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West Seattle Weather Watch: Not to panic you or anything, but…
November 14, 2010 5:20 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(WSB photo by Ellen Cedergreen)
Just five days after SDOT invited the media to come see its winter-weather equipment and listen to the readiness plan … there seems to be a slight chance of its deployment within a week. Late today, the National Weather Service issued a “special weather statement” for much of Western Washington, including our area, raising the possibility — however small — of cold weather that could even bring a bit of snow. From the advisory (yes, it’s published in all-caps):

…A CHANGE TO MUCH COLDER CONDITIONS IS POSSIBLE FRIDAY INTO NEXT WEEKEND…

COLD AIR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER WESTERN CANADA DURING THE UPCOMING WEEK. THERE ARE STRONG INDICATIONS THAT CHANGES IN THE WIND FLOW ALOFT TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK WILL ALLOW SOME OF THIS COLDER AIR OVER WESTERN CANADA TO FILTER INTO WESTERN WASHINGTON FRIDAY OR SATURDAY.

WEATHER GUIDANCE ALSO SUGGESTS THAT THERE IS A RISK OF SNOW…OR MIXED RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS OVER PORTIONS OF THE AREA FRIDAY OR SATURDAY. THE HIGHEST RISK WILL BE WHERE THE AIR IS COLDER…OVER THE NORTH INTERIOR.

WHILE WEATHER GUIDANCE HAS BEEN CONSISTENT IN SHOWING A CHANGE TO A COLDER WEATHER PATTERN…THEY HAVE BEEN UNEVEN IN SHOWING HOW COLD IT WILL GET AND HOW MUCH…IF ANY…SNOW WILL FALL.

NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU COULD PREPARE FOR THE FIRST POSSIBILITY OF WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE LOWLANDS.

SDOT’s snow/ice-route maps are online here; here’s the direct link to the West Seattle segment. P.S. No word from famous forecaster Cliff Mass yet, at least as of 5:30 pm; we’ll keep checking.

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‘The Hole’: Safety concerns linger, as judge’s findings are awaited
November 14, 2010 5:00 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Tomorrow morning, a judge’s announcement is scheduled to be the next step toward the future of The Hole – the excavation (behind the green-screened fence in our photo) for the stalled West Seattle project originally known as Fauntleroy Place, once slated for a new Whole Foods (they’ve since pulled out) and Hancock Fabrics (they haven’t answered requests for comment), plus apartments. The decision is in the first major trial in the tangle of lawsuits over what went awry; what’s scheduled to be decided is who has “lien priority” – the entity that holds the site’s note, 3922 SW Alaska LLC, is arguing against the claims of Ledcor Construction, among other components of the complicated case. If you’re interested in the fine print, here are documents summing up the points made in closing statements (which we covered a week and a half ago) – one from 3922 SW Alaska here, one from Ledcor here.

But The Hole’s future isn’t entirely a matter for a judge and development company to decide.

Read More

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Happening now: Feedback Lounge bazaar; OLG dinner
November 14, 2010 3:34 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Among the great places to be, indoors, this drippy, foggy afternoon – Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor; 6451 California SW) in Morgan Junction, where Holiday Bazaar II continues till 6 pm. In our top photo, Ivette Johnson (L) and Bradi Jones (R) from the Feedback team are with Mary Clymer (C) of Happy Delusions. While we were there, Feedback’s Jeff Gilbert told us last night’s live performance by Fiasco was a huge hit and brought in lots of food-bank donations, and since their annual allotment of live shows isn’t maxed out yet, they might have the band back before year’s end. (Speaking of comebacks, the Feedback’s famous Sunday ribs return at 5 pm today.)

Meantime, to the east, at Our Lady of Guadalupe School:

Jonathan French shares the photo from the free Sunday dinner for people 65+ that he e-mailed about last night – with OLG students serving the visitors! If you or someone you know fit the criteria, you can still head over till 5 pm and get in on dinner (34th/Myrtle).

