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Spotlight Stories

Memorial Sunday for Mark Small: ‘West Seattle lost a legend’
November 1, 2013 1:33 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

In the center of that photo is Mark Small, a West Seattle High School graduate and former Major League Baseball player who died last week at age 45. The photo was shared by Jeff Jones, who’s at right in the photo (with Jim McCall at left, Joel Snow behind him). In e-mailing us about Mr. Small’s passing, Jeff said, “West Seattle lost a legend … Mark Small was a West Seattle grad in 1986 and went on to play in the big leagues for the Houston Astros. There are not words to describe how big a personality he was; everyone loved him. My heart goes out to his family and everyone lucky enough to have met him.” Mr. Small’s full obituary is published at SeattleTimes.com (WSB partner) and says that a celebration of his life is planned for 11 am this Sunday (November 3) at Alki Community Center, 5817 SW Stevens.

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Official name announced as DESC Delridge project nears opening
November 1, 2013 1:03 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   DESC Delridge project | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, added 2:56 pm)
The biggest nonprofit project under construction in West Seattle right now, DESC‘s 66-unit Delridge Supportive Housing building at 5444 Delridge Way SW (map), has an official name: Cottage Grove. It was announced at this week’s meeting of the project’s advisory committee, and was among the names suggested by community members; committee co-chair Pete Spalding notes that it’s the historic name of that area of North Delridge. We asked DESC’s Nicole Macri about the current timetable for the $14 million project’s completion:

We’re aiming to open the third week of December. We will host a daytime grand opening event and an early-evening open house one day prior to tenants moving in. Neighbors are welcome to attend either event, but the latter is specifically intended as an opportunity for neighbors to see the building and meet the staff.

The advisory committee also will meet again before the opening; the meeting is currently scheduled for November 20th. It’s been almost two and a half years since word of the project first emerged at a North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting; construction began just over a year ago. Our coverage along the way is all archived, newest-to-oldest, here.

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5 more West Seattle schools get ‘free’ full-day kindergarten
November 1, 2013 12:05 pm
|      36 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Seattle Public Schools has just announced that five more schools in West Seattle are offering free full-day kindergarten – as in, no extra fees charged to families – effective immediately. We first heard about this thanks to a parent whose school is circulating a letter announcing this, and now there’s a news release from the district. The West Seattle schools are Alki, Arbor Heights, Gatewood, K-5 STEM at Boren, and Pathfinder K-8; five other area elementaries already had free full-day K. Read on for details in the official announcement:
Read More

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‘Dance MS’: Join West Seattle Big Band tomorrow night for music, dancing, food, and the fight against multiple sclerosis
November 1, 2013 11:47 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Health | How to help | West Seattle news

The West Seattle Big Band is a mainstay at events around the area – from the annual Hi-Yu Concert in the Park to collaborative events with local schools, and more – usually as a guest, but this time they’re organizing an event and personally inviting you to come help support an urgent cause. From WSBB’s Jim Edwards:

From time to time the West Seattle Big Band strays from its mission statement of supporting public-school music programs in West Seattle, and devotes a concert to some other need. A year ago our piano player Brooke was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She asked the band if we would be interested in doing a concert in support of the MS Society. We wholeheartedly agreed.

Thus was born this new event, Dance MS.

On the evening of Saturday, November 2nd, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the West Seattle Senior Center, we will be performing a concert of great swing-band music with our 18 piece band. All proceeds will go to the MS Society. The band will provide food and refreshments. The suggested donation is $15.00.

Since announcing this event, we have been surprised at how many people we have talked to who know at least one person stricken with this disease. MS is an autoimmune disease that damages nerves and can impair vision and mobility. It can also affect thinking and memory. The occurrence of MS in the Pacific Northwest is about triple the level in the Southern United States and many more times higher than elsewhere in the world.

