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Wednesday afternoon notes from the inbox
March 4, 2009 2:30 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | Wildlife | WS miscellaneous

WEST SEATTLE COOL MOMS MEET TONIGHT TOO: They’re inviting one and all to their monthly meeting, 7 pm at C and P Coffee. For more on what they’re about, go to coolmom.org.

TOMORROW NIGHT – SUMMER CAMP INFO! Also got a note from Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School making sure you know they’re having a Summer Camp Information Night tomorrow, and everyone’s invited to that too, not just members of the school community – representatives of several camps will be there to share information, answer questions, and even take reservations. 7-8:30 pm Thursday in the OLG Parish Hall (34th/Myrtle).

SWAP ON SATURDAY: Home accessories “swap” event at Youngstown Arts Center — more info here (note, there is an admission fee in addition to requiring that you bring at least five items to participate).

“MORNING VISITOR”: That’s how Rick C in Westwood titled the e-mail with this photo:

He says he zoomed in as close as he could; he lives near Delridge/Thistle and saw the eagle from his backyard.

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Monday night notes: From oil, to beer, to two kinds of building
March 2, 2009 9:46 pm
|    Comments Off on Monday night notes: From oil, to beer, to two kinds of building
 |   WS miscellaneous

fobesice.jpgWEST SEATTLE PHOTOGRAPHER REVISITS EXXON VALDEZ, 20 YEARS LATER: We’re having a tough time realizing it’s really been two decades since the Exxon Valdez catastrophe in Alaska’s Prince William Sound. But our memories, as a then-TV-news producer in San Diego, writing short stories from 2,000 miles away, are nothing like those held by Natalie Fobes (shown at left, photographed in Siberia), a West Seattle-based photographer who was one of the first on the scene of the spill in 1989 and spent three months chronicling how it affected wildlife and people. People for Puget Sound is sponsoring a presentation by Fobes and Cordova, AK, author-activist Dr. Riki Ott at 7 pm Thursday at REI’s flagship store downtown. In addition to looking back, they will look ahead to what’s being done, and needs to be done, to make sure nothing like this can happen again. More info, including how to get tickets, is on this page of the PPS website.

ORGANIC BEER: Elliott Bay Brewing Company‘s e-newsletter sent out today revealed another milestone in its organic brewing:

ORGANIC Beer NOW in West Seattle!!!

-On February 2, 2009 Elliott Bay Brewery and Pub became only the second brewery in King County to be awarded organic certification for its beers. While we’ve been brewing with organic grain for a number of years now, we decided to seek certification for our year-round house beers and a handful of our seasonal recipes.
-Look for USDA labels on the board above the bar and on our tap handles that will designate which of our current draught selections is certified organic.

COMMUNITY-BUILDING INSIGHT: Fauntleroy Church‘s “Re-creating Community in our Day” series continues Wednesday night, 7 pm, with Bill Grace, founder of the Center for Ethical Leadership. Simple supper by donation at 6 pm, presentation at 7. (Next week’s guest speakers are your WSB co-publishers, so we hope to see you there then too.)

FREE HOME-BUILDING/REMODELING WORKSHOP: Longtime WSB sponsor Ventana Construction is offering another one of its free, no-strings workshops for anyone and everyone thinking about remodeling or custom home-building. Call 206-932-3009 to have them save a spot for you. The event is at 6:30 pm Thursday at Ventana HQ north of Morgan Junction.

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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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If you’re still not ready for digital TV, here’s West Seattle help
January 29, 2009 8:32 am
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   WS miscellaneous

So far it’s not looking too likely that Congress will go ahead with suggestions to push back the “digital TV transition” date currently set for Feb. 17th. If you still need help sorting out whether you’re ready for that transition, West Seattle help is available – check out this list of locations and times. (Left side of that page has answers to frequently asked questions, too.)

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West Seattle links: Video-shoot scare; lights down or else
January 17, 2009 4:07 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle links: Video-shoot scare; lights down or else
 |   West Seattle online | WS miscellaneous

VIDEO SHOOT SCARE: Found this tale of police summoned to what turned out to be a video shoot. Not exactly on the Seacrest Game Show Inferno scale, though.

LIGHTS DOWN, OR ELSE: If you live in High Point, you’re under orders to take your Christmas lights down before this weekend’s over.

