West Seattle, Washington
11 Saturday
How should Seattle Public Schools deal with school overcrowding? You get another chance to make suggestions. Days after the district confirmed that it’s pushed back the decisionmaking process on short-term “capacity management” – particularly, where to reopen schools next year – it’s announced a new set of community meetings. The first one is in West Seattle: 6-7:30 pm Monday, November 28th, in the library at the new Denny International Middle School (2601 SW Kenyon). Previously, the district had said decisions would be made this month, and has had only one meeting in this area (October 6th – WSB coverage here). Today’s announcement says the meeting will include “presentations by Seattle Public School Capital Projects and Planning staff members, followed by a question and answer period. Comments from the community will be collected, recorded, considered and included in the District’s Short Term Capacity Management planning process.” The district’s webpage about the “capacity management” process is here.
Texts from WSB’ers may bring images of car crashes or other unhappiness – or maybe, a spontaneous outbreak of art or music! WSB contributor Keri DeTore just shared this photo of the latter, with news that “Singer Amber Flame is doing an impromptu set at Meander’s.” (That’s Meander’s Kitchen north of Morgan Junction.)
(Sketch from West Seattleites’ 2008 City Council presentation about “boulevard” vision for Fauntleroy Way)
During yesterday’s City Council budget meeting, dozens of decisions were made, while a few more alternatives were proposed. One of them involves the so-called “Fauntleroy Way Green Boulevard” concept, which could eventually transform that arterial, through The Triangle as it comes off the bridge and toward The Junction, into a street with a tree-lined median. As reported here last week, Councilmember Tom Rasmussen has proposed earmarking $250,000 in the budget to study and plan for this concept that’s been under consideration for more than three years. Yesterday, Councilmember Mike O’Brien offered an alternative proposal that would instead mark the same amount for as-yet-unspecified neighborhood transportation proposals in the city. Debate ensued; councilmembers including Sally Clark and budget chair Jean Godden voiced support for the “Green Boulevard” study/preps. When the council meets tomorrow, it will vote on which one (if either) goes into their final proposal. (The agenda should be here later; final budget adoption is currently still scheduled for Nov. 21.)
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The livecast has ended, but we’ll replace the video window with the archived version as soon as it’s available; scroll down to read key points from today’s announcement)
(NOTE: Clicking “play” will now show you the ARCHIVED video from this morning’s livecast)
10:22 AM: If you click “play,” you’ll tune into the Seattle Channel‘s online-only live broadcast of an event happening right now – Mayor McGinn and other city reps discussing what’s being done to be ready for potential snow, ice, and other winter road challenges this winter. We’ll summarize key points as it happens/afterward. This is happening at SDOT’s Charles Street facilty on the south side of downtown.
10:30 AM UPDATE: So far the mayor has announced:
–“More effective” salt-brine solution for roads than was used last year
–Seattle Public Utilities and Parks will provide “additional drivers” during storms
–Webpage with street conditions, including where plows have been (see that map page here; screengrab follows)
–SnowWatch tool, to “track and forecast snowfall at the neighborhood level”
10:51 AM UPDATE: The livecast is over; reporters’ questions had moved on to unrelated topics from the election. For the official news release regarding winter preparations, read on:Read More
(Thanks to Eugene for sharing the photo of his 3-year-old son, playing in autumn leaves!)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM TEST: One more reminder, this happens at 11 am – the first nationwide test of this system, and remember, it’s JUST a test; don’t call police/fire/911. Here’s our preview from yesterday.
ROAD REMINDERS: Nightly closures of the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct set to continue tonight, 10 pm-5 am … Concrete-panel replacement at 16th/Myrtle scheduled to continue today.
WHALE TAIL ALE: It’s the sequel to Lowman Brau, and it too will raise money for charity – Whale Tail Ale is launched tonight in simultaneous parties starting at 6 pm, at West Seattle/White Center beverage establishments including Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) – full details here.
EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) invites interested families to tonight’s Open House, 6:30-8:00 pm. The formal program starts at 6:30 pm in the school’s gymnasium (10015 28th SW) followed by an opportunity to tour the campus and meet students/staff. For more information about Explorer West and the admissions process: explorer-west.org
METRO MEETING: Tonight’s your first of two chances in West Seattle to talk about Metro Transit‘s future and its draft proposal for “restructuring” the route system, 6:30 pm, Chief Sealth International High School (details here)
LEARN ABOUT BACKYARD COTTAGES: Backyard cottage workshop by Ncompass Cottage Company (WSB sponsor) with Microhouse, 7 pm at Community School of West Seattle (9450 22nd SW); details here, including how to RSVP. **Afternoon note – Ncompass tells us the workshop is now a full house, no more room.**
COMMUNITY CENTERS’ FUTURE: Alki Community Center gets its turn tonight for a meeting to talk about how things might work under terms of the city’s proposed budget changes, 7 pm (details here)
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: The group’s monthly meeting, 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy (agenda here), 9131 California SW.
JOIN THE GARDEN TOUR COMMITTEE: West Seattle Garden Tour Committee Meeting and Potluck. The West Seattle Garden Tour Committee is actively seeking new volunteers. The committee meets once a month at an appointed member’s home for a potluck and progress report. Interested in tonight’s meeting? E-mail westseattlegt@gmail.com or check out westseattlegardentour.com. to learn more. An agenda with meeting location and driving directions will be provided to anyone interested in attending.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports with means of transportation to watch for – stolen car and stolen bike (the latter, part of what was taken in a garage break-in) – read on:Read More
ORIGINAL 2:40 AM REPORT: More Seattle Fire crews are on their way to what started as a not-so-big response at a multiplex near 26th/Thistle in West Seattle, but is now described as a “roof fire.” We’ll be there shortly.
2:50 AM UPDATE: Our crew is just arriving and says this is a complex right across the street from Chief Sealth International High School. Scanner traffic says a chimney fire has extended into more than one unit, but the fire is under control. Police are being called for traffic control on SW Thistle. Our crew says firefighters are cutting ventilation holes in the building’s roof.
3:32 AM UPDATE: Damage estimate and cause investigation have to wait till fire investigators can make it here from another major fire scene they have been working elsewhere in the city (an ATM/bank fire in Madison Park). No injuries reported here, and the fire is pretty much out. We’ll add followup info whenever it’s available later this morning.
1:50 PM: Official investigation and damage info just in from SFD’s Kyle Moore: He says the first report was a “911 call reporting a fire from a fireplace that had grown out of control,” and that, “A Seattle Fire Investigator is calling this accidental in nature caused by a chimney fire that expanded to the wood walls around it. The damage estimate is $50,000 to the structure and $10,000 to the contents.” The Red Cross is helping those who weren’t able to go back into their units.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“We’re an urban village. Urban villages are supposed to have bus service.”
So said one attendee at Tuesday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting, voicing opposition to the Metro restructuring proposal that could end Route 55 service in North Admiral.
Though there wasn’t a formal topic or presentation, the proposed Metro restructuring for next year, to be launched in conjunction with the debut of RapidRide, was a hot topic. Attendees were urged to speak up at Metro’s two West Seattle meetings about “restructuring” – the first of which is tonight (6:30 pm, Chief Sealth International High School). And ANA will draft a letter objecting to the prospective elimination of North Admiral service, while also extending an invitation for a Metro rep to speak at its December meeting.
“Can we make a trade for light rail?” somebody quipped.
“I’m a big fan of mass transit and I want to see it succeed,” said outgoing ANA secretary Jim Cavin. He, by the way, was the lone group leader not to be running in the election that also happened during last night’s meeting, along with a discussion of two potentially big events the group is planning before the year’s out – a tribute, and a tree lighting:Read More
(UPDATED 11:07 PM WITH MORE REACTION)
Tonight’s first and only round of election results from King County is now published. Here are the toplines on major issues/races (including the latest statewide numbers):
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DIST. PROP 1 ($60 car-tab tax):
60% no
40% yes
Reaction from Councilmember Tom Rasmussen: ““It’s clear that voters support better transit and safer streets, but it’s also apparent that we need more progressive options for how cities fund building our transportation systems. That’s why despite tonight’s setback, this is just the beginning.”
SEATTLE PROP 1 (Families and Education Levy)
59% yes
41% no
From statement by Mayor Mike McGinn: “This Levy is focused on outcomes. We will design programs to achieve clear outcomes and hold service providers accountable, ensuring that the programs we fund are delivering measurable results. We will make our investments based on data, and we will adapt those investments if the data shows something is not working.”
