOT and I plan to celebrate with you at the ribbon-cutting.”

SPEAKING OF THE TUNNEL: The latest “expert review panel” report on the project is out – read it here.

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West Seattle Tuesday: See SW Roxbury plan; cheer ‘Wizard of Oz’ at Gatewood; talk about ‘neighborhood conservation’; more…
April 7, 2015 10:30 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Tuesday: See SW Roxbury plan; cheer ‘Wizard of Oz’ at Gatewood; talk about ‘neighborhood conservation’; more…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Merlin, photographed at Alki Point last Thursday by Gary Jones. Click photo for larger image)

Lots happening in West Seattle tonight:

NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION DISTRICTS? City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen‘s been working on a plan to make them possible – but wants to know what you think about the idea. Come talk about it at 6 pm at High Point Community Center; more info here. (6920 34th SW)

‘DRINKING LIBERALLY’: New political meetup group gathers again, 6 pm at Pizzeria 22 in Admiral. (4213 SW College)

SW ROXBURY PLAN: 6:15 pm at Southwest Branch Library, join the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council for its monthly meeting, including SDOT’s presentation of the final plan for making SW Roxbury safer. Agenda also includes hearing from City Council District 1 candidate Lisa Herbold, plus updates on ongoing WWRHAH projects/concerns. All welcome. (35th/Henderson)

‘WIZARD OF OZ’ AT GATEWOOD: Remember those adorable photos of Gatewood Elementary first-graders’ “Wizard of Oz” production? Tonight at 6:30 pm is their encore performance, open to the entire community, at the Gatewood cafeteria. (4320 SW Myrtle)

WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS: 6:30 pm meeting at HomeStreet Bank, with agenda detailed on the WSBC website. All welcome. (41st/Alaska)

INTERESTED IN SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ‘HIGHLY CAPABLE’ PROGRAMS? The districtwide advisory committee meets at 6:30 pm tonight, Fairmount Park Elementary, which happens to be one of the schools on the new K-12 HC “pathway” planned in this area. (38th/Findlay)

LOTS MORE for today/tonight – find it all on our calendar!

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Congratulations! 3 local soccer players are part of historic victory at international tournament
April 7, 2015 9:00 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

This afternoon, when Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School face off in a boys-varsity soccer match at Southwest Athletic Complex (4 pm), keep an extra eye on three players who just scored big at a prestigious international tournament.

Amanda e-mailed us to let us know about what those three – WSHS goalkeeper Akili Kasim and Sealth players Abel Kidane and Miguel Macias Garibay – accomplished with their premier soccer team Seattle United 98 Copa at the country’s biggest youth-soccer tournament last week:

The team won its division (U-16) at the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup, going undefeated all week – the first team from Washington state to win any division at the invitation-only tournament.

We connected with Akili’s mom Nikki to find out more. She shared photos and explained that the Dallas Cup draws “the best teams from across the world, most of them being Academy teams, which Copa isn’t. … When they left, Akili made a promise to his West Seattle soccer team and his classmates, ‘I’m bringing the boot home to Seattle.’ With that, Akili, Miguel, and Abel played outstandingly. I received texts all week about players and here are what some said about these 3:

… Miguel with a beautiful goal, Miguel gets another, Miguel is on fire
… Abel’s footwork is like a pro today, Abel with the best assist yet,
… Akili with a Spider-Man like save, Akili with another amazing save”

A short summary of the final division-title game is on the tournament’s website (scroll down to U-16). It was a 2-0 victory over another team from this state – Eastside-based Crossfire

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday tracking & updates
April 7, 2015 6:52 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No incidents reported so far on the routes through/from West Seattle. A few notes:

STAIRWAY GOATS: We reported last Friday on SDOT’s plan to bring in Rent-A-Ruminant goats this week to clear overgrowth along the stairway that goes up Holden from Delridge. At the time, SDOT expected them to be at work by 8 am today, but they now tell us the start is likely to be between 11 am and 2 pm. We’ll update when there’s a sighting.

‘ROXBURY REVEAL’ TONIGHT AT WWRHAH: Tonight’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting (6:15 pm, Southwest Branch Library) will include first word of SDOT’s final plan for making SW Roxbury safer.

