(From the WSB Flickr group, by smohundro)
On the third night of Hanukkah, and with three weeks to go till Christmas Eve, we’ll break out today/tonight’s spotlight events into the holidays/non-holidays divisions:
NON-HOLIDAYS: West Seattle parents are invited to a presentation at Pathfinder K-8tonight with the author of “Birds + Bees + Your Kids – A Guide to Sharing Your Beliefs About Sexuality, Love and Relationships,” 6 pm (free but RSVP requested, lashannaw@gmail.com) … The new Eco Beauty Salon/Spa at 6040 California SW launches with an open house, 5:30-9 pm, with treats and prizes, full details on this Facebook events page … Yes, there’s still Friday night skating at Alki Community Center! 6:45-8:45 pm, $3/person.
The 2nd of 3 events we covered last night celebrating local students’ creativity and talent was a Community Film Fest at Chief Sealth International High School, with five short films screened, each exploring an environmental issue. Over the past four months, Environmental Science/Global Studies students made the films, with research trips including an examination of how the city handles solid waste as well as a Duwamish River tour to see how industrial and urban residential uses affect local waterways. Onstage in our top photo are Global Studies students who produced the film “Heavy Metal,” answering questions onstage afterward. The program was presented in connection with Bridges to Understanding; a rep told us they’re expecting to make the students’ work available online (we’ll follow up when we get word on when/where to find it).
(WSB photos by Ellen Cedergreen)
Thursday night, we covered three events showcasing student creativity – and here’s the first report. Above, that’sDenny International Middle School student Jasmin Fredriksson proudly displaying “Through Our Eyes,” a first-of-its-kind compilation of Denny students’ personal narratives. She wrote “Bow to the 8th Grade,” about a bullying incident. Jasmin told WSB she’d love a career as a writer. We met Jasmin and other young writers during an event at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) celebrating the debut of “Through Our Eyes”:
Language Arts teacher Nehaya Dashti happily reported that it was the first time she could recall students outnumbering parents in the crowd at an event like this.
You can buy a copy of “Through Our Eyes” ($30) by contacting the teacher at 817-602-9378 or nadashti@seattleschools.org.
No confrontation, all conversation for Mayor Mike McGinn at his community-forum/town-hall meeting at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center tonight. The people you see onstage behind him are other city reps who were standing by to answer questions if needed (the officer on the right is one of West Seattle’s Community Police Team officers, Jonathan Kiehn; the others were from parks, transportation, human services, and economic development). The mayor heard entreaties about some recent hot issues, including the West Seattle Golf Course driving range and the RapidRide bus-lane-vs.-parking concerns, and also heard about local youth concerns, as well as ongoing problems like Delridge-area healthy-food access, but if you were expecting somebody to rant about, oh, say, traffic or snow response, nope. We got it all on video so you’ll be able to see for yourself once we have it uploaded (Seattle Channel wasn’t there to record the event, so as far as we know, this will be the only video of the entire meeting), and we’ll add a few more notes in a bit. Right now, we have the first installment – the mayor had two warm-up acts, a rapper and rockers – they’re both in this clip, starting with an intro from Chas Redmond, who co-moderated the evening with Pete Spalding:
(added) Here’s the video of the entire Q/A section – about an hour and a half:
Among the speakers were local neighborhood advocates who issued invitations to the mayor: Fairmount Community Association‘s Sharonn Meeks invited him to come take a walking tour of The Triangle, which has been the subject of a city-led planning process (she’s on the citizens’ advisory group convened as part of it); White Center Chamber of Commerce president Mark Ufkes invited the mayor to visit WC and talk with its residents and businesspeople about the benefits of being part of Seattle, since there might be an annexation vote in their future. The mayor indicated interest in both invitations. And he issued one of his own to the youth who shared their concerns about issues including transit routes and education – he invited them to come downtown to talk more about their ideas and observations.
