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  • Closure

    CLOSURE CHANGE: Low bridge, starting Saturday

  • Moving

    MOVING MODE: Another music biz’s big gift

  • Sale day

    WS GARAGE SALE DAY 5/11: Register by April 25!

Scam alert: This one’s coming in by phone! ‘Wells Fargo,’ not
October 2, 2011 12:12 pm
|      93 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

12:12 PM: Yes, we know you’re probably scam-savvy. But for those who aren’t, and for those who will want to warn possibly gullible relatives/friends, this is just out of the WSB inbox (and before we could publish the warning, we received the same call, though we’re not customers of the bank in question!). From Carrie:

I received a call this Sunday morning from a blocked number that I did not answer. The voice mail message said ” for security reasons your Wells Fargo account has been locked. To unlock your account press “1”. ” I called Wells Fargo and they said this was not a legitimate call, they do not call from a blocked number but sent emails. Obviously the caller was checking to see who has an account with Wells Fargo and would proceed from there with some devious deed.

ADDED 5:35 PM: Just got the call AGAIN, as a straight-to-voicemail message on a personal cell phone. Rooting around for official WF policies of how to report this type of call, we found this page on their website, asking that scam e-mails or other info be sent to: reportphish@wellsfargo.com.

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Need more computer know-how? 2 West Seattle chances tomorrow
October 2, 2011 11:14 am
|    Comments Off on Need more computer know-how? 2 West Seattle chances tomorrow
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Vicky sends word this morning of two open houses tomorrow at public West Seattle computer centers you might not even know about, part of the city’s Get Online Week, which starts tomorrow:

Did you know you can attend classes for free or low-cost at computer learning centers in your own neighborhood? Come in, have a snack, learn about our labs and the workshops and classes offered for teens, adults and seniors. Stop by one of these centers and GET ONLINE!

October 3, 3:00-6:00 PM
High Point Mobile Lab
6400 Sylvan Way SW

October 3, 6:00-8:00 PM
RecTech Delridge Computer Lab
4501 Delridge Way SW

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Mobile Chowdown in West Seattle: Setup under way
October 2, 2011 9:47 am
|    Comments Off on Mobile Chowdown in West Seattle: Setup under way
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Setup is under way as 26 food trucks continue arriving for Mobile Chowdown, the food-truck extravaganza that’s happening in The Junction for the first time ever (organizers staged several in 2009 and 2010 elsewhere in the city). As the sign says, SW Alaska is open, as are SW Edmunds and SW Oregon, all west-east streets, but both blocks of California are closed in the heart of the bizdistrict. The trucks are staging single file down the middle of the street:

As for locations, if you’re looking for a favorite, since most hadn’t arrived yet, we couldn’t rough out a map, but we can tell you that Veraci Pizza and its portable wood-fired oven are at the north end, with Andrae’s Kitchen from Walla Walla right behind; in the middle (photo above) you’ll find weekly West Seattle visitor Marination Mobile by Easy Street Records and Street Donuts by Bin 41; at the south end, West Seattle fixture Beloved Mexico. The beer garden, raising money for the West Seattle Food Bank, is being set up outside Petco. The trucks are scheduled to be here 11 am-5 pm; full details at the official Mobile Chowdown site.

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West Seattle Sunday: Mobile Chowdown; Blessing of the Animals; CROP Walk; lots more
October 2, 2011 8:44 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(First sunset of October 2011 – photo courtesy Emily)
One of those rare weekends when Sunday has even more major events than Saturday. From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

HELP GET THE WORD OUT: The Delridge Community Forum needs volunteers to help distribute informational flyers to residences in North Delridge today; we are seeking volunteers to assist. This effort will be used to both inform community members about the proposed DESC project and also inviting them to the Oct. 11th informational event. Meet in front of Delridge Library (Brandon/Delridge) at 10 if you can help.

