West Seattle, Washington

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Spotlight Stories


  • Remembering

    WSB CO-FOUNDER DIES: Remembering Patrick Sand

  • Zoning

    ZONING CHANGES: Check your neighborhood

  • Kenney

    TOWER LIGHT’S BACK ON: The story behind it

Police investigating loud noises northwest of The Junction
February 8, 2009 8:40 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

We’ve received multiple reports of what residents say sounded like gunshots – keep in mind, that COULD mean fireworks – northwest of The Junction, including 45th/Dakota vicinity (map). One report, from LG, e-mailed at 8:26 pm:

We just heard 7-8 rapid sounds in the area and saw our neighbors up and down Dakota (between 44th & 45th) all go to their windows too. Don’t know how close they were, but could hear it over the Grammys.

Police are in the area searching for the source. More as we get it; please share any information you have. 9:21 PM UPDATE: Just wanted to let you know we are still listening, and checking, but no additional info. No aid calls anywhere in the vicinity, at least. 11:06 PM NOTE: We drove around the area while out on our gas-price check (story to come) travels in the past hour – no police seen. We should be able to find out tomorrow morning what (if anything) their investigation revealed, and we’ll post a separate update when we get that information.

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Fire claims Morgan Junction locksmith’s business, 11 months later
February 8, 2009 8:01 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

Thanks to WSBers Mike and Amy for e-mailing to point out that Puget Sound Key and Lock has disappeared from its storefront in the 6000 block of California SW. Even if you haven’t used a locksmith in years, the name may be familiar; it’s the business gutted 11 months ago by a still-unsolved arson attack. The morning it happened, owner Mike Dein told us he had no insurance — “They just killed my life” was the quote in our headline — this photo showed him with the building landlord, surveying the damage:

lookingatdamage.jpg

Within hours, his plight moved WSB Forum members to action – they organized a fundraiser a month later to help him get back on his feet. Finally, on August 11th, he reopened the shop … but now, it’s gone. We reached Mike by phone this afternoon and asked what happened. “I just couldn’t make it,” he said. “The losses were too great.” He wanted to be sure everyone who helped him and offered support knows he remains grateful; he’s sold the mobile business to his former partner, who he says is using it exclusively to handle AAA contracts to help drivers. And he’s moving on to the next chapter in his life – half of which he says he has spent locksmithing, though he’s only 31.

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Benefit for shooting victim’s family: “We’re overwhelmed”
February 8, 2009 4:57 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

That’s what Stacey Bushaw told us about an hour ago, looking around at what she called “the second wave” of people filling Talarico’s for this afternoon’s benefit, raising money for the family of her cousin Steve Bushaw, shot outside the Junction restaurant one week ago tonight. “Half the people here, I don’t even know!” Stacey marveled. In addition to the capacity crowd inside, some gathered outside — among them, two police officers, a reminder that Steve’s killers have not yet been caught. Near the back of the restaurants, photos and tributes – some originally created for the streetside memorial last Monday – were set up steps away from the stage:

Under that table, people had placed bouquets of flowers – and a soccer ball, in tribute to the sport in which Steve excelled:

Stacey told us that Talarico’s covered the cost of both the pizza and the music, so all proceeds for the afternoon – and what she described as many generous extra donations – would go toward the benefit. All in all, she said, it’s been a weekend full of people showing support and love – she said the private funeral at Forest Lawn yesterday also drew an overflow crowd, more than 400 people. A video tribute to her cousin was shown twice during this afternoon’s benefit, and a printed copy of the eulogy was posted in the memorial area by the stage:

Stacey explained that the video closed with a line also seen on the poster for the benefit – “Our circle of love will never be broken” – because of family significance: It was a line of solace on the printed memorial program when the cousins lost their grandmother several years back, and Stacey says Steve had it tattooed across his chest, with his surname on one arm, his mother’s maiden surname on the other. She remarked again about how grateful their large extended family was for this weekend’s outpouring from friends, relatives, and other community members: “All this, for my little cousin.” Meantime, we are checking daily with police for any word of a break in the case.