Now you may know MS as that disease that Annette Funicello had, or maybe you read about Ann Romney or Montel Williams living with it. Perhaps you’ve just seen advertising for the annual MS Walk. But when it strikes someone you know, it takes on a bigger meaning. When you read about the disease and it’s effects on the human body, it takes on a new urgency.

Our Brooke has a background in medical sciences and is better suited then most to know what will work to help slow this disease. So we anticipate her being around the band for a long time to come. But she has helped us to appreciate the need to support the MS Society, and to help find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.

So come Dance, or just come watch and listen. We will be playing all your favorite big band hits, including vocals from both our vocalists Jeff Carter and Sarah Ackers. We hope you will come join us Saturday.

RSVP to WSBBdanceMS@gmail.com

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West Seattle Friday: Skulls, skeletons, skiing, literature, theater…
November 1, 2013 10:24 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Friday: Skulls, skeletons, skiing, literature, theater…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Halloween holdovers and Dia de los Muertos observances highlight the selections from our calendar – as well as literature, film, and charity – on a day that began with another beautiful sunrise, photographed by Carolyn Newman:

PAINTED SKULLS AUCTIONED FOR CHILDHAVEN: At Matador-West Seattle (and Ballard, if you happen to find yourself out that way), you can bid today on painted longhorn skulls with “Day of the Dead” themes, as a benefit for Childhaven. Matador provided this photo of Alki Beach Tattoo’s Ian Duca working on one of the skulls:

Matador also is featuring themed food/drink specials during the auction hours, 5-11 pm today. More details in our calendar listing. (4546 California SW)

PETER STEKEL @ WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: The new monthly series of West Seattle author readings/appearances continues with its second installment today, with Alki’s Peter Stekel at Barnes and Noble/Westwood Village, 4-6 pm:

From the announcement by Southwest Seattle Historical Society, which organized the series:

Peter Stekel, noted outdoor adventure writer, photographer and reporter from Seattle, specializes in feature articles and photography of the Sierra Nevada. In his new book, “Final Flight: The Mystery of a WWII Plane Crash and the Frozen Airmen in the High Sierra” (Wilderness Press, September 2010), Stekel uncovers the real-life mystery of the famous mummified WWII Airmen.

The event is free; books are available for purchase. B&N is on the SW Barton side of the shopping center.

HIGHLAND PARK CORNER BAR: Extra-special edition tonight, Dia de los Muertos theme, at Highland Park Improvement Club:

DJ Rich brings the Funk from 6-7:30 pm, then Accidental Rhino will perform vintage acoustic jazz from the 1920s and ’30s!

In the spirit of Día de Muertos, we will have an altar de muertos upon which you may place a small memento of someone who has passed that you would like to remember. This can be a (small) photo, a poem, or just their name. Between sets of the band (8:30 or so) people can come up to the mic and share a short (30 seconds) remembrance. This can be merely saying their name, a humorous story, or whatever you would like others to know about this person. It should be a celebration. Barry, our master of ceremonies, will read something for you, if you desire. … Kids welcome until 9 pm. There are toys and games set up on tables.

Starts at 6 pm at HPIC. (12th/Holden)

SKELETON THEATRE: 6-9 pm, it’s your second and last chance to catch this year’s edition of Skeleton Theatre, 6-9 pm (directions and show info here). The animatronic skeletons are back, reprising the space-themed “Ulna 13” from last year with updates. Shows “roughly on the hour and half-hour.” (36th/Hanford)

AVALANCHE PREVENTION & FILM PREMIERE: At Mountain to Sound Outfitters in The Triangle tonight, legendary big-mountain skier/guide Dean Cummings appears to speak about avalanche safety and premiere his new movie. Full details on M2SO’s website. (3602 SW Alaska)

‘DIARY OF ANNE FRANK’: The West Seattle High School Drama Club production – previewed here earlier this week – opens tonight, 7:30 pm, at the WSHS Theater. Details in our calendar listing. (3000 California SW)

SKYLARK’S MASQUERADE-BAND BASH: Skylark Café and Club, 7th annual “Come as You Aren’t” battle of the bands, starting at 8 pm, free – here’s the lineup:

