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Postseason basketball: How local schools did on Saturday
February 12, 2011 8:53 pm
|    Comments Off on Postseason basketball: How local schools did on Saturday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(Video added: Last :30 of Sealth game, with the victory celebration)

HIGH SCHOOL: In district tournament play – Chief Sealth International High School just beat visiting Eastside Catholic, 44-42. Seattle Lutheran‘s boys also won, 49-35 over Shoreline Christian. Earlier, West Seattle High School lost at Bellevue, 82-60.

MIDDLE SCHOOL: Madison Middle School‘s girls and Denny International Middle School‘s boys both played Eckstein Middle School in championship games at Sealth this afternoon. Eckstein won both games, boys 73-51 (we’re still verifying the final girls’ score).

(added) HOLY ROSARY BOYS: Derek sent word the 6th graders beat St. Luke’s today and will play for the CYO championship on Sunday at 1:30 pm against St. Joseph, at Bishop Blanchet High School. (added) And the 8th graders are in their championship game at 6 pm Sunday at Blanchet, according to Dan.

ADDED EARLY SUNDAY: More details and more video, ahead:Read More

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Neighbor Appreciation Day: Scenes from 4 West Seattle fire stations
February 12, 2011 8:26 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

For today’s Neighbor Appreciation Day, we thought it would be fun to assign a photojournalist to visit all five of West Seattle’s fire stations during the midday open-house window shared by every fire station in the city. Cliff DesPeaux made it to four – all except Station 36 by The Bridge (next year, we’ll go there first!) – and here are the highlights. Top photo, firefighter Dave shows off his gear at Station 37 in Sunrise Heights; next, also at Station 37, 3-year-old Alec Olson was in the driver’s seat of Engine 37:

And one more view from Station 37 (which just opened last fall) – 2-year-old Daniel Forehand:

Look at those lights! Engine 29 wowed the crowd at Station 29 in the Admiral District:

Next, also from Station 29: Firefighter Keith Langhorn shows off the engine’s controls to Alki resident Clyde Carpenter and his sons Ian and Evan, both 4:

Now on to Station 32 in The Junction – here’s Aleksandra Abney climbing down from a peek into a truck:

At Highland Park’s Station 11, 4-year-old Noah Rodriguez tried on a Ladder 13 crew member’s helmet (he’s with mom Rachel and 7-year-old brother Justus):

If you don’t know exactly where the stations are, check out the Google Map in our preview. Today’s other events included refreshments at Delridge Community Center and a free swim at Southwest Pool; as reported here earlier in the week, a Neighbor Appreciation Day student-art contest also included a winner from Sanislo Elementary School. Neighbor Appreciation Day was noted at one other city-involved event in West Seattle today, the first design meeting for the Barton/34th P-Patch; we were there, and our report is forthcoming later tonight/early tomorrow.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: ‘Wind advisory’ till 9 pm
February 12, 2011 3:21 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo of wave vs. rocks by Harbor West on Beach Drive, by Stephanie Brownfield)
A few hours after the wind kicked up in a big way (as we noted on Twitter), the National Weather Service finally declared a “wind advisory” that’s in effect till 9 pm tonight. The NWS warns of gusts up to 50 mph. There’s already been one outage in West Seattle, fewer than 100 homes/businesses in Arbor Heights, just south of Roxbury and mostly east of 35th, recently restored according to the City Light tracker.

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West Seattle/White Center protest highlights Cambodia/Thailand dispute
February 12, 2011 2:12 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | White Center

You’ve heard a lot about what’s going on in the Middle East – but have you heard about what’s going on in Southeast Asia? A border clash between Cambodia and Thailand is about to come to a head in front of the United Nations, and today Cambodian-Americans came to West Seattle and White Center for a demonstration aimed at bringing it to your attention and demanding the U.S. government get involved. West Seattle Blog/White Center Now contributor Deanie Schwarz noticed the protest, took these photos and talked to spokesperson Sokmakara Hang, who explained that the demonstrators came from all over the state, and came here because this area has the state’s highest concentration of Cambodian-Americans. They stood on corners all around 16th/Roxbury:

Also on hand was Meach Sovannara from the Khmer Post Media Center in Long Beach (Calif.). The dispute is over a border area near the Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site that is more than a millennium old. The Cambodian-Americans say the most recent skirmishes killed Cambodian soldiers, and are demanding that the Thai government stop what they call an “invasion.” They want United Nations intervention as well as President Obama and the rest of the international community. According to this story from the Bangkok Post, this issue will be brought to the UN Security Council on Monday, and reportedly Cambodia will claim it’s at war with Thailand. There’s more background on the century-long conflict over the temple in this Jakarta Post story.

