Reader report: Good Samaritan gets child out of danger

Out of the WSB inbox, from Robyn W:

Around 8:30 tonight, I was driving south on Fauntleroy near the Fairmount playfield when a toddler from an apartment complex suddenly ran into the street chasing after a ball. No adult was seen coming after the child and he made it all the away across the street. I was completely stunned and pulled over. Luckily, the driver behind me also stopped his car, and went on to stop the traffic in both directions, retrieve the little boy and bring him back to his home. I didn’t have a chance to speak to this Good Samaritan, but in case he reads your blog, I just wanted to thank him for what he did. While I hope my child would never run into the street, I am glad there are good folks in West Seattle keeping an eye out for children’s safety.

Reducing runoff pollution: Sustainable West Seattle’s new grant

(WSB photo from Day 2 of West Seattle Summer Fest, 7/9/11)
A month ago at West Seattle Summer Fest, we took that photo of Sustainable West Seattle‘s Cate White talking about ways to reduce toxic runoff – a top pollution problem in Puget Sound. Tonight, SWS has announced a grant that will help them educate even more community members about how to reduce the problem. Here’s the full text of their announcement:

Sustainable West Seattle has been awarded a $20,000 grant from The Russell Family Foundation to help community members restore Puget Sound.

The group will be building an in-depth community outreach program aimed at helping educate local citizens about the sources of toxic runoff in the West Seattle area. Toxic runoff from sealed surfaces such as paved streets, sidewalks and rooftops is the number one source of toxins entering Puget Sound each year. Pollutants include motor oil, pesticides, fertilizers, grease, paint, heavy metals and dog poop. This toxic mix threatens human health, the economic vitality of the region, and the survivability of the Sound’s most emblematic species: salmon and orcas.

The grant from The Russell Family Foundation will enable Sustainable West Seattle’s volunteers to teach hundreds of our neighbors about simple actions they can take to reverse the damage to Puget Sound and restore it to health.

“We think once the public becomes more aware of how much toxic runoff enters our local waters each year, they will be motivated to take very simple steps to help reverse this damage,” said Cate White, Sustainable West Seattle Board Member and leader of the toxic runoff grassroots team.

Sustainable West Seattle will be scheduling presentations at several West Seattle Community Centers. At each presentation $1,000 in prizes will be raffled to audience members who pledge to personal actions to reduce polluted runoff. Prizes will include water cisterns, organic compost, native plants, car wash certificates, bus passes, and more!

If you are interested in having Sustainable West Seattle visit your church, synagogue, or other community center, please contact cate@sustainablewestseattle.org. Events will be scheduled for late summer through the autumn.

North Delridge updates: Skatepark progress, NDNC tomorrow

While in North Delridge for the Attorney General’s foreclosure-lawsuit announcement on Friday, we noticed the Delridge Skatepark is continuing to take shape in a big way. Above and below are photos we took Friday morning. Subsequently checked with project manager Kelly Davidson, and she says all is progressing well. The skatepark’s dedication is scheduled to happen in conjunction with the Delridge Day festival on September 17th.

Speaking of Delridge Day, the North Delridge Neighborhood Council is organizing the festival this year, as previously mentioned here (including the call for vendors, published yesterday). And they’re one of the few neighborhood councils keeping up their regular meeting schedule this month, while most others are taking the month off, so you’re invited to the NDNC meeting at 6:30 pm tomorrow (Monday), scheduled (weather permitting) to happen right next to the skatepark site in the Delridge Community Center park area (Delridge/Genesee). Agenda items will include a vote on entries received for the NDNC logo contest!