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Happening now: Have a Heart Day at Illusions Hair Design
February 8, 2009 2:47 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening now: Have a Heart Day at Illusions Hair Design
 |   How to help | West Seattle businesses

That’s Fauntleroy Church office manager Jackie Gould in the chair, with stylist Rita Golden, at Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor). Till 5 pm, it’s Illusions’ annual “Have a Heart Day,” with stylists donating their time and all proceeds going to Pencil Me In for Kids and West Seattle Helpline. Even if you didn’t make an appointment to be part of it, the Illusions team is taking donations for those two organizations (follow the links to read about them), and if you drop by before 5, those’ll go into the day’s tally. (Another reason to drop by – an art exhibit – they’re showing photos by Marybeth Coghill through the end of the month.)

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“Streets for People”: Want to join a bike ride from West Seattle?
February 8, 2009 2:13 pm
|    Comments Off on “Streets for People”: Want to join a bike ride from West Seattle?
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

This Thursday night, Seattle Great City Initiative‘s new campaign “Streets for People” (read about its mission here) kicks off with a rally/forum at the South Lake Union Armory at 5 pm Thursday. Stu Hennessey from Alki Bike and Board is leading a ride from West Seattle to the event; he says, “Anyone is welcome that can bicycle ride 25-30 miles at a moderate pace. We will attend the Streets for People kickoff rally and return. The ride will feature alternative routes through the city. Helmets and lights are required. Rain will not cancel.” Just meet the group at 3:30 pm Thursday at Alki Bike and Board (2606 California; here’s a map). ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT: Chas Redmond shares the bus directions he put together for anyone who’d rather use transit to get from various West Seattle spots to the Armory event:Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Fauntleroy/Alaska incident update
February 8, 2009 11:56 am
|      46 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | WS breaking news

ORIGINAL REPORT: We haven’t verified this yet but it’s from a known source and given the time sensitivity, we’d rather pass it along sooner than later:

just rolled up to the 76 station at alaska and fauntleroy, which has apparently just been robbed, probably between 11 and 11:30 a.m.

there were two patrol cars on site, and i asked one officer if she had a description. her reply:

“asian male, 5′ or so, black jeans, black sweater.” she said she was in the area when the call came in, and he disappeared pretty quickly.

i know the description is vague, but anyone in the area who sees a man fitting the description should call 911.

We’ll head over to see what we can confirm.

12:06 PM UPDATE: What we found out at the scene: The above-described robber – NOT displaying a weapon – somehow got behind the store’s counter, grabbed a bunch of lottery scratch tickets, and bolted.

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Junction shooting, 1 week later: Memorial benefit today
February 8, 2009 8:01 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

One week ago tonight, two men opened fire on 26-year-old Steve Bushaw outside Talarico’s in The Junction. They got away, described only as black men in a white car; Steve died at the hospital. This afternoon, Talarico’s will be the scene of a fundraiser for his family, organized by friends, to share and celebrate memories, and to help the family deal with expenses, hopefully even raise some reward money. Everyone’s invited, 1-5 pm, $10 cover at the door. Donations also are being accepted at US Bank branches; mention the Steve Bushaw memorial fund. Meantime, we continue to check with police daily regarding any progress in the investigation, but they’ve had no updates to announce since Monday; here’s our coverage from the night it happened, plus followups the next morning and afternoon, and a Wednesday report with more about today’s event.

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Happening this morning: Pancake breakfast; Farmers’ Market
February 8, 2009 7:06 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle Farmers' Market | WS & Sports

Lots going on today, so we’re issuing reminders in installments: This morning, 8-noon, you can support youth basketball programs at Hiawatha Community Center by enjoying the 21st annual Hiawatha Pancake Breakfast. All the pancakes you can eat. Side dishes and beverages provided too. $5 for 13-64; $4 for older and (most) younger (under 5’s free). Need a map to Hiawatha? Here’s one.