STATE INITIATIVE 1183 (liquor privatization)
60% yes
40% no
Reaction from Gov. Gregoire: ““The voters have spoken. I remain concerned about Initiative 1183’s unintended consequences. This initiative expands the sale of liquor, which can present risks to our public safety. Additionally, we know that Washington has one of the nation’s highest ‘no sales to minors’ compliance rates at 95 percent – compared to the private sector, which has a 76 percent compliance rate. We must closely monitor the implementation of Initiative 1183 and work to avoid any unintended public safety risks.”
STATE INITIATIVE 1125 (tolling)
51% no
49% yes
Reaction from County Executive Dow Constantine (via WSB partner The Seattle Times): “It means that we have once again said to Tim Eyman and his wealthy backers, ‘We are not gonna take it from you any more’.”
STATE INITIATIVE 1163 (home care)
67% yes
33% no
See other statewide ballot measures’ results here
SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD:
Position 1 – Maier* 52%, Peaslee 48%
Position 2 – Carr* 55%, Martin 45%
Position 3 – Martin-Morris* 61%, Buetow 39%
Position 6 – McLaren 51%, Sundquist* 48%
Reaction from Marty McLaren (via WSB partner The Seattle Times): “I’m thrilled … It seems like the voters have heard the message.”
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL:
Position 1 – Godden* 54%, Forch 46%
Position 3 – Harrell* 62%, Meacham 38%
Position 5 – Rasmussen* 73%, Pusey 27%
Position 7 – Burgess* 81%, Schraer 19%
Position 9 – Clark* 65%, Ferguson 34%
KING COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 8
McDermott* 67%
Toledo 33%
SEATTLE PORT COMMISSION
Position 2 – Tarleton* 56%, Pope 44%
Position 5 – Bryant* 63%, Willard 37%
(Asterisks denote incumbents.) Next King County results release: Around 4:30 pm Wednesday.
Starting to fill up your holiday calendar? More dates to add – courtesy of the West Seattle Junction Association. WSJA director Susan Melrose (in a comment on the Junction trick-or-treat-street discussion) announced this afternoon that the schedule’s now published – see it here. Highlights include the Junction Tree Lighting event, 5 pm on Saturday, December 3rd; Santa photos on three Sundays; mule-drawn-carriage rides on two Sundays; and something new – a nighttime Farmers’ Market, 5-8 pm on Thursday, December 22nd, in Junction Plaza Park. Also watch for your chance to enter The Junction’s $3,000 holiday raffle.
We’re welcoming one of our newest WSB sponsors today – Fresh Bistro in The Junction, on the ground floor at Mural (4725 42nd SW).
As always, new sponsors are offered the chance to share information about their business. Here’s some of what Fresh Bistro is proudest of:
Relaxed, Comfortable, Fresh
Diners can escape to an intimate environment influenced by artistic farm murals and an open floor plan and kitchen. Fresh Bistro delivers the true essence of a bistro experience with indoor and seasonal, outdoor seating, personable service and welcoming atmosphere. Our menus showcase a variety of flavorful selections for every palate, including seafood, vegetarian offerings, meat, and salads. On-the-go diners can enjoy gourmet takeout, while parties can take advantage of our private space for up to 16 guests. Each menu creation is inspired by our passion for bringing sustainable and eco-friendly ideals to the table through an innovative and savvy use of the season’s best from local food producers.
Service, Sustainability, Stewardship
Fresh Bistro staff strives to deliver the highest level of service to every guest and is equally committed to the serving the environment and community. Along with sourcing ingredients from local producers and farmers, we continuously seek new ways to use area suppliers, assisting the economy and agriculture community. We are dedicated to reducing our environmental footprint with sustainable business practices, including recycling, composting, and reuse of products.
Right now, diners can get an exclusive “25% off brunch” code by
“liking” Fresh Bistro on Facebook – facebook.com/freshbistro. Fresh Bistro also is participating in Dine Around Seattle, Sundays through Thursdays, three courses for $30 – see the menu options here. (Make reservations online by going here.) And it’s all-night Happy Hour in the bar, Mondays-Thursdays.
We thank Fresh Bistro for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
As reported here two months ago, Spokane-based AmericanWest Bank is seeking to buy Viking Bank (WSB sponsor), which has a West Seattle branch in The Junction – and the deal’s just cleared a hurdle. Viking announced today that its shareholders have “approved the plan of merger and acquisition,” with “yes” votes representing more than 88 percent of Viking’s shares. The bank’s announcement says, “The transaction is expected to close before year end and is subject to customary closing conditions including the approval of Viking Bank’s regulatory agencies.” Once everything’s finalized, Viking is expected to become part of AmericanWest, including a name change, according to this FAQ.