I live on California Ave near Thistle Street [map]. We had a Christmas gift stolen off our front porch that was ordered off the internet and dropped by common carrier. I’ve heard of this happening but never experienced it until today. Probably happens more frequently than one would suspect. Just be aware there are bad guys out there. If it happened to us probably more will experience it this holiday season. Might want to warn W.S. residents. I’ve heard the crooks follow the trucks. Enjoy the Lego set, is all I can say. Hopefully someone who needs it more than our kids … eventually gets it.
Also tonight, Jen wanted to get the news out about an earlier burglary:
Not sure how to get this out, but our house was broken into today. We live at 32nd and Juneau [map], near High Point. It was between 10 am and 2 pm today. They threw a rock through the window, crawled through, and helped themselves to our electronics, jewelry, gift cards, etc etc etc.
Just want to get the word out and heighten awareness. Maybe it will help someone else going through what we are now.
Big callout for a crash on Fauntleroy Way alongside Lincoln Park. Northbound traffic – as in, coming away from the ferry terminal – is being diverted onto SW Kenyon. We’re told it involved a car pulling in front of a bus, but nobody was hurt; what was an “automobile rescue” call has already been downgraded and closed since it turned out not to be as bad as it apparently initially sounded. 6:26 PM UPDATE: Added photo of the vehicle hit by the bus. Jeff, who was on the bus (a Sound Transit 560), confirmed nobody was hurt.
(Conferring, moments before becoming Sen. Nelson and Rep. Fitzgibbon)
ORIGINAL 4:37 PM REPORT: We’re in the County Council chambers downtown, where State Rep. Sharon Nelson is about to become State Sen. Nelson, and where her former assistant Joe Fitzgibbon is about to take her soon-to-be ex-House spot. Former Sen. Joe McDermott is here – one week after his swearing-in as County Councilmember – so is County Executive Dow Constantine, who formerly held two of the jobs represented here – and there’s also quite the audience. More after the ceremony.
4:53 PM UPDATE: The ceremony’s over – the oaths for both were administered by King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu — and both have acknowledged the challenges they face ahead in Olympia. We’ll add video of the swearings-in – which included brief remarks from the County Executive as well as the new senator and representative – once we’re back at headquarters. (6:25 PM – video now added, and the following clip, added later, includes the legislators’ post-ceremony remarks)
Thanks to Lucian for sharing photos of the big job under way right now on the west-facing Lincoln Park shore: Sand replenishment. Funny, we were just talking about beach erosion last month (Lincoln Park here, Alki Beach here). We got first word of the sand barge’s presence late last night, when Ellen e-mailed after spotting it on a late-night walk. Here’s a shot showing more of the barge itself:
We have an inquiry out to the Parks Department for details; so far, they’ve told us the “sand-replenishment project” is something they’ve “been waiting for,” and they’re rustling up background. We’ll add it when we get it.
5:59 PM UPDATE: Thanks to “Swamp Thing” in the comments, who reveals this is a federal project and shares what was purportedly a “public notice” (will be checking into whether it was actually circulated beyond fine print somewhere). According to the notice, this is part of a periodic “renourishment” project that started in the late ’80s – last round of “renourishment” was 2002.
(From the RapidRide C Line route map) By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Imagine West Seattle without the art glass of Avalon Glassworks, the “salubrious” beverages of Java Bean Coffee, the burgers of Luna Park Café, and the rest of the Luna Park business district.
That’s what the businesses’ proprietors warn could happen if the forthcoming Metro RapidRide “C Line” takes away Avalon Way street parking nearby – as is currently planned – a risk they say is even more dire in their area than in The Triangle, where related fears have surfaced.
The Luna Park district merchants have been talking with Metro over the past few months, without convincing them to preserve the parking, so now they’re taking their concerns to the community at large. Wednesday morning, we were invited to sit in on their monthly merchants’ meeting, which also included businesspeople dealing with related RapidRide-parking-removal concerns in The Triangle, as well as three county reps.