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West Seattle scenes: City Mouse party; Tool Library ‘Ask An Expert’
February 12, 2011 1:54 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Sustainable West Seattle | West Seattle news

Till 5 pm, you are invited to join the celebration at City Mouse Studio and Store (WSB sponsor), the new name of Donna Ryan‘s photography studio and kids’ shop in The Junction (4218 SW Alaska). That’s Donna on the left with Laney; in the middle, Michelle and Ava, and at right, Aubrey and Oliver (the latter four were among the well-wishers stopping by at the same time we did this morning). Treats – as you can see in the photo – and prizes too. Earlier this morning, the West Seattle Tool Library welcomed visitors to another round of Ask An Expert:

(Photo by Heather P. Brincko)
From left to right: Joshua Brincko from International Studio, visitor Christie, Laura Elfline and Doug Elfline from Mighty House Construction). You don’t have to wait for the next Ask An Expert to visit the Tool Library – its regular Sunday hours are 1-5 pm, so you can drop by and check it out tomorrow (here’s where to find it).

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Video: New Archbishop in West Seattle for ‘World Day of the Sick’
February 12, 2011 12:59 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

The new Archbishop of Seattle, The Most Rev. J. Peter Sartain, was in West Seattle this morning to preside at the World Day of the Sick Mass at the Providence Mount St. Vincent Chapel today. He was joined by five other priests – Holy Rosary’s pastor the Very Rev. John Madigan, Rev. Lyle Konen of the Redemptorist Fathers of Seattle, Rev. Abraham Miller of The Mount, Rev. William Gallagher, and Rev. Richard Ward from the Order of Malta, which has a thousand-year history of devotion “to those who suffer, especially the poor and sick,” according to the program for this morning’s service.

Also participating: the Seattle University Choir:

The World Day of the Sick is commemorated each year “on the occasion of the memorial of the Blessed Virgin of Lourdes,” according to this year’s message from the Pope; holy water from the shrine at Lourdes was used in today’s service.

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West Seattle wildlife: Urban coyote, caught on camera
February 12, 2011 11:43 am
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

We get a fair amount of coyote reports (THANK YOU!) but not many come with photos. Thanks to Amanda Teicher for snapping the one she spotted as she and her dog were headed out for a walk this morning at 17th and Brandon (map). Quite the tail on this one. And here’s the long view:

We share coyote reports not to generate hysteria but just to remind people that they live among us and that it’s important to take steps on your (and your pets’) behalf and theirs to keep them at a distance (as explained here). Our archived coyote coverage, newest to oldest, is here.

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West Seattle Saturday: The weekend takes wing
February 12, 2011 7:59 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by David Hutchinson)
POSTSEASON BASKETBALL: (updated) FIVE games today/tonight – Madison Middle School plays Eckstein at Chief Sealth International High School, 2 pm today, in the middle-school girls’ championship, right after Denny International Middle School plays in the boys’ championship game, also against Eckstein, also at Sealth, at noon … In boys’ high-school district tournament play, Chief Sealth hosts Eastside Catholic tonight at 7, while West Seattle High School will play at Bellevue at 4 pm, and Seattle Lutheran High School at Shoreline Christian at 7 pm.

NEIGHBOR APPRECIATION DAY: Full details in our preview from last night – fire-station tours 11 am-2 pm, Delridge Community Center‘s celebration noon-2 pm, Southwest Pool‘s free swim 1-2 pm.

34TH/BARTON P-PATCH DESIGN MEETING: Help plan the P-patch at Barton/34th! Barker Landscape Architects will facilitate the first public meeting 1:30-3:30 pm today, Southwest Community Center.

WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY HOSTS ASK-AN-EXPERT: 10 am-noon, expert advice for do-it-yourselfers on topics including construction and solar power, at the West Seattle Tool Library, (north end of South Seattle Community College campus, 6000 16th SW)

COMMUNITY ORCHARD OF WEST SEATTLE: Steps away from the Tool Library, it’s a class, lunch and work party at and for the Community Orchard of West Seattle, starts at 10 am, topic “Perennial Planting” – details and RSVP info here

CITY MOUSE OPEN HOUSE: In The Junction, help celebrate the new name City Mouse Studio and Store (WSB sponsor) with an Open House from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 20 percent off storewide, a sale rack with savings up to 70 percent off, buy-one-pair-get-one-pair-free on past season Pediped and See Kai Run shoes, door prizes, mimosas and cupcakes. Everyone who makes a purchase will be entered to win a $300 portrait package and anyone who books and pays for a portrait shoot ($75 sitting fee) for March or April will receive a $35 credit towards any Tea clothing purchase made today. (4218 SW Alaska)

CLICK! TRUNK SHOW: Sarah Loertscher trunk show at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, 11 am-5 pm (details here)

NEW ARCHBISHOP IN WEST SEATTLE: World Day of the Sick service at Providence Mount St. Vincent (4831 35th SW), with Archbishop Most Rev. J. Peter Sartain presiding in a special Eucharistic Celebration with Anointing of the Sick and Blessing with Holy Water from Lourdes, 10 am in the chapel.

CAT ADOPT-A-THON: Regional Animal Services of King County has more than 50-plus adoptable cats at Kitty Harbor, noon-4 pm today and tomorrow (3422 Harbor Avenue).

JEREMY PECK FUNERAL FUNDRAISER: Fundraiser for the family of Jeremy Peck, to raise money for his funeral, Admiral Benbow room at Heartland Cafe, 8-11 pm (here’s the Facebook event)

COMMUNITY SWEETHEART DANCE AT HIAWATHA: 7-10 pm, part of the ongoing Second Saturday Dance Series, starts with beginners’ East Coast Swing lesson, then dancing to a variety of music 8-10 pm (with “mini-lessons throughout the evening to keep you dancing,” instructor/DJ Lilli Ann Carey (Hiawatha Community Center, 2700 California SW)

TRAFFIC ALERTS: On Fauntleroy Way south of the ferry terminal, you might be affected over the next few days by the movie filming we mentioned earlier this week (here’s the story) … And remember the southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct ramp to 1st Avenue South is closed this weekend (with more changes to come – full details here).

(added) OPEN HOUSE: The Community School of West Seattle, 9450 22nd SW, sends word it has an open house, continuing till 2 pm.

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Delridge community sendoff planned February 24 for Ron Angeles
February 11, 2011 10:23 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Mark your calendar for a community celebration in honor of Delridge’s Neighborhood District Coordinator Ron Angeles. Delridge community advocate Pete Spalding of Pigeon Point shares the news tonight, confirming what we had heard rumblings about … that Ron is retiring from his longtime job at the Department of Neighborhoods. That’s Ron at right in a photo from last November, when Pete won a People’s Choice Award from Seattle CityClub. Pete says everyone is welcome to come wish Ron well and celebrate his decades of work on behalf of Delridge; it’ll be a potluck party at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 6-8 pm February 24th. Pete says, “Since Ron is all about community building, we want to make sure that the community has an opportunity to come out and express their gratitude to Ron for his many years of dedicated service to our Delridge community. Everyone who lives/works/plays in Delridge comes into contact with some of Ron’s work on a regular basis without realizing it.” You’re also welcome to join Ron, Pete, and other eastern West Seattle community leaders at the Delridge Neighborhood District Council’s next meeting this coming Wednesday night (February 16), 7 pm, also at Youngstown (4408 Delridge Way SW).

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Neighbor Appreciation Day tomorrow: Fire station tours, free swim
February 11, 2011 9:38 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news


View West Seattle fire stations in a larger map

One more reminder: One big part of the city’s 17th annual Neighbor Appreciation Day tomorrow is that all Seattle fire stations are open for tours. West Seattle has five – listed here, and pinpointed on the Google Map above. The open house is 11 am-2 pm. Other Neighbor Appreciation Day events include free swimming at Southwest Pool 1-2 pm (and they have refreshments starting at noon), plus a drop-in party (light refreshments, we’re told) at Delridge Community Center, noon-2 pm.