Friends and Family as DANIEL JOHNSTON
In Cahoots as HEART
Gibraltar as LOU REED
Wiscon as G.G. ALLIN
Post Adolescence as PLACEBO
The Fantastic Fish Club as DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID
The Mangles as THE REPLACEMENTS
Werebearcat as TALKING HEADS
Robotic About Us as THE FLAMING LIPS
Snaketopus as RAMMSTEIN

(3803 Delridge Way SW)

Remember to set your clock back Saturday night if it doesn’t automatically change, so you’re not out of synch with the calendar on Sunday morning!

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West Seattle holiday giving: Host a WestSide Baby donation drive
November 1, 2013 9:26 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle holiday giving: Host a WestSide Baby donation drive
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Now that it’s November – it’s time to talk about the holidays. WestSide Baby is first in with a giving idea:

This holiday season, WestSide Baby expects to serve more than 1,500 local children who are in need of diapers, warm coats, hygiene items, strollers and pants.

Host a Joy Donation Drive to collect items anytime between November 1 – December 15 to help us keep local children safe, warm and dry during the coldest months of the year!

Sign up today to receive a handy donation toolkit that includes:

A How-to Guide for in person or online drive
Posters to promote your event
Tips to make your drive a fabulous success

Contact our Community Engagement Coordinator, Tara Bartlett, at tara@westsidebaby.org to sign up or for more information.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday updates; weekend preview
November 1, 2013 6:07 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(East-facing camera on the West Seattle Bridge; see other cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to November!

We start the morning with two weekend notes:

BIKE PATH CLEANUP: In case you missed the announcement on Thursday – or need a reminder – you’re invited to join in a cleanup along the western stretch of the bike path alongside/beneath the West Seattle Bridge, 9 am-11 am tomorrow (Saturday), organized by Dave Winters of Swedish Automotive (WSB sponsor) – details here.

CITYWIDE TRAFFIC ALERTS: This weekend’s stadium events and more, in this roundup from SDOT.

Also remember that NEXT weekend, Friday night 11/8 through Monday morning 11/11, is scheduled for the next Alaskan Way Viaduct/Highway 99 closure, as first reported here a week ago.

ADDED 4:32 PM: Reminder from Metro, if you catch the bus downtown:

From Monday, November 4 through Tuesday, November 12, the bus stop westbound on Columbia St just east of 2nd Av will be closed at all times, due to construction.

During those times, board or exit the RapidRide C Line & route 125 to Westwood Village, and routes 21 Express to Arbor Heights, 55 to the Admiral District, 56 to Alki, 57 to the Alaska Junction and 120 to Burien at the temporary relocated stop southbound on 3rd Av just north of Columbia St.

Once leaving the stop on 3rd Av at Columbia St, southbound Viaduct buses will operate non-stop via their regular routing, with no other stops affected.

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PACK YOUR BAG! Final day: Give yourself a treat
November 1, 2013 4:00 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Preparedness | West Seattle news

November is here and Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month is over. Thanks to West Seattle Be Prepared for a month of instructions on how to put together THE “Go Bag“/kit that can be a literal life-saver for you and your family if disaster strikes. Over the weekend, we’re going to put together one big recap with all the advice and links, but for now, from WSBP’s Cindi Barker:

You get a treat today! Whatever you gave away for Halloween, you probably have leftovers, so dump some of that Halloween candy into your bag. The calories have been removed; you’re welcome. I have been reading the comments as the month has progressed, and thank everyone for their additional ideas and suggestions. I am very interested in how many of you built or are well on your way to completing an emergency bag, so please give a comment on how you did.

And if you’re still getting around to getting started – hey, just get a bag, and pick a random place to start! Everything’s archived, newest to oldest, here.