For a second consecutive year, West Seattle’s David Miles Huber is a Grammy Award nominee – again in the “Best Surround Sound Album” category, but this time for “Parallax Eden,” . The album is described by one reviewer quoted on Huber’s website as “a study in minimal relaxed electronic instrumental music that becomes more and more compelling with every listen.” The video above features the artist – who describes himself as based in Berlin as well as West Seattle – talking about, and demonstrating, his work. You can also hear samples on the “Parallax Eden” webpage – and via Huber’s YouTube channel. Grammy winners are scheduled to be announced February 13th.
At left, one of the wreaths that’s just gone up in The Junction, where the first Shop Late Thursday (previewed here) is tonight, with participants including 3 of our West Seattle Holiday/Business Guide sponsors (P.S. 15 businesses in the guide now – listing deals and special holiday hours!). That means you can shop till 9 tonight – which even gives you time after another big event tonight, Mayor McGinn with Q/A at a West Seattle community meeting, 6 pm (he’s on at 6:35 pm, as previewed here) at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). And talented local students have several showcases tonight: At C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), young authors from Denny International Middle School are debuting their first publication with a special event 6-8 pm (5612 California SW; pizza and refreshments for all!); and two events tonight at Chief Sealth International High School – 6 pm, a Community Film Fest with student-made videos, full details here; 7 pm, Jazz Night with student ensembles performing in the auditorium. More on our calendars – holiday events here, other events here!
Monica Skov has made good on her promise to announce this week when her West Seattle Fabric Company store will open in the Admiral District (2210 California SW, formerly occupied by now-in-The-Junction Click! Design That Fits [WSB sponsor]) … just received this note:
We’re ready to announce our Grand Opening Date.
We’d like to welcome our West Seattle Community to come shop and explore our store Saturday, December 11th 11 am-5 pm and Sunday, December 12th 12 pm – 4 pm. We will have Hot Cider, Spiced Tea, Cookies and Candy Canes for the children. We look forward to opening our doors to our neighbors.
Read more about West Seattle Fabric Company in our previous stories here and here; they’re on Facebookhere.
Just found out that the hot local teen rockers Castbound (recorded above during this fall’s Holy Rosary WestFest) will open for Mayor Mike McGinn at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center tomorrow night. Well, that’s sort of what they’re doing. They’re playing around 6:30, right before Q/A during the mayor’s West Seattle town hall. So tonight we’re publishing this reminder that if you have something to say to the mayor, he’s here tomorrow night for exactly that purpose. Budget cuts? Snow response? Viaduct/Tunnel (he’s at a non-city meeting about that tonight)? Moderators are local uber-active neighborhood/civic volunteers/advocates Pete Spalding and Chas Redmond. The 6:30 performance/6:35 mayoral Q/A will be preceded by a 6 pm resource fair – learn more about who and what are here to help you in West Seattle! Youngstown’s at 4408 Delridge.
It’s another West Seattle holiday tradition – suggest what the historic Admiral Theater should show as its free Christmas movie! Dinah at The Admiral tells us the movie will be at 7 pm Thursday, December 23rd – admission free but you’re asked to bring food, toys, collars, dog beds to donate to the Humane Society. And now: Time for your suggestion! E-mail dinahmite9@gmail.com – winner revealed December 20th.
7:33 PM ORIGINAL REPORT: From the scanner: A crash has blocked the westbound West Seattle Bridge – and there is apparently some activity on the lower bridge related to what happened on the high bridge. More details as we get them. 7:46 PM:From @kylevermeulen via Twitter – “Traffic east of 99 (is) forced to exit and go down to the lower bridge. 99S to (the bridge) is unaffected and flowing.” However, if you’re trying to get to the westbound bridge from I-5 (either direction) or Columbian Way (Beacon Hill), sounds like SPD and/or WSP are working to close off those ramps till the crash scene is clear.
8 PM: To further clarify: You can get to the westbound bridge from 99, but not from I-5 or Columbian Way – the crash is apparently on the eastern half of the westbound bridge. No word on injuries – almost all the discussion’s been about the logistics of getting tow trucks to the scene to clear the affected vehicles.