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Girls On The Run seeking volunteer help for upcoming event
November 14, 2010 2:53 pm
|    Comments Off on Girls On The Run seeking volunteer help for upcoming event
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Out of the WSB inbox: Jo Bader updates us on Girls On The Run of Puget Sound, “a non-profit organization whose mission is to use the power of running to educate and prepare girls in 3rd through 5th grade for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.” Their after-school program has worked with girls at West Seattle sites including, in recent years, Hiawatha – where Jo coached last year – plus Pathfinder and Alki, and a big regional event is coming up in three weeks, Jo says:

On December 4, 2010, Girls on the Run of Puget Sound will host the New Balance Girls on the Run 5K <> at Seward Park in Seattle. This super-fun race is the culmination of the Girls on the Run fall training program and is an opportunity for girls to demonstrate their new “girl power!” This event is open to the public and one-hundred percent of proceeds will benefit Girls on the Run of Puget Sound programs.

Jo says GOTR is looking for “about 40 more volunteers to help out on race day” – and West Seattle help would be welcomed!

To register, volunteers should go to
www.volunteerspot.com/login/entry/111234563257211405 and follow the instructions to access the volunteer sign up site. Once in, navigate to December 4th and sign up for a job.

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West Seattle weekend scene: ‘Pasquale’s littlest fans’
November 14, 2010 2:02 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news

The headline comes from the subject line of the e-mail in which Shelley shared the photo. As we had tweeted from the West Seattle Farmers’ Market earlier, violinist Pasquale was serenading shoppers today – and Shelley caught this scene of young fans who decided to savor the concert. (We last saw him in The Junction in June, when he played at the dedication of Junction Plaza Park – which by the way will be the site of this year’s West Seattle Junction Christmas Tree Lighting on December 4th, first time since 2006 that the official tree’s been on that site.)

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90th birthday party for West Seattle activist Vivian McLean
November 14, 2010 10:43 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“Hard to believe it’s really me, whose name will be on high … to challenge those walking by …”

That line is from a poem by Pigeon Point-residing community activist Vivian McLean (above). It refers to the Delridge building carrying her name, Vivian McLean Place, home to the Delridge Library as well as apartments, and adjacent to offices. One of those offices belongs to the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, whose former executive director Paul Fischburg read the poem aloud last night at a party to celebrate Vivian’s 90th birthday:

Vivian is a founderof DNDA. Her birthday party filled the Highland Park Improvement Club with laughter and love, as well as for respect for Vivian’s many accomplishments, which themselves filled a scrapbook placed on a table for all to view:

The scrapbook went back decades; its first page told of an honor she had won in Michigan in 1940, years before moving here in 1948.

Even if you weren’t familiar with the impact she has had, you would have realized it with a look around the room last night. City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen stopped by. Community activists and organization leaders from around West Seattle abounded. Among them, her fellow Pigeon Point’er Pete Spalding, who wore this tribute in lights:

Pete has been involved with much of what Vivian’s work has turned from dream to reality. She lobbied the city to create the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council (which he has chaired), and organized community councils to comprise its membership (including the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council, which he also has chaired). And as a co-founder of DNDA, not only was she involved with its work to build the aforementioned building bearing her name – the library was a longtime dream – but also with three major projects that were part of a subsequent capital campaign. They include the West Seattle Community Resource Center that is home to the West Seattle Food Bank (whose board Pete has led), as well as Youngstown Cultural Arts Center at the original Cooper School.

Last night, though, his main role was that of making sure Vivian was in attendance. And, of course, to help celebrate. “She likes to be with people,” her son Bruce had explained in his remarks; and last night, she certainly was.

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West Seattle restaurants: ‘For lease’ sign at Jade West Café
November 14, 2010 8:28 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

11 months after the drunk-driving crash on Beacon Hill that seriously injured the operator of West Seattle’s Jade West Café and his son, there’s finally, and sadly, a sign of the little restaurant’s fate. Sometime in the past few days, a “FOR LEASE” sign appeared in the closed-since-the-crash café’s window at 6032 California SW. We have not yet reached anyone at the number on the sign; other various inquiries over recent months, by us and others, had gone unanswered, so this is the first verification of what many had feared, that the café would never reopen. The driver who hit Wah Wong and son Jason Wong, who lost a leg as a result, pleaded guilty weeks later and is at Cedar Creek Correctional Center in Littlerock, serving a 2-year sentence (here’s our report from last February’s sentencing hearing).