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More West Seattle Halloween scenes: Westwood trick-or-treating, ‘Nightmare on 44th,’ more
November 1, 2013 2:35 am
|    Comments Off on More West Seattle Halloween scenes: Westwood trick-or-treating, ‘Nightmare on 44th,’ more
 |   Fun stuff to do | Holidays | West Seattle news

All over West Seattle, diabolically decorations dotted neighborhoods as night fell on Halloween 2013. Above, that’s a photo shared by Dotti, explaining that Halloween is her husband’s birthday. For many others, you might as well subtitle it Candy Day – along with the Admiral District trick or treating we featured earlier, Westwood Village welcomed treat-seekers in the early evening – we photographed this one outside Giannoni’s Pizza:

Also at Westwood – check out the furry trick-or-treater at Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor):

In the Genesee area, “Nightmare on 44th” drew crowds – almost 200 visitors, tweeted creator Dave – a yard full of elaborate effects, with animatronic skeletons amid lights, sound, surprises:

That’s where we found these pumpkins, from cheery to eerie:

One more Halloween scene: Tim at The Kenney (WSB sponsor) shared this photo of their own “Golden Girls”:

Since Halloween fell on a Thursday, our event guide still has listings for Friday night and even Saturday – check ’em out!

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West Seattle Halloween 2013: Skeleton Theatre blasts off
October 31, 2013 10:19 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Halloween 2013: Skeleton Theatre blasts off
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Back from Halloween rounds – including a stop at Skeleton Theatre, which as usual is playing again tomorrow, so you still have a chance to go if you didn’t get to 36th/Hanford tonight. It’s an updated version of last year’s production “Ulna 13,” a space saga starring the animatronic protagonists – lights, sound, dialogue, bones and all:

A team of friends/neighbors works hard to make the (free, but you can donate online) show happen every year – their story’s on the ST website. If you haven’t been before, here’s a map; the stage is in the elevated front yard of the home on the southwest corner of 36th/Hanford, and Friday’s showtimes are expected to be roughly on the hour/half-hour between 6 and 9 again.

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Update: West Seattle power outage in south Morgan Junction
October 31, 2013 5:41 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

5:41 PM: Kati reports, “Our townhouse complex near California and Myrtle is without power – heard a pop and a flash.” She’s the only report so far, and there’s nothing on the Seattle City Light outage map – though we know from the PREVIOUS outage, there are old “feeders” in this area (slated for replacement within the next two years) and that means SCL doesn’t know you’re out unless you call. Let us know if you’re affected.

6:03 PM UPDATE: It’s now on the City Light map (screengrab above) – 26 customers (each customer could be a home, a business, a building, so the number of people affected is invariably higher than the “customer” number). Cause not yet known; restoration guesstimate, 8:30ish.

10:36 PM UPDATE: Update from Kati in comments – the power’s back.

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West Seattle Halloween 2013: Admiral District trick-or-treating
October 31, 2013 5:07 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

For one more hour, it’s trick-or-treat time in The Admiral District – mostly outdoors, except for the special setup inside Emeritus at Admiral Heights (photo above; WSB sponsor), with residents lining the lobby at 2326 California SW to hand out treats. While the lovely parasol in our next photo makes a fine accessory, the weather’s been dry, and we’ve even seen a bit of sun.

Maybe a little calendar confusion? Look who turned up inside Alki Bike and Board (2606 California SW):

Over at Atomic Boys, things were rockin’:

Decisions, decisions!

We suspect the hat gave away the true identity of Brent Amacher:

Adding more photos later; participating Admiral businesses are offering treats until 6 pm.

ADDED: Thanks to Vanessa for this photo taken at Wiseman’s Appliance – where else would you find a washing machine with a smile?

Another Admiral business took its show on the road – well, the sidewalk:

Segway-touring clients went bananas for a gorilla-led tour with West Coast Entertainment, photographed around the corner by Hiawatha.

On the creative north edge of the business district, we found Monica and daughter at West Seattle Fabric Company:

And Krystal at Mind Unwind:

Lots of other participating businesses too, across more than a half-mile of storefronts. Go check ’em out during the upcoming winter holidays, too (if not sooner).

