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    THE CHAMPS: WSHS team’s big victory

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    WS HOLIDAY GUIDE: See what’s in it!

AmazonFresh: New West Seattle Blog sponsor – welcome!
September 14, 2009 11:34 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Today we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors, AmazonFresh, the new grocery home-delivery service from Amazon.com. We offer new sponsors the chance to tell you about their business, and amazontruck.jpghere’s what AmazonFresh would like you to know: Since November 2007, 2,000 of your West Seattle neighbors have experienced the convenience of having all their perishable and non-perishable groceries delivered to their doorstep by AmazonFresh. Unlike other grocery delivery services, AmazonFresh was designed from scratch to take your busy life into account. Same day and next day delivery is standard. They can deliver before you wake up and you don’t need to be home to get delivery. If you want to be home (or your order contains alcohol), you can choose from dozens of 1-hour time slots. Delivery is available 7 days a week including Sundays. For doorstep deliveries, AmazonFresh leaves your groceries in secured, temperature-controlled totes. In addition to these convenience benefits, AmazonFresh has a great selection of local products including produce and dairy. You can even get many of your favorite Amazon.com books, video, baby, toy, and kitchen products delivered with your groceries. Need popcorn, movie, and popcorn maker for a Friday night? No problem. Last but not least, AmazonFresh has multiple ways to save including daily deals, bulk purchases, and automatic delivery discounts. Best of all, these discounts can be “nested” so that customers can take advantage of not 1 but 3 different discounts on the same item! By combining discounts, customers can save up to 70% on certain products. Give AmazonFresh a try today.

Thanks to AmazonFresh for sponsoring 24/7 independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news here on WSB – the full sponsor team is here, with info on how to become part of it! (Photo credit: JetCityOrange)

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Video: 1st assembly as “Denny International Middle School”
September 14, 2009 9:52 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | West Seattle video

Leading his school’s first assembly as Denny International Middle School – that second word is brand-new this year – principal Jeff Clark offered a well-received explanation for his bright outfit. He spoke within the past hour to a cafeteria filled with the 700-strong student body that speaks more than 22 languages, according to a fact sheet Seattle Public Schools media liaisons handed out. Clark also pointed out the visual representation of that – these flags hanging overhead:

Part of the new “international school” program includes Spanish/English immersion – Denny teacher Leticia Clausen is teaching a humanities block in Spanish, and is shown in our next video introducing costumed students who performed a dance from the Mexican state of Oaxaca:

(A sign of Denny’s new focus – as Clausen left the stage, the teacher next to whom we were standing thanked her in Spanish; she replied, “De nada.” The language focus at Denny also includes Mandarin Chinese.) Other performers this morning: Denny’s marching band and steel drummers; toward the middle of this clip, you’ll see Marcus Pimpleton, who is leading music programs at Chief Sealth High School this year as well as his duties at Denny:

The students (and teachers, who lined both sides of the cafeteria) also heard from SPS Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson, who will appear a few miles east at Concord Elementary School tomorrow morning as part of a similar celebration – Concord, which is in South Park but considered part of SPS’s West Seattle region, is also an international school as of this year (here’s the original announcement), which the district says sets up a pathway from Concord to Denny. They are two of five international schools in the SPS system, along with Stanford, Hamilton and Beacon Hill. ADDED 1:08 PM: One more clip – the actual Oaxacan dance:

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This week: Hear from the prosecutor, & the Alki Homestead owner
September 14, 2009 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on This week: Hear from the prosecutor, & the Alki Homestead owner
 |   Alki Homestead | Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

Three major community meetings are ahead this week in West Seattle, all extending an invitation to you, two with speakers/guests bound to be of high interest:

TUESDAY – WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: After a summer hiatus, the grass-roots group that brings together law-enforcement leaders and community members each month will reconvene Tuesday night, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct meeting room (Delridge/Webster; map). Special guest this month: King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg (left). If you have questions about what happens to crime suspects once they’re arrested and why, this is the person you want to hear from – his office decides on what if any charges are filed, and how to prosecute the case.

WEDNESDAY – DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: Reps from key community groups and organizations in the eastern half of West Seattle will gather at Youngstown Arts Center (4408 Delridge; map), 7 pm.