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West Seattle Sunday: Feedback bazaar; Curious Kidstuff; SLHS play
November 14, 2010 7:46 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Sunday: Feedback bazaar; Curious Kidstuff; SLHS play
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: The “Country Store” is open at Admiral Congregational UCC (4320 SW Hill) for gift shopping, noon-1 pm, with handmade gifts including jam/jelly baskets and baby blankets … 2 big occasions at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) today – their second annual Holiday Bazaar, 2-6 pm, and for dinner, their legendary Sunday ribs return … Curious Kidstuff (WSB sponsor) is having its big pre-holiday sale today, 25 percent off purchases $50+, 4740 California SW in The Junction, 9 am-5 pm … The Junction is also where you’ll find the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 44th/Alaska, 10 am-2 pm; organizers promise pre-Thanksgiving cranberries today, among other things … 2nd and final performance for Seattle Lutheran High School‘s fall drama “The Odd Couple,” 2:30 pm in the SLHS gym (41st/Genesee), $5 adults, $2 children 7-14, under 7 free. … Giving opportunities today include the ongoing Java Bean Coffee House 20th Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive; bring nonperishable food – proteins especially appreciated – to 2920 Avalon Way; also, a toy drive for Restoration Worship Center, at High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW), noon-2 pm (details and contact info here). … And a reminder about the free dinner for 65+ at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 3 pm, noted here last night.

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Free Sunday dinner for West Seattleites 65 and up
November 13, 2010 11:00 pm
|    Comments Off on Free Sunday dinner for West Seattleites 65 and up
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Out of the WSB inbox tonight from Jonathan French:

Tomorrow (Sunday) from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM the 5th grade class of Our Lady of Guadalupe School will be serving one of their bi-annual free dinners to senior citizens. It will be in the school lunch room (34th Ave. SW Entrance). The 5th Graders have been hosting this event for years, and many area seniors look forward to the event. The dinner will be deliciously prepared by Petros Fotopoulos, OLG Parent & proprietor of Christos on Alki. West Seattle seniors are invited & encouraged to come by for a delicious dinner tomorrow (Sunday), served by the proud 5th grade class. There will be raffles & prizes as well. For more information, contact Eleni French (eleni@alki.net). The next dinner will be early 2011.

Haven’t been to OLG? 34th and Myrtle (just east of the water towers); here’s a map.

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West Seattleite spotted onstage in Tacoma: ‘Mr. Babypants’
November 13, 2010 10:33 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Stacey shared the photo and this report of spotting one of West Seattle’s most-famous residents in an unexpected place:

Chris from Caspar Babypants was the Special Dancy Dance Guest at the Yo Gabba Gabba (Nick Jr.) show today at the Tacoma Dome! It was very cool! He did the Peanut Butter Smash Dance (I think that’s what it was called). My daughter was very excited and kept screaming, “I know him…I know him!” (not personally…we’ve just seen them enough so she “knows” him).

Of course, Chris (Ballew) is no stranger to arena appearances, through his other project … P.S. If you haven’t heard of Yo Gabba Gabba (without a little one in the family, we hadn’t), here’s its home page.

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Making West Seattle greener and cleaner – you can help!
November 13, 2010 8:32 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

3 work parties to mention tonight – one coming up on Monday, two that happened today. First, from Nancy Whitlock at the Nature Consortium, if you have some time to spare midday Monday:

Habitat Restoration Work Party at the College Street Ravine!

Join Nature Consortium in celebrating Dow Constantine’s birthday by helping us conduct restoration activities in the College Street Ravine (Dow’s favorite greenspace) from 10 am-1 pm on Mon. 11/15. Tools, gloves & snacks provided. Bring a filled water bottle. RSVP to nancy@naturec.org or 206.923.0853 and directions will be sent to you.

Meantime, thanks to a different group of volunteers, one of West Seattle’s most visible greenspaces got a little cleaner:

If your pathway to the West Seattle Bridge is via Fauntleroy, you see “Walking on Logs” every day. The overgrowth and litter stack up pretty quick, and it’s been more than seven months now since Fairmount’s Nancy Driver helped organize a new stewardship effort, since longtime West Seattle community advocate/volunteer Earl Cruzen couldn’t do it singlehandedly any more; they were out today cleaning and trimming. There’s still more work to be done, and we will pass along the word from Nancy when we get it.