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West Seattle Summer Fest applications update: Locals first!
February 11, 2011 7:36 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from West Seattle Summer Fest 2010)
Tonight, an update on applying NOW to be part of the summer’s biggest local event, West Seattle Summer Fest, this July: We reported last week that applications were available online for everything except musicians; now, musicians’ applications are available too. Susan Melrose of the West Seattle Junction Association wants to make sure you know that if you’re local and you apply within the next month, you get to be at the head of the line:

We strongly encourage West Seattle businesses and non-profits to participate. Space in this event is in high demand and in an effort to have our local flavor well represented, the Junction Association is offering West Seattleites priority. All West Seattle businesses and non-profits that turn in complete applications by March 15 will get priority consideration.

The application links are all on the Summer Fest home page – one form for crafts/imports/nonprofits/services, one form for food vendors, and one for musicians. This year’s Summer Fest dates are Friday-Sunday, July 8-10.

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Reminder: Alaskan Way Viaduct ramp closure ahead, and more
February 11, 2011 4:03 pm
|    Comments Off on Reminder: Alaskan Way Viaduct ramp closure ahead, and more
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

Reminder from the Alaskan Way Viaduct south-end replacement team: The weekend closure of the southbound SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct off-ramp to First Avenue S. starts at 7 tonight, and when the ramp reopens by 5 am Monday, it’ll put you onto Royal Brougham, not 1st Avenue South. Also in the announcement:

Starting Monday, drivers will be able to use a new street connecting S. Royal Brougham Way and S. Atlantic Street between First Avenue S. and Alaskan Way S. The new street is temporarily called East Frontage Road S.

Then as of 7 pm next Friday (February 18th), the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct onramp from 1st Avenue South will close for up to six weeks. That closure will kick off with a surface-street closure too:

With the exception of access for local businesses, the following streets will be closed from 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 18 until 5 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22:
* First Avenue S. between S. Royal Brougham Way and S. King Street
* Railroad Way S. between Occidental Avenue S. and S. King Street

All this is explained here. But wait – there’s more:

Starting Monday morning, Feb. 14, both directions of Alaskan Way S. between S. Atlantic Street and S. Royal Brougham Way will be closed to traffic until 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 21.

We’ll provide drivers with a signed detour around the closure via the new East Frontage Road S. Learn more about the detour and the reason we’re closing Alaskan Way S. on our website. The Alaskan Way S. bike and pedestrian path will remain open during the closure.

At 5 a.m., Monday, Feb. 21, one southbound lane will reopen. All northbound lanes will remain closed through 2013 while crews incorporate the area into our existing long-term construction zone.

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Video: Politicians judge Madison students for ‘Project Citizen’
February 11, 2011 3:02 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(The judges with, second from left, Karen Chilcutt, one of the volunteer organizers)
3:02 PM FRIDAY: We’ve just wrapped up about two hours of an amazing We the People: Project Citizen event at Madison Middle School, with humanities teacher Starr McKittrick‘s students presenting their research on two hot topics – education funding and police/public relations – to a high-powered panel: Former Mayor Greg Nickels, County Councilmember Joe McDermott, and Seattle School Board President Steve Sundquist (all three West Seattleites), plus U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott‘s district director Darcy Nothnagle. The students made spoken presentations (written material also was turned in earlier) and were grilled by the four; then they were rated, with the winning group going to compete in a statewide event in Olympia this spring. For any parents awaiting word of the winners – the afternoon classes, who handled education funding, came out on top. We recorded most of the event on video and will add long excerpts later, so you too can cheer the students, described by Madison principal Henterson Carlisle as the event began, as “the leaders of tomorrow.”

ADDED LATE FRIDAY/EARLY SATURDAY: The video clips show each group of students, four each from the morning and afternoon classes, presenting specific parts of their argument, moving from the first group outlining it, to the fourth group with an “action plan.” The presentations were made in the Madison library, with each student group taking seats at the front of the room, facing the judges (and, behind the judges, the audience including all other participants as well as some parents plus the volunteers and school staffers). We’ve preceded each group with a photo of the hallway display about their topic (which, like the presentations, addressed it in four sections):

MORNING STUDENTS: Their project was described as “Help eliminate police brutality through more crisis intervention and cultural-awareness training.”

