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    LOW-BRIDGE CLOSURE: Starts on Saturday

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    NEW BUSINESSES: Coffee and wine moving in

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

ArtsWest leadership update: Christopher Zinovitch promoted
December 8, 2011 3:04 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news

Four months after Alan Harrison announced his departure as ArtsWest‘s executive director, its board has just announced they have promoted Christopher Zinovitch to Artistic Director. He will share leadership with a to-be-hired Managing Director. ArtsWest also has hired Lauren Domino as Development Director. P.S. AW is part of tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk, with the reception for “Quotidian Dreams” 6-7:30 pm.

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City won’t boot, or provide utilities to, ‘Nickelsville,’ Highland Park Action Committee told
December 8, 2011 2:56 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | Nickelsville encampment | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(September photo by Kevin McClintic)
Six months after its return to a city-owned site at West Marginal Way SW/Highland Park Way, the encampment that calls itself Nickelsville is in a sort of limbo – legal, and otherwise.

After the Highland Park Action Committee‘s meeting last night, following up on a discussion that began at its October meeting (as reported here), it seemed clear that the city does not currently intend to either:

*Evict the encampment
or
*Provide services (water/sewer/power hookups) that would make the site more habitable

You can watch the meeting yourself, if you’d like to see how it all played out:

Context for the meeting was a letter sent to the city by HPAC, as co-chairs Carolyn Stauffer and Billy Stauffer explained at the start of last night’s meeting. As the letter began, “In the past, our organization has been supportive of Nickelsville as a temporary situation. With news of this potentially becoming a permanent settlement, we have begun to hear a lot from our friends and neighbors.” HPAC says that the “burden of homelessness” should be shared with the rest of the city and suggests that this encampment, like others in the city, could switch sites every six months or so.

The issue drew a crowd to the meeting, including City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith, and Lisa Herbold from Councilmember Nick Licata‘s office.Read More

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Demonstrations planned near the ‘low bridge’ on Monday
December 8, 2011 2:04 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

For the first time since Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Seattle began, related protests are planned for this area. John sent a note to point out that the protest website says the Seattle action for next Monday’s “West Coast Port Shutdown” protests announces:

… there will be two rallies near the port at 3 pm and 6 pm at the Spokane Street fishing area, just to the east of the Spokane St. bridge, near the intersection of SW Spokane St & SW Manning St. under the West Seattle bridge.

It’s not actually a protest against the port itself, the website says (and as commenters point out, it is not union-endorsed); organizers say it’s meant to show opposition to unionbusting, Governor Gregoire‘s planned budget cuts, and evictions at “Occupy” protests across the country. Preceding the rallies in this area, supporters plan to march from Westlake downtown, starting at 1 pm Monday.

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Andrea Kurtz Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs: New WSB sponsor
December 8, 2011 12:08 pm
|    Comments Off on Andrea Kurtz Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs: New WSB sponsor
 |   Health | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Andrea Kurtz Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs, at 5410 California SW. Here’s what Andrea would like you to know about her practice:

Andrea says, “What keeps patients coming back to me is, ultimately, my success in treating them and improving their health. For each patient I see, my first question is, ‘What is your goal in seeking acupuncture?’ The answers are always inspiring, and sometimes surprising. Some people want to improve athletic performance. Some want to be pain-free. Some just want to sleep through the night. I think a lot of my patients appreciate that I take time to understand them as a whole person, not just, for example, a headache. I even treat entire families — one partner will come in for something, maybe a cold or flu, and will feel so much better that the other partner comes to see me, and pretty soon I’m even treating the kids! The majority of my patients at some point stop coming in regularly, because their health improves. At the same time, that’s why they come back. In the broad sense, my patients see me because they want to improve their lives, and they keep coming back because acupuncture and Chinese herbs help them to do that.”

