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West Seattle Wednesday: Strategic Delridge; “…On a Sunday”; more
May 19, 2010 8:38 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Wednesday: Strategic Delridge; “…On a Sunday”; more
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Today/tonight’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: Day 2 of the South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) Rainbow Festival, with activities scheduled 10 am-3 pm (full list here) … A doubleheader at Youngstown Arts Center tonight – you’re invited to help shape the future of Delridge – not just the immediate area around the street but all of eastern West Seattle – during Strategic Delridge at 6 pm (explained here), followed by the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting at 7, with City Councilmember Mike O’Brien scheduled as a guest speaker … In The Junction, the final week of “Tell Me on a Sunday” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) starts with tonight’s 7:30 pm performance … And if you’ve got a preschooler, you’re invited to Fauntleroy Children’s Center tonight for a 6 pm presentation by parent educator Jean Vye about teaching 3- to 5-year-olds to include at playtime (RSVP to fauntleroychildrenscenter@yahoo.com) … More of today/tonight’s events listed here.

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West Seattle Crime Prevention Council: Prowls up, burglaries down
May 19, 2010 1:02 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

First toplines from Tuesday night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting: The most dramatic crime trend mentioned by Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James is a jump in car prowls – 124 in the past month, up from 97 the month before that. Lt. James suspects some of the rise can be pegged to more people reporting the break-ins, but they’ve also been studying the reports to look for a pattern – it seems, not surprisingly, more are happening where there’s easy bridge access (off Fauntleroy, for example), so they believe many car prowlers come from outside West Seattle, get some loot, and turn back around to leave. Emphasis patrols will start in the next few days to see if the crooks can be caught in the act; meantime, if it happens to you, Lt. James stressed the importance of reporting it, so patterns can be detected. On the other hand, residential burglaries are down – 40 in April, a little more than half the rate for the month before. Two other toplines: High Point is looking for 120 people to each devote just two hours a month to helping keep watch on the neighborhood this summer – they’re calling it the High Point Peace and Safety Team; you can reach Miranda Taylor through the High Point Neighborhood Association (its official website is at highpointneighborhood.org). Also, WSCPC president Dot Beard handed out a flyer (see it here) asking people to write the city to save the Crime Prevention Coordinator jobs, which are reportedly in danger of being cut if a federal grant is not renewed. City councilmembers’ contact info is here; mayor contact info is here. ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: One other note: There’s a new officer joining the Community Police Team: Jonathan Kiehn – Officer Jill Vanskike is leaving CPT to join the detective team.

The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets the third Tuesday of most months, 7 pm, SW Precinct.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Wind on the way
May 18, 2010 11:01 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Weather Watch: Wind on the way
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

A “special weather statement” is in effect (read it here) – bottom line, it’s going to get windy again, with gusts up to 45 mph predicted for tomorrow night, after a breezy day. Here’s the full forecast. Meteorologist Cliff Mass calls it “a serious storm” and breaks it down bigtime here – but also points out the worst of it will be on the seacoast.

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Case closed, in the saga of the purloined pig from Joe’s
May 18, 2010 7:51 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Case closed: Two months after it was reported missing, the Endolyne Joe’s pig is back. We noticed it this morning and asked Dickie about the backstory. She said it’s been back for a few weeks; a Joe’s employee was at a real-estate open house and spotted the pig in one of the bedrooms! The employee called Dickie; Dickie called the police; the pig was recovered. No info on the fate of the pilferer.

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See the newest West Seattle traffic cams, “live” online
May 18, 2010 6:03 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

New city-operated traffic cameras (NOT “red-light” cameras, just traffic-monitoring live cams) are finally online in West Seattle. Three of the latest images are “live” above – 42nd/Alaska in The Junction, Fauntleroy/Cloverdale near the ferry terminal, and 11th/Spokane near the “low bridge.” A westbound “high bridge” image is showing now too:

And there’s one at California/Alaska (see it here). The newest ones are not on the “traffic cameras” list on the city website, but they are on the Travelers’ Information Map. And we’ll add these to the WSB Traffic page tonight. (Hat tip to our friends at Capitol Hill Seattle and My Ballard, who published updates after discovering “their” new cams are online, inspiring us to check on “ours.”)

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Followup: Tour of “The Hole” brings one rapid result
May 18, 2010 4:34 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Thanks to commenter “dd” for observing that a crew was at “The Hole” this afternoon, removing the tagged green tarp that had been up against the fence – one of the problems pointed out by the community leaders who led a walking tour of the site late Monday (here’s our original report, published this morning). We went over to check on “dd”‘s report, and got the photo you see above. The crew told us they’d be replacing the tarps.