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Welcoming a new WSB sponsor: Three Tree Montessori
January 12, 2009 11:05 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   WS miscellaneous

While WSB is all about West Seattle, on occasion we receive sponsorship inquiries from folks whose businesses and organizations are not based here, but do serve, and enthusiastically welcome, West Seattleites. That’s the case with a new WSB sponsor we’re welcoming today, Three Tree Montessori. The school is in Burien (just blocks from a Burien business that’s popular with West Seattleites – Trader Joe’s!). At left, a few of their elementary students; as with all new sponsors, we offered Three Tree Montessori a chance to tell you something about themselves: “Montessori is a time-tested, child-centered developmental education method that is focused on the individual child’s potential, giving the child hands-on experiences that nurture the love of learning. Montessori emphasizes collaboration, self-expression, and self-motivation in beautiful learning environments which foster respect, peace, and joy. Come meet the staff and see Three Tree Montessori‘s beautiful classrooms with outdoor extensions to garden and play areas for children ages 12 months through 12 years at our open house: Saturday, January 31st from 1:00 – 3:00 pm. Immediate openings are available in our half-day Toddler and Elementary programs.” Three Tree Montessori is at 220 SW 160th in Burien (here’s a map), 206-242-5100, and online at threetree.org. WSB welcomes Three Tree Montessori to our sponsor team, whose current members are listed on this page, where you’ll also find information on how to join them!

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Update: “Gunshot”-type sounds confirmed as fireworks (whew)
January 10, 2009 11:37 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   WS miscellaneous

ORIGINAL 11:37 PM POST: We don’t have anything official on this but since we’ve received multiple e-mail from various locations, we’re throwing it out for starters in case anyone happens to be close to the epicenter of whatever happened – the notes we have so far report something within the past hour or so that sounded like gunshots. Nothing obvious on the scanner right this moment, and no “assault with weapons” or major aid calls. The locations from which people have e-mailed us with reports of hearing this include 41st/Alaska, 40th/Edmunds, and 41st/Edmunds – the latter note is from someone certain that it happened within a block of their location, but they haven’t heard sirens or anything else tell-tale. ADDED 11:58 PM: Just to reiterate, there is absolutely no proof this was (or wasn’t) shots – some in comments speculated fireworks. We are unlikely to get any official information tonight. ADDED 12:10 AM: Alice, who’s a reliable source, says she lives in the area and confirmed visually it was fireworks. Thanks; that’s the value of this type of post when multiple reports of concern come in – usually someone DOES know something more concrete that we have no way of finding out otherwise, so thanks for the info-sharing.

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4 firefighter heroes honored tonight at Holy Family
January 5, 2009 9:57 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   White Center | WS miscellaneous

14 years ago tonight, a crime of greed took a terrible toll: Four Seattle firefighters lost their lives in a commercial warehouse in the International District that was set ablaze by its owner’s son. Tonight, those four firefighters — Randy Terlicker, James Brown, Lt. Greg Shoemaker, and Lt. Walter Kilgore (namesake of the Honor Guard shown in the photo above) — were remembered at Holy Family School, Terlicker’s alma mater. Those in attendance included Fire Chief Gregory Dean, Mayor Nickels, City Council President Richard Conlin, and City Councilmembers Tom Rasmussen and Tim Burgess. The event also raised money for Holy Family scholarships to be granted by the Randy Terlicker Endowment Fund. ADDED 10:30 PM: Video of the Seattle Fire Department Pipes and Drums Band procession, followed by the Honor Guard presenting the colors:

Randy’s mom Colleen Terlicker shared memories tonight as well:

Her son was only 35 when he died in the warehouse fire; James Brown was 25; Lt. Kilgore, 45; Lt. Shoemaker, 43. Three years after the fire, arsonist Martin Pang was sentenced to 35 years in prison; as this 1998 Times story notes, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter – murder charges were rendered impossible by the extradition agreement with Brazil, to which he had fled after the crime.

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Reminders for Friday: From bridge to buses to trash to gov’t
January 1, 2009 8:18 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | Utilities | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

BRIDGE RAMP CLOSURES: This is more like tonight/tomorrow: The high-bridge ramp closures for drain cleaning start at midnight tonight, continuing up till 8 am tomorrow (at the latest; one sign says 6 am but the city has repeated “8 am” so 6 may just be a typo). Here’s our original story, including a list of what’s closed/open during this work.

BUS SCHEDULES: Metro is on the “partial holiday” schedule one more day.

TRASH COLLECTION: Here’s the Seattle Public Utilities explainer. If you’re usually Thursdays, they’re getting you picked up tomorrow. If you’re usually Fridays, they’ll get you on Saturday. If you were missed again Mon-Wed this week, call.