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West Seattle development updates: Special meeting for no-parking Junction project; Design Reviews confirmed; more
October 31, 2013 3:40 pm
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Six West Seattle development updates today – starting with a special public meeting for one of the projects proposed without parking spaces:

SPECIAL MEETING FOR 4535 44TH SW: This five-story, 36-apartment building on the west side of The Junction (map) currently includes no parking. Neighbors concerned about that and other aspects of the “Lofts at The Junction” project circulated a petition last summer seeking a special public meeting to address that and other State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)-related concerns, and that meeting has just been officially scheduled and announced. The meeting is set for 6:30 pm Tuesday, November 19th, at Hope Lutheran School (42nd/Oregon); here’s the formal notice. This is separate from the Design Review process, in which this project passed Early Design Guidance in May (WSB coverage here), with an early-stage proposal including the sketch you see above; it still has to go through at least one more Design Review meeting, and there’s no date for that yet.

Meantime, today’s edition of the city’s twice-weekly Land Use Information Bulletin also included confirmation of the next two Southwest Design Review Board sessions, both on November 21st, as reported here earlier this month:

3210 CALIFORNIA: As first reported here more than two weeks ago, this 5-story, 143-apartment, 168-parking-space mixed-use building (map) is scheduled for its next review at 6:30 pm Thursday, November 21st, at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon). See the official notice here.

3078 AVALON WAY: As first reported here 11 days ago, this 8-story, 108-apartment, 61-parking-space residential building (map) is scheduled for its second and possibly final review at 8 pm during that same November 21st meeting; its first review was more than a year ago. Here’s the official notice.

Also in today’s bulletin:

6917 CALIFORNIA SW: This is the official published notice regarding the 30-apartment, no-parking building in Morgan Junction (map) that we’ve mentioned twice, first on October 16th; the clock is now ticking on its official comment period, through November 13th.

4522 DELRIDGE WAY SW: This four-house proposal (map) also was mentioned here back on Monday; the official notice of its land-use-permit application is in today’s bulletin, with a comment period through November 13th.

3947 SW KENYON: The city is taking comments through November 13th on an application to split one lot into two at this Gatewood location (map). Separate from this application, the city website shows applications to build two new homes on the site.

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West Seattle Halloween scenes: Trick-or-treating, costumes @ The Mount
October 31, 2013 1:46 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

And the Halloween photos drift spookily in … This one is from the Intergenerational Learning Center at Providence Mount St. Vincent where, as The Mount’s Anna Cronin explained in sharing it, Halloween is for both the very young and the young at heart.

P.S. We’ll be out and about later today/tonight, but we always appreciate your photos, too, so if/when you have a Halloween scene to share, editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

ADDED 2:25 PM: First photo in after this one ALSO happens to be from The Mount:

Judy shares the photo of her mom Helen (“the clown”) and Connie (“the nice witch”) dressed up today while in the Elder Care program.

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Tell them what you think: Fauntleroy ferry-route survey
October 31, 2013 12:43 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

(Ferry leaving Fauntleroy at sunset Sunday; WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
Washington State Ferries is expecting to revise its schedule for the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run (aka the “Triangle route”) for the first time in a long time, since the vessel assignment is changing next year and adding capacity. WSF has just completed two open houses, on Vashon Island and in Kitsap County, and is also inviting comments via an online survey. We took a look at the survey; it seems geared toward regular ferry riders, but the third page includes an open-comments area, so if you have something to say about other potential effects of the change – traffic, transit, etc. – take it anyway. The survey starts here. This is one of the last public-comment opportunities before WSF comes out early next year with a draft of the revisions.

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Followup: Another sunfish perspective, before its Alki display
October 31, 2013 12:07 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news

One day after we showed you the caught-in-Puget Sound ocean sunfish that was on display outside Alki’s Sunfish restaurant, a new look and perspective from one of the first to see it on shore after a Muckleshoot fishing crew brought it in. From journalist John Loftus:

Here’s a photo I took of the sunfish a few hours after it was landed on a dock on the Duwamish River.