8:41 PM: And, per the scanner, the bridge is reopening.
At right, that’s Alki Café owner Sharon Bang, with waitperson Rebecca. Sharon contacted WSB to ask if we’d share a message with you: Alki Café IS OPEN. Apparently the recent news about the Alki Bakery shutdown across the street confused some people who thought the two businesses were still under the same ownership. But the café has long had separate ownership; Sharon’s owned it for more than a year and a half, and wants to reiterate: Her café is open.
Two updates from West Seattle Little League president Mark Terao: The additions at Bar-S Playfields are on schedule – the new concession building, restrooms, and storage building are set for dedication in March, and Mark adds, “West Seattle Little League thanks all of the families and businesses that have donated to the project.” WSLL continues to update its project website (see it here). And there’s a big announcement for 11- and 12-year-old players next year – WSLL will participate in the 50-70 pilot program. Mark explains:
The 50-70 pilot program will incorporate using 50′ mounds, 70′ bases and will use standard Little League Junior-level rules (i.e. runners leading off, stealing, dropped third strikes, etc.). This will not replace the normal 46′ 60′ Majors regular season games. It will be additional games added on to the normal season. The games will be played once a week at one of the other District 7 leagues where the fields accommodate the 50′ 70′ distances. Other than the normal Majors fee, there will be no additional cost to the players who want to play in this 50′ 70′ pilot program.
This new program will allow 11 & 12 year old players (this program is for 11-12 year old major players only; unfortunately. 10 year olds and younger cannot play in this pilot program) to experience playing on longer base paths and under baseball rules to better prepare them for the next level.
If/when this program becomes mandated by Little League International for the Majors division in the future, WSLL will have to consider converting the fields at Bar-S so that both 46′ 50′ and 50′ 70′ games can be played there.
On the registration form (found at www.westseattlelittleleague.com), please check the appropriate box letting us know if your child is interested in participating in this new 50′ 70′ Pilot Program.
First In Person Registration is scheduled for Tuesday January 11th at the West Seattle High School Library 6 pm – 8:30 pm
Second In Person Registration is scheduled for Tuesday January 18th at the West Seattle High School Library 6 pm – 8:30 pm
Anyone who needs more information before registration is welcome to e-mail Mark at wsllinfo@yahoo.com.
You’ll be seeing work crews shortly at Alki Beach Park — Seattle Parks‘ Garrett Farrell explains that it’s a new project “to add irrigation” in areas that didn’t have it before. He says the contractor, Specialized Landscaping, will start toward the end of this week east of Alki Bathhouse and will move westward to the west end of the park. This is from Parks Department capital-improvement funds; the work should be done by the end of January.
FIRST: Yet more holiday news from The Junction – they’ve officially announced Shop Late Thursdays, with 11 merchants participating so far (including 3 from the WSB Holiday Shopping/Business Guide). That means they’ll be open for special evening shopping 6-9 pm Thursdays till Christmas, starting tomorrow and continuing through December 23rd. On Thursday next week, this will coincide with West Seattle Art Walk.
SECOND: Looking ahead to next Saturday, the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is issuing daily reminders about its annual Pancake Breakfast – coming up this Saturday morning, 7 am-11 am, at the Alki Masonic Hall, which is in The Junction, not Alki, 40th/Edmunds, just east of Jefferson Square, plenty of parking. In addition to Santa Claus, you’ll get to mingle with West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival royalty, according to Hi-Yu’s Deena Mahn, who also just sent this thanks regarding the fundraising ornament sale:
West Seattle Hi-Yu would like to thank the West Seattle Community, Hi-Yu members and friends for their support in out Annual Holiday Ornament Sale! It was a huge success and all ornaments have been sold — we wish you all Happy Holidays!
Just hours after the pancake breakfast, it’ll be time for the West Seattle Junction Community Tree Lighting at 5 pm Saturday in Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) – new location this year, now that the long-awaited park is finally open. More holiday events/giving opportunities/info (like Christmas-tree lots and church services) on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page (and thanks to everyone who’s sent new info today – we’ll be adding it tonight!).