Also, a reminder –

ROAD CLOSURE: The SW Waite closure on the north/northwest side of the 47th/Admiral signal/crosswalks project continues – thanks to Jed for tweeting this photo:

The closure is expected to last all week.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Mail thieves strike again & again
April 6, 2015 10:21 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

We don’t have stats, but we have to say we’re hearing more about mail theft these days – so please take steps to protect yours. Tonight, police were dispatched to a mail-theft report in southeast West Seattle, in the 9400 block of 5th SW (map), with someone reported to have gone through mailboxes and then left southbound in a white SUV – no other description. We heard earlier from Barney in Arbor Heights, who saw eight mailboxes open early this morning on SW 98th near 37th SW (map).

Interested in detailed prevention info? The West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network brought in police and Postal Service inspectors to talk about mail theft/fraud at a meeting two years ago – here’s our coverage, including video. And here’s the Postal Inspection Service’s advice on preventing (and reporting) mail theft.

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More baseball today! West Seattle Wildcats win on the road
April 6, 2015 9:28 pm
|    Comments Off on More baseball today! West Seattle Wildcats win on the road
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

As the Mariners were wrapping up their Opening Day win downtown, the West Seattle High School Wildcats were taking the field on the road for what turned out to be a big win. Thanks to Caryn Johnson for the report and photo:

West Seattle Wildcats took on the Franklin Quakers Monday afternoon. Freshman Cameron Paskett (#28) started on the mound for West Seattle. Cameron pitched 5 good innings, striking out four, giving up 6 hits and only allowing 3 runs. Senior Daniel Kemp came in to finish up the game, pitching the last two innings and not giving up a hit.

On the offensive side of the ball, West Seattle dominated Franklin’s pitchers. 5 players had multiple hits in the game, with freshman Alex Pastrana leading the way with three. In the end, West Seattle walked away with the victory 18-3. Next game is Wednesday against Garfield, 3:30 at Hiawatha.

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You can help! ‘Catsino’ benefits animal-advocacy groups Sunday
April 6, 2015 8:36 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | Pets | West Seattle news

Next Sunday (April 12th) afternoon, 2-6 pm, you can help out local animal-advocacy groups via the annual “Catsino” silent auction (and more) at Beveridge Place Pub:

What do Pig Craps, BlackCat 21, Hotwire Snip ‘em, and Studless Draw all have in common? They are the entertainment portion of our annual Catsino Silent Auction! Come on out to meet four local rescue groups and bid on unusual, unique silent auction items! All proceeds benefit Furry Faces Foundation, A.A.R.F., Community Cat Coalition, and Regional Animal Services of King County.

You’ll also get to visit and play games with our local business friends! Check out our Facebook page each day to see who is playing and what silent action items have been added.

Pre-Sale Ticket Outlets – Save $5 By Purchasing Your Ticket Early!

Beveridge Place Pub: 6413 California Ave SW, 932-9906 (Morgan Junction)
Hotwire Coffeehouse: 4410 California Ave SW, 935-1510 (Alaska Junction)
Pet Elements: 6511 California Ave SW, 206-932-0457 (Morgan Junction)
The Beer Junction: 4511 California Ave SW, (206) 938-2337 (Alaska Junction)

The fine print: Catsino’s entertainment is recreational only; Catsino Bucks have no monetary value, and all prizes are non-monetary; BP Pub is 21+.

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Diverse Harmony, ‘first queer/straight alliance youth chorus,’ performing free concert Saturday in West Seattle
April 6, 2015 6:32 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

That’s a recent performance by the small ensemble that’s part of Diverse Harmony, a youth chorus that has a place in history. The singers are coming to West Seattle this Saturday night for a free concert:

Diverse Harmony comes to West Seattle!
Saturday, April 11, 7:00 pm, at the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist

Diverse Harmony is the Nation’s First Queer/Straight Alliance Youth Chorus. Based in Seattle and now in its 13th season, the chorus is comprised of young people, both queer and straight, and “…presents music that opens the hearts and minds of communities and provides a safe environment for youth of diverse backgrounds to share their love of music and be accepted for who they are.” This year Diverse Harmony added a young adult small ensemble, called DH Spectrum, to the family.