Then, 10 am is opening time as always for the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, continuing till 2 pm. Here’s the link to this week’s Ripe and Ready fresh sheet; new offerings include cheese with a cocoa/chipotle-dusted rind!

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West Seattle Christian Church: Tale of two open houses
February 8, 2009 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Christian Church: Tale of two open houses
 |   West Seattle religion | West Seattle schools | West Seattle video

That’s a look inside the new activity center at West Seattle Christian Church, dedicated a week ago and celebrated with an open house that drew visitors even during the Super Bowl (that’s when we dropped by). It’ll be the home of the West Seattle Movies on the Wall Winter Series (3/4, 3/11, 3/18; movies listed here) and it’s available for rentals for community events – you can call the church at 206-932-2098 and ask for Kelly to find out more. Meantime, there’s an open house at West Seattle Christian today, too – this time, for its preschool, 1-3 pm; if you can’t make it to the open house, the preschool has registration packets available to be picked up at the office (4400 42nd Ave SW; here’s a map) or by requesting one: preschool@westseattlechristian.org.

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Cancer takes Salty’s spokesperson Eileen Mintz
February 8, 2009 1:49 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle people | West Seattle restaurants

Didn’t know this till we read the Times obituary: Salty’s spokesperson Eileen Mintz died a week ago. We never got to meet her in person, but appreciated her swift responses to our Salty’s-related queries, including the one that resulted in this 1/08 update on a potential Salty’s hotel. In our correspondence at the time, she mentioned her fight against cancer, while cheerily declaring herself “too busy to die.” Ms. Mintz was 66; the eulogy given for her by TV reporter Herb Weisbaum can be read on the Salty’s site, where she had written monthly “Mintz Her Words” updates; a memorial website is set up here (screen grab at left).

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West Seattle weekend scene, from across the bay
February 8, 2009 12:01 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle online | West Seattle weather

Thanks to Troy for sharing that photo of tonight’s sunset via Facebook (where you’ll find us as WS Blog). It’s a view of West Seattle from the downtown waterfront, near Colman Dock ferry terminal and Ivar’s, which of course has a WS tie too, since founder Ivar Haglund was a West Seattleite. Speaking of sunsets, we swapped out the WSB header photo for the first time in more than a year – after featuring that photo recently, someone suggested doing that, so we’re giving it a whirl.

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Update on West Seattle help for 590+ “puppy mill” rescuees
February 7, 2009 10:09 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | Pets | West Seattle news

West Seattle’s generosity is helping the North Sound “puppy mill” rescuees in a big way. Here’s the latest update from Teri Ensley of West Seattle-based Furry Faces Foundation, including how you can still help:

Thanks to our West Seattle Community, four big loads of donated items have been taken to Everett Animal Shelter, S.P.O.T. and N.O.A.H, with another load going up this weekend. Both The Wash Dog and Muttley Crew Cuts have road-tripped it up to Everett Animal Shelter and N.O.A.H. to bathe, groom and love up the dogs.

Photo above is from the Muttley Crew Cuts crew’s trip up; Kelly Rothenbuhler explains: “Lacey and I left here after filling up the truck to the brim with all the donations, we stopped at the Feed Bag on Capitol hill and picked up some food that they donated. We arrived at NOAH and checked in and were told to pull up front and drop off the donations. As I pulled up they came running out and said they didn’t realize we had so much stuff-thanks West Seattle!! We then pulled around to the garage/storage area and unloaded all the stuff. We then got the tour of the place and were told what suite needed grooming. We took the dogs one by one into the grooming area and bathed and did what haircuts were needed. One little Yorkie really stood out-his name is Champ. He was about 2 years old and had an old spinal injury so he had a hard time standing. He was so sweet and loved all the attention and care he was getting. One dog actually fell over when I was bathing her because she was leaning against my hand enjoying the rubs and leaned too far. We will be going back up on Monday the 9th to help with more grooming and just giving out loves.”

