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Spotlight Stories

Reminder: West Seattle Preschool Fair tomorrow night!
April 3, 2011 2:46 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

If you’re still looking for a place for your preschooler – you’ll want to check out the second annual West Seattle Preschool Fair tomorrow night. Organizer Renee Metty of The Cove School says they’ll have it in January in future years – closer to the time when families make decisions about the next school year – but the new West Seattle Preschool Association decided to go ahead with it now since many new families are moving here, and it’s been tough to find out about all the potential preschool choices. Admission is free, and they’ll also have a fundraising raffle ($2/ticket, 3 for $5) with prizes including a gift certificate to Proletariat Pizza, a Birthday Bash at The Little Gym, and a music basket including a year membership to Soundbridge. Renee adds that they’ll have the NCAA championship game on a TV set, too! The WS Preschool Fair is 5:30-7:30 pm tomorrow, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW).

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Memorial Saturday for Delridge community leader Vivian McLean
April 3, 2011 1:22 pm
|    Comments Off on Memorial Saturday for Delridge community leader Vivian McLean
 |   Delridge | Obituaries | Pigeon Point | West Seattle news

The famous Pigeon Point community signpost along SW Andover has held a tribute to longtime community advocate Vivian McLean – painted by Jim Sander – since shortly after news of her death started circulating a week and a half ago. When we published our first report about Ms. McLean’s passing at age 90, memorial plans hadn’t been finalized yet, but according to Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council chair Brita Long and the Seattle Times (WSB partner) obituary published today, they have: A celebration of Ms. McLean’s life is set for 2:30 pm next Saturday, April 9th, at Delridge Community Center.

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Update: Meals, tears, hugs during Charlestown Café’s final day
April 3, 2011 12:23 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Charlestown Cafe | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(Our first report, as the café’s doors opened one last time this morning, is here)

Story and photos by Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The scene at the Charlestown Street Café is dramatically different a few hours later as fans crowded through the doors for a final Sunday morning breakfast.

Servers swiftly seated customers, teared up while taking orders, and hugged their “regulars” goodbye.

Among those giving and getting hugs: JoAnne Morrison (pink vest), who picketed in front of the Charlestown a few years ago to stop the landlord from demolishing the restaurant, came in for the last breakfast and ordered a spinach omelette. “Everyone is so friendly and nice, I just got to know everyone,” Morrison said.

Morrison said she had breakfast every Sunday at the Charlestown, and often for lunch or dinner during the week as well. From now on, she will probably just make breakfast at home on Sunday, she said.

Owner Ron Hanlon was out getting more groceries, said waitress Tama Warrior, who was working her final shift, along with Hesper Guerra. We’ll try to catch up with him later as he prepares to lock the front door of the cafe for the last time today.

5:55 PM UPDATE: We’ll publish Kathy’s final update a bit later this evening; she says the doors did not close at 3 pm spot-on, nor for a while afterward, but we went back a little while ago and found the final sign on the finally closed door:

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Happening now: Recycling roundup at Fauntleroy Church
April 3, 2011 12:11 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

Last time they were here, they recycled 20 tons of unwanted items – and you can help them aim for a new West Seattle record today. The trucks from 1 Green Planet are back in the Fauntleroy Church parking lot at 9140 California SW (map) till 3 pm. The church’s Green Committee has a flyer showing what they’ll accept – you can see it here (PDF).

FAUNTLEROY CHURCH SIDE NOTE: The next “Sweet, Sweet Music” show is this Friday night, April 8th – 7:30 pm in the church sanctuary, with a focus on choral music, opening with the church’s chancel choir and closing with the Chief Sealth International High School Honor Choir (still accepting donations to cover its Easter trip to sing at Carnegie Hall). Full details on the church website!

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West Seattle wildlife: First Canada goslings of the season
April 3, 2011 11:55 am
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

Shared by Alki photographer David Hutchinson, who has also tracked local Canada goose families in seasons past, two photos and this report:

Spring seems to have arrived despite the cool weather. The first Harbor Avenue Canada Goose goslings have shown up right on schedule. If they manage to survive the bald eagles, off-leash dogs, and thoughtless humans, they should be making their first flight in about 2 1/2 months. Please keep an eye out for them as you drive along Harbor Ave as the grass always looks greener on the other side.