Its weight has been estimated at 300-350 pounds. Wikipedia notes that the Monterey Bay Aquarium had a young specimen that arrived weighing 26 pounds and weighed 880 pounds just 15 months later, so it seems safe to say that, contrary to what one’s intuition may suggest, this is not an old fish.

You will also note a semicircular spot on its side where a pectoral fin used to be, apparently a healed-over wound. The fin, larger than a man’s hand, was present on the other side of the fish. It’s possible that the loss of this fin may have hindered the sunfish’s ability to navigate properly, resulting in its gradual weakening and disorientation. While very rare in Puget Sound, ocean sunfish are quite common all around the world and, unfortunately, are frequently caught in nets set for other fish.

I spent some time with the fish after it was moved to Sunfish on Alki, where it attracted a constant stream of curious visitors. Most found it fascinating. A few found it repulsive, a perception that was greatly exaggerated in KUOW’s report this morning. The owner of Sunfish and I both thought that the giant fish was very beautiful.

John Loftus, Editor
Muckleshoot Monthly

(Yes, that’s the 1st Avenue South Bridge in the background.) We looked but haven’t found a link to the KUOW discussion he mentioned; if you missed the link in the Wednesday report, The Seattle Times (WSB partner; paywalled) has updated its story. Here’s information about the species via National Geographic.

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West Seattle Thursday: Halloween happenings for today/tonight
October 31, 2013 10:44 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Thursday: Halloween happenings for today/tonight
 |   Fun stuff to do | Holidays | West Seattle news

(Decorated home at 38th/Hanford; photo courtesy Siobhan)
It’s here – the haunting holiday of Halloween. Today’s daily preview is a spooktacular collection of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Halloween Guide, starting with the biggest local event:

ADMIRAL DISTRICT TRICK-OR-TREATING: 3-6 pm, it’s time for trick-or-treating at businesses in The Admiral District, participating merchants – look for businesses displaying this sign:

No treasure hunt or raffle prizes this year, “just good old-fashioned trick-or-treating.” No list but we DID hear from Emeritus at Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor), 2326 California SW, which is participating and extends a warm welcome to trick-or-treaters.

METROPOLITAN MARKET KIDS’ COSTUME CONTEST: While you’re in The Admiral District for trick-or-treating, join in the Kids’ Halloween Costume Contest 3-6 pm at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor). Winners in the three categories will receive $25 Toys “R” Us gift cards; drop by today, and then vote over the next three days. (41st/42nd/Admiral Way)

FREE HALLOWEEN FAMILY SKATE: Southgate Roller Rink and Full Tilt Ice Cream present a FREE Halloween Family Skate from 3:00 pm-5:00 pm at the rink. Costume contest, candy giveaways, a guest DJ, more. (17th SW south of Roxbury, White Center)

WESTWOOD VILLAGE: 5-7 pm is the time you can go trick-or-treating at participating venues in the Westwood Village shopping center

SKELETON THEATRE: 6-9 pm (tonight AND tomorrow), don’t miss this year’s edition of Skeleton Theatre, 6-9 pm (directions and show info here). The animatronic skeletons are back, reprising the space-themed “Ulna 13” from last year with updates! Shows “roughly on the hour and half-hour.” (36th/Hanford)

NIGHTMARE ON 44TH: 6-9 pm tonight only, animatronic and spooky “Nightmare on 44th” is back! 44th Ave SW between Charlestown and Andover. See behind-the-scenes photos on Twitter at @NightmareOn44th.

KIDS KARNIVAL: 6-8 pm, it’s a Kids Karnival at West Side Presbyterian Church, promising “carnival games, bouncy house, giant slide, a box maze, prizes and more! This event is geared for young children through 5th grade. It is a fun, safe alternative to trick-or-treating!” Admission free BUT there’s a donation drive for emergency kits for people in need – here’s what you can bring:

Hand warmers, socks, granola bars, small-amount gift cards, beanie hats, travel sized toothpaste & toothbrush, bars of soap, hand sanitizer, $ donation to purchase these items!