If you would still like to donate, here are the requested items from the involved shelters and rescue groups. We are keeping a log of all the donations and will report out the GRAND TOTALS in the near future.

Items Most Needed:
• Wee Wee pads
• Towels, fleece blankets and dog beds with removable covers
• Small squeaky toys
• Small metal dog food bowls
• Monetary Donations for medical expenses and special needs

Items Still Needed:

• High Quality canned and dry dog food – preferred types are Pinnacle, Canidae, Natural Balance or Nutro Ultra lamb/rice, small bites
• Grooming tools and dog toys
• Freshly washed blankets, towels, beds and crate pads-all sizes
• Dishes—stainless steel preferable (for sanitation reasons)
• Laundry detergent and bleach
• Paper towels
• Monetary donations for veterinary care
• Heavy duty garbage bags (black leaf bags)
• Scrubbie sponges (dishwashing size)
• Exercise Pens (wire, collapsible)
• Xsmall dog collars and leashes

The following West Seattle businesses are still accepting the above donations, and cash donations:

Admiral District:
Mud Bay; 2611 Calif. Ave SW
Muttley Crew Cuts Co; 3707 California Ave SW

Alaska Junction:
Hotwire Online Coffeehouse; 4410 Calif. Ave SW
Petco: 4732 California Avenue SW

Alki: All the Best Pet Care; 2820 Alki Ave SW

Morgan Junction:
Pet Elements; 6701 California Ave SW
The Wash Dog; 6400 California Ave SW
Stella Ruffington’s, 7003 California SW

Westwood Village: Pet Pros; 9033 25th Ave SW

Lastly, F3 has received many emails asking which shelters and rescue groups are actually caring for the dogs. Some folks would like to donate money directly and want to ensure that the group they are donating to are truly involved.

Everett Animal Shelter
SPOT
NOAH
Skagit Humane Society
Old Dog Haven
Seattle Humane Society

Also, events are coming up including the Cathy Sorbo/Rod Long comedy show at the Admiral Theater at 9:30 pm next Friday (read more here), with proceeds benefiting this effort, and Valentine’s weekend events at Muttley Crew Cuts (details TBA) and The Wash Dog (donating half of self-serve dog wash proceeds to Everett Animal Shelter).

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Happy half-anniversary to partner site White Center Now!
February 7, 2009 8:00 pm
|    Comments Off on Happy half-anniversary to partner site White Center Now!
 |   White Center

Tonight marks exactly six months since we helped launch White Center Now, the blog about White Center. As we explained when it launched, it’s different from WSB – instead of a focus on high-volume community news, it’s a more eclectic site, and that’s due in no small part to the work of our fellow founding WCN team members, two local entrepreneurs, Ricardo Guarnero from Cafe Rozella and Justin Cline from Full Tilt Ice Cream. Enmeshed in the White Center community as they are, they provide a unique perspective and memorable stories, like the one Ricardo has posted tonight, recounting the five-year history of his coffeehouse, the neighborhood it anchors (map), and how Cafe Rozella “changed a small corner of the world.” Read it here – then scroll down the WCN home page for more stories you won’t see anywhere else, including Justin’s latest food review (bahn bao!), a new arts endeavor in White Center (with an upcoming tour), and ongoing news coverage of potential annexation. Thanks to everybody who’s supported White Center Now over its first half-year, and if you have ideas/questions/observations, we have a team mailbox for that site – whitecenternow@gmail.com – e-mail any time!

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West Seattle snow again? Forecast gets flaky
February 7, 2009 5:20 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle weather

The latest National Weather Service forecast really does suggest we might see some snow next Tuesday. Cliff Mass‘s latest update (from Friday) foresees a “wintry mix.”