THURSDAY – ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: When the ACC meets at Alki Community Center this Thursday at 7, they’re expected to hear from Tom Lin, owner of the historic Homestead Restaurant, closed since a fire eight months ago. Because of the building’s landmark status, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society has expressed concern about its future post-fire, and brought up the situation at the Sept. 2 Southwest District Council meeting. After ACC rep Tony Fragada told the SWDC that Tom Lin would be briefing the Alki group this week, they tabled the topic to wait and see what’s planned for the property and how best to offer help. The public is welcome at the meeting too, though you have to be an ACC member to vote on anything (membership information is here).

What else is up this week? Check the WSB West Seattle-wide Events calendar page any time.

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Bike-path rage? West Seattle rider reports violent encounter
September 14, 2009 12:11 am
|      48 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

This site among many others has had contentious car vs. bike discussions – and over the years of course the “road rage” of car vs. car erupts from time to time – but this is one of the first “bike vs. bike” clashes we’ve heard: Longtime WSBer Todd in Westwood tells the story:

(Sunday), wife, 5 y.o. daughter and I decided to get the bikes out and take them down to Alki, as this may be the last nice Sunday in a while. We parked down by the 7-11 on Alki Ave and rode around Jack Block Park, then off to the beach.

I had daughter on the “trailer bike” attatched to my bike with wife behind us. We had jsut passed Anchor Park, when a very angry “LEFT” was yelled at me, then “!!!LEFT!!!” again. I was passing pedestrians and with the trailer bike, it isn’t very easy to make quick moves in either direction. The NOW extremely angry road bike yells “I said LEFT” then passes me on the left and punches me, luckily he got me in the upper arm instead of the face. This in turn almost made me crash. I stopped to process what had just happened, now daughter is scared and crying. I yell back at him telling him I am calling 911 to report it, he yells back ” F__K YOU, A__ h__e”, So we found an officer down the beach and made out a report. He will be charged with misdemeanor assault. But he is nowhere to be found.

We walk the bikes down the beach to get coffee, run into some friends and lo and behold, jerk man rides by. I follow him and call 911. They caught the dude and he will be charged. I don’t know what happened to him next. I heard him tell the officer he didn’t have i.d., should be interesting. A couple then stops us on the beach to tell us they had witnessed the whole ordeal and are willing to help. (Thank you so much, folks! )

Let’s hope justice can prevail and at least show my daughter that the bad guys get caught.

(This also was posted in the WSB Forums.)

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Come play! New season, new additions for Westside Symphonette
September 13, 2009 11:01 pm
|    Comments Off on Come play! New season, new additions for Westside Symphonette
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

West Seattle has its own community orchestra – and starting this Tuesday, it’s welcoming interested local musicians to join in for a new season. Here’s the latest news as shared by Westside Symphonette founder Toni Reineke:

Westside Symphonette announces: Two new conductors! A new orchestra! Three new string coaches! September 15—and every Tuesday!

Several new additions are in store for the Westside Symphonette Community and Youth Orchestras’ 2009-2010 season, beginning September 15, meeting at Chief Sealth High School in the Boren Building.

In addition to Toni Reineke, co-conductor and founder of the orchestra, the Symphonette is welcoming Julia Tai and Robert Duisberg, co-conductors [photos above]. Julia is a doctoral student at the University of Washington studying instrumental conducting with Maestro Peter Erös and violin with Ronald Patterson. She is co-concertmaster of the UW Symphony and the conductor of the UW Contemporary Ensemble. Robt Duisberg has been a composer and music director in Seattle for 30 years. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition and conducting from the University of Washington as well as a PhD in Computer Science.

The Symphonette is launching a third orchestra for beginning string players this fall. Symphonette Strings is for youth and adults who are just getting started playing the violin, viola, cello or bass. Through a generous grant from the Wallace Foundation, the string group will have adult coaches provided by the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras.

In addition to the Symphonette Strings, the Westside Symphonette will continue with the Junior Orchestra, for beginning to intermediate players, and the Senior Orchestra for more advanced players. The groups are open to all ages, youth through adult. Informal auditions are held for placement in the proper group. Each group performs publicly two to four times per year.

Come join the Symphonette! Openings are still available for this fall for every orchestral instrument. Please contact Toni Reineke at 206-243-6955 or tonireineke@comcast.net for further information.