Seattle Chinese Garden’s Friendship Wall: How to be part of it

(Photo courtesy Seattle Chinese Garden)
Hundreds of polished green granite bricks will soon adorn that wall at the Seattle Chinese Garden on the north side of the South Seattle Community College campus atop Puget Ridge. Yours can be one of them, if you order it by August 25 (provided the remaining allotment doesn’t run out sooner). The bricks will decorate the Friendship Wall, with its first side to be dedicated on October 15th. Even the garden’s own neighbors have secured a spot; the garden says Puget Ridge resident Judy Cashman got 40 families to join in on a specially inscribed brick. A news release from the Chinese Garden quotes her as saying that “… my neighbors describe it as a refuge and a jewel they enjoy visiting, so of course they wanted to support it.” You can find the order form (and see a sample brick) by going here, or call the garden office at 206-934-5219.

Advance traffic alert: Partial Viaduct closure in two weeks

For your planning-ahead purposes, note that the most recent round of SDOT traffic advisories mention a closure of the *southbound* Alaskan Way Viaduct coming up Friday night 8/19 through Monday morning 8/22.

Seafair Sunday: Blue Angels fly, but without ‘Fat Albert’

After that Museum of Flight flyby, the Blue Angels landed at Boeing Field about 15 minutes ago, concluding their Seafair 2011 performances. No “Fat Albert” today, though – the C-130 always goes up before the six F/A-18’s, but that didn’t happen today because of what official Seafair station KIRO reported via Twitter was a “maintenance issue.” (Good thing WSB’s Christopher Boffoli chose Saturday for his flight – see his story here with video and photos, if you haven’t already.) We watched today’s pre-takeoff events from the fence facing the six jets’ parking area – a closer view than the media zone:

For our fellow aviation fans, we’ll be in touch with Seafair to find out when they’re flying out; next weekend, they’re scheduled to perform in Fargo, North Dakota.

ADDED: Seafair says they’re expected to leave Tuesday morning, but will doublecheck the time on Monday. Meantime, one more great photo, from David Hutchinson:

As he captioned it … “show’s over.”

West Seattle Crime Watch: Drive-by BBs; luggage theft; more

Two Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports to share (with a suspicion-evoking sighting added 12:18 pm) – read on:Read More

West Seattle Sunday: Seafair finale, Tracy Dart benefit, more

(Kent Harris just shared that photo of his son Gavin, 5, “who has been a HUGE Blue Angels fan since he could barely walk. This year he unexpectedly had the fortune of meeting 2 of them! Boy, was he in shock.”)
Will the sun come out full-strength in time for the Seafair crescendo and conclusion this afternoon – not to mention other summer fun? Forecast promises eventual clearing. Here are a few of today’s highlights:

BLUE ANGELS, FLEET TOURS, HYDROS, ONE MORE TIME: It’s the last official Blue Angels show; the sun came out just in time yesterday, so a few elements of the “high” show were added to the “low” show. If you are not going to Lake Washington to watch the air show (which features other acts throughout the day) and hydroplane races, earlier WSB coverage has details on watching from close-to-West-Seattle Boeing Field/Museum of Flight (where you’ll see them takeoff and land, as well as flybys during their performance). It’s also the last day for fleet tours on the downtown waterfront (including Terminal 25, just north of the West Seattle Bridge) – details here.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska. Here are the highlights shared by market management:

Come on down and weigh in on our Shopper Survey from 11-1 pm! We’ll ask some basic questions about what part of Seattle folks are coming from to shop at the market and in The Junction during the same visit and ask about their winter shopping habits. We have a small but useful gift for those first 200 shoppers who take the survey! Also, Hot Cakes returns with her delicious molten chocolate and s’mores cookies! Music: Canote Brothers; Kids Tent: Yarrow Spa (edible facial recipes!)

2ND WEEK FOR NEW FOOD TRUCK: New food truck Damiana’s Blue Truck Special will be back in West Seattle from 11 am until 2 pm at 3623 SW Alaska St. (outside Dr. Terrill Harrington’s medical practice) in The Triangle.