Also out today: The Rotary Club of West Seattle was along the Duwamish River, sprucing things up at the Port of Seattle-owned Terminal 105 Viewpoint (which is just east of the Duwamish Longhouse). Just three weeks from today, it’s one of the Rotarians’ biggest service events of the year – the 37th annual Children’s Holiday Shopping Spree (more details on their website).

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SPD Mounted Unit @ Westwood: Last time we’ll see this?
November 13, 2010 5:44 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police | Westwood

Thanks to West Seattle writer (and world-traveling volunteer!) Lori Hinton for sharing this photo taken this afternoon at the Westwood Village Bank of America. We’ve seen teams from the West Seattle-headquartered Seattle Police Mounted Patrol at Westwood before – Becky shared a photo last February; a year earlier, we caught a photo at Westwood’s then-WaMu. SPD has told us they bring the horses to areas like this to get used to working in traffic. But now, as reported here more than a month ago, the Mounted Patrol is slated to be disbanded as part of the new budget – and while not all the fine print is finalized, we haven’t seen/heard anything indicating the mayor’s original proposal will change.

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West Seattle holiday bazaars: Bridge Park, SW Community Center
November 13, 2010 1:33 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle holiday bazaars: Bridge Park, SW Community Center
 |   Fun stuff to do | Holidays | West Seattle news

This year’s holiday bazaar at the Southwest Community Center is in the lobby shared by the community center and adjacent Southwest Pool. And there we found Tiffany Tomcal and Ryan Daley from the Chief Sealth International High School Honor Choir, selling “Carnegie Cakes” – cupcakes as part of their fundraiser for the choir to travel back east to sing at Carnegie Hall next Easter (you can see/hear the choir in a video clip from our coverage of the Sealth Veterans Day assembly). The SWCC bazaar continues till 4 pm at 2801 SW Thistle. Marion Lisko is there too, with Cookie Lee Jewelry:

The biggest bazaar we’ve visited today is the craft fair at Bridge Park Retirement Community (WSB sponsor) in High Point (3204 SW Morgan) – where the vendors include Bella and her dad, with their Funsies baby clothes:

At Bridge Park, you can also get a chair massage from Betty Lewis of Unwind Today:

And of course, Christmasy offerings abound – be sure to poke around all the corners of the lobby/dining level at Bridge Park to find them:

Like the SWCC bazaar, the Bridge Park event is also continuing till 4 pm, as is one we haven’t made to yet, at Providence Mount St. Vincent (4831 35th SW).

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Happening now: Treats to trees, @ West Seattle Nursery open house
November 13, 2010 1:02 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening now: Treats to trees, @ West Seattle Nursery open house
 |   Gardening | Holidays | West Seattle news

The treats and decorated trees are inside at West Seattle Nursery, where the annual holiday open house continues till 3 pm, but you’ll want to venture outside too – wreath-making is under way, with a seminar coming up at the top of the hour …

Also outside: Free espresso! And the barista’s been busy …

West Seattle Nursery is at California/Brandon; the official open-house info is here; and note that West Seattle Nursery will be selling Christmas trees again this year too. (Not there yet – unless you take note of the beautiful potted Norfolk pine indoors!)

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Happening now: CoolMom Toy Swap ‘n’ Sale in West Seattle
November 13, 2010 10:32 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

Still two and a half hours to bring your tote bag(s) to the Fauntleroy Church fellowship hall and stock up on gently used toys as the annual CoolMom Toy Swap ‘n’ Sale continues – they’re spotlighting some items that are too big for your tote bag, too – toddler-size cars on the stage in the background, and baby/child furniture in the foreground:

Fauntleroy Church is across from the historic schoolhouse, at 9140 California SW – that’s not a continuation of the long stretch of California, but rather a bend in the road if you are either heading up Wildwood south of the ferry dock, or heading down Barton west of 35th. The sale continues till 1 pm, with proceeds benefiting WestSide Baby as well as CoolMom. Never know who might just jump into your tote bag!

12:57 PM: Got a text that in the waning moments, everything is half price.

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West Seattle coyotes: North Admiral-area sighting
November 13, 2010 10:03 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Out of the WSB inbox, from Marian:

A pair of fluffy, well fed individuals were sniffing around our neighbors’ drive at the 1900 dead-end block of Walnut [map] this morning about 9:00. They didn’t seem to mind us gaping at them a bit!