Andrea’s background is wide-ranging. We asked what has drawn patients to her, and she explained that some come “because I have a western medical background, and that makes people more comfortable. I see quite a few cancer patients, as well, thanks to my integrative oncology training. Some people are curious about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and I create an environment that is very supportive of patients who want to understand TCM in a western medical context. I also see patients who come in the door and say, ‘I have these symptoms. Am I crazy?’ and it’s always rewarding to be able to say, ‘No, you’re not crazy!’ Chinese Medicine has such a different way of looking at the body and its systems — very holistically — that some health issues that don’t make sense to us in a western context are easily explained and treated using TCM.

Andrea Kurtz Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs is located in the West Seattle Whole Health Center, and like others there, is an independent practice: “I run my own business, and I work closely with other practitioners in different disciplines — physical therapists, MDs, naturopaths, massage therapists, and other acupuncturists.” She’s working to set up a group “specifically for West Seattle alternative medical practitioners, where we can all network, share ideas, and support the community more effectively. It’s a great, self-contained community and a wonderful place to live, and I’m very excited to be part of it!” You can schedule an appointment online, or call 206-200-3595.

We thank Andrea Kurtz Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs 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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Update: 3 blocks of California SW to be resurfaced; more ahead?
December 8, 2011 10:40 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Just in from SDOT – three more blocks of California SW in the treacherous stretch between Alaska and Morgan Junctions are about to get some help:

Next Monday through Thursday, December 12 through 15, Seattle Department of Transportation crews will be resurfacing California Avenue SW from SW Findlay Street to SW Graham Street [map]. The resurfacing work, which will take place from 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day, will involve grinding down the surface, making repairs to the street base and repaving the roadway. Traffic in both directions will be pushed to the opposite side of where the crews are working. All crosswalks and sidewalks will remain open. A Police Officer will provide traffic control at the intersection of California Avenue SW and SW Graham Street.

We’ll check with Metro for their rerouting plans.

ADDED 11:25 AM: Since SDOT has said it would love to repave more of California SW south of The Junction but didn’t have the money, we asked what was paying for this sudden project. SDOT’s Peg Nielsen tells WSB it’s from the “Rubble Yard sale,” city property sold for use as a staging area in the Highway 99 tunnel project. City Council President Richard Conlin wrote about it earlier this year.

ADDED 1:43 PM: Nielsen also provides an explanation of a question asked in comments – why just three blocks? – and what’s ahead:Read More

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Followup: 2/3 of a mile of new water mains for Arbor Heights
December 8, 2011 10:39 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news

(August 27 photo by Tony Bradley)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

New water mains, yes. Added sidewalks, no.

That’s one of the points we got clarified, following up on Wednesday morning’s Arbor Heights fire briefing before the Seattle City Council’s Public Safety and Education Committee.

You can watch the entire briefing in our Wednesday-morning story; we summarized the briefing documents’ key points in this story from the night before.

But we had a few followup questions, so, adding the answers to the additional information that emerged at the briefing – primarily regarding the plan to upgrade water mains in the area where they were too small to provide adequate “fire flow”:Read More

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South Seattle Community College invites you to enjoy holiday food and wine
December 8, 2011 10:25 am
|    Comments Off on South Seattle Community College invites you to enjoy holiday food and wine
 |   Announcements

Multiple opportunities, as just announced by the college – including wine-tasting today!

Holiday Lunches
Tuesday & Wednesday, December 13 & 14
12:00 pm, Brockey Center
Cost: $18.95 per person
Reservations required: (206) 934-7952

The three-course meal, prepared by students in South’s Culinary Arts program, includes a salad course, followed by Roasted New York Strip Loin Béarnaise with a Yam Potato Puree and seasonal vegetables. Desserts include an assortment including Macaroons, Madeleine’s and Chocolate Buttercream Cake. Coffee and tea are included.

The holiday feast is prepared by students as part of their training in Restaurant and Food Service Production, Catering and Banquet Operations, and Pastry & Specialty Baking. Many of them are also pursuing the college’s Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree in Hospitality Management.

Holiday Wine Tasting & Sales
Thursday & Friday, December 8, 9, 15, & 16
1 – 4 pm, Northwest Wine Academy, (206) 934-5344

Need wine for gifts or to bring to your holiday or New Year’s party? The NWWA is open Monday thru Friday from 11 am-5 pm throughout the month of December (closed December 23 and 26). On sale are award-winning wines produced on campus by students in the winemaking program, as well as wines made by program alumni and wines from around the world. Don’t know which wine to buy? Come to one a tasting where NWWA wines and traditional holiday favorites are featured.