ADDED SEPT. 15: Missed the times in the original report above – Toni says it’s 5:30 start time for junior orchestra and beginning strings, 6:45 for senior orchestra.

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Friends of Southwest Branch Library have 2 invitations for you
September 13, 2009 8:05 pm
|    Comments Off on Friends of Southwest Branch Library have 2 invitations for you
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts


View Larger Map

That’s a Google Street View of West Seattle’s Southwest branch of the Seattle Public Library. (9010 35th SW; map), where two big events are coming up. Julie Enevoldsen from Friends of Southwest Branch Library shares both announcements. First – this one’s less than a week away:

Friends of Southwest Branch Library would like to invite all patrons to an informal Meet & Greet reception for our “new” branch manager, Jane Appling, on Saturday, September 19th from 1-2 pm in the meeting room at the branch.

In June, branch manager Theresa Mayer accepted a new position as Outreach Services Manager at the Central Library, coordinating programs and services to immigrant and refugee communities and the Library Equal Access Program serving people with disabilities. We’ll miss Theresa, but wish her well in her new position!

Jane Appling is our new branch manager (and branch manager of South Park) as of early July. Most recently, Jane served as the Library Services’ Operations and Analysis Manager. She offers extensive and varied public library experience, a very insightful perspective, and a passion for serving the community. Come and meet her on September 19!

Second – a call for artists:

The Southwest Branch of the Seattle Public Library and the Friends of Southwest Branch Library invite community artists of all ages to the 18th Annual Southwest Community Art Showcase.

(Local artists) may sign up by calling 206-684-7455, or by stopping by the Southwest Branch between Thursday, Oct 1 and Saturday, Oct. 24. Artists of any age and artwork of any medium are welcome.

Art work by Southwest community members will be on display at the Southwest Branch from October 26 through November 15. A meet-the-artists reception is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 at the library. Artists participating in the Showcase are encouraged to attend. The reception is a chance to discuss art with the artists in a low-key, friendly setting. This is an opportunity to meet your creative neighbors! Refreshments will be served. Join us!

Want to know more about Friends of Southwest Branch Library? Go here.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 3 reports
September 13, 2009 4:34 pm
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three Crime Watch reports to share this afternoon – reports of an Alki assault, Gatewood burglary, and a Junction-area sighting that might or might not be related to a theft – read on:Read More

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Video, photos: West Seattle Naked Bike Ride
September 13, 2009 2:26 pm
|      101 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

(iPhone photo by Tony Welch)
About a dozen riders have just left from Morgan Junction, according to WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli, and if they follow the route posted on a Google Map earlier, they’ll be heading north through The Junction, Admiral, and on to Alki. Updates to come. 2:40 PM: Stephen sent another photo from right before the riders took off:

We got one report via Facebook that they’ve passed through The Junction. 3:01 PM: Here’s our clip as they passed through The Junction – halfscreen because this is a G-rated site – as you’ll hear, they got some honking and hollering:

3:20 PM: This is getting some buzz on Twitter, too. Sample: @ClutchSeattle noted, “World Naked Bike Riders on CA Ave bring fits of giggles to entire family. 3 yr old says someone stole their underwear.” Offered by @marykir, “Hope they are using plenty of sunscreen.” And according to @playwildgames, the riders have passed through Admiral.

3:37 PM: WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli caught the group on the north end of The Junction, passing the Senior Center of West Seattle:

In a Facebook discussion, some have asked, what’s the point? The “exuberant joy of cycling,” says the WNBR Seattle website (note, NOT a G-rated site). ADDED 6:43 PM: Click to see Christopher’s video. 10:19 PM NOTE: Looks like the embed code for that may work now:

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Happening now: PCC West Seattle’s 20th birthday party
September 13, 2009 2:23 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening now: PCC West Seattle’s 20th birthday party
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Till 6 pm, you’re invited to help PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) celebrate the 20th anniversary of their West Seattle store (California/Stevens; map). Outside, the Kid Picks van at left with fun stuff for the little ones, and free burgers getting grilled in the tent under the sign; inside, birthday cake and lemonade:

Free samples and cooking demos are happening inside the store too. Event schedule here (chocolate samples at 3 pm!).