WSPC is at 3601 California SW.

TRUNK OR TREAT: Grace Community Church Trunk or Treat, 6-8 pm, free family event with car trunks filled with goodies, games, hot drinks, food. (10323 28th SW)

(In the planting strip in the 9400 block of 13th SW; photo courtesy Lisa)
GHOST GAME VII: The Cabiri in ‘Ghost Game VII: The Wild Hunt’ @ Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 8-9:45 pm. Tickets available here; 16 and over only. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

OZZY-WEEN: Halloween Ozzy Osbourne tribute at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9:30 pm. (6451 California SW)

HALLOWEEN KARAOKE: It’s “Scary-Oke” for Halloween at Outwest Bar, 9 pm-2 am. (California/Brandon)

ZOMBIE HOMECOMING: Zombie Homecoming 18+ event hosted by Southgate Roller Rink and the Rainier Roller Girls! 9 pm-midnight, $12 @ the door. Costume contest, raffle, 21+ bar, and much more! (17th SW south of Roxbury, White Center)

More Halloween (etc.) events for tonight and the next two nights – in our guide; today’s non-Halloween happenings are on our regular calendar.

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Community cleanup Saturday: Bike path under West Seattle Bridge
October 31, 2013 9:11 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

You’ve probably heard about Green Seattle Day in the West Duwamish Greenbelt on Saturday. We just received word of a separate, community-organized cleanup that can use as many hands as it can get: The proprietor of Swedish Automotive (WSB sponsor) is rallying volunteers to help him pick up trash along the west stretch of the bike trail under the West Seattle Bridge 9 am-11 am Saturday. Here’s the announcement:

Please join Dave Winters of Swedish Automotive for an impromptu cleanup under the West Seattle Bridge! The bike path from the bottom of Avalon Way near Luna Park Café heading east alongside and under the bridge toward downtown has become trashed with litter, styrofoam packing pellets, and other debris and needs cleanup!

Dave will be there with the old, yellow Swedish Automotive Van with garbage cans and bags from 9 to 11 am this Saturday, November 2nd. His goal is to clean the area between Luna Park Café and the Chelan Café. If you find yourself with time and desire to help this Saturday, please stop by with gloves, rakes and brooms, and we’ll get it cleaned up. The van will be parked under the west end of bridge (that’s the West Seattle end) in the first curb cut next to the bike trail. Let’s clean up Seattle! Hope to see you there!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Halloween commute – trick or treat?
October 31, 2013 6:12 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Halloween commute – trick or treat?
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(East-facing camera on the West Seattle Bridge; see other cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:12 AM: How scary – or not – will the Halloween commute be? We’re off and rolling for Thursday. On the other side of the day, do note that trick-or-treating at Admiral District businesses is set for 3-6 pm today, so extra care is vital in that area, no matter what mode of transportation you’re using. Meantime, here’s the bridge cam that usually points west:

P.S. The rest of the Halloween event lineup is in our special guide.

9:18 AM: We seem to have made it through the bulk of the morning commute without a major problem. However, a medic response near Holden/Highland Park Way right now is reported to be a crash; we’re checking it out for potential traffic effects.

9:38 AM: Our crew says the uphill side of the intersection – south/westbound from Highland Park Way on to Holden/9th – is blocked right now. Two pickups collided; one person was going to the hospital via private ambulance.

Tow trucks have arrived so it’s not likely to be blocked too long.

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Duwamish River: Taking a look toward its future, ‘for all’
October 31, 2013 3:24 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Sustainable West Seattle | West Seattle news

(2011 photo by Danny McMillin)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“The Duwamish really needs our help.”

So began this month’s Sustainable West Seattle community forum about our city’s only river.