GATEWOOD FAMILIES PLAYDATE: The Gatewood Elementary PTA is hosting its second playdate for incoming students, 1-3 pm on the Gatewood playground. Everyone is welcome. Organizers say, “This is a great way to meet new friends before school starts.” For questions, please contact Jennifer Dempsey: (206) 935-0909 or jlcather@hotmail.com

‘OLIVER!’ MATINEE: Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) presents a matinee performance of “Oliver!” at West Seattle High School Theater (3000 California SW), 3 pm today. $18 for adults/$15 for students & seniors. Can’t make this showing? Remaining dates are August 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 7:30 PM and August 14, and 21 at 3:00 PM. Full WSB announcement here

‘WE HEART TRACY DART’: Tonight is the night for the “We Heart Tracy Dart” benefit at The Bridge (4439 35th SW), 7-10 pm – details here. Donations at the door to help Tracy, who’s worked to raise money for breast-cancer research even while fighting the disease herself. Live music, drawings for great donated prizes, more. Official website here.

Video/photos: Go sky-high with the Blue Angels’ ‘Fat Albert’

(Watch for the view of West Seattle – and the SBX – through the open cargo door!)
Story, photos, and video by Christopher Boffoli
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

At the age of 10, I was delighted to be just tall enough to ride the infamous Rebel Yell roller coaster at Kings Dominion in Virginia. A big part of the victory was that my super-competitive but shorter younger brother wasn’t. He had to cool his jets with the parents while I happily went through the turnstile to ride with my pretty teenage cousin.

However, the victory of my foray into big-kid territory was short-lived once we were strapped in and began to ascend the coaster’s towering first hill. With the ominous sound of clicking, we lurched ever closer to the top – and the inevitable drop on the other side. It was one of the first times I remember experiencing what it was like to suffer the consequences of a choice (not to mention to know how it felt to set a land-speed record for regret).

Of course I immediately jumped at the chance to fly aboard the Blue Angels’ C-130 support aircraft that they call “Fat Albert.”

But it wasn’t until after I enthusiastically said “yes” that I did a bit of research on what the flight would entail. Compared with the Blue Angels’ famous sleek F/A-18 Hornets, the 150,000-pound Fat Albert looked like a chunky, lumbering cargo plane.

I hadn’t seen it fly before but figured it might do a few low passes, wave its wings around, and we’d be back on terra firma for a photo op. I figured wrong. With an exhilarating, stomach-churning flight, I was reminded again of just how deceiving looks can be.

Read More

West Seattle weekend scene: Closer look at the half-moon

Thanks to Greg for sharing that view of tonight’s half-moon – which just slipped out of view a short time ago in a spectacular red moonset behind Vashon Island. Forecast says we’ll likely wake up to clouds again today, but that they won’t stay.

ADDED: From Jamie – what the moon looked like just before vanishing from view:

Thanks for sharing photos – editor@westseattleblog.com any time!

13 days till Family Promise of Seattle benefit with Justin Roberts

Family Promise of Seattle, the only homeless shelter in this area helping families stay together while getting back on their feet, is less than two weeks away from a major benefit – Grammy-nominated family-music performer Justin Roberts in concert. Katy Lloyd, who’s helping publicize the performance, notes, “I recently learned that Family Promise receives 6-8 phone calls/week from case workers looking to place a family in emergency housing. Sadly, Family Promise can only handle two families at a time, and each family can take up to 3 months to place in more permanent housing. Now more than ever Family Promise needs the support of our wonderful community to help families in need. Most other shelters must segregate families by gender. This can make the situation for a family in crisis even worse. The goal of Family Promise is to keep families intact and offer case worker support while helping them locate a more secure footing.” The show is at 6:30 pm August 19th at Fauntleroy UCC Church (9140 California SW). Suggested donation at the door is $5/child, $10/adult, $15/family; cookies and lemonade will be sold afterward, also by donation.