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In case you’re wondering about the Naked Bike Ride …
September 13, 2009 12:35 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news


View Larger Map

While we continue to watch for updates on the cause of this morning’s Stewart Manor fire, we are also awaiting the start of the “World Naked Bike Ride” first reported here last Monday. WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli is in Morgan Junction at the site where prospective riders are gathered and reports nothing has started yet. According to a link left this morning in a comment on our original report, this map shows the “proposed route” – down California SW all the way to Alki, and then back around the shoreline down Beach Drive to Lincoln Park and back eastward. We’ll keep you updated. 12:59 PM UPDATE: We’ve learned the ride starts at 2. Prospective riders are currently getting painted. Added the “proposed route map” as an embed, above. 2:09 PM UPDATE: Hadn’t started yet, as of a couple minutes ago. Body-painted people milling about. We’ll start a separate item when it does get under way.

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Update: Fire at Stewart Manor apartments, 3 evacuees to hospital
September 13, 2009 9:00 am
|      43 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(scroll down for updates, more photos)

(video clip above by WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli, added 10:17 am; cameraphone photo below by Patrick Sand, from our original 9 am-hour coverage)

ORIGINAL 9 AM REPORT: Big callout right now to 6339 34th SW (map), and at least one report of “a lot of smoke.” 9:05 AM UPDATE: We’re on scene and can see the smoke. Police are blocking traffic for blocks around the building. The fire’s on the 5th floor and crews are working to get everybody out – this is the big building run by the Housing Authority just east of the convenience store at 35th/Morgan. Co-publisher Patrick Sand is there and says smoke is pouring from one window on the 5th floor. He says medics are checking out at least three people for possible smoke inhalation. 9:14 PM UPDATE: In addition to the cameraphone pic we added above, here’s another view from WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli:

Cindi Barker from the Morgan Community Association — who lives a few blocks west — reports the traffic closure includes 35th/Morgan. SFD spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen is there and says the fire’s tapped.

9:22 AM UPDATE: Note that you also cannot get into Walgreen’s on 35th, just west of the fire scene, because its parking lot is being used as a staging area for some of the many crews that responded to this fire at the building (Stewart Manor). Cindi says crews also have been using hydrants from the other side (west side) of 35th.

9:34 AM UPDATE: Buses are being rerouted too. Fire crews are being rotated, as you can hear on the scanner – take a look at the online 911 log to see how many units responded. Crews are sweeping inside the building to check for damage – we just heard one report that the 4th floor, beneath the fire, “has no smoke or water damage.” Stewart Manor has 72 units, according to this SHA webpage.

9:41 AM UPDATE: SFD’s Vander Houwen just talked with us. She says 12 people in all are being treated for potential smoke inhalation. One was taken to Harborview Medical Center because of previous respiratory problems. The fire was in one unit on the fifth floor, no word on the cause so far; everyone’s out of the building and the sweep will determine if it’s safe for some to go back in.

9:56 AM UPDATE: Police have just reopened 35th SW to traffic in both directions. We just got an update at the scene from SFD’s Vander Houwen – investigators have not yet determined the cause; the fire was in one unit, on the east side of the 5th floor, with some smoke/water damage to an adjacent unit. Floors 1-3 have been cleared for people to go back in. More of the fire units are about to be cleared from the scene, but some will be there all day continuing to check air quality in the building. Adding more photos — WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli took this one of someone being evacuated down a fire-truck ladder:

10:08 AM UPDATE: Bill Bacon at One Community Commons (kitty corner from Stewart Manor) took this photo – as you can see from the smoke, this was before the fire was out:

The smoke-inhalation cases are the only injuries that SFD has reported – nobody wound up jumping or getting hurt in other ways – you’ll see more of the fire crews’ evacuation work in video that we will have back at HQ shortly.

10:29 AM UPDATE: Added Christopher’s video at the very top of the story. Also received another photo from nearby resident Bill – this woman, who identified herself as Grace, had just been brought out of the building at this moment:

He also photographed medics checking evacuees out in the triage area they’d set up:

10:57 AM UPDATE: Update from SFD’s Vander Houwen – two people have gone to Harborview for “minor smoke inhalation,” both by private ambulance. The other 10 people who got medic attention did not need to go to the hospital. Still no cause or damage estimate yet. She says the one person you see being brought down a ladder is the only one who had to be evacuated that way – everybody else was brought out by the stairs. Here’s a view we haven’t shown you yet – part of the massive response – this clip was taken looking all the way around from a spot on Morgan at 34th:

11:26 AM UPDATE: Morgan also has just reopened, per Nuni in comments.