How can you help? One way is through simple personal action, particularly when it comes to reducing/preventing stormwater/runoff-pollution, a campaign crystallized at Tox-Ick.org, whose champion “Diver Laura” James emceed the forum. She told those in attendance that just days earlier, she had spoken about it to 800 high-school students outside West Seattle.

Another way: Realize that the process of determining a cleanup plan for the river – so polluted in spots, it’s a “Superfund” site – is the process of determining whether it can be “A River for All.” That’s the vision of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, whose coordinator James Rasmussen spoke at the forum, recapping the comment period just concluded on the Environmental Protection Agency‘s proposed cleanup plan for the river – a plan which would leave 62 percent of the river “under monitored natural recovery, which basically means, ‘we’re not going to do anything with it’.”

DRCC, however, wants to “kickstart that with enhanced natural recovery,” and is very intent on “source control” – addressing the source of pollution, present and future as well as past – being part of the plan.

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Junction demolition update: The view from above
October 30, 2013 10:29 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

23 days after teardown work started at the two-building California/Alaska/42nd project site, crews are still clearing debris on the west side of the site, and tackling the underground level left after that building was demolished last week. Along the way, we’ve received a few requests for an aerial view, and local pilot/photographer Long Bach Nguyen has obliged, with two angles – top and bottom. For a comparison, here is the Seattle Municipal Archives 1957 aerial we’ve featured before – flipped and cropped – that’s SW Alaska at right, though the historic photo didn’t show California:

Back to the current view – here’s the aerial looking from north toward south – the tents on California are from Sunday’s Harvest Festival:

(Both views also show the crane and excavation for the 4730 California project.)

The California/Alaska/42nd demolition is the last major tearing down for at least a few months. The next one could be on the 4745 40th SW site, where a permit is pending and one tenant of the existing small office building has told us they were told to be out by the end of November.

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PACK YOUR BAG! Day 29: Take a look at what you have
October 30, 2013 8:20 pm
|    Comments Off on PACK YOUR BAG! Day 29: Take a look at what you have
 |   Preparedness | West Seattle news

Next-to-last step in our Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month project to build your “Go Bag“/kit – see what you have. From West Seattle Be Prepared:

Spread your bag out, take a look at what you’ve got. This is your chance to decide if there’s something special and unique to you or your family that we’ve not covered. Or maybe the food just doesn’t seem like it will be enough (but don’t forget, you have to lift the bag). You can also take this time to repackage or regroup things in plastic bags or containers to make things fit more compactly; using ziplock bags or small containers can help make things fit more compactly.

This is the time to also decide if you might need a larger bag. Earlier in the month Margaret in Vashon decided she was going to use a suitcase with wheels, so she could move it without having to carry the whole time, so that’s one good idea. Maybe the water could fit into another tub or bag. There have been comments during the month about how bulky the water supply is. Remember, if you’ve stored all the water suggested, you will have enough for 2 weeks. The pre-made emergency backpacks sold by companies like the Red Cross do not have anywhere near that much water in their packs for sale; they usually just include a couple of cups per person. That’s so the bag is portable and has some water, but really only enough water for a day, it won’t get you through an extended disruption of the water supply. The point is, if you are going to have to evacuate the area, and are in a vehicle, you can take all the water you’ve stored. But if you are evacuating on foot, you will really only take what you can comfortably carry.

Want some recognition for what you have? We’d love to share a photo of your bag/kit/stuff – this might be the time to take one, before you repack everything, and send it to editor@westseattleblog.com. Remember that if you’ve missed some items along the way, or finally just made up your mind to get started, you can find everything archived (reverse-chronological order) at westseattleblog.com/category/preparedness.

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West Seattle Halloween 2013: Costumed visitors at Fire Station 32
October 30, 2013 5:18 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | Triangle | West Seattle news

The location of the Bright Horizons-West Seattle child-care center right across the street from Seattle Fire Department Station 32 in The Triangle presents some opportunities – including this one: A costume parade.

More photos ahead:

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