TWO ‘BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS’ EVENTS: First, 10 am, Blessing of the Animals service at Alki UCC. This year, the service is interfaith, with members of Kol HaNeshamah (WSB sponsor) synagogue participating, and the blessings will be done by Pastor Diane and Rabbi Zari. Everyone welcome (dogs on leads, cats in carriers, please!) … Second, noon, outdoor Blessing of the Animals hosted by St. John the Baptist Church in the WSHS parking lot next door: The community is invited for this annual gathering to give thanks for the gift of cats, dogs, and all creatures great and small. The blessing ceremony includes an impromptu parade of pets, refreshments, and an opportunity to mingle with neighbors and friends. In the spirit of Francis of Assisi, known for loving animals and all creation, Franciscan brothers assist in the blessing.

FARMERS’ MARKET! Every Sunday, year-round, it’s the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am – 2 pm, The Junction (44th/Alaska) – remember the California street closure for the food-truck event.

ALL SOULS’ 1ST ANNIVERSARY: All Souls Church of Seattle (WSB sponsor), which meets at 10 am at Madison Middle School, marks its first anniversary of public worship services today (here’s the preview we published last night).

FOOD TRUCKSTRAVAGANZA: Today’s the day for the long-awaited Mobile Chowdown in the West Seattle Junction – 26 food trucks!, 11 am-5 pm, California SW is closed Edmunds-Oregon for the occasion.

MEET MOLLY BAKER: Grand reopening festivities at Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor), highlighted today by freeskier Molly Baker‘s appearance at the newly expanded store, noon-2 pm.

CROP WALK TO FIGHT HUNGER: Once again, Alki UCC hosts the West Seattle CROP Walk, a Church World Service program to help communities overcome hunger. Registration 12:45 pm. Total Experience Gospel Choir 1:15 PM – The nationally renowned ensemble will help us kick off the Seattle CROP walk with some high energy music in the Alki UCC Sanctuary. 3-Mile walk around Alki starts at 2 pm.

WANT TO BE HI-YU ROYALTY? Afternoon informational session for prospective West Seattle Hi-Yu Senior Court candidates, 2 pm, details here.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Serial burglaries; business vandalism
October 1, 2011 10:54 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight: Two reports of multiple burglaries in individual neighborhoods, and one report of vandalism along a block of businesses in Morgan Junction – read on:Read More

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New after-school program launching at Alki Community Center
October 1, 2011 9:20 pm
|    Comments Off on New after-school program launching at Alki Community Center
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

Registration starts this week for a new program called “Enrichment on Alki,” for kindergarteners through fifth graders, at Alki Community Center. ACC’s Angelica Boyden explains, “Currently for the Fall quarter we have between 40 and 45 after-school enrichment classes that will be available to the youth from Alki Elementary as well as the greater West Seattle community. Some of these programs include, but are not limited to: Drama, Dance, Art, Creative Writing, Origami, Chess, Legos, Zumba, Yoga, and Academics. The program for the fall quarter is set to start the week of October 17th and run for 8 weeks through the week of December 16th, with no classes being held Thanksgiving week, Nov 21st-25th. The program also consists of a winter and spring quarter as well.” Here’s the flyer with more information.

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Another West Seattle 1st anniversary: All Souls Church
October 1, 2011 5:44 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

Tomorrow, All Souls Church of Seattle (WSB sponsor) celebrates one year of weekly public worship in West Seattle, and Pastor Andy Pelander (at left in the church-provided photo above) has an invitation, and status report.

All are invited to participate in our service, which will include ‘community stories’ from folks who’ve been part of this exciting, growing new worshipping community over the past year. Of course, we’ll also have birthday cake! Join us Sundays at 10 a.m. at Madison Middle School.

All Souls began humbly in autumn 2009 with a handful of families in a living room in Admiral, dreaming and praying about what a brand new church would be like in our neighborhood, for our neighborhood. We imagined a community where we could worship, love one another in authentic relationship, and seek the welfare of our city. A year later, on Oct. 3, 2010, having gathered many more local families, we began meeting weekly for public worship.

To get a church off the ground this past year has been more hardworking than anyone involved could have imagined(!) and, yet, so much more rewarding than we could have hoped. Plenty of blood and sweat, and our share of tears…

And we’ve seen a dynamic, multi-generational community take shape that wasn’t here before we began–in our beloved West Seattle neighborhood. All Souls is now a church family into which folks are welcomed no matter what, are becoming known and being served, are encountering the character of God and his gospel of grace, and are being changed by it. We’ve celebrated faith at All Souls, both new and renewed!