Happening now: Biggest West Seattle Outdoor Movies night yet

If you’re not already at the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), hurry – this week’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies presentation, “Despicable Me,” is about 20 minutes away, and it’s the biggest crowd so far this summer – Hotwire’s Lora Swift estimates about 300 so far. MoZo, featuring Bob “Bobcat Bob” Rice, was the opening act (we’ll add video later), and the pre-movie drawing raising money for West Seattle Food Bank and Northwest Hope and Healing is coming up. Check the full season schedule at wsmovies.org (and remember there’s an extra Saturday, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” on August 27, making up for the rainout back on July 16).

ADDED: As promised, video of “Bobcat Bob” playing in MoZo, with Aimee Zoe Tubbs on drums and Moe Provencher on bass:

Love the Seafair/”closest thing we have to Mardi Gras” observation. Moviegoers also heard briefly from two reps on behalf of Hope Lutheran, one of the sponsors on this particular night – newly arrived Pastor Peter Mueller (profiled here on Thursday) and principal Kristen Okabayashi. Next week, the movie is the original “Jurassic Park”; gates open at 6:30 pm and the movie will start at dusk (this week, that meant right about 9, so it’ll be a little earlier) after preshow entertainment and raffles to raise money for local nonprofits.

West Seattle In Motion: Second community progress report

August 6, 2011 5:46 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle In Motion: Second community progress report
 |   Environment | Transportation | West Seattle news

Big achievement leap in the latest weekly report from West Seattle In Motion, the “drive a little less” program that WSB is co-sponsoring this summer/fall. You can still sign up to get incentives including free bus tickets, deals at local businesses (through this weekend, Amante Pizza and Pasta is the participating merchant), and more. Once you sign up, be sure to report in with your achievements – walked to the store? took the bus to work? rode your bike to the park? A brand-new set of numbers with trips saved and emissions reduced is on the WSB “West Seattle In Motion” page right now. Want to sign up? Do it here!

Seafair Saturday 2011, first report: Blue Angels’ hybrid show

Though much of the cloudiness was gone by their Seafair showtime, the Blue Angels did what looked mostly like the “low show” today, with a few straight-up-into-the-blue-sky maneuvers rendering it somewhat of a hybrid. These first two photos are courtesy of JayDee, who watched from the 4th Avenue Costco parking lot, another great spot if you can’t make it to Boeing Field/Museum of Flight or Lake Washington.

Your co-publishers watched from the hydro pits at Lake Washington, and we’ll have some pix/video of both Angels and hydros (the classics were going into the water while we were there) to add later. And we photographed the Blue Angels’ “Fat Albert” flying over the lake with the knowledge that longtime WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli was on board – Seafair PR offered media flights in the crowd-pleaser C-130 this year, and we’ll have something from Christopher for a separate report later. (added – here’s Fat Albert over the log boom:)

Meantime, tomorrow’s the grand finale – one more round of Blue Angels, the rest of the air show, hydros, and fleet tours on the downtown waterfront. (If you go to Lake Washington, here’s the Seafair site map.)

ADDED 9:16 PM: A few more photos from Lake Washington:

The rejuvenated Moby Duck – with a Seafair Pirate or two – is on hand near the hydro pits, where you can watch the boats getting lifted into the water. We were there for the classics, and admired the reflective underside:

That’s the Miss Thriftway. Nearby, the Miss Wahoo:

And the sights included an unusual Seattle Fire Department vehicle:

West Seattle-residing Chef Wayne Johnson on ‘Iron Chef America’

When Food Network re-broadcasts the “Iron Chef America” season 9 finale today, you’ll see a West Seattleite challenging an Iron Chef – Chef Wayne Johnson (executive chef of Andaluca downtown) taking on Michael Symon. The show is on at (updated) 5 pm and 11 pm; it was taped in New York months ago, but “Chef Wayne” was sworn to secrecy regarding even the ingredient he had to tackle. (Since the show already aired several days ago, if you don’t mind spoilers, you can find out who won, and what ingredient was involved, by reading this Puget Sound Business Journal story.) He’s been at the helm of Andaluca for more than 11 years, with honors including being named one of the “Top Chefs in America” by Black Enterprise Magazine; he’s also vice president of the nonprofit Culinary Wonders USA.