For this topic, we recorded the students’ presentation, but not the back-and-forth with judges, who asked some tough questions each time, trying to suss out how well the students knew their topics, premises and conclusions. (Added: To a point that has arisen in story comments, the students’ research, they said, did include meeting with police.) Here’s the first group, from left, Dakota Kantner, Buick McNamara, Lena Le, August Carow, Kyle McGlasson, Dominic Yem:

Second group, from left, Abby Gluckman, Diane Ly, Nafsya Magarssa, Erin Pennington, James Caldwell, Carlos Hernandez-Castro:

Group three, from left, Jamal Abdile, Zakariah Nyberg, Queen Norm, Taylor Latham, Sonja Fridriksson, Kristine La:

And the final group on this topic (with the “action plan”) – Gabriella Vanek, Brandon Tyler, Calvin Nguyen, August Mears, Lincoln Vuong, Nickolas Dyer:

AFTERNOON STUDENTS: The official description of their project: “Stop state government from rerouting federal monies for education.”

For three of these four groups, we were able to record some of the interaction with the judges, including this first group, outlining the problem: Ryan Wilson, Miski Hassan, Peter Forsberg, Alyssa Magcalas, Lina Le, Mecca Amen:

Second group: Carter Mensing, Jacob Woodbury, Danielle Nielsen, Ashley Abriam-Snell, Apisara Krassner, Katrina Carper:

In the third education-funding group, whose clip includes questioning from the judges – from left, Daseray Dang, Simon Tate, Colleen Huynh, Sahra Ibrahim, Kaelyn Johnston, Dylan Ledbetter, Lindsey Hage (who also is a starter on the Madison team playing in the middle-school girls’ championship game Saturday afternoon):

Here’s the final group presenting its solution to the education problem: Left to right, Natalie Williams, Nicholas Barth, Hannah Johnson, Mychael Huynh, Ellen Salenjus, Hannah Eklund. (this clip also includes the interaction with judges):

The judges offered their thoughts while the votes were tallied, and then Sundquist handed certificates to each and every participant, including the adult volunteers:

We’ll let you know when we have more information about the competition in Olympia, at which the Madison students will be the first-ever Seattle Public Schools team competing. The showcase on Friday was the culmination of months of work; one student, just before the event, told us he had edited his report eleven times!

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Second guilty plea in Highland Park hate-crime attack
February 11, 2011 12:31 pm
|    Comments Off on Second guilty plea in Highland Park hate-crime attack
 |   Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

One week ago, we reported the likelihood of a plea bargain for the second defendant in the Highland Park hate-crime attack on a teenager (the first defendant, 23-year-old Ahmed Mohamed, pleaded guilty in December and was sentenced last month) – and today, that’s exactly what has happened. 21-year-old Jonathan Baquiring pleaded guilty this morning; details from our partners at the Seattle Times. Baquiring will be sentenced on March 11th; he has remained in jail since his arrest last September.

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Update: Missing 14-year-old girl home safe, mom confirms
February 11, 2011 11:58 am
|      30 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

9:31 PM UPDATE: Kristin Storm just confirmed to WSB that her daughter Alex is home safe. Thanks to WSB’er “Ad” for the original report in comments (p.s. Kristin has posted there too).

ORIGINAL 11:58 AM STORY: Kristin Storm is asking for your help in finding her runaway daughter Alex. Here’s what she just e-mailed us:

My daughter, Alex Storm (age 14, 5’4″, 120 lbs) has been missing since Sunday, February 6th at around 10:00 pm. At around 9:30 pm I discovered that Alex was trying to help another runaway when I found the girl in her bedroom. After calling the girl’s father he requested that I call the police due to her being a repeated runaway and has a warrant out for her arrest as a suspect in a robbery. The girl panicked and jumped out my daughter’s window and called for Alex to follow her. They both left with the clothes on their backs. At that time Alex was wearing a white puffy jacket with a hood with fur trim, but as she’s been spotted around the West Seattle area it appears she may have other clothes. The other girl, according to the father, probably had $1,000 on her.