The concert will start at 7:00 PM and will include the large chorus and small ensemble. Please come out to enjoy the music and support these talented young people. The performance is FREE and is open to the entire community. Learn more about the chorus at www.DiverseHarmony.org

St. John’s is at 3050 California SW, next to West Seattle High School.

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West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day update: 70+ are in!
April 6, 2015 4:41 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

The biggest person-to-person-recycling day of the year is approaching – the 11th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – and in the fifth day of registration, more than **70 sales** of all sizes are in! Whether you plan to shop or sell, we hope your calendar has 9 am-3 pm blocked out on Saturday, May 9th, for WSCGSD. Registration will run for about 2 more weeks (we haven’t set the closing time just yet) and then we get going on The Map, which will be available one week ahead of time, in both clickable online format and the printable downloadable PDF format. Just browsing the addresses, we can tell you sales are already planned all over the peninsula, from North Delridge to Arbor Heights, Highland Park to High Point, Gatewood to Genesee Hill … and beyond. Categories and fees are the same as always, and you’ll find them on the form, here.

P.S. If you don’t have space for your own sale, or just a few things to sell, check in ASAP at WSB’s coffee sponsors – Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (4410 California SW) and C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW) – both on the map as multi-seller sites again this year.

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Arguelles Therapeutic Massage: Welcome, new WSB sponsor
April 6, 2015 3:15 pm
|    Comments Off on Arguelles Therapeutic Massage: Welcome, new WSB sponsor
 |   Health | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Today we’re welcoming Arguelles Therapeutic Massage as a new WSB sponsor. New local sponsors get the opportunity to share information about their business:

Jon Arguelles, LMP, says, “I take time and care to find out what each clients’ needs and wants are; where their trouble spots are, if they have any injuries, if they need more time spent on their neck and shoulders, lower back or feet. It’s so important to listen to what my clients are looking for, to really understand, and to deliver that to them. It makes the difference between a good massage and an OMG-what-a-good massage!”

What does he hear from Arguelles Therapeutic Massage clients most often? “Clients tell me, ‘Oh, I fell asleep there for awhile,’ that they feel, ‘so much looser,’ and, ‘You figured out my spots and got right to them’.”

Arguelles Therapeutic Massage (a member of the American Massage Therapy Association) is at 4843 California SW, on the south edge of The Junction. You can book your appointment online – just go here. Or, call 425-785-9192.

We thank Arguelles Therapeutic Massage for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

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Want to be one of the first to see the SW Roxbury plan?
April 6, 2015 2:01 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

Instead of a standalone meeting, SDOT is coming to tomorrow night’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council to announce the plan for making SW Roxbury safer, after 223 crashes left 112 people hurt just in the past three years.

At two meetings last year – which we covered, on July 31st and on August 4th – SDOT rolled out a proposal including rechannelization between 17th and 35th and a mix of changes east of there. One more round of community consultation, focused on Roxbury businesses, was due to follow that.

Tomorrow’s meeting is at 6:15 pm at the Southwest Branch Library (35th/Henderson); the Roxbury presentation is set for 6:30; all are welcome.

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West Seattle development: Ex-Charlestown Café; 23rd/Findlay houses
April 6, 2015 11:31 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Charlestown Cafe | Development | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle development-related notes today:

CALIFORNIA/CHARLESTOWN: Thanks to those who messaged us to say crews are on site at the former Charlestown Café site again today, continuing deconstruction work that started last week. No heavy equipment on site at last check – this part of the work is being done by hand – but we’re checking with developer Intracorp to see about the timetable for full demolition of the four-years-vacant building, which has been ravaged by tagging/graffiti vandalism at an increasing pace. A 27-unit complex, split between townhouses and live-work units, is planned; we noted its land-use-approval decision four weeks ago. ADDED 1:03 PM: Dan Swallow from Intracorp replied to our question: “Current activity is abatement. Actual demo and heavy equipment will be end of April/early May.”