5:57 PM NOTE: If you see this on Saturday evening – there’s one more showing ahead (confirmed with program guide), 11 pm.

The WSBeat: Interruptions, intruders, warrants, and more

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:

*Returning to her Arbor Heights home Friday afternoon of last week, a woman encountered two people — described as a man in his 50s and a woman in her 60s — with their hands inside her mailbox. When they realized they had been spotted, the pair drove away northbound on 35th SW in a new green Chevy Blazer.

*Arriving home in the 8600 block of Fauntleroy SW, a woman encountered a stranger. when she asked what he was doing, he mumbled an excuse involving the names of people that didn’t live there. He walked out the front door as she noticed a brown or rust-colored “boxy” ’80s or ’90s sedan pull away from the neighbor’s driveway. It seems the suspect used a hidden key to get in the home and left behind a blue notebook that had references to Craigslist, pawn shops, and eBay. The suspect was a white male, approximately 25 years old, with brown hair and wearing a baseball cap turned backward.

And there’s more information on another intruder case, one previously covered on WSB, among the 12 summaries ahead:Read More

Delridge Day next month! Here’s your chance to be part of it

August 6, 2011 9:51 am
|    Comments Off on Delridge Day next month! Here’s your chance to be part of it
 |   Delridge | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Holli Margell)
You’re invited to be part of a big community celebration coming up next month – Delridge Day! The North Delridge Neighborhood Council is working to make it happen, and putting out a call for vendors:

Would you like to sell some artwork or a craft? Are you a Massage Therapist looking to get your hands on new clients? You’re in luck! This year Delridge Day will be hosted and organized by The North Delridge Neighborhood Council. We need you to help make it a successful celebration.

You can purchase a vendor booth for $75. The cost directly supports the event, and as an added Karma bonus, 15% of the fee goes directly to ARC providing scholarships for Community Center programs. We’re operating on a tight budget with everything being volunteer-based. Any proceeds will benefit the North Delridge Neighborhood Council.

Delridge Day
When: Saturday, Sept. 17th from 11 am-3 pm
Where: Delridge Park 4501 Delridge Way SW

Okay, so you want a booth? Here are the forms, and don’t fret about the deadline of August 1st. That was for the sponsors who wanted to be included on our marketing materials. You have until September 9th to claim your booth. We’re operating on a first-come, first-serve basis.

If you have any further questions, please contact Amanda Leonard,Amanda.leonard.wa@gmail.com or by phone (509) 528-2635.

Hope to see you on Sept. 17th to celebrate Delridge!

Best,

Holli Margell
NDNC Outreach Chair

West Seattle Saturday: ‘Despicable Me,’ ‘Freedom,’ Seafair…

August 6, 2011 8:32 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Saturday: ‘Despicable Me,’ ‘Freedom,’ Seafair…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

That’s the trailer for “Despicable Me,” one of the movies – outdoors and indoors – are among the highlights from the WSB West Seattle (and environs) Events calendar:

CLEAN UP THE PARK, AND SWIM FOR FREE! Colman Pool in Lincoln Park has partnered with the Friends of Lincoln Park to make today’s work party very special. Volunteers who work with the group removing invasive plants in the park from 9 am to noon will each receive a FREE PASS for the open swim at the pool (starts at 1:45). Meet at 9 am in the north parking lot at the kiosk across from SW Rose St. Sturdy shoes and long pants and sleeves suggested. Bring garden gloves and hand clippers, or we’ll have extras.

GARAGE SALING IN GEORGETOWN Venture over to Georgetown for its first-ever Community Garage Sale Day! 9 am-3 pm, sales all over Georgetown, See this Facebook event page – and the online map.

VOLUNTEER WITH EARTH CORPS: EarthCorps Volunteer event, Delridge Natural Area, 10 am – 2 pm. This is a Green Seattle Partnership project. EarthCorps supplies gloves, tools, water, light refreshments and a talk that covers safety, the park you are working in, forest structure, environmental restoration and the overview of the project.