COUNTY OFFICES/FACILITIES: Most are closed tomorrow – it’s a “furlough day.”

CITY OFFICES/FACILITIES: Open tomorrow.

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Whole lotta lava: West Seattle’s hottest webcam wins an honor
January 1, 2009 10:03 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle people | WS culture/arts | WS miscellaneous

Jerry Whiting from West Seattle-based JetCityOrange created that clip of his Lava Lamp Webcam, suggesting that’s how a Lava Lamp might look “on espresso” (java lava?) – and now the camera itself has won an international honor: It made EarthCam’s list of the 25 Most Interesting Webcams of 2008. The camera focuses on two Lava Lites — with one in action at all times — and updates its image every 10 seconds; you can see it on this JetCityOrange page anytime (optimal viewing 8-8:30 pm, when Jerry says both are usually on). The full EarthCam Top 25 list is here (with cams from an Australian station in Antartica to the National Corvette Museum).

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West Seattle snow aftermath: “Loose ends” open thread
December 30, 2008 8:01 am
|      46 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

We’ll be checking on several things today – including a UPS followup and non-pothole road questions. Any other loose ends or followups on your mind? Post a comment or e-mail WSB.

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Thursday midday notes: Holiday help, entertainment, and more
December 11, 2008 12:15 pm
|    Comments Off on Thursday midday notes: Holiday help, entertainment, and more
 |   How to help | West Seattle schools | WS miscellaneous

Lots of quick time-sensitive mentions before some major stories start breaking (for example, the narrowed-down list of Viaduct options will go public around 3:30, if it’s not leaked sooner, and WSB will be there for that). The following is in no particular order – lots of great stuff going on:

HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE: Another local business has one going – Dave Newman State Farm Insurance Agency (WSB sponsor), 3435 California SW, drop off a nonperishable food donation any time they’re open, 9 am-5 pm Mondays-Fridays.

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT: Larry Knapp sent a note to say he’s on piano at The Bohemian tonight, 6-9 pm. (Also live music tonight, as there is almost every night, at Skylark Cafe and Club [WSB sponsor], starting at 9 – Donerail, Otherwise, Lyons Mane, Skylark’s calendar page has times and links to musicians’ websites.)

PATHFINDER SCHOOL CRAFT AND GIFT SALE UPDATE: We mentioned this several hours ago. Now we have the exact time frame for today’s sale: 1-3 pm and 6:30-8:30 pm. (Here’s a map to the school.)

ANOTHER HOLIDAY DRIVE FOR PETS: We mentioned Furry Faces/Purrfect Pals/Pet Elements yesterday. Now there’s word that Stella Ruffington, which like PE is in Morgan Junction, is a dropoff spot for the Seattle Dog Daycares Association pet food/toy drive for Lifelong Aids Alliance, through the end of the year.

SCHMITZ PARK ELEMENTARY HOLIDAY DRIVE: Schmitz Park PTA co-president Julie Foster wrote with word that Schmitz Park is sponsoring a Joy of Giving holiday drive to benefit Treehouse, which she describes as “an amazing local organization helping our community’s foster kids.” Joy of Giving wish lists are available at the school and online at www.treehouseforkids.org – Julie suggests printing them out, passing them around, and then get the gifts (new, unwrapped toys, clothes or cash donations) to the school by 12/19. Contact her with questions: jul.foster@hotmail.com

“PLAID TIDINGS” SHOW ADDED: If you haven’t already seen them at ArtsWest, maybe you saw their sampler at the West Seattle Junction Tree Lighting last Saturday – the guys from Plaid Tidings are rockin’ The Junction and tickets have gone so far, ArtsWest just added two more shows: 7:30 pm the next two Sundays, December 14 and 21. Tickets are available online.

LAST BUT BY NO MEANS LEAST — WSB FORUM MEMBERS INVITE YOU TO A POTLUCK BENEFIT PARTY THIS SUNDAY!!! If you haven’t already been following this on the WSB Forums (which are celebrating their first anniversary this month), Forum members are organizing a holiday get-together this Sunday and want to invite ALL WSB’ers to be part of it. It’s a potluck and also a benefit. 3 pm Sunday 12/14 at Big Al’s Brewing in White Center – upstairs, so all ages are welcome. Read on for the full list of what to bring along, including how to join in helping folks for the holidays:Read More

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Happening today/tonight: Jam-packed Thursday
December 11, 2008 6:34 am
|    Comments Off on Happening today/tonight: Jam-packed Thursday
 |   WS miscellaneous

Besides the holiday edition of the West Seattle Art Walk, as mentioned in the previous post, here are some highlights for the next 16 hours or so:

ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT: The Stakeholders Advisory Committee meets again at 4:30 pm. During last week’s media briefing, reporters were told the list of 8 “scenarios” for replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct‘s Central Waterfront section would be narrowed to 2 or 3 hybrids today. That should happen when, or before, the SAC gets together for the second time this week, at City Hall.