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West Seattle Sunday: Marrow drive; Hi-Yu tea; Catsino; ‘Rumors’…
April 3, 2011 8:19 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Sunday: Marrow drive; Hi-Yu tea; Catsino; ‘Rumors’…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

The view from Don Armeni about an hour ago hinted at the promise of sunshine later. Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar (got an event? e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!):

CHARLESTOWN CAFE’S FINAL DAY: Here’s our update from when the restaurant opened this morning; they’re scheduled to close forever at 3 pm.

WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY’S FINAL SSCC DAY: The West Seattle Tool Library‘s moving to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, and today’s its final day at the original South Seattle Community College location (north side) – drop by, borrow a tool, 1-5 pm.

FAUNTLEROY RECYCLING EVENT: 10 am-3 pm, the Fauntleroy Church Green Committee “is again offering to rid the neighborhood of tons of recyclable computers, monitors, appliances, bicycles, phones – pretty much you name it. Bring your stuff to the church parking lot [9140 California SW] and 1 Green Planet will take it away, break it down locally, and recycle everything responsibly.” Free (but donations accepted); full list of accepted items at fauntleroyucc.org

GARAGE SALE FOR JAPAN RELIEF, DAY 2: Shelley Lebert and friends welcome you to 3014 45th SW for a second day of garage-saling to raise money for Japan relief – 9 am-4 pm. (Here are our photos from Day 1.)

BIRTHDAY PARTY/BONE-MARROW DRIVE: 2-6 pm at Alki Arts, help Marnie Devlin celebrate her quarter-century birthday by potentially giving others the gift of life – or at least hope – sign up for the bone-marrow-donor registry. No invasive procedures. (Here’s our story about why Marnie’s doing this – and a first-person note from someone else who’s been waiting for the right match more than half her life.)

CATSINO! Furry Faces Foundation‘s fun-draiser with casino-style games and a silent auction is 2-6 pm at Beveridge Place Pub. Door prizes, hors d’oeuvres, a drink-ticket and more for $25 at the door.

WEST SEATTLE HI-YU SPRING TEA AND AUCTION: Also fundraising and having fun today – West Seattle Hi-Yu, with its spring tea and auction at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 2-4:30 pm (also $25).

FINAL PERFORMANCE OF ‘RUMORS’: Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) presents “Rumors” one last time at 3 pm today, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.

ROXHILL ELEMENTARY GARDEN WORK PARTY: 9 am-noon – your help would be appreciated! – see our preview here.

MASTER GARDENERS RETURN TO WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Open 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska as always – From market manager Catherine Burke, “Lots of plant starts including flowers, cool season greens, and hot crops. Also, this weekend marks the seasonal return of The Master Gardeners to answer all your localized gardening questions.”

WEST SEATTLE SOCCER CLUB SPRING SEASON BEGINS: As reported here last night, you’ll see WSSC players in action on eight fields around West Seattle today as the schedule of six Sunday-afternoon games gets under way.

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Final day for the Charlestown Street Café: Open for business
April 3, 2011 7:06 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Charlestown Cafe | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Two people were waiting outside when the Charlestown Street Café opened moments ago for its final day in business after 32 years (and two more followed them in a moment later).

Everything’s up and running despite last night’s power problem. First in line, arriving about 20 minutes before 7, was Mike (photo above), doing a puzzle while he waited; he told us he had just decided he “might as well come here the last day.” We’ll be checking in during the day; the restaurant is scheduled to close its doors for good at 3 pm, with a note on the door sternly warning “last seating at 2:30 pm.” As we first reported one week ago, owner Ron Hanlon says the economy has done what first a development threat and then a fire couldn’t do – force the popular café’s doors to close.

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Westside School celebrates milestone year at ‘Rocketing’ auction
April 3, 2011 6:28 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Photos by John McLellan for WSB)
The theme for last night’s annual Westside School (WSB sponsor) dinner and auction was “Rocketing to a Brilliant Future” – with a school year that’s already seen milestones achieved.