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When to call 911, and when not to? Find out firsthand
February 7, 2009 5:11 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

It’s been discussed here before: Southwest Precinct police leadership advises “call 911 if you see something/someone suspicious,” and we’ve reported that here, multiple times; then on occasion someone who does call, reports back that they were told that wasn’t an emergency and they shouldn’t have called 911. The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council has been pursuing such concerns with 911 system managers, and Lt. Greg Schmidt, who runs the SPD 911 center, will be the guest at the next WSCPC meeting a week from Tuesday, to explain how it works, to answer questions, to listen to concerns. The reason we’re telling you now is not just so you can mark your calendar, but also because, if you have a specific question they can get to him in advance, particularly about a specific case in which you called 911 and didn’t get the response you expected, they’d like to hear from you by next Thursday – e-mail the WSCPC’s staff liaison from Seattle Neighborhood Group (which by the way is NOT a city agency), Jennifer Duong, at jennifer@sngi.org. The council’s meeting also, as always, will include crime reports and neighborhood “hot spot” concerns; it’ll be at 7 pm February 17 at the SW Precinct meeting room.

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Followup: Firm chosen to build Alki Point sidewalks, traffic calming
February 7, 2009 12:04 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

This past week’s California Place Park meeting reminded us we hadn’t checked lately on another alkipointsidewalk1.jpgcontentious issue we’d covered in Alki Community Center meetings last year — the plan to finish some sidewalk connections around Alki Point and install “traffic calming” measures as part of the project (past coverage includes these reports: 2/08, 4/08). So we called Sandra “Sam” Woods, the SDOT project manager. She says the contract for this project has been awarded – it’s part of a package of “several projects” around the city, to be handled by Construct Co. No date is set yet for construction to start – the “notice to proceed” has to be finalized – but as previously projected, it’s expected this spring/summer, Woods says. She calls the project “terrific” because of components including raised crosswalks at both ends (roughly, 65th/Alki and the start of Beach Drive) as well as work at 63rd/Alki to more clearly direct westbound traffic to turn south on 63rd rather than taking the existing “straight shot” ahead on the nonarterial section of Alki – this map marks those three spots:


View Larger Map

We’ll get a closer look at the specific plans during a walking tour with neighborhood leaders next week; the project’s page on the city website is here.

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Seattle Lutheran seniors’ project: Everything old is new again!
February 7, 2009 8:01 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Those are the two local students who recently posted a note in the WSB Forums that caught our eye. It read, in part:

Our names are Grace Puffert and Mary Griffin and we’re seniors at Seattle Lutheran High School. Every year, each senior is required to create and execute a senior project that should in some way give back and benefit the community. We decided to have a community Fashion Show in order to raise money for Providence Mount Saint Vincent Nursing Home (where we both are volunteers) here in West Seattle.

The theme of our fashion show is “Fashion through the Ages” (WORKING ON A BETTER TITLE!). Our hope is to exhibit clothing from each era beginning with 1900. So this is where you come in, if anyone would like to donate or lend clothing (era-oriented) or their services to helping us put this show on, it would be GREATLY appreciated. We really would like to bring together the entire West Seattle community on this project

Grace and Mary (left/right in the photo above) got some quick e-mail replies, and one was from us – to arrange a chat with them to find out more about what they’re doing and how you can help. So we sat down at a local coffeehouse one recent night to chat …Read More

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Weekend Lineup refresher: Today/tonight highlights
February 7, 2009 6:16 am
|    Comments Off on Weekend Lineup refresher: Today/tonight highlights
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help | WS culture/arts

wswllicon3.pngLots of options today, and clicking here will take you directly to our list of them, in the Saturday section of the latest West Seattle Weekend Lineup. Highlights include Neighbor Appreciation Day activities at Southwest Pool (free swim at 1 pm!) and 2 community centers, fundraisers including a student car wash and the Rocksport silent auction/live music tonight for Waunda from Sports Junction, and work parties where you can help spruce up West Seattle’s natural treasures, including Lincoln Park and Camp Long. Head directly to the Saturday lineup here.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Morgan Junction break-in attempt
February 6, 2009 11:50 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Linda tells the story of what she found when she got home tonight (6300 block of 40th SW; map):Read More