A BREAK FOR P-PATCH VOLUNTEERS: No Barton Street P-Patch work party today.

VISIT THE TOOL LIBRARY: West Seattle Tool Library open at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (east side of main building) 9 am – 2 pm.

BLUE ANGELS, FLEET TOURS, AND OTHER SEAFAIR NOTES: Today and tomorrow are the official Blue Angels shows. On Friday, they did their “low show,” and if the sun doesn’t magically take over by noon or so, you can expect that again. Please see our story from Thursday re: watching them at Boeing Field/Museum of Flight (where you’ll see them takeoff and land, as well as flybys during their performance). And on the downtown waterfront (including Terminal 25, just north of the West Seattle Bridge), fleet tours continue (details here).

VISIT THE VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: Vietnamese Cultural Center (on SW Orchard north of Home Depot) open to the public, noon-3 pm.

TOUR THE CHINESE GARDEN: Free guided tours of the Seattle Chinese Garden every Saturday at 1 pm. Garden Summer Hours: Wednesday through Sunday 12:00 – 5:30 PM. Garden Admission: Free for Seattle residents, members, and children under 5. 6000 16th Avenue SW, the north entrance to South Seattle Community College. Information: www.seattlechinesegarden.org, 206-934-5219, or email info@seattlechinesegarden.org

B-GIRLS AT YOUNGSTOWN: The Queen Sweet 16 – the country’s top 16 b-girls battle it out for the crown and cash prizes. Invitational includes confirmed competitors from WA, OR, VA, TN, NV, PA, CA, MT, and internationally Vancouver, B.C.; Rome, Italy; and Japan. Prelims & Workshops: 11 am – 5 pm at Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW). Finals: 6 – 11 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). 1 on 1 Bgirl competition, 1 on 1 all-styles exhibitions, 2 on 2 Bgirl/Bboy competition, Hip-Hop shows (New Waack City Crew/Fly 6 B Hip Hop Group (Japan)), Poppin and Locking shows. Bgirl / Hip Hop / wacking / house workshops all weekend long. Buy tickets online here.

‘DESPICABLE ME’ AT WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: West Seattle Outdoor Movies is showing “Despicable Me,” the animated tale of a supervillain and his small-yet-large army (among other things). Movies start at dusk (9-ish), gates open at 6:30, courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), 4410 California SW. Preshow entertainment: Music by Bob “Bobcat Bob” Rice

‘FREEDOM’ AT THE ADMIRAL: Seattle theatrical premiere of Freedom, “…the jolting new documentary that takes a hard look at America’s perilous and unsustainable addiction to foreign oil”, at Admiral Theater (2343 California Avenue SW), 7 pm. Freedom features an eclectic array of personalities, including former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former NATO commander Wesley Clark, singer/songwriter Jason Mraz, (who scored the film), international author Deepak Chopra, and such “green” actors as Ed Begley, Jr., Amy Smart and Michelle Rodriguez. The film explores the role that Ethanol plays as a homegrown alternative that will boost the domestic economy, create jobs and reduce our need to rely on dangerous and unstable parts of the world for our fuel. Tickets are $10.

OLIVER! Second night of Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) presentation of “Oliver!” (with part of the proceeds benefiting Treehouse, and a school supplies/clothing drive for foster kids too). 7:30 pm, West Seattle High School Theater. $18 for adults and $15 for students & seniors.

ROY ZIMMERMAN AT KENYON HALL: At Kenyon Hall(7904 35th Ave SW): Political satirical singer/songwriter Roy Zimmerman, 7:30 pm.