The brick walls inside Showbox SODO could have been seen as an echo of the year’s biggest milestone – Westside moved into its own building, the former E.C. Hughes Elementary in Sunrise Heights.

Under head of school Jo Ann Yockey, Westside also is expanding into middle school; she is at left in the photo above as Westside’s board president Mollie Jensen. More photos ahead:Read More

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Preparedness Month, 2nd report: 3 chances for in-person training!
April 3, 2011 4:00 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Preparedness | Safety | West Seattle news

April is Disaster Preparedness Month in our state, and for the second year, WSB is committed to a nightly focus on preparedness, with a particular emphasis on being ready in case of earthquakes, given our area’s history and risk, as well as the heightened awareness and concerns resulting from last month’s quake/tsunami disaster in Japan.

Our first report gave a quick refresher on the Neighborhood Emergency Communication Hubs that are part of an amazing volunteer-led effort that has given West Seattle the preparedness edge so far – West Seattle Be Prepared. But the relatively small group of volunteers who have come forward to join in the planning and preparation this far won’t be able to do much in case of disaster without backup and help from hundreds, even thousands of others in the community. That’s why your participation in training is vital as part of Preparedness Month – and the good thing is, you don’t have to seek it out on your own. Here are 3 West Seattle opportunities coming up in the next two and a half weeks, all free – you just have to show up!

THIS THURSDAY (APRIL 7TH): West Seattle Be Prepared launches a new training/education series. 6-7:30 pm, be at the Senior Center of West Seattle in The Junction (California/Oregon). An hour and a half is a small investment considering the potentially lifesaving information you get in return – here are full details from WSBP.

APRIL 16TH: Find out about retrofitting your home for earthquake safety, with a free workshop at the West Seattle (Admiral) Library Branch – full details here. (Though the class is free, registration is requested – 206-233-5076.)

APRIL 18TH: WSBP and the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network team up for a preparedness-training session, 6-7:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster).

Those are all from the West Seattle Be Prepared events calendar, where you will also find a reminder of April 20th – the day for a statewide “drop, cover, and hold” earthquake drill at 9:45 am. More here tomorrow night, and we’re still interested in your suggestions for what you most want to know about earthquake readiness (we’ll be working on the questions raised in last night’s comments!).

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‘Barton’s Web’: New West Seattle P-Patch’s almost-final design
April 2, 2011 9:38 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | West Seattle news | Westwood

(Courtesy Barker Landscape Architects)
That’s the almost-final design for West Seattle’s new Barton Street P-Patch, revealed at Southwest Community Center this afternoon. About 30 people were there for the last of three community design meetings shaping the future of the big parcel at 34th/Barton, once owned by Seattle Public Utilities, long little more than a stretch of lawn, till the Parks and Green Spaces Levy made money available to turn it into a P-Patch.

This design, dubbed “The Web” for obvious reasons, is based on the popular choice among four options shown at the second design meeting, which in turn were crafted from eight concepts roughed out by participants at the first meeting. Its key points include about 50 plots, as well as consideration for having minimal impact on the big birch tree on the site, which is being kept (as we reported 2 weeks ago) because of input from comments made both in person and online (WSB comments were cited as one of the input sources considered) – altogether described as “a community decision.” (To compensate for shade concerns, the largest garden plots have been sited north of the tree.)

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Rain or shine, West Seattle Soccer Club starts play Sunday
April 2, 2011 8:27 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

West Seattle Soccer Club reps have spent much of the day lining the fields where their spring season opens tomorrow: Madison, Roxhill South, Boren, Fairmount, Alki, E.C. Hughes, Sealth (SWAC), and Denny. So says WSSC’s Tim McMonigle, who adds: “Our season theme this year is Champion’s League, modeled after the popular European tournament, with all the famous names like Manchester United, Arsenal and Barcelona. We are playing for six weeks (except Easter) and only on Sunday afternoons.” So if you see fields full of kids just about everywhere you go tomorrow – it’s just WSSC spring games, first round.