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High-school sports: Chief Sealth’s spring wrap-up
May 18, 2010 3:49 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

From Chief Sealth International High School athletic director Sam Reed, we have Sealth’s spring sports wrapup – just in time for Thursday night’s spring-sports banquet – read on for his full writeup:Read More

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Parking in The Triangle: Agenda for this Thursday’s meeting
May 18, 2010 2:20 pm
|    Comments Off on Parking in The Triangle: Agenda for this Thursday’s meeting
 |   Transportation | Triangle | West Seattle news

During the very first meeting of the special West Seattle Triangle Advisory Group (WSB coverage here), it was clear that parking was one of the hottest issues regarding the area’s future. City planner Susan McLain promised a special meeting would be devoted to that topic – and today she’s sent the agenda for that SDOT-hosted meeting, coming up this Thursday:

I. Introductions (10 min) Casey Hildreth, SDOT
II. Review of 2009 West Seattle Junction parking project (20 min) Danté Taylor, SDOT
III. Discussion of key issues (30 min) All
a. Employee parking
b. Residential (RPZ) parking
c. Hide-and-ride, park-and-ride
d. BRT parking impacts
IV. Next steps (5 min) Casey
V. Q & A (25 min) All

(BRT refers to RapidRide – “Bus Rapid Transit.”) The meeting’s at 6 pm Thursday, Senior Center of West Seattle, and everybody’s welcome. Meantime, the city has posted documents and graphics from past Triangle Advisory Group meetings here.

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Once a target of crime, Pigeon Point’s signpost now fights it
May 18, 2010 1:15 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Pigeon Point | West Seattle news

Remember the saga of the Pigeon Point sign – first poking fun at a road closure, then cut down and stolen, then having its frame replaced? Now, Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council co-chair Jim Sander has created a new two-sided sign – to urge participation in Blockwatch. You can figure out the first photo; in the second one, if you don’t recognize the face, that is local uber-involved Pigeon Point resident (and former PPNC chair) Pete Spalding. Speaking of Blockwatch, dare we remind you again that tonight is the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council‘s monthly meeting, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct, which is also where the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network will have its second meeting one week from tonight – Tuesday, May 25, 6:30 pm (here’s the Facebook invite).

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First the letter, then the tour: A visit to “The Hole”
May 18, 2010 9:45 am
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

As first reported here April 8, the Southwest District Council voted to send a letter to the owners of The Hole – the excavated-then-stalled Fauntleroy Place/Whole Foods site at 39th/Alaska/Fauntleroy – voicing concerns about safety and aesthetics issues. (Here’s our April 13 report with the final text of the letter.) Then at last week’s Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting (WSB coverage here), president Erica Karlovits announced a date was set for a representative for the company that wants to take over the site, Madison Development, to come out for a walking tour and firsthand look at the concerns.

Last night, that tour happened. In the top photo, that’s Madison spokesperson Natalie Quick with Karlovits, her fellow SWDC co-chair Chas Redmond, and West Seattle Junction Association executive director Susan Melrose, who originally proposed the letter. In this clip shot and edited for WSB by Christopher Boffoli, they explain the tour:

As for whether Madison Development is currently liable for The Hole, Quick is checking on that – in a complicated series of transactions tied up with the legal action involving the site, an entity called 3922 SW Alaska LLC holds the note and has filed for judicial foreclosure.

Read on for our notes from the tour, and more photos:Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglars interrupted; 2 arrests
May 18, 2010 7:51 am
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Thanks to Joan (via e-mail) and Rob (via Facebook) for asking about a police search late last night, with K-9, in an area ranging (at least) from 35th/Graham to 39th/Holly. Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith tells WSB that it started when someone who lives in the 6700 block of 40th SW (map) came home to find a burglary in progress. The burglars fled; police started searching and, with K-9 helping follow the trail, found and arrested two suspects. (P.S. As noted earlier, the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets tonight @ the precinct, 7 pm.)