11:59 AM UPDATE: Here’s video of the entire 4-minute briefing that SFD spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen gave at the scene:

ADDED 12:19 PM: As you heard her say in that video, one main task for the firefighters was making sure everybody got out safely, especially considering there are elderly and medically challenged residents in the building, as you can see in these additional photos from WSB contributing photojournalists – first from Christopher Boffoli, second from Matt Durham:

Again, no major injuries were reported. Matt (who has worked as a newspaper photojournalist and also currently works as a firefighter in a department outside Seattle) also reported that three-year Stewart Manor resident Michael E. Searcy, shown in the photo above, told him the hallways were dark as they evacuated: “We don’t have any emergency lighting when the power goes out. … There are no sprinklers; they say our building is grandfathered.” We will follow up on this with the Housing Authority. Meantime, the latest post-fire update from Vander Houwen – three patients are now reported to have gone to Harborview for “minor smoke inhalation.”

1:56 PM UPDATE: As Mookie notes in comments, SFD has announced the cause on Twitter:

Fire at 34th and Morgan ruled accidental – caused by resident heating shoe polish with hand held flame which spread to the bed. Damage $175k.

3:08 PM UPDATE: Seattle Times (WSB partner) talked with a resident of the unit, who explained what was happening with said shoe polish – here’s their story.

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Today: Zucchini 500; PCC 20; free yoga; Cones 4 Kids; s’mores
September 13, 2009 6:52 am
|    Comments Off on Today: Zucchini 500; PCC 20; free yoga; Cones 4 Kids; s’mores
 |   Delridge | Fauntleroy | Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

They’re the fastest vegetables in the West – today, anyway – the zucchini you’ll find converted into racing machines today at West Seattle Farmers’ Market (where we recorded that clip during this event two years ago). Starting at 10 this morning at the market (44th/Alaska), “kids of all ages” (as the announcement puts it) can make their racers out of produce and parts supplied for free. Shopping, too? Here’s today’s Ripe and Ready list.

Hit the Farmers’ Market early, then meander up California to PCC Natural Market (WSB sponsor) for the West Seattle store’s 20th birthday bash – free burgers, macaroni salad and birthday cake, cooking demonstrations, plus samples of other items (even chocolate), plus the ever-fun PCC Kid Picks van … the schedule’s here; party starts at 11 am, 2749 California (map).

That’s also when you can get an hour and a quarter of free yoga at SoundYoga (WSB sponsor), 5639 California SW (map). From there – to the beach! where Cones For Kids will get you Husky Deli ice cream 1-4 pm, presented by the Eternally Joyful Guild supporting Children’s Hospital. This year, you’ll find them by Picnic Shelter #1, west of the bathhouse.

Just as Cones For Kids wraps up, the neighbors of North Delridge will be firing up S’mores in the Park at Delridge Community Center/Playfield (4501 Delridge; map), 4-6 pm. Hot on the heels of the well-attended Ice Cream Social, they’re hoping to draw neighbors from all over the area to meet and share treats.

Then the night wraps up at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW; map), with nationally renowned singer/songwriter Susan Werner in concert at 7 pm – ticket info’s on the FC website.

These are just the highlights – see more on the West Seattle Weekend Lineup list – click here to hop directly to the Sunday section.

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New WSB feature: 5 minutes to edit your comment
September 13, 2009 1:46 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle online

computer.jpgA Saturday night comment reminded us we’d been meaning to add this feature, so now we have: In addition to being able to preview your comment before it’s published, you now get a 5-minute window to edit it, after you publish it. No log-in required; the comment system otherwise works the same way it always has. Once you’ve posted the comment, you’ll see a countdown clock ticking down that 5-minute editing period, during which you can use a button to the left of the countdown clock to open an editing window (click “more options” to edit the screen name and/or URL you used with the comment).