The Northwest Wine Academy is located on the South Seattle Community College campus across from Bernie’s Bakery. Parking is available in the North entry parking lot.

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West Seattle Thursday: Art Walk; Sealth/Denny and Madison concerts; Delridge DESC project’s Design Review…
December 8, 2011 9:04 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

The West Seattle Art Walk is one of tonight’s biggest events – and if you stop by Alki Arts (2820 Alki SW), you can see that work (thanks to gallery owner Diane Venti for sharing) and others by Bryce Robertson, paying tribute to the Space Needle on its 50th anniversary. We’ll have more Art Walk previews here later (thanks to everyone who has sent theirs) – and you can dive into the sneak peeks published on the official Art Walk website. 6-9 pm, all over West Seattle. (Many venues are in The Junction, where it’s also the pre-Christmas Shop Late Thursday till 9 pm, participating merchants listed here!)

Meantime, it’s also a night for music:

SCHOOL CONCERTS: We recorded those members of the Chief Sealth International High School Orchestra at the school’s PTSA meeting a week ago. They and the Sealth choir, along with their counterparts from Denny International Middle School next door, have been rehearsing for tonight’s big concert, 7 pm, Sealth auditorium (2600 SW Thistle). Madison Middle School’s Senior Band, Senior Orchestra, and Jazz Band will perform their winter concert tonight as well, 7 pm in the Madison gym (45th/Spokane). (Update: Commenter says ALL Madison bands will play!)

And yet more from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

TRAFFIC ALERT: Road closures at spots along Spokane Street just east of West Seattle tonight – check the advisory for details.

TOY DONATIONS: KIRO’s Jenni Hogan is out on “Mobile Tweetup” patrol 10 am-1 pm picking up Toys for Tots donations – WSB sponsor Nurturing Expressions is a dropoff location; take over a toy!

BOOK SIGNING AT METROPOLITAN MARKET: Admiral Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) hosts Alexandra Hedin signing her book, Entertaining at Home: Inspiration, Recipes and Crafts for Creations for a Lovely Life, 4-6 pm.

BOOK SIGNINGS AT BEER JUNCTION: Arcadia Books signing at the Beer Junction, 5-8pm 4707 42nd Avenue Southwest. Come meet the collaborators of the latest Arcadia books- “West Seattle” and “Luna Park” – and taste a featured beer too! Your chance to buy signed copies and thrill your friends and family with these history books!

DELRIDGE DESC PROJECT DESIGN REVIEW: Southwest Design Review Board meeting for DESC proposal to build 75-unit apartment complex at 5444 Delridge to house chronically homeless people, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 6:30 pm. (Archive of WSB project coverage is here; community volunteers’ information clearinghouse about tonight’s meeting and other project aspects is here.)

GO CONGRATULATE THE WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Last night, it won an award; tonight, it plays host to Ask An Expert for Do It Yourselfers, also at Youngstown, 6-8 pm.

OPEN HOUSE: Suite Arrangements open house in The Junction, treats, drinks, in-store specials, 4-9 pm

HOLIDAY TASTING: West Seattle Thriftway holiday tasting, 4-7 pm

GOT A PLACE FOR A NEW FRIEND? Friends of the Animals Foundation will be at Next to Nature with adoptable cats and kittens in formal wear (tuxedo cat, anyone?) and in need of new homes this Thursday from 6-9 pm. Browse the art, shop the winter farmers market, and adopt a new family member.

SWEETIE’S HOLIDAY PARTY: Sweetie Boutique in The Junction invites you to its holiday party: “Lots of great things in store, treats, eats & libations!” 7-10 pm. (And see Sweetie’s coupon on the WSB Holiday Shopping Guide coupons page.)

SHOPPING FOR A CHRISTMAS TREE? GOING OUT TO SEE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS? Info/updates on those – and more – are featured on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page.