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No last dinner at Charlestown Café: Closed tonight, no power
April 2, 2011 6:41 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Charlestown Cafe | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

6:41 PM: Tonight, the Charlestown Street Café was to be serving its last dinners, since it’s closing for good at 3 pm tomorrow – but when Dave got there a little while ago, he found that note on its door, saying it’s closed tonight because the power is out, back in the morning at 7 am. (The outage is shown on the City Light map – just one customer, just that spot, “cause unknown.”)

7:59 PM UPDATE: WSB contributor Kathy Mulady, who’s covered the Charlestown’s travails since 2006 and reported the WSB followup after the closure announcement, talked to the Seattle City Light crews that are on scene right now. They told her a transformer blew and they’re waiting for a new one. Oddly, Kathy adds, the outage didn’t affect the big sign out front. It, perhaps defiantly, blazes on.

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Update: Delridge reopens after fire call leads to road closure
April 2, 2011 5:14 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

5:14 PM: A fire call in the 4500 block of Delridge Way SW, just south of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, has traffic blocked off on Delridge in that area right now, so avoid the area if you can. We’re arriving at the scene; some engines are being canceled, but our crew reports a “burned door” visible on this multiplex.

5:40 PM: Added a photo – the building in the background is the one where the fire happened. Our crew at the scene says Delridge has reopened to traffic. No report of any injuries related to the fire.

5:50 PM: Firefighters at the scene tell us the fire was caused by an “unattended dryer.” No one was home at the time except a dog that fire crews rescued. The unit’s residents won’t be able to go back inside tonight, though.

7:07 PM: One more photo added – showing the aforementioned burned door.

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West Seattle businesses: Happy anniversary, Wyatt’s Jewelers!
April 2, 2011 4:32 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | Westwood

It’s been a day for balloons, punch, cupcakes, the candy jar, and raffling today at Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) in Westwood Village, celebrating its 6th anniversary with a sale starting today. We managed to catch co-owner Kirk Keppler this afternoon during a brief break in a busy day. If you see this before 6 pm, there’s still time to drop by and wish them “Happy Anniversary” – they’re closed Sunday/Monday, but the sale lasts all month, resuming next Tuesday.

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West Seattle help for Japan: Shelley’s sale; Anthony’s dog walk
April 2, 2011 3:11 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Both of these events started with one person’s idea, magnified by help from and participation by others: The first day of Shelley Lebert‘s community garage sale for Japan relief at 3014 45th SW was already going full speed when we stopped by this morning. Shelley (holding the sign) was so excited about the team effort that had made it happen, she gathered some of the other volunteers with her when we asked to take a photo. All the while, garage-salers kept pulling up out front; if you go before the end of today, or 9 am-4 pm tomorrow, be sure to note there’s lots of stuff BEHIND the house.

In front, there’s also a fundraising bake sale:

Shelley was thrilled the sun came out this morning and the weather dried out; she told us how hard the volunteers had worked in the midst of the drippy weather yesterday, sorting donations and buying tents just in case. Again, 9 am-4 pm again tomorrow, 3014 45th SW.

Meantime, along Alki this afternoon, you might have spotted the group dog-walk to raise awareness for the plight of pets in the quake/tsunami zone:

CL shared that view across the street from the dog walk’s starting point at Anchor Park; this is the walk that Anthony from Left Coast Dog Service announced yesterday – that’s his trademark green van with a Japanese flag draped on the side. We counted dozens of dogs and people by the time they grouped up and took off; we have a video clip to add later. too:

(If you’d like to donate to those helping animals affected by the Japan disaster – here’s the link on Anthony’s banner.)

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Also happening now: Pet Adoption Stroll; ‘Earth Month’ at CAPERS
April 2, 2011 1:51 pm
|    Comments Off on Also happening now: Pet Adoption Stroll; ‘Earth Month’ at CAPERS
 |   Environment | How to help | Pets | West Seattle news

Scenes from two more West Seattle events happening this afternoon: That’s Sabra from Purrfect Pals with Chantou, a 1-year-old female who is one of three cats (the other two are 1 and 8) brought to Pet Elements in search of “forever homes” during this afternoon’s Morgan Junction Pet Adoption Stroll. You’ll find dogs at Stella Ruffington’s, 7003 California SW. The Pet Adoption Stroll (details in this WSB Forums post) continues till 4 pm. In The Junction, meantime, it’s Earth Month at CAPERS:

Lisa from CAPERS shared that photo – she explains, “CAPERS kicks off earth month with a showcase of products that are ‘Green’ for your home. (Today till 3 it’s) Meyer Wells Reclaimed Wood Furniture, Caldrea Homekeeping, Oecotextiles in the house showcasing the green aspects of design. Don’t miss the BPA-free waterbottles & red wine resistant linens too.” They’re at 4521 California SW.