HOUSES ON SLOPES: Today’s Land Use Information Bulletin has two notices for single-family houses proposed in the 5400 block of 23rd SW (map). The notices are out because, the city says, building on these sites would require a variance of the city’s Environmentally Critical Area rules regarding “steep slope buffers,” and each one says, “This comment period may be the only opportunity to comment on the environmental impacts of this proposal.” The notice for 5462 23rd SW is here; for 5456 23rd SW, here. The comment period is open for two weeks, until April 19th.

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Looking ahead: What’s up for your West Seattle Monday
April 6, 2015 9:54 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Dark-eyed junco – photographed by Trileigh Tucker)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

WEST SEATTLE HI-YU: 7 pm monthly meeting tonight – come find out about helping Hi-Yu as a volunteer, as last year’s float has its last hurrah at a parade next weekend and construction of the new float gets ready to begin. The nonprofit, all-volunteer organization is “celebrating 81 years as a community festival by providing free, fun, family-friendly activities, events, community float traveling to parades in Western Washington and scholarships,” as the meeting announcement points out, and can’t do that without your support. Hi-Yu meets at Admiral Congregational Church. (California/Hill)

(added) DENNY MS PTA: 7 pm, school library, with the agenda highlights listed as: “Update on the Common Core State Standards and the SBAC test and how the school will use the results.” (2601 SW Kenyon)

TRIVIA/QUIZ NIGHT As usual, Monday night brings options for fun brain-exercising: Listings include trivia at Christo’s on Alki (7:15 pm, 2508 Alki SW), trivia at OutWest Bar (7:30 pm, California/Brandon), Quiz Night at Skylark (7:30 pm, 3803 Delridge Way SW), plus pub quiz at Shadowland (8 pm, California/Oregon).

EVENING MEDITATION: 7:30 pm Buddhist-meditation class at Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor). See the center’s full weekly schedule here. (5639 California SW)

LOOK FURTHER INTO THE FUTURE … check out the calendar!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates and alerts
April 6, 2015 7:07 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:07 AM: If you’re heading out through the Admiral District, be aware of a car-fire dispatch for SFD at 42nd/Admiral. We don’t know what side of the intersection. Also of note this morning:

SW WAITE CLOSED TO THROUGH TRAFFIC: At the 47th/Admiral signal/crosswalk project, as announced by the city last week, SW Waite is scheduled to be closed to through traffic all week.

WATER TAXI SCHEDULE CHANGE: The West Seattle Water Taxi is now on its spring/summer schedule, which runs all day, 7 days a week.

M’S GAME TODAY: SODO and Pioneer Square will be busier than usual before and after the Opening Day baseball game at Safeco Field, which is an afternoon game, 1:10 pm start.

SPRING BREAK: Parochial schools are out this week (public schools’ spring break isn’t until next week).

7:54 AM: The Admiral car-fire response is closed. Meantime, police are on the Highland Park Way hill at Othello with a stalled vehicle – direction not reported.

8:48 AM: Big truck traffic for the port, we’re hearing via scanner, on East Marginal Way and other spots.

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Too few sidewalks? Where’s Fauntleroy Boulevard? And other questions in Transportation Levy Q & A @ SW District Council
April 5, 2015 11:59 pm
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   Southwest District Council | West Seattle news

Two SDOT spotlights filled most of the Southwest District Council‘s April meeting, including SDOT director Scott Kubly‘s third visit to West Seattle in five weeknights, reviewing toplines of and answering questions – many questions! – about the draft Transportation Levy to Move Seattle. The other SDOT presentation recapped this year’s Arbor Heights microsurfacing plan.

Read More

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Summer 2015 Basketball/Life Skills Camp at Chief Sealth IHS: Signup time
April 5, 2015 9:09 pm
|    Comments Off on Summer 2015 Basketball/Life Skills Camp at Chief Sealth IHS: Signup time
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

As noted earlier this weekend, both local public high schools are hosting basketball camps again this summer, and registration has opened for both. The second announcement is for the camp that has three 1-week sessions at Chief Sealth International High School – the weeks of June 22, July 13, and August 3, for boys and girls entering grades 2-9:

We are excited to host our 18th annual summer of Basketball/Life Skills Camp at Chief Sealth International High School this summer. Last year, we hosted more than 400 campers in our multiple sessions. The emphasis of our program is to teach the fundamentals of the game in part of a fun and competitive basketball experience, but also to emphasize the Life Skills necessary to be successful in school and life, both intellectually, and socially.