I have been networking with West Seattle community centers and parks, police, friends and local business and have posters up at several bus stops along Delridge and 16th Ave SW from South Seattle Community College to Westwood Village. These are the areas she may be frequenting, including Denny Middle School and Sealth High School, especially around lunch time and after school typically with a mixed group of teenagers. She may also be seen on the bus routes in West Seattle, especially the 120, 125 and 128.

According to one of my sources, my daughter’s friend is not allowed to return to many of the places that would be safe for her to stay due to her behavior, so I’m extremely worried for my daughter’s safey as I haven’t been able to determine where she’s staying. It appears that some of Alex’s friends are trying to help me find her and some of her friends are trying to help hide her which so far has been a catch 22 as I’m always one step behind. The friends that know both girls are both worried and very surprised that Alex befriended this person and runaway with her.

I want to send the message out that I just want Alex to know that she can come home safely. She is not in trouble with the police (running away is not illegal and therefore not a crime, they are just trying to help me find her) and I’m not trying to get anyone else involved in trouble. I just want her to come home. I love her very much as well as her friends, family and pets. We all miss her.

If anyone spots her please call me at 206-290-5956 so I can take down the information very quickly and then head that way and then call 9-1-1 to report her being seen as well.

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Happy 40th anniversary to Tom’s Automotive Service!
February 11, 2011 11:22 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Triangle | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

They’re celebrating a big anniversary at Tom’s Automotive Service (WSB sponsor) in The Triangle today – 40 years in business! Though the office is decked with balloons and streamers, and trays of cupcakes are on the counter and in the waiting room – all in the red/white/blue theme that are also their company colors – they’re not stopping down for a party; we could barely get everyone together for our photo; the phone just kept ringing. Tom’s was founded at 6047 1/2 California SW on this date in 1971 (that’s namesake Tom Smith in our photo, fourth from the right). The business moved to The Triangle in 1973. There’s a bit more about Tom’s Automotive in our official WSB welcome from last year, including their community involvement (signs of which are all over the office – with certificates, photos, and the basket for food-bank donations you’re invited to bring in for a discount on your bill).

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34th/Barton P-Patch: Planning meeting tomorrow; naming issue
February 11, 2011 10:28 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | West Seattle news | Westwood

There’s so much going on tomorrow around West Seattle, organizers of the planning meeting for the new 34th/Barton P-Patch want to make sure their big event doesn’t get lost in the shuffle: They hope everyone interested in the new community garden can join them for the first community design meeting, 1:30-3:30 pm Saturday at Southwest Community Center (map).

Meantime, you might recall that some wondered about possibly naming the new P-Patch after the late Tony Genzale, longtime owner of the Tony’s Market produce stand across the street; WSB’er Mike has been checking into that and reports that city staffers have told him that naming the P-Patch in honor of a person would be a possibility, but would require getting a feel for what the community thinks, among other factors. Mike says, “It is my hope that ‘Tony’s P-Patch’ would be special and heartwarming. He was a great guy!” (P.S. If you missed the news, Tony’s Market reopened this week, with Tony’s son Joey in charge – here’s our story.)

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Delridge Skatepark update: Grindline’s bid passes city review
February 11, 2011 9:58 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

West Seattle-based Grindline, which (as a subcontractor) created the design (above) for Delridge Skatepark, is one step closer to building it. A week and a half after the word that Grindline had submitted the “apparent low bid” in the second round of bidding (here’s backstory on the 1st round), project manager Kelly Davidson has an update this morning: “The formal Request to Award to Grindline has been submitted to City Contracting. This means that Parks has reviewed and approved all pre-qualifications and we will move forward with contracting and bonding. This process can take 2-4 weeks.” Once the bid is awarded, then a date will be set for construction to start. The city says Grindline’s bid was $483,000 (almost $20,000 lower than its bid in the 1st round).

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Who we met at the West Seattle Art Walk, February 2011
February 10, 2011 11:56 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

(Photos and video by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
Tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk highlighted imagination and whimsy as well as boldness and brightness in the wide range of art on display around the peninsula. Laura Castellanos was at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) – you might recognize her “bummerbunny.” Bright night overall at Click!