At 11 am tomorrow, the first-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System will be seen and heard on a variety of media – over-the-air/cable/satellite TV, radio, etc. The test is scheduled to last about (updated) thirty seconds. Authorities are worried people will call 911 to find out what’s going on – so in a word, DON’T. According to the official federal info about the test, here’s what you will hear and see:
During the test, listeners will hear a message indicating that “This is a test.” Although the EAS Test may resemble the periodic, monthly EAS tests that most Americans are already familiar with, there will be some differences in what viewers will see and hear. The audio message will be the same for all EAS Participants; however, due to limitations in the EAS, the video test message scroll may not be the same or indicate that “This is a test.” This is due to the use of the live EAN code – the same code that would be used in an actual emergency. The text at the top of the television screen may indicate that an “Emergency Action Notification has been issued.” This notification is used to disseminate a national alert and in this case, the test. In addition, the background image that appears on video screens during an alert may indicate that “This is a test,” but in some instances there might not be an image at all.
(Marcus Pimpleton directing CSIHS/WSHS musicians during last month’s Huling Bowl)
He is perhaps the most visible school-music leader in West Seattle – and he’s just won a big honor: KCTS has announced its latest list of “Golden Apple Awards,” and on the list of individual winners is Marcus Pimpleton, music director at Denny International Middle School and band director at adjacent Chief Sealth International High School, who also directs Seattle’s All-City Band. He’s the only West Seattle winner in this year’s awards, which will be presented at a ceremony next year; winners also receive a cash prize and will be profiled by Channel 9. Congratulations, Mr. Pimpleton!
ADDED 11:38 AM: We asked for his reaction, and here it is!
I am thankful to the parents who nominated me for this award and to KCTS and Pemco for the honor. It goes without saying that I am very proud of the work we are doing in the Denny and Sealth Music Programs as well as with the Seattle Schools All-City Band. I am excited about the opportunity that the KCTS Golden Apple Program provides to shine some light on our programs and students. None of the work we have engaged in would be possible if it were not for the high level of community support we have received, the parents who have volunteered and caught on to the vision of ensuring high level musical experiences and access to all students, the leadership of principals Jeff Clark and John Boyd who bought in to the vision for a 6-12 music pathway and had the conviction to lay the foundation for it, and most importantly the “buy in” of student leaders who commit themselves to participating in our student leadership programming and to mentoring peers and incoming students through our spring and midwinter break camps, our Junior All-City Band program, and in various other capacities too lengthy to mention here. It is with a great community of supporters that this award is shared. Thank you all.
Delayed by breaking news, here’s our abbreviated daily preview, with 5 items worth noting before it’s too late:
ELECTION DAY: If you’re using a dropbox (downtown is the closest), your ballot needs to be in it by 8 pm. If you’re mailing your ballot, it has to be postmarked today. More info here. (P.S. USPS says as long as you get your ballot into a collection box before its last scheduled pickup time for today, it’ll have today’s postmark.)
TRAFFIC ALERT #1: SDOT crews are scheduled to start 2 weeks of work replacing concrete panels on 16th Avenue SW at SW Myrtle; details (including traffic logistics) here.
TRAFFIC ALERT #2: Overnight closures of the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct are expected to continue all week – 10 pm to 5 am again tonight; more details here.
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Monthly meeting at 7 pm, Admiral Congregational Church (California/Hill), with officer elections on the association‘s agenda.
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Monthly board meeting tonight for the Fauntleroy Community Association, all welcome, 7 pm at the schoolhouse (9131 California SW).
ORIGINAL 9:16 AM REPORT: What was a major “heavy rescue” response to 18th/Elmgrove (map) has just been downgraded to a “motor vehicle accident with multiple patients,” per the scanner. We have a crew on the way to the scene.
9:29 AM UPDATE: The patients are described as a 30-year-old man with shoulder pain and a 10-month-old baby who was in the back seat of the car that was involved. Both are being taken to the hospital but neither is described as seriously hurt, per the scanner. Our crew at the scene says a school bus also was involved, with about six kids on board, reported to be from Roxhill Elementary, but none of them are reported hurt, and another bus is arriving to take them to school.