We publish coyote sightings not as a warning, but as a reminder that they are more or less everywhere, even if you are somehow sure they can’t be in YOUR neighborhood. Here’s important advice about coexisting with them, and here’s our archive of previous reports you can scroll through (some with photos).

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West Seattle Saturday: Early holiday-shopping opportunities abound
November 13, 2010 6:34 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Danny McMillin, taken last Wednesday)
Why wait for “Black Friday” when you have Shopping Saturday? Multiple major events today, starting with CoolMom’s Toy Swap ‘n’ Sale, 9 am-1 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW). Remember that if you donated pre-sale, and put your name in the bag, you should have a $5 credit waiting … Go Natives! Nursery has a plant sale today benefiting the West Seattle Backyard Wildlife Habitat program, 10 am-4 pm at 3225 47th SW (near PCC Natural Markets [WSB sponsor]) – follow the signs from California/Admiral … West Seattle Nursery‘s holiday open house is 11 am-3 pm today, with three seminars on chickens, wreaths, and cooking (details on the official flyer) … Bridge Park (WSB sponsor) offers a craft fair today, 9:30 am-4 pm (3204 SW Morgan) … Southwest Community Center‘s Holiday Bazaar is today, with entertainment, craft activities for kids, and more, 10 am-4 pm (2801 SW Thistle) … Providence Mount St. Vincent‘s holiday bazaar continues today (4831 35th SW) …The Shorewood Elementary Bazaar is also 10 am-4 pm, lots of handmade goods (2725 SW 116th) … In The Junction, knows perfume celebrates its six-month “anniversary” 11 am-6 pm with a sale/celebration … And after all that shopping, how about dancing? 7 pm at Hiawatha Community Center, it’s the 2nd Saturday Dance Series (with lessons too) … You might even leave the kids (6-12) at Hootenanny Creative Kids Classes’ Parents’ Night Out Workshop, 5:30-8:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center … Lots of other events on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar!

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Denny Read-a-Thon: You can read, to help the students read!
November 13, 2010 3:30 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(L to R: Quentin “L.J.” Burns, Maia Jordan-Griffin, Michelle Steele, Justice Burwell, Sam Orlin, Brady Crane)
The first schoolwide Read-a-Thon is under way at Denny International Middle School – to raise money for books for Denny’s literacy program, and “to inspire reading among all Denny students,” according to Susan McLain, one of the organizers. And you can support them by using a special voucher at Barnes and Noble later this month (more on that in a moment). “Denny International Middle School needs books. We have a diverse population of kids who read in several different languages. We need books that are geared to each child’s reading level,” McLain explains. “We also need books that inspire kids to keep reading because the subject matter is interesting. Often, a child will pick up one book in a series, and then they are pulled into reading the entire series because the books are so compelling to them.”

(L to R: Sophie Strongman, Anne Jorgenson, Gavin Garcia Penor, Aisaya Corbray, Brady Crane, Nicole Roes, and Abdirisaq Diriye Abdi)
For the Read-a-Thon, Denny students are asking friends and family members for pledges, based on how many books or pages the students read up until December 3. You are also encouraged to shop at Barnes and Noble in Westwood Village on November 20 using the voucher found here, or you can use that same voucher number online between November 20 – November 27. Part of the proceeds from each purchase will benefit Denny International Middle School PTSA. And if you’d like to buy a book for Denny as part of this – here’s the wish list.

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Illegal dumping, the sequel: Now, a discarded dishwasher
November 12, 2010 11:27 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Westwood

Val shared that photo of what just materialized in a Westwood alley:

Attached is a picture of some more illegal dumping in the alley between Cloverdale and Trenton between 34th Ave SW and 35th Ave SW [map]. Only a dishwasher this time. GE was willing to give me the name attached to the serial number but it had never been registered with them. A report is being filed with the City.

Here’s the appropriate Seattle Municipal Code chapter, in case you’re curious. And if you need to report illegal dumping, there’s a hotline and an online report form – both available here.