A thousand thank you’s to all who’ve given of themselves so greatly to this remarkable project. We’re seeing buds on our little tree.

Every Sunday is a good Sunday to visit All Souls for the first time.

They’re online at allsoulsseattle.org, and you can check out their Facebook page for some of their outside-the-service activities.

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Meet the sequel to West Seattle’s own Löwman Bräu: Whale Tail Ale
October 1, 2011 3:49 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS beverages

Back when the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) and partners announced Löwman Bräu last spring, launching not only a taste-sensation, charity-fundraising beer but also a fashion trend, they promised there would be more to come. And so today there is word of Whale Tail Ale – a “delicious, mouth-pleasing” Belgian ale, launching at 6 pm November 9th, simultaneously at the following West Seattle and White Center venues:

FEEDBACK LOUNGE • 6451 California Ave. SW
WEST 5 • 4539 California Ave. SW
MISSION • 2325 California Ave. SW
SHADOWLAND • 4458 California Ave. SW
BIG AL BREWING • 9832 14th Ave. SW
LOCÖL • 7902 35th Ave. SW
THE BRIDGE • 4439 35th Ave. SW
BEVERIDGE PLACE PUB • 6413 California Ave. SW
COMPANY • 9608 16th Ave SW
FULL-TILT ICE CREAM • 9629 16th Ave SW
AVALON • 2940 SW Avalon Way

Says the official news release (which you can read in its entirety here), “If the rest of Seattle wants to taste it, they have to come across the bridge to get it. (Note to downtowners, bring lots of tourist cash.)” Like Löwman Bräu, Whale Tail Ale is crafted by Big Al Brewing, and its logo et al is the work of The Feedback’s creative genius Jeff Gilbert.

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West Seattle Autoworks celebrates Year 1, looks ahead
October 1, 2011 3:21 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Sunrise Heights | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor) at 35th/Webster isn’t usually open on Saturdays, but Todd Ainsworth and Chris Christensen threw open the doors today to celebrate their first anniversary. Throughout their first year, they’ve continued to evolve the services they offer – including the “green oil change” – and they’re continuing to look ahead. We asked what’s on the horizon, and they mentioned they’ll be studying electric-car conversion, hoping that “down the road” they’ll be able to offer that type of service as well as repair and maintenance work. Whether you’re a customer already or you’d just like to meet them and say “Congratulations on making it through the first year,” they’ve got snacks and smiles till 5 pm today.

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Traffic alert: Crash closes eastbound Sylvan Way
October 1, 2011 1:51 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

A car has flipped on the greenbelt shoulder of eastbound Sylvan Way just uphill from Home Depot. No serious injuries but eastbound traffic is being turned back several blocks uphill. Westbound is getting through.

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Happening now: Prudential NW food drive at local supermarkets
October 1, 2011 12:36 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Maybe you’ve seen them if you’ve already been out grocery shopping this morning – Prudential Northwest Realty team members collecting food and donations for local food banks. Above, we photographed Nicole Rea, Chariti McIndoe, and Aaron Rysemus at Albertsons in White Center; below, Alice Kuder (who wrote about the food drive on her website) shared the photo of Bruce Butterfield manning one of the collection carts at West Seattle Thriftway:

They’ll take monetary donations – food banks have special deals to really stretch dollars – as well as food donations at those stores and others including PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) and Jefferson Square Safeway, till 2 pm today.

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‘Now is the time’: West Seattle retirement communities’ town hall
October 1, 2011 12:03 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

At Fauntleroy Church this morning, representatives of seven West Seattle (and vicinity) retirement communities teamed up for a Town Hall-style event to answer questions – both about their individual properties, and about big-picture issues such as “When is the time to sell your house and move to a retirement community?” That one was answered during our short stop at the event, and the reply was a strong “Now” – the economy may be down, but affordability is up. A related question was “what if you can’t sell your home?”; turns out, there are special programs, as well as agents who specialize in helping – talk to your retirement community of choice. The Q/A was moderated by Karen Sisson from the Senior Center of West Seattle; participating communities included WSB sponsors Merrill Gardens at Admiral Heights, Merrill Gardens at West Seattle, The Kenney, and Daystar Retirement Village, as well as Providence Mount St. Vincent, Arrowhead Gardens, and Boulevard Park Place.