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Happening now: Kiwanis Club of West Seattle food drive at 5 stores
April 2, 2011 11:57 am
|    Comments Off on Happening now: Kiwanis Club of West Seattle food drive at 5 stores
 |   How to help | Kiwanis Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

Till 3 pm, there are five places you can donate nonperishable food to the West Seattle Food Bank via the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle’s one-day food drive. We caught up with West Seattle Kiwanians and Key Club members outside PCC Natural Markets‘ West Seattle store (WSB sponsor) above, and fellow Kiwanians from Rainier Valley (with help from WSHS Key Club) at Jefferson Square Safeway below:

More information about the food drive, including the full list of stores, is here.

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Southgate Roller Rink update: Here’s the skating schedule
April 2, 2011 10:30 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | White Center | WS & Sports

(COURTESY LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: White Center Mardi Gras Parade 1947 passes Southgate rink)
Here’s an update you just might want to throw a parade for: As first reported here and on partner site White Center Now last weekend, Thursday night is grand-opening night for the newly renovated Southgate Roller Rink in White Center. Southgate’s been publishing updates on Facebook (check out the photo of the 300 newly arrived rental skates!) but now also has updated its website with full details on the skating-session schedule and prices (which include skate rental if needed) – you can see it here (including a beginners’ class on Sundays). Here’s how to find the rink. (And if you missed it – here’s our original February story breaking the news of the rink reopening.)

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West Seattle Saturday: Glad the sun’s out – much to do!
April 2, 2011 7:59 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Saturday: Glad the sun’s out – much to do!
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Scenes from Lincoln Park by West Seattle photographer Machel Spence)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

FOOD DRIVE: Kiwanis Club of West Seattle and Key Club members will be outside five local supermarkets 9 am-3 pm collecting nonperishable-food donations for the West Seattle Food Bank – PCC, Metropolitan Market, West Seattle Thriftway, Jefferson Square Safeway, Junction QFC.

Two events to raise money/awareness as Japan continues recovering from the earthquake/tsunami disaster:

GARAGE SALE FOR JAPAN RELIEF: Admiral Neighborhood garage sale to benefit Japan relief, 9 am-4 pm today and tomorrow, 3014 45th SW. (Original announcement here – map to the sale site is here)

MASS DOG WALK: Everyone, with or without dogs, welcome to join to help call attention to the plight of Japanese pets, post-quake. Meet at Anchor Park at noon and walk westward toward the Alki business district. Full details here.

And a whole lot more going on:

WESTSIDE SCHOOL AUCTION: Westside School (WSB sponsor)’s 22nd annual auction, Showbox SODO, 1700 1st Avenue South, doors open at 5 pm. Full schedule of events in school newsletter.

LAST DESIGN MEETING FOR BARTON STREET P-PATCH: Third and final design meeting for the 34th/Barton P-Patch, 1:30-3:30 pm, Southwest Community Center.

MORGAN JUNCTION PET STROLL: As Furry Faces Foundation says, “Don’t just shop – adopt!” Two locations where you can meet and adopt new furry family members – Pet Elements and Stella Ruffington’s. Noon-4 pm today; full details in this post from the WSB Forums.