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West Seattle holidays: Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale’s first Christmas concert helps WS Helpline, Food Bank
December 8, 2011 8:08 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Announcements

Just announced:

The Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale will present its inaugural Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 17, 2011 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in West Seattle. The concert. titled “Peace & Joy,” features two significant sacred works: a suite entitled “Carols of the nativity” by Canadian composer and conductor Stephen Chatman; and the world premiere of Spanish Cradle Carol: An homage to Maurice Ravel by Bob Ingalls scored for Chamber Chorale, cello and piano featuring Seattle Symphony cellist Roberta Downey. This concert series also includes numerous carols of the season written or arranged by distinguished American choral composers and will be a wonderful way to highlight your holiday season.

The concert is sponsored by the West Seattle HelpLine and West Seattle Food Bank. Bring a hat/scarf/glove set or 5 non-perishable food items and receive your ticket for half price. For more information please consult our website: www.musicasacrachamberchorale.com

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West Seattle schools: Roxhill’s ‘Empty Bowls Banquet’ with City Year; Lafayette’s LaSER club achievement
December 8, 2011 8:02 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Two West Seattle elementary schools have achievements to share. First, from Roxhill:

Young adults in service to help kids – that’s the fundamental mission of City Year, which operates in several West Seattle schools (among many other places). And a recent event involving Roxhill’s City Year team stretched beyond those involved, raising global awareness. Team leader Hollis Hernandez shares the photos and this report:

On December 1st, the City Year team at Roxhill Elementary School celebrated the end of a school-wide Hunger Awareness Month Campaign with the school’s first Empty Bowls Banquet. All students and families were invited to share a humble meal of soup and bread out of student-decorated bowls and to hear students’ amazing essays on how to combat hunger around the world. It was a powerful and inspiring evening that could only have been possible with the generous donations from Endolyne Joe’s, Ivar’s, Target, and Great Harvest Bread.

Students were excited to get up onstage to read their essays – short and sweet, like this one from a girl named Faith:

Get food for the kids! Parents feed their kids but, some parents want to get more food for their kids because they don’t have enough food. If this happens all the kids will grow. The village will grow stronger with the help a community. The community will grow stronger if all the nations unite. Together we can help change the world to change ourselves.

Now, from Lafayette Elementary , an update on students getting involved with technology – not just to use it, but to strategize and compete: We have an update on a big day for the school’s new LaSER (Lafayette Science, Engineering, Robotics) club!

From Matt Jensen:

Robotics teams from Lafayette’s LaSER club had a great showing at the 26-team South Seattle FLL robot tournament on Saturday. The Mystic Mindstormers and Lego Minds, mixed teams of 2nd and 3rd graders, were the youngest teams there and outscored a number of older teams. The girls’ team, the Go-Go Bots, scored well and won a Core Values Award for Gracious Professionalism.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: ‘Odd’ theft; burglary; suspicion; bike
December 8, 2011 12:38 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Several West Seattle Crime Watch notes from the past day or so. First, Brian noted an unusual car-part theft:

Someone stole the Honda logo off the rear of my wife’s 2005 Civic. She noticed it missing Tuesday. She said that ones from nearby cars were missing too. We live in the 8600 block of 25th, 1 block north of Westwood Village. I don’t know if this was a prank or if those logos have some kind of value. Not a huge occurrence but kind of odd.

Ahead, a burglary, some protection tips, a suspicious-behavior report, and a possibly stolen bikeRead More

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S. Spokane Street traffic alerts for Thursday night, next week
December 7, 2011 10:25 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Spokane St. Viaduct project | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

THe next round of closures for the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project will NOT include any part of the SSV itself, but the surface streets that are involved in the closures might affect you, so we’re publishing this alert sent tonight by SDOT:Read More

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West Seattle Tool Library wins Sustainable Seattle award
December 7, 2011 9:54 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Sustainable West Seattle | West Seattle news

(WSB photo by Tracy Record)
It’s been almost two years since our first report that Sustainable West Seattle was starting a tool library. It’s been going strong for a year and a half now, drawing users, generating buzz (Popular Mechanics!), and tonight, winning a big award. Sustainable Seattle, celebrating its annual fundraising gala and awards dinner at the Duwamish Longhouse, honored the West Seattle Tool Library for Sustainability in Innovation in a Social Environment. Accepting the award were (from left) Micah Summers and Patrick Dunn. Haven’t been to the tool library ever – or, lately? It’s open Thursday nights, so you can drop by tomorrow, 6-9 pm (it’ll be another session of Ask the Expert, too, till 8). It’s on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW.