P.S. The Kenney is having a meeting of its own next Wednesday night (October 5th), 6:30 pm, with an update on the Memory Support Unit that it’s adding. All welcome.

P.P.S. Helping out at the door for this morning’s event was a rep from Friend to Friend‘s West Seattle chapter. They appreciate volunteers and donations, to make sure nobody’s lonely in a retirement/assisted-living center. Call 206-246-5150 to find out how to help.

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West Seattle Saturday: Welcome to October 2011!
October 1, 2011 8:43 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Saturday: Welcome to October 2011!
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Anniversary celebrations – where you get the gifts! – are part of our highlights today from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar, as are opportunities to pitch in around the peninsula:

TRAFFIC ALERT: Westbound Spokane Street Viaduct is scheduled to remain closed all day, till 10 am Sunday (no access to West Seattle Bridge from I-5 or Beacon Hill).

REMINDER FOR BUS RIDERS: Metro‘s service change starts today.

HELP LINCOLN PARK: Fall is the perfect time for urban forest restoration! Join the Friends of Lincoln Park as we remove invasive plant species from the beautiful mature forests of this urban gem. Get some healthy green exercise today from 9 am to noon! Meet in the north parking lot (Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Rose St). Bring garden gloves and hand clippers, or we’ll have extras.

WORKING ON A FALL PROJECT? West Seattle Tool Library open at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center space (east side of main building), 9 am – 2 pm.

WEST SEATTLE AUTOWORKS’ 1ST ANNIVERSARY: West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor) invites you to its 9 am-5 pm open house celebration today with Red Star Pizza, Cafe Osita coffee and other refreshments. They’ll also be giving out raffle tickets to everyone and giving away some door prizes. They will also be giving out special discounts throughout the first week of October – good for the entire month. (35th/Webster)

CLICK! TURNS 7: Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) kicks off its 7th anniversary (first year in The Junction) celebration. Details here. Click! is open 11 am-5 pm today (4540 California SW).

MOUNTAIN TO SOUND OUTFITTERS EXPANDS: Grand reopening/expansion festivities at Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor), find full details here including 2-6 pm barbecue. Open 10 am-6 pm (3602 SW Alaska).

BARTON STREET P-PATCH NEEDS YOU! 10 am-3 pm, volunteers needed as West Seattle’s newest P-Patch (34th/Barton) continues taking shape.

LEARN ABOUT WEST SEATTLE’S RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES: Eight retirement and assisted living communities of West Seattle are coming together for a Town Hall Meeting. Free event, from 10 am to 12:30 pm at Fauntleroy Church. SHAG Arrowhead Gardens, Boulevard Park Place, BridgePark, Daystar, The Kenney, Merrill Gardens at Admiral Heights, Merrill Gardens at West Seattle and Providence Mount St. Vincent will all be present. Free “breakfast bites” and a chance to hear presentations as well as dropping by each organization’s table/booth for Q/A.

DONATE FOOD: Food drive for Prudential Northwest Realty “Global Volunteer Day,” at stores including PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor), West Seattle Thriftway, Jefferson Square Safeway, White Center Albertsons, 10 am-2 pm, donate food and/or money, more details here

ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL: Blessing of the Animals, Providence Mount St. Vincent lobby, 10:30 am, all pets (and their people) welcome

MEET THE AUTHOR: Book signing by West Seattle author Charles Philipp Martin for his new Hong Kong thriller “Neon Panic,” at Seattle Mystery Bookshop, noon to 1:30 pm, 117 Cherry Street.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS: Delridge Library branch event for kids, 1-2:3 pm today.

WINE AND TUNES: Vine and Cheese at Village Green Perennial Nursery: 3 pm – 5 pm,10223 26th Ave SW. Sodovino winery will be hosting a wine tasting at Village Green. Live music by harpist Johanna.

CLOSING NIGHT: “Amy’s View” final performance at ArtsWest Playhouse in The Junction, 7:30 pm

LIVE MUSIC, #1 From Kenyon Hall – Casey MacGill and Orville Johnson in concert at 7:30. Reserved table seats are $14. Row seating is $12 general and $10 seniors. With a reservation row seating is only $10 general and $8 seniors. Elementary, middle, and high school students are $5. Pre-school children are free. To make a reservation, please e-mail kenyonhall@earthlink.net. You’ll receive an e-mail confirming your reservation.