CLOSING NIGHT FOR ‘DISTRACTED’: Last chance to see ‘Distracted‘ at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), 7:30 pm (tickets available online)

SECOND-TO-LAST SHOW FOR ‘RUMORS’: Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) presents Neil Simon’s “Rumors” again tonight at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 7:30 pm (tickets available online)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, WYATT’S JEWELERS: Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) is kicking off their 6th Anniversary with an Open House Celebration 10 am to 6 pm. Refreshments, balloons, and free jewelry cleaning! Their anniversary sale continues for the entire month of April (center of Westwood Village)

NATIVE PLANT SALE: Go Natives! will have a Native Plant Sale at 3225 47th Ave SW (follow the signs), 10 am – 3 pm. You can request specific plants from their inventory such as some nice Trillium and lots of other stuff. If you can’t make it over till after 3 pm please call 206.542.1275 by early Saturday morning to make other arrangements.

SLAGS AT SKYLARK The Slags (opening for The Resets) at Skylark Cafe & Club (WSB sponsor), 3803 Delridge Way SW. 10 pm, $5 cover.

DIGITAL BOOK ROADSHOW: Seattle Public Library presents the “Digital Book Roadshow” at the West Seattle Branch (2306 42nd Avenue SW), 2-4 pm. Want to learn more about e-books and e-book readers? Come to this event where they will provide an overview of Library e-books and let you test drive various e-book readers. Presentations at 2 and 3 pm, hands-on tryouts after each.

FAUNTLEROY CLEANUP: The Fauntleroy Community Association‘s annual “Spring Clean” work party will be Saturday, April 2, 9 AM – noon in Cove Park (adjacent to the ferry terminal). Bring gloves and your favorite gardening tools for a general spruce-up. Children old enough to work safely and independently are especially welcome.

LINCOLN PARK CLEANUP: The forests of Lincoln Park are turning green and the trillium are up. It’s a great time to be in the woods, and here’s your chance. Join the Friends of Lincoln Park as we restore the Lincoln Park forests by removing invasive plants and planting natives. Today from 9 am to noon. Meet at the kiosk in the north parking lot, across Fauntleroy Way SW from SW Rose St. Bring garden gloves and hand clippers, or we’ll have extras.

MOVIE NIGHT AT TIBBETTS: “Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the park.”. If your allergies are kicking up, we know springtime has arrived. We also know it means time to oil up your mitts, bust out the “M’s” ballcap and get ready for a season of America’s Favorite Pastimes. Baseball, Eating and Movies! It’s also a great time to join Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor, 3940 41st Ave SW) for “Baseball Movie Night.” With the M’s first home stand fast approaching, now is a great time to slide into the season. Beginning at 6 pm, we pay homage to baseball food! “Slider” hamburgers and other ballpark favorites. After dinner, stick around and watch our featured movie “A League of Their Own.”

CAKES, CHAMPAGNE, PERFUME: New commercial bakery Baked. is having a Marie Antoinette-inspired cake tasting at Knows Perfume (4536 California SW) from 6 to 9 p.m. All cakes will be decorated in a grand style befitting a queen, so whether you’re looking for a wedding or special occasion cake (or just love cake), come sample Red Velvet, Lavender, Tiramisu, and Dark Chocolate while sipping champagne and sniffing the gorgeous perfumes carried by Knows. Baked. and Knows will be holding raffles for $50 gift certificates towards cakes and perfume.

WII BOWLING: From Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor): We will be having a Wii bowling tournament from 10 am to 2 pm at our Admiral Heights Location. The competition will be fierce between the seniors at Admiral Heights, Northgate, and Northgate Plaza. The winner of this tournament will go on for the grand prize.

‘ROCKY HORROR’ NIGHT: At midnight: The Rocky Horror Picture Show complete with shadow casting is presented at The Admiral Theater on the first Saturday of each month – that means tonight!

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Preparedness Month, first report: West Seattle Be Prepared
April 2, 2011 1:36 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Preparedness | West Seattle news