P.S. Here’s who else was nominated for the Sustainable Seattle awards.

THURSDAY P.P.S. Click ahead for full list of winners, just received:Read More

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Followup: Mega-cranes finally coming ashore at Terminal 18
December 7, 2011 9:35 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

More than a week after their arrival in Elliott Bay (here’s our story from November 28), the three extra-jumbo new cranes that SSA is adding at the Port of Seattle‘s Terminal 18 are finally being unloaded. Justin McDonald shared the photo on Facebook; we’re republishing it here with his permission. This one, he wrote, is the first one coming off. Last week, our friends at KING 5 took a closer look in this story (with video)

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West Seattle Christmas lights: Old-school Santa, reindeer, sleigh
December 7, 2011 7:04 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

We’re spotlighting decorated homes (or apartments/condos/businesses/etc. if you have any tips to share!) every night this holiday season. Tonight, it’s not the lights at this house so much as the old-school Santa, reindeer, and sleigh in the front yard. Not inflatable, not plastic, something sturdier. We just spotted this while driving around so we don’t know whose home it is, but it’s worth a visit, on 39th north of Andover (map). We’re listing all the spotlighted displays in the “Christmas Lights” section of the WSB West Seattle Holidays page, and while we’re going out scouting, we also welcome suggestions – we can certainly feature more than one per night!

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Two West Seattle Soccer Club teams in state semifinals
December 7, 2011 5:41 pm
|    Comments Off on Two West Seattle Soccer Club teams in state semifinals
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Congratulations to the girls’ GU-15 West Seattle Crush and boys’ BU-11 West Seattle Crush soccer teams from the West Seattle Soccer Club – they’re both in the state semifinals, the Washington Youth Soccer Recreational Cup, this weekend. The boys play the South Whidbey Islanders at 9 am Saturday on Starfire Sports Complex field #9 in Tukwila, and go to the finals at 2 pm if they win; the girls play the Sun Devils at 10;30 am Sunday on Valley Ridge Field #2 in Seatac, with the finals at 3:30 pm at Starfire field #4 if they win. Full schedule here; good luck!

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DESC in Delridge: Site purchase closes; Design Review tomorrow
December 7, 2011 4:05 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   DESC Delridge project | West Seattle news

Two updates this afternoon on the plan for Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) to build a 75-apartment building in the 5400 block of Delridge to house currently homeless people:

SITE PURCHASE FINALIZED: DESC had said they expected to close the deal to buy the site on December 1st, and agency executive Nicole Macri confirmed to WSB today that it has indeed happened. She also says DESC is continuing to talk with area residents about establishing an “advisory committee of neighborhood stakeholders,” adding, “An ad-hoc committee of the NDNC has come together to begin identifying neighborhood constituency groups and prospective members to fill seats on the committee.” She says the group could start meeting in January. (Creation of the committee was discussed in an informal neighborhood meeting we covered two weeks ago.)

DESIGN REVIEW MEETING TOMORROW: The size and scope of the project requires it to go through the city’s Design Review process, so tomorrow is the first of at least two meetings in which it will go before the Southwest Design Review Board, a city-convened panel of volunteers (“meet” them here). As noted here last month, you can pre-review the “packet” for the meeting, including the options for the building’s “mass” and shape. If you’ve never been to a Design Review meeting before, and/or are still catching up on this project, there’s a wide array of information made available by hard-working citizen volunteers in Delridge – here are documents regarding the process; here’s info about the handy “Community Guide to Design Review”; and if you can just read one bundle of background, this post on the recently revamped North Delridge Neighborhood Council site summarizes last week’s “Design Review 101” briefing, and the design review/permit-seeking process.