Also in The Junction, more imagination and whimsy courtesy of Kate Endle, at CAPERS:

Kate is an accomplished illustrator and also works in collage, using decorative and hand-painted paper. You’ll find some of her children’s books on sale at CAPERS, too. Next Junction stop – ArtsWest:

Encaustic abstract artist Kate Fluckinger is one of the artists who are “Spinning Straw Into Gold” in the ArtsWest Gallery‘s current exhibition. A bit off the beaten Junction track, Joya Marie was the featured artist at the Nature Consortium offices, showing her linocuts:

Live music there, too, from Bando-Rio:

Finally, two stops outside The Junction – Art Walk night is always busy at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), with Wine Club and a featured artist – this time, Chris Hunter:

His “day job” is at Alki Beach Tattoo, but he’s been painting longer than he’s been tattooing, and that’s what C&P is showcasing – watercolor and ink paintings and drawings. Last but by no means least, a stop at Stephanie Hargrave‘s South Admiral studio to say hi to Jean Lovejoy, who drew a full house of fans for her retrospective:

Last night we featured Stephanie’s story about Jean, who’s going strong at 91. Remember, most venues display their artists’ work all month long, so even if you couldn’t get out tonight, you’ve got time to wander around and enjoy it in the weeks ahead. Next West Seattle Art Walk: March 10.

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West Seattle scenes from a beautiful Thursday
February 10, 2011 10:59 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle scenes from a beautiful Thursday
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Three gorgeous pictures came in from wonderful West Seattle photographers today – we’re sharing two tonight, and saving one for tomorrow’s morning preview. Thanks to Mike Scharer for the paddleboarder picture above, and Robin Lindsey (also known for her Seal Sitters work) for the great-blue-heron image below:

Got a photo to share with your West Seattle neighbors via WSB? Here’s how.

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High-school basketball tournament: Tonight’s Sealth, WSHS scores
February 10, 2011 10:23 pm
|    Comments Off on High-school basketball tournament: Tonight’s Sealth, WSHS scores
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Both West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth International High School had home games tonight in Metro League tournament play. The Seahawks defeated Lakeside; close game for the Wildcats, but they were on the losing end. More after the jump:Read More

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64 mph on West Seattle’s Admiral Way hill: Another SPD speed sting
February 10, 2011 8:01 pm
|      124 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Another week, another speeder roundup on the Admiral Way hill north of the West Seattle Bridge (map), according to a report just published on Seattle Police’s SPD Blotter. After last week’s roundup, WSB’ers had a lot to say. But did the speeders heed the warning? Apparently not, according to tonight’s report, which says they caught one driver at 64 miles per hour:

On February 10th from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. the SPD Traffic Unit’s Aggressive Driver Response Team conducted a speed enforcement emphasis in the 3300 block of SW Admiral Way. Emphasis patrols are regularly conducted in accordance with the Traffic Unit’s mission to promote traffic safety through the vigorous enforcement of city and state traffic laws. The posted speed limit on this stretch of road is 30 mph.

In the one-hour-long emphasis, five officers issued a total of 42 citations. Among those citations included some notable excessive speeds: Two violators at 50 mph, one at 51 mph, one at 52 mph, and one at 64 mph (who also had no proof of insurance).

The top speed reported in the crackdown a week earlier was 55 mph.

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West Seattle Montessori’s blanket drive to help homeless people
February 10, 2011 7:43 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Montessori’s blanket drive to help homeless people
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

From West Seattle Montessori/West Seattle Academy (WSB sponsor) – If you have a blanket you don’t need (or can buy a new one to donate), get ready to donate it in a blanket drive, inspired by pre-primary student Morgan Williams, who wants to “help the homeless people of West Seattle stay warm,” according to the school’s announcement. Next week, February 14-18, they’ll be collecting clean blankets – new and used – in a bin set up outside the school, so anybody can donate, not just students, staff and families. They’re at 11215 15th SW (map). P.S. Morgan says, “You can give them coats, too!” (One more WSMS note – the elementary play “Fiddler on the Roof” will be performed again tomorrow night, 7 pm, West Seattle High School Theater.)

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