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3 more days for West Seattle Volunteer Recognition nominations
November 12, 2010 10:44 pm
|    Comments Off on 3 more days for West Seattle Volunteer Recognition nominations
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

They work like crazy to make our peninsula a better place – and they don’t get a cent for it – “just” the knowledge that they’re making a difference. A big difference. In hopes of spotlighting more wonderful West Seattle volunteers, the Southwest District Council and Delridge Neighborhoods District Council co-sponsor the WS Volunteer Recognition Awards twice yearly with WSB – and you have three more days to nominate a person or group for the next round! Tell the judges (who are from the district councils – we only co-sponsor, we don’t judge) all about your nominee(s) by using this online nomination form; the deadline’s Monday night, 11:59 pm. Thanks – and join us in The Junction (time TBA) for the honors during the first Hometown Holidays Sunday on December 5th!

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West Seattle finale for voting-rights centennial celebration
November 12, 2010 9:12 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle politics

It’s a party that was a century in the making. All week, West Seattle Democratic Women have been celebrating the 100th anniversary of women’s voting rights in our state. Tonight, a gala at the West Seattle Golf Course is wrapping up the weeklong party that also included a film/discussion last Sunday (WSB coverage here) and the Day of Jubilation last Monday in Olympia. From left at tonight’s event – Seattle Port Commissioner Gael Tarleton and WSDW’s Beth Grieser, Lynne Ingalls, and Karen Chilcutt; Lynne and Karen co-chaired the event. Along the wall in the banquet room – photos of women currently serving this area and our state in elected office:

(Recognize everyone? From left, 34th District State Rep. and Sen.-elect Sharon Nelson, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, Gov. Chris Gregoire, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, and 34th District State Rep. Eileen Cody. The display on the table beneath the photos is headed, WE’VE COME A LONG WAY, the event’s theme.)

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Traffic alerts: Not in West Seattle – but might affect you
November 12, 2010 5:08 pm
|    Comments Off on Traffic alerts: Not in West Seattle – but might affect you
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

As the week comes to an end, SDOT has just sent a raft of traffic alertsL

THIS WEEKEND: Viaduct work will lead to closures on parts of Alaskan Way and Royal Brougham – which might affect you if you’re attending the Dave Niehaus tribute – here are details.

BATTERY STREET TUNNEL LANE CLOSURE MONDAY MORNING: Southbound lane, 9 am-noon Monday, details here.

VIADUCT REPAIRS NEXT 2 WEEKS: Southbound lane closures are scheduled to fix guardrail damaged in a recent crash – days may change but here’s what’s expected as of right now.

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Zero Race participants to stop in West Seattle tonight
November 12, 2010 4:17 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

Stars of that video are Team Trev, one of four teams currently in the Zero Race, an 80-day around-the-world renewable-energy-car race that’s officially stopping in Seattle tomorrow – but this team is due in West Seattle tonight, since participants are being hosted by local residents, as explained by Leah LaCivita via e-mail:

Founded by Louis Palmer, the first person to drive a solar-powered car around the world, the goal of Zero Race is to generate popular enthusiasm for the use of renewable energy sources for vehicles. In order to compete in Zero Race, vehicles must be propelled by an electric motor, drive approximately 156 miles at an average speed of 50 miles/hour, and carry at least two passengers. Vehicles are judged according to their speed, reliability, energy efficiency, design, safety, and utility to everyday life.

Zero Race began in Geneva, Switzerland on August 15 and will end when the teams reach Geneva again in January 2011. The race route covers a distance of 30,000 km, approximately 18,600 miles, across 16 countries. The North American leg began in Vancouver, Canada, and follows the West Coast until Los Angeles, where the route turns southeast and eventually enters Mexico. The race will also visit the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun at the end of November before returning to the European continent.

There are currently four teams in the race, hailing from Germany, Switzerland, South Korea and Australia. Team members and race organizers will spend the evening in private home throughout Seattle. Hosting them are members of the Seattle Electric Vehicle Association, (SEVA) a volunteer led educational organization that promotes the advancement and adoption of electric vehicles.

SEVA member Matt Schneider will be hosting Zero Race’s Team Trev at his Gatewood home this evening. In 2008, Schneider converted a VW Vanagon to electric power and has been commuting in it since then. He is looking forward to the visit as a chance to talk shop, but also to “check out a really cool car.”

Leah says their arrival time isn’t set yet – they’re heading down from Canada. She also says that from there, the Zero Race cars will continue to head south, stopping in Portland on Sunday. If you explore Team Trev’s website – you’ll see Trev is the car, and they’re the team from Australia.

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