LIVE MUSIC, #2: Memphis Radio Kings reunion as a benefit for the Animal Aid and Rescue Foundation, Feedback Lounge, 9 pm, full details on this Facebook event page.

HOW ABOUT A FREE TRAIN TICKET? Amtrak companion fare giveaway launches at PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor), more info here

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Teacher’s disturbing discovery in West Seattle park: Hazing
October 1, 2011 2:47 am
|      169 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Jennifer Hall knows a lot about teenagers. She teaches them. And she parents one. On Friday night, she happened onto a group of teens in West Seattle’s Solstice Park, engaged in behavior troubling enough to cause her eventually to call 911. Here’s her story:

I was walking my dogs up from the pea patches into Solstice Park at 6 PM. There were around 15-20 young people there, laughing raucously, squealing. Young men were yelling at the young girls to “Come hither, ladies!” After being at the park for about a minute, I realized that they were high school students.

There were beer cans, white powder, and plastic containers littering the grass. One of my dogs was especially interested in a large fleshy thing that they were batting around on the grass. I walked into the group to look at it. It was a large animal heart — a pig’s or a cow’s. The young people were not hostile to me, but I could smell alcohol, and I could tell by the way that some of the boys were slurring their speech that they were drunk. I told them I was a high-school teacher myself, and I asked what high school they were from. One of the boys said, “Roosevelt.” I said, “You’ve got beer cans all over the place, and you’ve obviously been drinking. You’ve driven here from Roosevelt, and you’re planning on driving back impaired? How old are you?” “Eighteen!”, one very young-looking girl replied. I said, “Well, that’s a lie. You drove here from Roosevelt, a bunch of you are drunk and you’re planning on driving back?” There was a chorus of, “We’re OK!” and other protests.

I asked the girls, who appeared younger than the boys, “Do your parents know where you are, and who you’re with?” Again, there was a chorus of, “We’re OK! We’re just having fun!”

Read More

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3 ways to be helpful in West Seattle this weekend
September 30, 2011 11:03 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

HELP GET THE WORD OUT IN DELRIDGE: At 10 am Sunday, volunteers are needed to help distribute 1,600 flyers in the Delridge area, letting people know about the October 11th Delridge Community Forum, focused on the DESC proposal to build a 75-apartment complex for homeless people living with mental illness. If you can help, be at Delridge Library (Brandon/Delridge) at 10 o’clock Sunday morning (rain or shine).

DONATE FOOD: 10 am-2 pm Saturday, Prudential NW Realty team members are collecting food-bank donations – money and/or food – at stores including PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor), West Seattle Thriftway, Jefferson Square Safeway, and White Center Albertsons.

HELP WEST SEATTLE’S NEWEST P-PATCH:

From the Barton Street P-Patch (34th/Barton) crew, that photo and this request:

The Barton Street PPatch is seeking community volunteers to help build retaining walls this weekend. No experience necessary- you need only bring your enthusiasm. These walls use mortar over reclaimed materials, chain link and tiles, shells, pottery shards and other found objects. Shifts are available Saturday 10-3 and Sunday 11-3. We are also seeking muscular folks to help mix mortar and do other digging, weeding and wheelbarrow activities. Please let us know if you are interested in participating in this community garden. KFarleyLandscapeDesign@gmail.com or Randeef@Comcast.net

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High-school football: 2 shutouts among tonight’s 3 games
September 30, 2011 9:13 pm
|    Comments Off on High-school football: 2 shutouts among tonight’s 3 games
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

9:13 PM: At Southwest Athletic Complex, Chief Sealth International High School‘s homecoming game just wrapped up – and it was a shutout, Eastside Catholic 46, Sealth 0. Most of the scoring came in the first half, which concluded at 39-0; then Eastside ran the ball in from the second-half kickoff, and that (plus the extra point) ended the night’s scoring.

ADDED 10:34 PM: Another score in: Seattle Lutheran High School lost at Concrete, 42-13, per its Twitter feed, which notes that it’s SLHS’s homecoming next weekend.