COOPER CLOSURE? A 6:30 pm meeting is planned at Cooper Elementary, now facing the possibility its “program” will be eliminated so the building can become the new home for Pathfinder K-8 (two weeks after Arbor Heights Elementary was proposed for that role).

SOUTH DELRIDGE/WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY SAFETY COALITION: Crimefighting and safety advocacy for southeastern West Seattle and neighboring White Center, 6 pm, Boys and Girls Club @ 9800 8th SW

PARKS BOARD: Several items of West Seattle interest on the agenda tonight, including an update on the reservoir-lidding program (with a future park at Westcrest; read the briefing paper here) and a change in parks-naming policy (read the proposed policy here), 7 pm, Parks Department HQ at Denny Park downtown.

SMALL AND SIMPLE AWARDS: 6 pm, Alki Elementary, the mayor and others will honor local organizations that are receiving the Department of Neighborhoods‘ latest round of Small and Simple Awards (including basketball-court improvements at Arbor Heights).

WEST SEATTLE TRAILS WORKSHOP: As part of a larger DON grant, signs and kiosks are going up around West Seattle to help walkers and bikers find their way – and you are invited to help shape the art and information they’ll contain. Camp Long Lodge, 6:30 pm – children 6-12 welcome to come along and to enjoy a nature class about owls during the meeting.

More in the WSB Events calendar (reminder, if you have an event coming up and it’s not there or – if more appropriate – on our Holidays page, PLEASE let us know so we can add it! editor@westseattleblog.com)

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Happening today/tonight: Six highlights
December 4, 2008 7:06 am
|    Comments Off on Happening today/tonight: Six highlights
 |   The Kenney | WS miscellaneous

ARBOR HEIGHTS BAZAAR: Long before they were rocked by the proposal to close their “program,” the Arbor Heights Elementary community had been getting ready for this big holiday event. Now, it packs extra punch. Go visit them and find everything from pizza to performances to presents, 4 pm-8 pm (full details here).

SCHOOL CLOSURES COMMUNITY MEETING: However they shake out, the closures/changes are on a fast track, and the district wants community suggestions ASAP. Tonight’s the next chance, 6:30-8:30 pm at Stanford Center (district HQ) in Sodo (more info here).

SANISLO ELEMENTARY CONCERT AT WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL: It’s a celebration to conclude Sanislo‘s musical residency with Joe Craven, and the community’s invited, free! 6:30 pm

COMMUNITY MEETING ON THE KENNEY’S MEGAPROJECT: Morgan Community Association and Fauntleroy Community Association have joined forces to get questions answered regarding where the project stands and what happens next, Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor) fellowship hall, 7 pm (previous WSB coverage of the project is archived here; the next Design Review meeting is finally on the city website, 8 pm 12/18 at Madison Middle School)

GOT YOUR OWN PROJECT IN MIND? Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) presents its next edition of the free “Building a Better Home: Remodeling and Custom Home Workshop” tonight at Ventana offices, 5458 California Ave SW, 6:30 pm. Call 206-932-3009 to make sure there’s still room.

LATE-NIGHT SHOPPING: Another WSB sponsor, Click! Design That Fits in Admiral, has the first of its Late-Night Thursdays holiday shopping events tonight, open till 9 with “rotating specials, snacks and libations from 6 to 9 pm” each of the next three Thursdays (this week’s special, 15% off all holiday decorations and cards during the event).

More on the frequently updated WSB West Seattle Events calendar, which runs well into next year.

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Bacon-mania strikes WSB Forums
November 30, 2008 6:17 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle online | West Seattle people | WS miscellaneous

They’ve organized fundraisers … they’ve organized knitting and book clubs … and now .. WSB Forum members are joining forces to buy bacon. See why, here.

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Thanksgiving Day info: Grocery-store hours too
November 26, 2008 8:01 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | WS miscellaneous

Also from the WSB Holiday Happenings page, just in case you forgot something and have to rush out tomorrow to find it: Metropolitan Market will be open till 2 pm (then closing till 6 am Friday); Thriftway will be open 5 am-4 pm; QFC will be open till 6 pm (then closing until 5 am Friday); the Safeways remain open 24 hours; PCC will be closed.