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2 nights till “Once Upon a Mattress” @ West Seattle High School
May 18, 2010 7:30 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Edited since original publication after WSB was notified 5/26/10 by another media outlet that the “promo photos” provided for our use in publicizing the show were actually the property of that media outlet. The photos have been removed at that outlet’s request, and we have removed text that referred to the no-longer-appearing-in-the-story photos.)
Thursday night is opening night for “Once Upon a Mattress,” a joint production of West Seattle High School‘s Drama and Music Departments, playing Thursday-Saturday and again May 27-29. Above, you see the production’s sizable cast, which is also getting help from student marketers who provided this synopsis of the musical’s plot:

A love-sick nobleman seeking to marry his sweetheart does his best to find his ruling prince a suitable bride so that he himself may wed. No one in Prince Dauntless’s kingdom is permitted to marry until the prince himself exchanges vows — a problem hindered by the fact that the prince’s overprotective mother, Queen Aggravain, has thus far thwarted all efforts to marry her son. This does not sit well with the honorable Sir Harry, a man whose heart longs to wed the fair Lady Larkin, and after a long and arduous journey specifically designed to find the prince a bride, Sir Harry returns to his kingdom to present Princess Winnifred of the swamps. Immediately smitten by the princess, Prince Dauntless sets into motion plans for a lavish wedding as his scheming mother cooks up a test that’s sure to send his marital plans awry.

Not only do ticket-buyers support this production, but they’re also helping raise funds for the program’s future.
Tickets for “Once Upon a Mattress” are $10 at the door, $5 with reservations, kids under 12 half-price with a paying adult, and if you make reservations for six, you only pay for five; for reservations, call 206-252-8834. All performances are at 7:30 pm; here’s the Facebook events page.

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West Seattle Tuesday: Crime Prevention Council, Rainbow Festival
May 18, 2010 6:21 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Tuesday: Crime Prevention Council, Rainbow Festival
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Got crime/safety concerns? Your monthly chance to bring them directly to Southwest Precinct police leadership is here again, as the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets tonight, 7 pm at the precinct (Delridge/Webster). Guest speaker tonight is Liquor Control Board Lt. Woodrow Perkins. … At South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor), it’s the first of three days of the Rainbow Festival, with activities starting with the “Parrot Lady” at 10 am and continuing through a reception for the college gallery’s newest show “A Labor of Love“ 5-7 pm (full schedule here) … Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) hosts the “Exile on Main Street” CD release party, 8 pm (details on the Feedback website) … At The Bohemian tonight, it’s Books for Beers, with a portion of beverage sales 6-10 pm – plus proceeds from raffles – going to Room to Read (event flyer here, with appetizer coupon) … Not in West Seattle but of interest if you want to take the next step in helping marine wildlife: As announced by WS-based Seal Sitters, marine-mammal-stranding training is at 6:30 tonight at the Seattle Aquarium (WSB sponsor) … Even more on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.

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More West Seattle volunteering: Circle cleanup; more Rampathon
May 18, 2010 12:19 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

A few more West Seattle volunteerism reports have come in since last weekend, to add to the ones we’d already spotlighted. First, Michele reports from northwest of The Junction:

Patty Blair organized a traffic circle cleanup party at 47th Ave SW and Dakota [map], Saturday, May 15th. 14 neighbors came together to pull weeds, pick up trash and dig up stumps. The traffic circle once knee high in grass looks beautiful. Michele Miller supplied coffee while Patty served homemade carrot muffins and chocolate chip cookies. Neighbors helping out were Barbara and George, Art, Bobbie, Erik and daughters Addy and Riley, Heidi, Lilith and daughter Nora, along with Sherry and daughter Yasmine, also Beth who came from Queen Anne . Many others drove by thanking us and shouting support . By the end of the day we made new friends with our neighbors, strengthened friendships and found a lot of earthworms and snails. Thanks also to the city who supplied gloves, bags and safety vests.

Photo above, Erik and daughter Addy (with others in the background); below, organizer Patty:

(What’s YOUR neighborhood up to? Share it with the rest of West Seattle!) Next – one more project from Rampathon. On Saturday, we showed you the one done that day in Highland Park by Potter Construction (WSB sponsor); turns out another West Seattle-based construction company, Weitzel Construction, had a Rampathon project too – Dave Weitzel shared this photo of the completed project in Magnolia:

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Thinking Christmas already: The lights-by-the-water-tower guy
May 17, 2010 10:03 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

Hundreds of West Seattleites enjoyed his work last holiday season … and even though Christmas is more than seven months away, Jim Winder is well on his way to creating this year’s lights-and-music extravaganza. He sent us photos of a special delivery the other day, with this update:

Been working since January on this year’s Christmas display, welding up a new, bigger Mega Tree and some Mini Trees…and I (just) received my 785 lbs of LED lights!!!