9:56 AM UPDATE: Police tell us they are still sorting out the circumstances of the crash. As the photo above shows, both the school bus and the car involved wound up on the sidewalk/lawn of property at the intersection. SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore has spoken to media at the scene and confirms that the school bus’s seven students and driver were all checked out and are OK:
A tow truck has already arrived.
No, it’s not about pedaling under the influence. Bicycles for Humanity Seattle and the Northwest Wine Academy are teaming up on November 19th to collect donated bikes/parts at an event also featuring the fall release of four new student-created wines: 2009 Cabernet Franc, 2009 Merlot, 2010 Chardonnay and 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon. Set your reminder for noon-5 pm on the 19th, South Seattle Community College, 6000 16th SW. The bikes go to South Africa, for villagers to use for work-related transportation in an area where 1 in 2 are unemployed; all types of bikes are welcome – mountain and road bikes, adult bikes, kids’ bikes.
EDITOR’S NOTE: In the ongoing discussion over the Downtown Emergency Service Center plan for a 75-apartment building in Delridge to house homeless people living with mental illness, we have heard many voices – concerned neighbors, supportive neighbors, neighbors remaining neutral to try to coordinate discussion/information, neighborhood-group leaders, DESC executives, government funders. Not long after last month’s Delridge Community Forum about the project, we happened onto a Facebook note by a Delridge resident/community activist who was viewing the discussion through another prism: That of a person living with mental illness, who has experienced homelessness. She gave us permission to publish it as an opinion essay.
By Galena White
Special to West Seattle Blog
I attended the community meeting about the DESC project on October 11th. It was intended to serve as a bridge between the residents of my neighborhood and an organization that wants to build an assisted-living community in my neighborhood.
I understand that at the first public meeting for this project, there was significant resistance to the idea, mainly because residents were worried about the character of the residents-to-be. At the meeting I attended, there were some mentions of concern over whether the new residents would have sufficient access to health care and groceries, since our neighborhood is mostly residential and has few amenities. Unfortunately, I believe those concerns to have been weak justification for the anger, fear, and prejudice that was palpable in the room. I think that most of the people who attended were afraid that crazy homeless criminals were going to invade their community. The two women who sat at my table seemed extremely upset, saying that the project was unacceptable because it would be within a block of their homes and children.
One official mentioned that the other residents who live in DESC housing have an overall lower crime rate than the general populace, and also said that the crimes those residents had committed were mostly related to loitering, because they had been homeless. I’ve been homeless. I spent most of the time from 1998 to 2003 with nothing but a backpack (with no income for a lot of the time) or living in a van because I couldn’t afford an apartment.
I was eventually lucky enough to find housing in a similar project to this one, and then to graduate to a regular apartment which is funded in part by a national low-income-housing program. Many others are not as fortunate, because there are not currently enough buildings and not enough funding to provide help to those who desperately need it. Since I found housing, I’ve been attending college, going to therapy, volunteering in my community and trying to overcome my disability. My hope is to eventually have a good job, a garden, and the ability to travel. If organizations like the DESC had not been able to find cheap land to build housing, I might now only be dreaming of spending the day in the library to stay warm.
When the meeting had already gone over-time, the facilitator was scrambling to find a representative from the City of Seattle to answer a question about what it would be like to have mentally ill people living in the neighborhood. I wanted to stand up and speak, but she had specifically asked for replies from invited speakers – no doubt because she didn’t think that any of the community members had anything positive to say about the mentally ill. I would have stood, despite my crippling anxiety (and probably embarrassed myself by stuttering), to tell everyone in the room that I am mentally ill.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
We could carry the Wild Western metaphor to extremes when writing about a particular West Seattle event tonight … starting with Brent Amaker in his trademark hat, which of course he sported while making an impromptu speech to the gathering of West Seattle movers-and-shakers who filled the loft at Mission tonight. But … we’ll try not to be too unbridled.
“We are ‘The West’,” Amaker proclaimed — a West Seattle social/networking/activism alliance that’s taken shape over the past few weeks, with a mostly word-of-mouth network drawing interested parties to The West’s first major mixer tonight.
Founders of The West – Amaker, Lora Swift of Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) and Swift Media Solutions, and Lane Bueche of Motherlode – are confident the posse/coalition/group/network can do big things for a good cause – and to further maximize West Seattle’s community-coolness factor.