ADDED 11:25 PM: Per our partners at the Seattle Times, West Seattle High School shut out Cleveland at Southeast Athletic Complex, 35-0.

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West Seattle traffic-alert reminder: Longer closure than usual
September 30, 2011 7:56 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle traffic-alert reminder: Longer closure than usual
 |   Spokane St. Viaduct project | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

One more reminder if you are, or are heading, downtown or beyond – tonight’s westbound Spokane Street Viaduct closure is scheduled to last longer than previous ones – this time, it’s set to start at 10 pm and continue all day and all night Saturday, until 10 am Sunday. (We’ll publish an update, of course, if it reopens early.) That means the only high-bridge access westbound during that time will be from Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct – the I-5 and Beacon Hill ramps will be closed.

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Anti-absenteeism campaign to be launched in West Seattle
September 30, 2011 3:45 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

On Monday morning, West Seattle will again be the backdrop for another citywide-initiative announcement. This time, Mayor McGinn and Seattle Public Schools interim Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield will be at the new Denny International Middle School to announce “Be Here, Get There,” described as an effort to “incentivize kids to get to school and remind them that every day in school matters.” The announcement is scheduled for 11:30 am. (It’s part of a national campaign, as this MSNBC.com story – spotlighting schools including Chief Sealth International High School – points out.)

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One ‘triggerman’ sentenced in Steve Bushaw murder; 2nd delayed
September 30, 2011 3:10 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(Ron and Meg Bushaw, Steve’s parents)
Story and photos by Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“I want you to know, you have put a hole in our hearts that will always be there,” murder victim Steve Bushaw‘s mother told one of her son’s killers in court this afternoon.

Meg Bushaw was speaking directly to Danny O’Neal, one of two men who fired their guns at her son outside Talarico’s in The Junction on Super Bowl Sunday night in 2009.

She was one of more than a dozen members of Steve Bushaw’s family who were in the courtroom of Superior Court Judge Joan DuBuque, for what was supposed to be the sentencing of both “triggermen” who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder – O’Neal and John Sylve. This comes one month after a jury found the killing’s so-called mastermind, Bryce Huber, guilty of first-degree murder; he has already been sentenced to almost 32 years in prison.

The two triggermen were to be sentenced separately, explained as being necessary because there weren’t enough court deputies to bring them into, and guard them in, the courtroom at the same time – but after Sylve was brought in, his lawyer asked for a continuance, because for reasons unknown, Sylve’s family had not shown up. The prosecutor, judge, and family all agreed to the delay.

(From left, prosecutor Jeff Baird, defense lawyer Walter Peale, confessed killer Danny O’Neal)
Before that, Judge DuBuque sentenced O’Neal to the 183 months recommended by prosecutor Jeff Baird – including 60 months (five years) because a gun was involved.

O’Neal’s mother Alfreda Mitchell was among those speaking on his behalf. She turned to address the Bushaw family, crying as she said that her son had previously “always been a person that has made wise choices … I don’t even know if he understands what happened. I don’t expect you to forgive him, because I know what I would feel if I was sitting in your position.” His wife and older sister also turned to face the Bushaw family and apologize, expressing hope they could find forgiveness someday. Then, O’Neal himself did the same, following it with an apology to his own family, including his daughter. And he insisted, “I didn’t go (to West Seattle) that night planning to kill your son in the middle of the street in front of no less than 30 people.”

As she announced the sentence, Judge DuBuque called the case overall “tragic,” without easy answers as to why the killing happened. (O’Neal said in court that he didn’t believe Steve Bushaw was responsible for the home-invasion robbery that was described as the motive.)

Sylve’s sentencing is now scheduled for November 4th. November is also when another hearing is scheduled in the matter of whether the fourth defendant in the case, Brandon Chaney, will be retried – the jury that found Huber guilty could not agree on Chaney’s innocence or guilt.

We will add more details of the hearing, and photos, shortly.