Tomorrow night’s meeting is at 6:30 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW, public welcome, even if you don’t intend to speak. Meantime, our archive of project coverage dating back to first public word in June can be found here. If the timeline DESC distributed last month holds, construction would start in about a year.

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Downtown traffic alert: Concert at KeyArena tonight
December 7, 2011 3:10 pm
|    Comments Off on Downtown traffic alert: Concert at KeyArena tonight
 |   Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | West Seattle traffic alerts

SDOT sent this out as an alert, so in case you commute through the area – given that we heard multiple reports it was tough going to get there earlier today, maybe this will save you some trouble on the way home:

Today’s Deck the Hall Ball, a sold-out concert at the Key Arena, could impact the afternoon commute. Some 8,000 fans of Mumford and Sons, Death Cab for Cutie and Foster the People, will begin arriving for the concert by mid-afternoon and likely produce heavier traffic than usual between I-5 and the Seattle Center and on surrounding streets in the vicinity. The 107.7 The End’s event, which begins at 4 p.m. wraps up at 11 p.m., will add to the late evening traffic in the area as well.

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West Seattle holidays: Christmas ship, gingerbread, solstice
December 7, 2011 2:51 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

Three holiday updates this afternoon:

(December 2010 Alki photo by David Hutchinson)
When the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship and entourage visit Alki this Saturday – one of three stops that night, plus another one on Monday – it’ll be greeted by a roaming “cast of characters representing the Biblical event from the first Christmas,” from Hope Lutheran, according to Mary Welch, who says they also will perform for the crowd at the Alki Bathhouse art studio. As noted on the WSB West Seattle Holiday Events/Info page, the Christmas ship’s schedule this Saturday is 5:15-5:35 pm at Seacrest, 8:50-9:10 at Lowman Beach, 9:40-10 pm at Alki. On Monday, it comes to Don Armeni, 8:40-9 pm.

Coming up this Sunday night – it’s the gingerbreadiest event of this holiday season:

That’s one of our photos from last year’s gingerbread-building competition at West Seattle Christian Church. We recently put out their call for participants, and now WSCC pastor Dan Jacobs says they have 40 teams signed up – they’re inviting you to come be a spectator! 5 pm this Sunday (December 11th) in the WSCC Activity Center along 42nd SW between Genesee and Oregon. Raffle entries and other donations benefit WSCC’s wellbuilding program.

(December 2010 photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
Last but not least … a winter-solstice event confirmed: From West Seattle’s own NASA Solar System Ambassador, Alice Enevoldsen:

In light of the Lunar Eclipse this weekend time for the seasonal sunset watch!!

When: December 21, 2011 at 4:05 pm (so come at 3:30 pm)
Actual sunset is supposed to be at 4:20, but at the summer solstice we noticed that the Sun set about 10 minutes earlier than the USNO says it does, so I’ve moved the time of our sunset watch up so we don’t miss it. I added another 5 minutes for the tall trees of Lincoln Park blocking our view. In Autumn the timing seemed to line up correctly – what will it do this time?
Where: Solstice Park – all the way up the hill from the tennis courts (or, if you’re not in Seattle, wherever you have a view of the western horizon!)
Who: Everyone welcome, as usual.

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West Seattle businesses: New owners for Stella Ruffington’s
December 7, 2011 11:59 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Just got word that a Morgan Junction business has new owners: Stella Ruffington’s Doggy Playcare. The buyers own a training/boarding facility on Camano Island, and say they “have wanted to enter the Seattle market for quite some time.” Read on for the announcement they sent:Read More

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2 tolling notes: 1st meeting ahead for 99 committee; 520 date
December 7, 2011 11:13 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

Just minutes apart, WSDOT sent two news releases that relate to tolling. The first one is perhaps of the most interest here – the committee that’s going to discuss tolling for the future Highway 99 tunnel, and how to reduce the likelihood it will lead to “diversion” (people using other roads instead), has its first meeting set for tomorrow. The second one – Tolling on the 520 bridge across Lake Washington is now set for December 29th. For full details, here’s the 520-toll-date news release; read on for text of the news release about the 99 tunnel tolling committee:Read More

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Video: Arbor Heights fire briefing @ City Council committee
December 7, 2011 10:20 am
|    Comments Off on Video: Arbor Heights fire briefing @ City Council committee
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(UPDATED EDITOR’S NOTE, 12:11 PM: The archived meeting video is now available, so that’s what you’ll see if you click “play” below. We are working on the wrapup story with new information from the hearing and from followup questions afterward.)