In the early going, they’re expecting to plot an event that’ll do something for charity. Something involving art, and/or music, particularly relevant since, as everybody around the room introduced her/himself, there were more than a few self-identified musicians and artists, as well as entrepreneurs whose businesses support art and music – proprietors from Skylark Café and Club, Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), West 5, Shadowland, host venue Mission, The Workshop, Harbor Properties, and others (we couldn’t hear all the introductions from our spot in the corner). Many have already been involved in West Seattle-wide coolness-for-causes (think West Seattle for Japan, Lowman Brau, West Seattle Outdoor Movies, just a small sample).
Whatever happens, “It’s gonna be f***in’ cool,” promised Amaker, as loud whoops of approval erupted.
We had to gallop into the night shortly thereafter, while the revelry and strategizing continued behind Mission’s facade:
If you’re interested in connecting with “The West,” best place to do that, we’re told, is by “liking” its Facebook page – but be ready for a wild ride.
Four brief West Seattle Crime Watch reports to share tonight – a package taken from a porch, and three car break-ins, including one that might have had a witness, since it was in a busy parking lot:Read More
That’s part of the loft at Caffe Fiore – opening tomorrow in a new North Admiral live/work building at 2206 California SW. Right next to West Seattle Fabric Company (WSB sponsor), whose proprietor Monica Skov was among those who dropped in for 
a peek at the shop tonight. They weren’t selling coffee, just opening the doors to anyone who wanted to drop by and have a look around. With the loft, it’s West Seattle’s only two-story coffeehouse. Caffe Fiore is what you might call a “micro-chain,” to take the phrase from a businessperson with whom we were talking at another event tonight; this is its fourth all-organic coffeehouse, with the other three in North Seattle Though the building is brand-new, the interior is designed to look historic upstairs – brick walls, recycled wood flooring, ironwork – and the lighting is so warm, our photos of people had to be converted to black/white, like proprietor Deming Maclise and general manager Katrine Callahan at right. You have to see it in person to appreciate it – and you can do that starting at 6 tomorrow morning (hours are listed here).
As noted in the city’s ongoing budget process, Seattle’s city-run community centers offer a lot more than you might realize. If you think they are just places to go play basketball or hang out – you’re missing some of their well-kept secrets. At High Point Community Center (which has a city-organized public meeting tonight), the Small Scholars preschool program is under new leadership. 
We talked on Friday with Marquita Mosby, who took over Small Scholars this fall. The program (run by the Associated Recreation Council) is for ages 3-5, 9:30 am-1 pm on weekdays, with options for 2-, 3-, or 5-day participation. Marquita says she and her team pack a lot into those hours, from preschool traditions like circle time and play time, to language-learning (they’ve been working on Spanish).
With the expansive park and field grounds right out the door, the preschoolers take nature walks, too. When they show a particular interest, the curriculum responds, she explains – lately there’s been a lot of talk about volcanoes, so they’ve been talking about real-life volcanoes and checking out the ever-popular science-fair staple, the baking-soda-and-vinegar variety. There are openings in the program right now; find out more by calling 206-684-7422 (you can also reach Marquita directly at 206-321-7952).
Today we welcome a new sponsor, Hood Web Management, an Arbor Heights-based business that specializes in website design, website management, site maintenance for existing websites, search-engine optimization, and online marketing services. 
Owner Kane Jamison says he’s committed to helping local businesses: “We offer effective online marketing solutions for local businesses, and we’re great at what we do! We have years of experience in building and managing websites and that experience is what makes us such a great value to our clients. We offer a full spectrum of web solutions for business owners including website design, website management and maintenance for existing websites, search engine optimization, online marketing services, and more. We support our community and do our best to support local businesses and keep our dollars in the community.”
Kane says there’s some real advantages of having someone manage your website. “The majority of our clients come to Hood Web Management because they recognize that we can save them time, money, and headaches. Instead of spending four hours trying to figure out how to make a change to their site, we can do it in an hour or less, and more importantly, we know the best way to complete the task. Our clients are frequently delighted to find out that we can take their existing website and improve it by making it faster, by reducing website errors and other issues that cause visitors to leave the site, making small site changes that increase their search traffic, and a number of other similarly beneficial changes. We have yet to run across a client site that couldn’t be improved, and it’s typically something the website owner just isn’t aware of.”
Hood Web Management has done pro-bono work for such community organizations as the Environmental Science Center, Sustainable Burien, and Ballard-based SeaChar. He’s also a member of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
DEAL: For a limited time, West Seattle Blog readers can get 25% off their first invoice with Hood Web Management! Start here.
We thank Hood Web Management for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
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