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Possible scam alert: Looking for a charge
November 26, 2008 8:44 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   WS miscellaneous

Forwarded by Mike Dady from the North Delridge Neighborhood Council, who was asked by a Youngstown resident to “get the word out” about a suspicious situation:Read More

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Port news: Maersk switching from Tacoma to Seattle
November 25, 2008 12:34 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   WS miscellaneous

Didn’t notice this Tacoma News-Tribune story till the P-I published a short version: Maersk Line will switch its container-shipping calls from Tacoma to Seattle next spring. Doesn’t say which terminal will be used – but Seattle’s been freeing more spring/summer freighter space by clearing cruise ships out of Terminal 30 and moving them to the Magnolia side (91).

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Meteorite sighting?
November 22, 2008 8:24 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   WS miscellaneous

Just in from Jim:

Just saw a big flash over West Seattle about 8:00 from my viewpoint here in Shorewood. Of Course someone in West Seattle might have seen a big flash over the Olympics for all I know. One of the brightest I’ve seen in years.

This reminds us of a meteor clip posted on Slog today – going to go look for that. There is an annual meteor shower in the middle of November … researching that too. 8:34 PM ADDITION: The meteor shower was “Leonids,” which peaked Monday. This is the Edmonton dashcam video of a meteor sometime Thursday (as featured on Slog earlier):

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Happening today/tonight: Too much to describe in this headline
November 20, 2008 6:03 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Much happening today even before the unscheduled news starts breaking. First, two media briefings that aren’t public events, but WSB will be there to bring you the news as close to immediately as possible: There’s a City Hall briefing at 10 am about the jail-site search — the first official jail-related news in months. 11 am at Seattle Center, it’s a briefing about the Viaduct-solution search; this time, we’ll get information on projected cost of the various options — including the much-buzzed “integrated elevated,” shown above in a WSDOT rendering. The following events are all open to the public: West Seattle Democratic Women‘s monthly lunch, 11:15 @ West Seattle Golf Course, call 935-3216 by 10 am for a reservation; High Point Community Center has a free (early) Thanksgiving dinner, from turkey to door prizes, 6-8 pm; Southwest Community Center hosts its final workshop on designing a new fitness room, 6 pm; the Southwest Design Review Board looks at the revised proposal for the Admiral Safeway rebuild, 6:30 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library; Alki Community Council meets at Alki Community Center, 7 pm. Fun stuff tonight too, like “Girlfriends’ Night Out” at Capers in The Junction – see the Events calendar for more.

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Bonus points for liveliest news release du jour
November 18, 2008 10:37 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle people | WS miscellaneous

George Howland, who used to handle City Council communications, does that sort of thing for the Seattle Channel now. He promised the city-run cable channel would be doing a better job of getting the word out about its eclectic programming (which has even included us). So this just landed in the inbox – yes, an energetically written city news release that even calls the mayor “Hizzoner” – although seriously, what would YOU ask him?:

Budget cuts? Youth violence? Winter floods? Do you have questions for Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels? Want to have them answered on live TV? On Wednesday, November 19, 7 pm, be sure to watch to Ask the Mayor on SEATTLE CHANNEL, Cable 21, streaming live at www.seattlechannel.org, and call 206-684-8821 to talk to the Mayor and host C.R.Douglas or e-mail your question now by writing to askthemayor@seattle.gov anytime the inspiration strikes you. If you are a journalist, an activist, or a city employee who has been trying to get access to the mayor to ask your question—now is your chance! Don’t let the opportunity to question Hizzoner pass you by! Last month, the Mayor said that the people living in the Nickelsville tent city weren’t homeless but were political activists. What will he say this month? Be sure to tune in and find out.

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Last-minute reminder: Parenting talk tonight at Pathfinder K-8
November 14, 2008 1:20 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle schools | WS miscellaneous

Pathfinder K-8 PTSA folks say everybody’s welcome; it tackles one of the toughest topics a parent faces, in the relatively early going – when do you start talking to your kids about the “birds and the bees,” as the age-old euphemism puts it? 6:45 tonight at Pathfinder; more details online.

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From the police chief: Is (public) nudity illegal in Seattle?
November 14, 2008 10:47 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle parks | West Seattle police | WS miscellaneous

Following up on the Parks Department rule proposal – which didn’t make it out of last night’s Board of Park Commissioners meeting (WSB coverage here) – SPD Blotter has posted a letter from Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske addressing the question “Is nudity illegal?” Bottom line: no easy answer.

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