We are at the Seattle Police Department‘s West Precinct, where SPD has just officially announced its Twitter account to find stolen cars – @getyourcarback. More after the briefing.
2:45 PM UPDATE: After the briefing, media reps were ushered up to the 911 center to see 27-year SPD veteran communications supervisor Gary Raymond send out the first two tweets (that’s him in the photo above, added 2:56 pm). They will NOT include location information – media unit Sgt. Sean Whitcomb says that could dissuade people from being on the lookout, since a stolen vehicle could be taken far outside the theft area fairly quickly. The full news release announcing the program is on SPD Blotter. We’ll add the stream of tweets to the WSB Crime Watch page as soon as possible, so you can check them even if you don’t want to use Twitter. SPD says that if this works out, they’ll consider expanding their use of Twitter – it could provide instant information on a host of situations, including road closures resulting from police-involved incidents. Until now, the only tweeting that SPD was doing came from the media unit via @SeattlePD– usually links to SPD Blotter reports, with the occasional breaking-news note. The stolen-car tweets will NOT be repeated on @SeattlePD – so if you want to get them from Twitter, you need to follow @getyourcarback. 2 more notes: They will not tweet when a car’s been found – if you see one you saw on Twitter, just go ahead and call 911; if it turns out it’s no longer listed as stolen, they’ll be able to tell. And do not tweet back with information about sightings – CALL 911.
From December 3rd through 17th – two weeks starting this Friday, continuing till the last day of school before the winter break – West Seattle High School hopes you will join in its Holiday Drive. Science teacher/cheerleading coach Christina Ruzzine says contributions will be accepted at the school office. Full details:
We are asking students and our community to donate all the warm clothes and blankets that they are no longer using. Also, we are taking canned and non-perishable food items.
Our goal is to have a two-week-long donation effort to raise clothing for the Orion Center, and food for the West Seattle Food Bank. We are having a competition between classes for who can raise the most, and want to open up our campus to those members of the community who would be willing to donate.
Our goal is to allow our community and school to work together in efforts to help those in need. We here at West Seattle High School have many families in need, which lead us to believe that there are many more families in West Seattle that could use our help during this cold winter season. We want to give community members a chance to step on to our campus and see what the Wildcats are all about.
Haven’t been there yet? WSHS is at 3000 California SW. The office is reachable from the entrance on the north (Hiawatha-facing) side of the school.
P.S. Got a holiday donation drive that’s not on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page yet? Please let us know so we can help get the word out.
Seattle Public Schools has announced how it’ll make up for the days lost to last week’s snow: Since elementary and K-8 students weren’t having classes (because of parent-teacher conferences), no change to the calendar; middle- and high-school students did miss two days of class, so that means two days tacked onto the end of the year, June 21 and 22 – so June 23rd will now be the last day of school. Here’s the district’s news release.
CHRISTMAS COCKTAILS: Just got word this morning from Jeff Gilbert at the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) of holiday fundraisers including this one starting tonight, involving not just the Feedback:
• Each participating bar came up with a signature holiday cocktail or drink special.
• $1 of each of these beverages sold goes into a pool at the end of the promotion, with the cash proceeds being divided equally to benefit the West Seattle, White Center and South Park food banks.
• The promotion starts December 1st and runs through December 24th. This will help the food banks replenish their stock after the holidays, when they need it the most.
To see the list of drinks (and their ingredients) – go to this page on the Feedback website. Meantime, starting this Friday, the Feedback adds another donation drive: “Tots for Toys.” Yes, you read correctly. Jeff elaborates, “We’re giving away a FREE basket of Tater Tots for every new, unwrapped toy to be donated to the Marines’ toy drive.” That runs from December 4th through December 17th.
At left, one of the wreaths that’s just gone up in The Junction, where the first Shop Late Thursday (
It’s another West Seattle holiday tradition – suggest what the historic 
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