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October Viaduct closure: First map to help you get around
September 30, 2011 2:18 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news


Click the image (or here) to see the full PDF version of that map, which is the first one out from WSDOT to help people get around during the impending October 21-31 Alaskan Way Viaduct closure. WSDOT spokesperson Travis Phelps says that within the next week or so they will have smaller, more detailed maps targeted at specific parts of the area – such as West Seattle – but this one is meant as a reminder that the closure does have a few time/day exceptions – the striped northbound side of The Viaduct, for example, from Royal Brougham north, will be open during certain times. The entire southbound stretch will be continuously closed, as will the northbound stretch from the West Seattle Bridge to Royal Brougham. Phelps says another key feature of this map shows which way downtown streets flow – in case you’re not familiar with that part of the area. (Also another reminder that city/county/state reps will be at a West Seattle-specific open-house-style meeting the evening of October 10th at West Seattle High School – time to be announced Monday – to answer your questions.)

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West Seattle schools: Gatewood leadership; Madison request
September 30, 2011 12:37 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Two updates this morning from West Seattle schools:

GATEWOOD IN THE WOODS: Gatewood Elementary principal Rhonda Claytor shares that photo, from before the weather turned cloudy – she says her school “is hosting its first 4th /5th Grade Fall Leadership Camp today at Lincoln Park. In the attached picture, the students are participating in a writing celebration, sharing their first piece of writing this fall with their classmates.”

MADISON READING PROGRAM NEEDS YOU! Not volunteer help – but rather, donations! Stacia the librarian explains:

Greetings, West Seattle community members! My name is Stacia Bell and I am the new librarian at Madison Middle School. I want to let you know about a great new reading program at Madison and how you can help. This year, we are starting up the Bulldogs Read program (modeled after Whitman Middle School’s successful Wildcats Read program), an incentive reading program with the goal being to get more and more kids reading for pleasure. The Bulldogs Read program is made up of 50 new books that students are challenged to read each year that are chosen because they are new publications, they are a diverse mix of books, and they were all nominated for some sort of literary award. Our hope is that each student and staff member at Madison will read at least one of the Bulldogs Read books and will, in the process, increase their love of reading and, in turn, their reading skills.

**Here is how you can help:

Each time a student completes a Bulldogs Read book, they are entered into a drawing for weekly small prizes and monthly grand prizes. I am looking for local businesses or donors who would like to partner with Madison by donating items for our weekly and monthly prize drawings. It could be gift certificates or actual prize items from your store/business. No donation is too small…or too large! You and/or your business would receive publicity on our school web site, you’d be featured on our photo wall of monthly winners, and you’d receive great thank you notes from our monthly winners. If you are a business owner and would be interested in finding out more about how you can support this reading program (or know a business owner that might be interested in donating something), please read the attached letter that explains the program in more detail. Please call (206.252.9152) or e-mail me, Stacia Bell (smbell@seattleschools.org), to discuss your possible donation. Thank you so much for considering partnering with Madison in this special program.

School news? Here’s how to share!

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Reminder for bus riders: Metro’s service change is tomorrow
September 30, 2011 12:02 pm
|    Comments Off on Reminder for bus riders: Metro’s service change is tomorrow
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Just in case you missed previous mentions – tomorrow is the “service change” day for Metro, with a variety of changes affecting West Seattle bus riders, including added service on Route 54. You can read the details – and check your route – at the Metro website.

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Words of thanks from family of West Seattle Bridge crash victim
September 30, 2011 11:18 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

A family member of Bradly Gilmore, the 53-year-old motorcyclist who died after crashing Tuesday morning on the West Seattle Bridge, has posted a thank-you comment that you probably haven’t seen, so we’re sharing it here. Ally writes:

Thank you to everyone for your kind posts about Brad. Our family appreciates your condolences. If you knew him, please share your memories on havenrest.com under the Online tab on the Online Obituaries in the Guestbook for Bradly Gilmore. [Obituary here; guestbook here] Thank you to those who stayed with him through the accident and thank you to all of his fellow riders for your kind words. Please keep riding – that’s what he would have wanted. I can’t say it enough to everyone else regardless of fault LOOK TWICE. You NEVER know who is going to be where and when whether it’s a motorcycle, cyclist, pedestrian, etc. Thank you again for your kind words and support.

Mr. Gilmore’s obituary (we added direct links in Ally’s comment above) says the family is hosting an event to remember him at their home in Olalla (Kitsap County) tomorrow. For those who want to make memorial donations, Ally’s followup comment, and the obituary, suggest supporting High Country News.

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