The camp is run by camp directors Colin Slingsby (Chief Sealth Boys’ Head Coach) and Diallo Jackson (Denny Middle School Boys’ Head Coach) with the help of many high school and college students/athletes who are put through a lengthy mentorship training in order to be prepared to work with our many campers. While we enjoy teaching the game of basketball and providing a positive week on the court, we pride ourselves on our Life Skills curriculum, which includes a classroom session daily, emphasizing the values of our program. Camp runs from 9 am-4 pm each day, Monday through Friday, and each camper will receive a camp t-shirt. Information and registration are available at www.hoops4life206.com. The camp has traditionally filled up quickly…so don’t delay. We look forward to having your child in camp!

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VIDEO: ‘Port Encouragement March’: 50+ walk from Junction to T-5
April 5, 2015 3:23 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Port of Seattle | West Seattle news

3:23 PM: This rally was just the start, promised speakers at the rally that wrapped up today’s “Port Encouragement March” about an hour ago, with more than 50 people walking from Walk-All-Ways in The Junction to the 5-way intersection by Terminal 5, west of the low bridge, in hopes of “encouraging” the Port of Seattle to cancel the T-5 interim lease that will bring Shell Arctic-drilling equipment here.

Encouragement March almost to 35th and Alaska. #westseattle

A video posted by West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) on

The march was peaceful and relatively low-key – several speakers and a song at the end; walking along from The Triangle to the end of the route, we noted lots of sign waving along the way, some horn-honking from passing motorists, one bicyclist telling the marchers “thank you.”
Seattle Police officers on bicycles accompanied the march, which stayed on sidewalks/trails throughout.

ADDED 4:37 PM: Here’s how it unfolded: Participants gathered at Walk All Ways in The Junction, including the Raging Grannies:

Today’s march segued from a standing monthly rally to encourage people to take action against climate. Marchers headed east on Alaska – along the way, American Legion Post 160 in The Triangle offered a “hydration station”:

Staying on sidewalks and trails along the way, the group headed down 35th to Avalon:

On Avalon, the police bicycle escorts blocked traffic at the Genesee stoplight for an extra few moments so everyone could cross safely:

Turning onto the Alki Trail under/alongside the west end of the West Seattle Bridge, the marchers were urged to stay single-file so bicyclists could get past them. Those with signs held them high to catch the eyes of drivers heading westbound on Spokane:

Rather than going all the way to the gates of Terminal 5, the group stopped by the 5-way intersection west of the low bridge and listened to a few short speeches before the rally ended.

Organizer Stu Hennessey, a longtime West Seattle community advocate, said he felt “betrayed” by the Port’s decision:

Speaking second, Zarna Joshi of Rising Tide, who said there is more at stake than people realize:

She criticized Port Commissioner Tom Albro for telling her he wouldn’t take action to try to cancel the lease, even though he personally opposes Arctic drilling. (At the last Port Commission, as we reported in as-it-happened coverage, both Albro and Courtney Gregoire, the other anti-drilling commissioner, had said they won’t take action to try to cancel it.) Organizers of today’s march included the Green Party of Seattle and Greenpeace, which also provided a speaker:

She said another rally is being planned for April 26th, after the expected arrival of Shell equipment including the drilling platform Polar Pioneer, now in the North Pacific and being trailed by a Greenpeace boat. No counter-protesters showed up today, but supporters of the 2-year lease for Foss to use a third of T-5 say it will provide hundreds of jobs and that it’s better to have a company like Foss, which has a good environmental record, handling this work, than someone else.

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UPDATE: Seattle Fire rescues kayakers off Harbor Avenue
April 5, 2015 1:01 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(WSB photo)
1:01 PM: Big Seattle Fire response this past half-hour for two kayakers reported to possibly be in trouble. The SFD units went to Jack Block Park; an SFD fireboat crew picked the kayakers up and took them to Seacrest. Rescuers checked them out and told us at the scene that neither needed to go to the hospital.

6:04 PM: This comment has more on what happened.