View West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs in a larger map

Once again this year, WSB is taking time every night in April – proclaimed Disaster Preparedness Month in our state – for at least a tidbit of special coverage (sometimes more) to help you get closer to the goal of being ready for anything. This time, we are going to focus specifically on earthquake preparedness, still so top-of-mind following the recent Japan megaquake/tsunami disaster, preceded by the New Zealand quake. But first out of the gate, the most important thing we can do is make sure you are tapped into West Seattle Be Prepared, a volunteer-led effort with online and offline components. The biggest one is the designation and mapping of “Neighborhood Emergency Communication Hubs” around the peninsula. As explained on this page of the West Seattle Be Prepared website, the hubs are “emergency community gathering sites in case a major disaster occurs that makes it impossible to get information and help in the usual ways.” Check the map (above, and here, with a downloadable/printable version here). Know your nearest hub. If you don’t see one near your neighborhood – that’s only because volunteers haven’t come forward yet to designate and plan one (maybe you can help?). Hub or no hub, bookmark and browse West Seattle Be Prepared; also check out its new blog-format site, with more-topical information, like a newly launched events calendar; join the WSBP group on Facebook; and “follow” @wsbeprepared on Twitter. Saturday night, we’ll start getting down to quake-preparedness specifics. If there’s anything specific about earthquake preparedness or earthquake risks you’ve long wondered about, leave a comment or e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com, and we’ll be sure to find experts to address it during our month of coverage.

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Spirited Junction fundraiser #2: Beer Church @ West 5
April 2, 2011 12:26 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS beverages

(Photos by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB)
And the second spirited Friday night fundraiser in The Junction – At West 5, the West Seattle-based Beer Church released its new batch of Pale Ale, brewed with Schooner Exact Brewing. Because fundraising is as embedded in Beer Church’s DNA as the beer itself, there is of course a beneficiary – Pints for Prostates, described on the Beer Church website as “a grassroots campaign to increase awareness among men about the need for regular health screenings and PSA testing.” At the event, right to left, Beer Church’s Kendall Jones and Kim Sharpe-Jones and “members” Dave Hutchinson and Matt McClung:

WSB contributor Ellen Cedergreen reports that Beer Church Pale Ale 2 – featuring (updated) FOUR different hops and FOUR different malts – was distributed to Beveridge Place Pub and Elliott Bay Brewing as well as to West 5 (very limited quantity, so hurry!) Donated ingredients, labor and expertise came from not only Schooner Exact but also Larry’s Brewing Supply, Yakima Chief Inc. and Snipes Mountain Brewing.

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Spirited Junction fundraiser #1: Bin 41’s anniversary party
April 1, 2011 11:39 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS beverages

(Photos by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB)
Their official first anniversary – as noted here – was two weeks back, but tonight was the night the owners of Bin 41 wine shop in The Junction set aside for the party, and they welcomed plenty of guests. Bin 41 owners T. Frick and Jon McNamara also donated the night’s $5 tasting fee – as they have done the past several tastings – to Japan quake/tsunami relief.

Guest winemakers tonight were from West Seattle – from left in the photo above, winemaker Chris Gorman, Bin 41’s Jon McNamara, winemaker Darby English, Bin 41’s T. Frick McNamara. Surprises were promised – and those turned out to include raffles, with prizes including the Argentinian wine boxes Jon holds below:

The guest winemakers were pouring Cabernets and Syrahs, WSB contributor Ellen Cedergreen reports: Gorman poured his “Pixie,” 100% Syrah, and “Zachary’s Ladder,” which is a Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Petit Verdot mix, named after his son. Darby poured from his original line, but his main feature was an unveiling of his new line “Live Wire”; he poured a Cabernet Franc and a Syrah from Live Wire.

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Alki Homestead review déja vu: Restoration? Reconstruction?
April 1, 2011 8:26 pm
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 |   Alki Homestead | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from 1/16/2011)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

It’s come up before, and now it’s come up again:

To reopen the city-landmarked Alki Homestead (originally the Fir Lodge), will it take restoration, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or some combination of all of the above? The scope of the proposal came up this morning downtown as owner Tom Lin and his architect team from Alloy Design Group returned to the Architectural Review Committee of the city Landmarks Preservation Board for a third review, with historic-preservation advocates watching from the sidelines.

The same question arose when Lin and a different architect brought a different proposal to the committee a year and a half ago, as reported here. Back then, they were proposing adding “other uses” to the site – a bar, maybe a bed-and-breakfast – but that plan was scrapped, and the new plan is all about bringing the Homestead back as a restaurant and banquet facility.

But how can it be done, when it needs a new foundation and a new roof – and some degree of replacement inbetween? “Tricky” is one word that was used.

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