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Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival returning to West Seattle
September 12, 2009 11:59 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Admiral Theater | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

admiral.jpgFor the second consecutive year, the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival will include screenings at Admiral Theater here in West Seattle. So says the Three Dollar Bill Cinema website, to which we were pointed by this item at Gay Cap Hill, noted on Twitter by our fellow indie-neighborhood-news site Capitol Hill Seattle. The festival runs October 16-25 but the specific movies/dates aren’t public yet – the TDBC site says they’ll be announced next Friday.

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2 quick notes for tomorrow: PCC West Seattle party; bike ride
September 12, 2009 10:45 pm
|    Comments Off on 2 quick notes for tomorrow: PCC West Seattle party; bike ride
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

In case you check in tonight but not in the morning: 1st, tomorrow’s the PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) West Seattle 20th anniversary party, 11 am-6 pm at the store (2749 California SW), food and fun, full lineup here (including specific times for cooking demonstrations and samples). 2nd, tomorrow’s the day announced for the annual “World Naked Bike Ride” through West Seattle – nothing new has been posted via Twitter or the WNBR site since the announcement that led to our report here, but we’ll see if anyone shows up at the Morgan Junction meetup point at noon, and will report whatever happens.

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High school football update: Seattle Lutheran wins today
September 12, 2009 10:16 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

The score and stats are up at seattletimes.com (WSB partner): Seattle Lutheran High School 29, North Beach 8. The Saints are now 1-1 and host Northwest Christian at West Seattle Stadium next Saturday, 1:30 pm. (Here’s our report on last night’s WSHS and Sealth games.)

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The Swinery: What’ll be on the menu when it opens
September 12, 2009 7:32 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

A few days ago, WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli, who’s been chronicling the saga of The Swinery setting up shop in West Seattle, reported that its projected opening date has slid a bit (to September 21). The establishment itself (moving into 3207 California SW; map) continues to chronicle its progress at theswinery.blogspot.com, but one thing you won’t find there is the menu it’s planning to offer when it opens – for its meats and sandwiches. Here it is – note that it’s a draft, provided to us as a roughed-out Excel form which we’ve converted into a PDF. But it’ll give you a better idea of what they’re planning.

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Election 2009: 2 chances to see the people who want your vote
September 12, 2009 6:36 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

checkbox.jpgCANDIDATE FORUM IN HIGHLAND PARK: Next meeting of the Highland Park Action Committee, 7 pm September 23, is now taking shape with a candidates’ forum as the centerpiece; HPAC chair Dan Mullins says they’re focusing on all the big races – King County Executive, Seattle Mayor and Council, Port Commissioner – and “the candidates are responding to our requests” (no final lineup yet though). It’ll be at the Highland Park Improvement Committee building, 1119 SW Holden (map).

MAYORAL HOPEFULS AT THE LABOR TEMPLE THIS WEEK: Less than one week after their much-talked-about first “debate” – more of a Q/A forum – downtown, Joe Mallahan and Mike McGinn will share the stage again at 4:30 pm this Wednesday (September 16) at the Seattle Labor Temple, 2800 1st Avenue (map) — not in West Seattle, but it was among the events announced at last Wednesday’s 34th District Democrats meeting.

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West Seattle Montessori School open house – happening now
September 12, 2009 5:47 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | White Center

Less than a week after West Seattle Montessori School (WSB sponsor) moved into its new campus at 11215 15th SW (map) – complete with that spacious playground – they’re inviting you to an open house that’s under way right now. Treats too – free hot dogs, and cake:

We stopped by within the past hour for a quick preview; it’s a great night to be outside but they’re also leading tours inside their new 2-story building:

WSMS moved from the location where they’d been for decades in West Seattle’s Triangle area after the land they’d leased was sold for development. They offer preschool through 8th grade; the 4th through 8th grades are now known as West Seattle Academy (that’s the WSA you see on the cake in the middle photo) – the lower grades have always been popular but they say middle-school interest is taking off too. You’ll find them online at westseattlemontessori.com; tonight’s open house continues till 7:30.