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Something missing in ‘Transportation Levy to Move Seattle,’ say West Seattle advocates: Stairways
April 5, 2015 11:59 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

After we reported Friday night on SDOT‘s plan to use goats to clear weeds/brush from the SW Holden stairway between 20th and Delridge, our area’s best-known stairway users/advocates pointed out two things: For one, this isn’t the only stairway that needs TLC, note Jake and Cathy Jaramillo, the West Seattleites who wrote “Seattle Stairway Walks.” For two, a stairway plan is missing in the draft Transportation Levy to Move Seattle. With a city survey about the levy open right now, they say it’s an opportunity to fix that:

An Open Letter To Our Stairway Friends:

The mayor’s proposed Transportation Levy has a lot of things going for it, but it completely misses one of Seattle’s most important everyday modes of transportation: our stairway network.

West Seattle is particularly blessed with numerous stairways that play an important role in the everyday life of our community. Some of them are sadly deteriorating, and all of them need ongoing TLC!

Seattle possesses a historic built legacy of more than 650 publicly accessible stairways. Many of them are more than one hundred years old, yet even today they still connect our citizens to transit, parks and everyday neighborhood businesses.

Stairways provide scenic byways in the city for exploration and outdoor exercise. They’re a “third place” for neighbors to meet casually. In short, our stairway network remains incredibly relevant to our city’s function and quality of life.

Back in 2011 the city’s budget for stairway maintenance was only about $1.1 million. This inadequate level of funding shows, despite the hard work done by SDOT rehab and replacement crews (see picture below).

Roughly forty percent of this amount will be lost when the current Bridging the Gap levy expires, leaving a yawning gap in the funds needed to keep up our stairway network.

We’re appealing for concerned residents to do two simple things, right away:

1) Please take a moment to give your feedback to Mayor Murray and the city, using the brief SDOT online survey, at moveseattlesurvey.com.

There’s a key juncture where the survey asks: “Are there other transportation investments you feel should be a top priority for funding through this levy?” Adding a quick note here, such as “To make walking easier and safer, the levy must add specific funding for our deteriorating public stairways” can go a long way to putting stairways on the city’s radar – provided enough of us speak up.

2) Please forward this message to your own networks, to get others to amplify your voice!

See you on the stairs,

Jake and Cathy Jaramillo
Seattle Stairway Walks: An Up-and-Down Guide to City Neighborhoods

While stairways were mentioned when Mayor Murray announced his overall transportation vision in early March, they did not get a specific shoutout when the draft levy to fund part of that plan was made public a few weeks later.

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West Seattle Sunday: Easter; ‘encouragement march’; art…
April 5, 2015 5:17 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Mallards at Longfellow Creek, by Laura Goodrich, shared via the WSB Flickr group)

Good morning! It’s Easter Sunday and the second day of Passover.

EASTER SUNRISE SERVICES: 6:30 am at Forest Lawn (6730 30th SW; WSB sponsor) with the West Seattle Ministerial Association, and 6:30 am on Alki Beach (60th/Alki) with the local UCC churches. The forecast looks good.

MORE EASTER SERVICES/EVENTS: More than 20 churches’ schedules are linked from the WSB Easter & More page. Some are having brunches and/or Easter egg hunts too.

Also today:

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm as always. Special feature, facepainting by Blue Geisha Tattoo, an Easter Sunday tradition. (44th/Alaska)

AVALON GLASSWORKS: Blowing glass again this year on Easter Sunday 11 am-5 pm – info here. (2914 SW Avalon Way)

EASTER EGG PAINTING: 11 am-4 pm at Mind Unwind in The Admiral District, $7/group, which includes all painting supplies and a half dozen hard-boiled eggs. (2206 California SW)

ENCOURAGEMENT RALLY AND MARCH: As previewed here earlier in the week, a rally and march starting from Walk All Ways around 1 pm will head to Terminal 5. *Added* American Legion Post 160 on the north side of SW Alaska at 37th is offering a hydration station – fill your bottle, or, they’ll have recyclable cups. (California/Alaska)

NEW MUSIC BY ROBIN HOLCOMB & PEGGY LEE: 3 pm at the West Seattle (Admiral) Library – the city’s libraries ARE open today as usual. (2306 42nd SW)

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