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Video: Total Experience Gospel Choir at Alki Elementary
February 6, 2009 9:04 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | West Seattle video

Thanks to Alki Elementary for letting WSB share this afternoon’s Black History Month assembly, starring Pastor Pat Wright and members of Seattle’s world-famous Total Experience Gospel Choir. (They’re practically a West Seattle institution, since, as noted in our Kenyon Hall article two weeks ago, they rehearse at KH every week.) With Alki students watching, enrapt, from the floor — sometimes singing and clapping, too — the singers filled the cafeteria with joyful tunes, and then a surprise in the middle of “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand” — as choir members did exactly that, fanning out through the crowd:

Find out more about the Total Experience Gospel Choir (members “10 to 65 years old,” as mentioned today) at its website.

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Site-seeing: Sustainable West Seattle relaunch; Puget Sound News
February 6, 2009 8:31 pm
|    Comments Off on Site-seeing: Sustainable West Seattle relaunch; Puget Sound News
 |   Environment | West Seattle online

Two links to share if you are Web-wandering tonight: Just got word from Alki Bike and Board‘s Stu Hennessey that Sustainable West Seattle has relaunched its website with a brand-new look; check it out at sustainablewestseattle.org. Also just heard about a new site focusing on news about Puget Sound – pugetsoundnews.org, “a project of the University of Washington’s Environmental Journalism class” this semester, according to its About page.

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West Seattle school update: New principal for Sanislo Elementary
February 6, 2009 4:12 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The communications team at Seattle Public Schools tells us they’re not formally announcing districtwide principal changes till Monday, most of which result from last week’s school closure/change vote and other “capacity management” decisions made in the past few months, but we have confirmation tonight of one change affecting a West Seattle school: Sanislo Elementary principal Debbie Nelsen is going to lead the new Jane Addams K-8 school in the north end; Ernie Seevers, who has been at AS #1 Pinehurst, is coming to Sanislo. A letter is going home to Sanislo families today; we’ve just received a copy. See it here; the letter says the change will take effect July 1st. Other reported changes are being discussed in this comment thread on saveseattleschools.blogspot.com, including one that affects West Seattle families of students in the elementary APP (top-level gifted) program — Lowell Elementary principal Julie Breidenbach reportedly will become principal of the school to which West Seattle-area APP students will be redirected next year, Thurgood Marshall.

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WSB FYI: A survey with questions about us, isn’t being done by us
February 6, 2009 3:56 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle online | WS miscellaneous

It’s come to our attention (thanks!) that a phone survey under way in West Seattle right now includes questions about WSB — apparently, what you like, and what you don’t like. Just to make you sure know, in case your phone rings, this survey is NOT being done BY us. computer.jpgWe prefer to have direct contact with you, from you, any time you have something to say. But in case there IS something you’ve been meaning to tell us you DON’T like – DO like – or would like to see – let us renew our invitation: Call us, e-mail us, text us, send us a tweet, send us a Facebook message, OR send us good-old-fashioned postal mail, any time, 24/7/365. (This page has all our contact info for all those methods.) Or leave a comment on this post! Almost every improvement we’ve put in place here in the past few years has been in direct response to suggestions, requests, complaints, and we’re working on more upgrades/additions even as we speak. Thanks again for making WSB West Seattle’s most-read community-news source (1.5 million pageviews in the past two months alone, with at least 17,000 homes/businesses checking in at least once a week) – although it’s not “being read” that we find most exciting – it’s collaborating with you – to find and share West Seattle news/information.

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