10:20 AM: Click “play” to get the live feed from City Hall, as the City Council’s Public Safety and Education Committee is briefed on the August 27th Arbor Heights house fire near 41st/102nd, and what’s been done, and what is still to come, to fix the water-supply problems it exposed –

We have been following this story since the fire itself, including these stories:
*August 27: The fire (accidental; gutted a house and injured a firefighter)
*August 28: Fire’s cause
*August 29: ‘After-action review’ promised
*Sept. 9: Three followups
*Sept. 15: Hydrant upgrades promised
*November 4th: Hydrant upgrades almost complete
*December 5th: City Council committee briefing planned

Last night, we reviewed the documents available online for this briefing, including something new and major: A plan to upgrade water mains. Here’s our story; we will write a new one with added information after today’s briefing, and we will also make a note here when the briefing is over.

11:02 AM: It’s over. Nothing major beyond what we summarized from last night, though some additional summarizing did emerge – when the water-main upgrades are over in a year-plus, all of Arbor Heights will be within 1000 feet of an 8-inch water main, which is the minimum standard these days, and 87 percent will be within 500 feet. The review of the August fire showed that 2,000 feet of hose had to be rolled out to get to an 8-inch water main supply. More to come!

12:12 PM: The archived video is already available – so we have substituted it above. Followup story still in the works.

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West Seattle holidays: Trevor Ras Holiday Show and Food Drive on Sunday at C&P
December 7, 2011 9:06 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Announcements

Just announced for this Sunday:

West Seattle Artists and Businesses Team Up to Benefit the West Seattle Food Bank: The Trevor Ras Holiday Show & Food Drive has something for young and old.

Sunday, December 11 from 3-5pm
C & P Coffee
All Ages, free w/ recommended donation
5612 California Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98136 | 206.933.3125

The holidays can be a rough time of the year for many in the community as they struggle to put food on the table and provide the essentials for their families.

So come all ye West Seattleites to C&P Coffee Sunday afternoon, December 11th from 3-5pm for the Trevor Ras Holiday Show & Food Drive. With cookies and treats, giveaways for donations, and a mix of upbeat holiday sing-alongs and acoustic music, the event will be a great time for young and old, all for a great cause.

Sponsored by West Seattle’s own Skin Care by Casey, admission is free with a recommended donation of one item from the West Seattle Food Bank’s “Wish List.” At the top of the list: canned proteins, baby food, diapers, baby formula and tuna. And if you need a little incentive:

– Anyone who brings in 4 items on the “Wish List” will receive a voucher worth $15 at Skin Care by Casey and a free copy of Trevor Ras latest CD, Blue Sky.

– Anyone who brings in a package of diapers (especially the larger sizes), will receive one free drink courtesy of C and P Coffee.

The event’s organizers, Trevor and Casey Rasmussen are a West Seattle couple, who came up with the idea to help this fall. “We wanted to find a way to help out our community, even if we impact just one family. With West Seattle’s help, we may be able to make a larger impact.”

For more information about the West Seattle Food Bank visit www.westseattlefoodbank.org or the event’s Facebook page. The West Seattle Food Bank’s “Wish List” includes:

***Canned Proteins (various forms)***
***Tuna***
***Diapers***
***Baby Food***
***Baby Formula***
Canned Beans
Beans (dry)
Canned Fruit
Canned Soup
Canned Vegetables
Cereal
Pasta
Peanut Butter
Rice
Pastries
Snack Foods
Bread
Juice
Pet Food
Soap, Toiletry items

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