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Also happening now: “Crank It Up” in South Park
September 12, 2009 1:53 pm
|    Comments Off on Also happening now: “Crank It Up” in South Park
 |   Fun stuff to do | South Park

Lashanna sent that photo just as “Crank It Up” was about to get going in South Park’s Cesar Chavez Park (7th So. and So. Cloverdale; map). She’s there doing facepainting – as she’s done at lots of West Seattle events too! “Crank It Up” continues till 6 pm and is just a short hop from West Seattle – here’s the list of what’s happening, starting with a bike ride that’s under way now and then moving on to live music starting at 3 with The Not-Its (who played the Alki community picnic recently) – There’s Full Tilt Ice Cream at “Crank It Up” too! UPDATE: Another photo from Lashanna – Ambulance is one of the bands that played – she says they’re all middle- and high-school students from Ballard:

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West Seattle street food: Something new, something not-so-new
September 12, 2009 12:46 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle street food: Something new, something not-so-new
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

If you venture into a certain North Admiral neighborhood this afternoon, you’ll find those guys on a street-food test run, according to Sherri Chun, who just sent the photo and this explanation of who and what you’ll find at 2215 47th SW (map):

I thought I’d put a plug in for some young entrepreneurs on our block – Mark and Kyle Howell and their new business, Howie’s Hot Dogs. Mark and Kyle are West Seattle natives, and will soon be taking their business on the road. They’re doing a trial run in their front yard today. We wanted to spread the word – beef, polish, and Italian hot dogs with all the fixins, plus chips, drinks, and Dessert dogs, too! Please spread the word, and come support these guys with their new business venture!


Sherri’s checking on how long they’ll be there today; she says their future location is TBD. (Added 3:06 pm – Answer, as long as they have food and as long as people keep showing up!) Also with eats on the street right now, Marination Mobile, which has been coming to High Point for two months now (after its Fourth of July debut).

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli, added 3:06 pm)
Thanks to JayDee for the reminder that MM is there right now, set up on the northeast corner of 35th/Graham (map) 11 am-2 pm every Saturday TFN – here’s more about what they serve. (They’re on Twitter too, as are all the street-food stars – @curb_cuisine – not to mention fixed-location eateries too, including WSB sponsors Cafe Revo at @caferevo and Endolyne Joe’s at @chowfoods.)

ADDED 3:06 PM: Speaking of Twitter (where we are @westseattleblog for human-powered news, @westseattlenews for automated links to all our stories), one more “street food” (beverage, in this case) note – got a Twitpic from @mjtwit from their ongoing yard sale (till 4) at 5613 44th ave SW (map) – 25-cent lemonade! Here’s the photo.

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Happening now: A beautiful day – for a car wash, and more
September 12, 2009 12:18 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

That’s how this sunny Saturday started at Seacrest, as photographed by Christopher Boffoli … and it just keeps getting better. At right, a little pic sent by West Seattle High School assistant volleyball coach Jim Hardy, who says they’re washing cars an extra half-hour, till 2:30 pm, and says they’re thankful for everybody supporting Westside volleyball: “This is both a major fundraiser for the program to help offset some budget reductions from the School District, and part of a Team Building weekend. Supporters are asked to make donations. It is going to be an exciting year for the team which features some good young players who should continue to improve through the season.” They’re in the WSHS parking lot. Meantime, remember everything going on today is in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup (to jump directly to the Saturday section, click here – and if you know of something NOT on the list, please add a mention in comments!).

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Seal season arrives in West Seattle: How to play it safe
September 12, 2009 8:05 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Photo courtesy Seal Sitters)
By Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

It’s the season for lots of recreational fishing along West Seattle’s shores. And it’s also the season for lots of harbor seal pups.

That was evident last Saturday night at Lincoln Park, when a fisherman unexpectedly found a harbor seal pup at the end of his line. The drama was resolved quickly; with help from two onlookers, the hook was quickly removed and the pup set free.

Events unfolded too fast last for anyone to make a call, but when a marine mammal is in distress or a seal is spotted, these are the important numbers to know:

To report a seal on the beach in West Seattle: 206-905-SEAL (7325)
For all other reports, the NOAA Stranding Hotline: 800-853-1964 (monitored 24 hours)
If a marine mammal is being harassed or harmed, the NOAA Enforcement Hotline: 800-853-1964
If there is imminent danger, call 911

After the pup was released, conversation onshore continued — what exactly is the best thing to do in that situation?

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