TOUR THE LIGHTHOUSE: Tour the Alki Point Lighthouse, 1-4 pm Saturdays and Sundays in summer

Video: Haggis Brothers start The Mount’s summer concerts

August 5, 2011 11:48 pm
|    Comments Off on Video: Haggis Brothers start The Mount’s summer concerts
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Last year, The Haggis Brothers wrapped up the Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor) summer concert series; this year, they kicked it off, with “a song from the ’60s” – no, not THOSE ’60s, as they explain:

The music’s usually enough to get the crowd moving – but if kids’ attention wanders, there’s usually something special, like tonight’s balloon-twisting clown:

Next week: He ain’t nothin’ but a hound dawg … Danny Vernon’s “Illusion of Elvis.” And “Classic Car Night”! All out in the open air at 4831 35th SW:

Admission’s free; before the 6 pm shows, dinner/wine/beer are offered for sale.

Hundreds of bicyclists roll from Admiral on ‘Dead Baby Downhill’

We warned you about it in the morning preview – but it still caught some people by surprise (thanks for the texts!): Hundreds of bicyclists rolled eastward from the Admiral District this past hour on the annual “Dead Baby Downhill.” Yes, like the name, it’s meant to be an in-your-face, irreverent/offensive, at-times profane event – “the greatest party known to humankind,” declared the Facebook event page – and it rotates starting-point neighborhoods; it’s been a few years since the DBD took off from West Seattle. They’re headed for Georgetown and a whale of an afterparty. (added) Here’s the start:

8:39 PM: More photos, ahead:Read More

OutWest Bar update: Hoping to officially open within 2 weeks

Another followup on a place-in-progress that people have been asking us about: OutWest Bar at California/Brandon is getting close to opening its doors. WSB contributor Keri DeTore first reported in May about its plan to be LGBT-friendly, and she’s been checking back with its proprietors; tonight, she reports that co-owners Bob Lunke and Chad Gabelein are busily working to put the finishing touches on OutWest Bar in anticipation of a soft opening sometime next week. The walls are painted a deep red, the kitchen is nearly finished, and furniture is being delivered. The establishment described by Bob and Chad as “like a community center for the gay and lesbian community and their straight friends” will open to the public in the next two weeks.

Update: Garage fire in Arbor Heights, 2 cars damaged

4:39 PM: A garage is on fire in the 10000 block of 40th SW (map) in Arbor Heights, and SFD was sending a “full response” to protect adjoining home(s) – but just determined that wasn’t needed, so some units are being canceled. More when we get there in a few minutes.

4:50 PM UPDATE: Added a photo. We’re told there are two vehicles in the garage, damaged by the fire. No word yet on the cause; no report of injuries. The fire isn’t completely out yet, but it’s been reported “tapped”; smoke is still visible at the scene, but no flames.

5:20 PM UPDATE: SFD confirms, nobody hurt. They won’t know for at least a few hours how it started. The garage/cars’ owner was home at the time, we’re told, but neighbors were the ones who reported the fire. We’re adding a few more photos (including a substitution for our original cameraphone photo).

Memorial Saturday for Chris Holm, a ‘Rosie the Riveter’ (& more)

A memorial service is planned tomorrow for 86-year-old Chris Holm, one of West Seattle’s real-life “Rosie the Riveters.” (We featured her in Christopher Boffoli‘s report on one of the local “Rosie” gatherings in 2009.) Her family wrote this obituary:

Clarissa Elizabeth Holm (Sherbon)
September 23, 1924 – July 31, 2011

Chris Holm passed away unexpectedly while leading the social-hour discussion at her West Seattle Church on Sunday, July 31, 2011. Chris was a vibrant woman, still living life to its fullest and enjoying her many day-to-day activities with zest and utter enthusiasm. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, wife, sister and friend. Everyone was surprised by her death and feel deeply saddened to lose the cornerstone, centerpiece, rock and foundation for our family and her community of friends.

Chris was born in Sioux Falls, SD, moving immediately to Walnut Grove, MN. She lived the quintessential “Little House on the Prairie” life, growing up in the famous Olsen store, working hard on the farm, and spending any free time playing on the banks of Plum Creek. She moved to Seattle and in her early twenties during WWII and worked hard at Boeing as one of the famous Rosie the Riveters.

Read More