We will be adding nearly 45,000 lights to this year’s display for a total of nearly 55,000 lights!!! We are adding a lot of more elements to the display and hopefully a few other surprises to really make the display a lot more interactive for the people. We are also planning our own website which will have the show hours and when and what songs will be playing. Lighting ceremony will be Thanksgiving night, and will hopefully have a Northwest Celebrity to do the honors.

Along with all that we are also planning on having a collection box for those who would like to donate to a charity to be announced later. We will also be collecting food stuffs for a West Seattle Food bank…

So we are quite excited and can’t wait for the colder weather!!!! (well…at least me anyway…)

What – you don’t quite remember Jim’s lights? Maybe this will refresh your memory.

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WSB Extra: Meet schoolbuilder Julia Bolz before her Alki appearance
May 17, 2010 7:01 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

This Saturday, Julia Bolz speaks at Alki UCC. Event-presenting InSPIRE Seattle is hoping many will come hear about her amazing work. Local writer David Preston spoke with her in advance of her visit.

(All photos in this story are courtesy Ayni Education International)
By David Preston
Special to West Seattle Blog

In 1998, Seattleite Julia Bolz decided to take a sabbatical from her successful immigration law practice to follow her heart around the world. She ended up in Africa, where she focused on empowering the poor — especially women and girls — by working with nongovernmental organizations focused on microfinance, health care, and human rights.

Not long into her journey, she knew the work was for her, so she resigned from the partnership to work full time in the field of social justice. In all, she has worked in, or travelled to, more than 70 countries — more countries than many folks could name — but since early 2002, “right after the Taliban were removed from power,” her focus has been Afghanistan. There, she founded a project called “Journey with an Afghan School” that builds and equips schools, provides teacher training, and builds bridges of understanding between the two countries.

Building a school can be a major undertaking, so I asked Julia why she started there rather than, say, sending blankets (which is what I, a struggling journalist, would have done.)

Read More

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Update: West Seattle Summer Outdoor Movies on the Wall lineup!
May 17, 2010 4:43 pm
|    Comments Off on Update: West Seattle Summer Outdoor Movies on the Wall lineup!
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

That’s “Mamma Mia,” which will kick off the six-week West Seattle Summer Outdoor Movies on the Wall series this year in the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor)/Dr. Wolff courtyard in The Junction. After multiple rounds of idea-seeking (including two rounds here – THANK YOU!), Hotwire proprietor Lora Lewis has just announced the lineup:

Saturday, July 17th – Mamma Mia 2008 Rated PG-13
(with the short, Trip to the Dentist/W.C. Fields)

Saturday, July 24 – War Games 1984 Rated PG

Saturday, July 31st – Fantastic Mr. Fox 2009 Rated PG

Saturday, August 7th – Star Trek 2009 Rated PG-13

Saturday, August 14th – Wayne’s World 1992 Rated PG-13

Saturday, August 21st – Up 2009 Rated G

The movies are free and start at dusk; bring your own chair/blanket and also bring some $ for concessions and raffles that raise money for local nonprofits – and come early to enjoy pre-movie contests/performances/you-never-know-what-might-happen! More on those as the series gets closer – watch the official site, the West Seattle Movies on the Wall Facebook page and Twitter account, and of course WSB (a series co-sponsor).

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Car break-ins, bike theft
May 17, 2010 2:55 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three reports to share in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon – two car break-ins and a bike theft – read on:Read More

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Seeking a sofa: Got a “band couch” that Chief Sealth can use?
May 17, 2010 1:30 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Out of the WSB inbox:

I am the Chief Sealth High School Band Council President and I was hoping that you would post a want ad for a new band couch. A band couch is a huge asset for the band after a long parade or a long day at school. Our current band couch has holes in the cushions and the pull-out bed is dusty beyond belief. A new couch would be greatly appreciated. Please contact me before the start of the new school year. josematthewmiguel@gmail.com Cell- (206) 817-4437

We asked if there were any specific specs – answer: No, they’re just seeking a sofa, “any color.” P.S. If you missed it in our earlier preview of what’s coming up later this week, the CSIHS band is performing at Easy Street in The Junction at 10:30 this Friday morning, during the KEXP Hood-to-Hood live broadcast/all-day victory celebration around West Seattle.

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Northwest Art and Frame loses a longtime feline friend
May 17, 2010 12:43 pm
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

If you didn’t already see this on Northwest Art and Frame‘s Facebook page – they thought more people might want to know about a sad loss that customers will notice too:

Sad news to report…our beloved store cat, Art has passed on into kitty heaven this last Saturday. He was deeply loved and touched the lives of so many in the West Seattle community and beyond for years and will be sadly missed. He spent most of his life offering excellent customer service to all of our great customers and has been spending the last few years in retirement living with store owners Dan & Jeri. He loved you all very much and will be greatly missed!

Art spent a dozen years in the store.

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Ramp-closure update: Lower Spokane St. section NOT reopening
May 17, 2010 10:50 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Spokane St. Viaduct project | West Seattle news

Just got an update from SDOT – they did NOT reopen lower Spokane Street eastbound from East Marginal to 1st Avenue South today after all, because of “electrical problems.” (The aforementioned ramp closure did happen on schedule, though.) More to come.

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If you thought last weekend was good – wait till NEXT weekend!
May 17, 2010 9:45 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

These may already be marked on your calendar in a big way but as the week kicks off, here’s a quick list of the biggest events Thursday-Sunday:

THURSDAY – TASTE OF WEST SEATTLE: This fundraiser for West Seattle Helpline is bigger than ever this year – more than 30 restaurants (listed here), and more than “just” one room at The Hall at Fauntleroy. Your ticket (buy it here via PayPal – you don’t have to have an account – scroll down for info on using credit cards) gets you the right to try everything – if you have time and appetite! WSB is proud to be among the co-sponsors of this year’s Taste of WS.

FRIDAY – KEXP HOOD-TO-HOOD PARTY/BROADCAST/SHOWS/MORE: From pre-dawn till long after dark this Friday, West Seattle rocks with the long-awaited victory party for KEXP Radio’s fundraising Hood-to-Hood Challenge (as first noted here last June). Multiple venues will have live bands – of course the premier West Seattle venue for live music, Skylark Café and Club, is among them, but so is Feedback Lounge (also a WSB sponsor), with its very first live performance ever (Memphis Radio Kings and Kandi Coded). KEXP broadcasts live from West Seattle all day, starting at 6 am at Easy Street Records, which has shows all day too – even the Chief Sealth International High School Marching Band at 10:30 am. Full Easy Street schedule here. Other venues include West 5 and Prost (DJs), Shadowland (DJs, trivia, bands), Cupcake Royale (WSB sponsor) with family fun including live music (even Caspar Babypants!), and Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (DJs, bands). KEXP’s list is here; and if you have friends who need to get over to WS to join you, a free Water Taxi ride coupon is here. Plus, KEXP is having a West Seattle Food Bank food drive at the KEXP tent outside KeyBank at California/Alaska, 10 am-4:30 pm Friday.

SATURDAY – WESTWOOD VILLAGE STREET FAIR: Bouncy toys and magic shows for the kids, live bands/exhibits/activities/raffles for the grownups, even JP Patches! That’s just some of what you’ll find at the first West Seattle street festival of the season, 11 am-7 pm Saturday – here’s the official poster. (Thanks to WV for sponsoring WSB this week to help get the word out.)

SUNDAY – WEST SEATTLE 5K/CELEBRATE SEATTLE SUMMER STREETS: Last year the West Seattle High School PTSA put on the West Seattle 5K for the first time and drew 1,000 walkers/runners; this Sunday, they’re expecting even more. 9 am from the Bathhouse; and like last year, it kicks off the Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets “car-free day” on Alki, with most of Alki and Harbor closed to most vehicle traffic till 5 pm (there’ll be a lane for the Water Taxi shuttle and residents):

(If you’re not registered yet for the WS5K – co-sponsored again this year by WSB – you can do it online till Thursday; after that, you’ll have to do it pre-race onsite.)

Those are just the biggest events – lots more going on, as noted on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.

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West Seattle Monday: To bike or not to bike? And more …
May 17, 2010 6:48 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Monday: To bike or not to bike? And more …
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

RAMP REMINDER: As noted again in detail last night, the 1st Avenue South onramp to the westbound (high) West Seattle Bridge is closed as of this morning and soon to be demolished. See the detour map and lots of project information here.

TO BIKE OR NOT TO BIKE? Whether you are thinking about bicycling for transportation, are doing it already, or think it wouldn’t work for you – come talk about two-wheeling tonight at Sustainable West Seattle‘s Community Forum (just in time for this Friday’s Bike-To-Work Day). Get a look at some bikes, too, including electric models. Bonus – this is at the site of the soon-to-open (June 12th) West Seattle Tool Library (north end of South Seattle Community College [WSB sponsor], 6000 16th SW; map). 7 pm.

NAVOS OPEN HOUSE: The mental-health facility at 2600 SW Holden (map) has an open house tonight for everyone interested in finding out more about its facility and services, 6 pm.

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