West Seattle, Washington

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Spotlight Stories


  • Champs

    THE CHAMPS: WSHS team’s big victory

  • Fire

    CAMP LONG: Help rebuild the history

  • Holiday Guide

    WS HOLIDAY GUIDE: See what’s in it!

West Seattle scenes: Moonrise, sunset
September 12, 2009 3:41 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle weather

Just a couple pretty pictures as we look ahead to what could be another record-high-temperature day … yesterday set a record at Sea-Tac by hitting 87, but today’s record is 88, and the forecast doesn’t look THAT hot. Anyway, the top photo is from Max, looking toward downtown during Friday night’s moonrise; below, an Alki sunset scene that Greg Wright photographed earlier in the week, focusing on the water instead of the sky:

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High school football: West Seattle HS and Chief Sealth results
September 11, 2009 9:59 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Both of tonight’s games are over: At Memorial Stadium downtown, West Seattle High School (now 2-0) beat Franklin, 28-13; at Southwest Athletic Complex in West Seattle, Chief Sealth High School (0-2) lost to Rainier Beach, 39-0. Seattle Lutheran High School plays North Beach in Ocean Shores tomorrow afternoon. ADDED EARLY SATURDAY: A little more about the WSHS game – which started late and ran long, so our correspondent didn’t get to see much of the Sealth game (we can tell you all the scoring happened in the first half): At Memorial Stadium, Franklin and WSHS played a lackluster first half that was marred by an array of penalties. After the half, WSHS seemed to find their foot and got off to a fast start, scoring on their first series in the second half. In that series alone, sophomore Nikko Emm had two carries for 33 yards. On the night, Emm managed to gain 187 yards. After the game, Coach Davis Lura talked with us about Emm and the change in momentum in the second half:

You can also see game stats at seattletimes.com (WSB partner); and another account of the game is on this site written by WSHS assistant principal Jenni MacDonald. Side note: Former WSHS football standout Aaron Grymes is back in Seattle today (Saturday). Grymes is currently playing for the University of Idaho, so he’ll be at Husky Stadium for the Vandals’ game against the UW.

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9/11 at Alki Statue of Liberty – eight years apart
September 11, 2009 9:35 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Alki Statue of Liberty | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Shared by Alki photographer David Hutchinson, who explains:

My wife and I took a walk down by the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza this evening. I took the photo on the left on September 13, 2001 and the one on the right this evening almost 8 years later. The differences in the photos make for some interesting contrasts on a number of different levels.

If you weren’t here in 2001 – the Alki statue became a touchstone for mourners, a place for memorials, after 9/11. And on this date two years ago, the recast statue was dedicated/celebrated on its old pedestal, which was replaced by the new one less than a year later. Now, those who helped make that happen are looking ahead to one more big event a week from tomorrow.

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Day 1 for 2009 Seattle Breast Cancer 3-Day walkers
September 11, 2009 5:47 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Health | West Seattle people

We’ve covered more than a few fundraisers in the past few months – and now, the big event is here: Tonight, the Seattle Breast Cancer 3-Day walkers have concluded Day 1. Among the West Seattleites on the 60-mile route this time, Tracy Dart – breast-cancer survivor and namesake of Team Tracy – who has posted updates online (with photos!). You can follow along in other ways – we’re seeing some updates from 3-Day walkers on Twitter (here’s the search for updates marked #3day). If you’d like to go cheer the walkers, there are two “cheering stations” in Everett tomorrow – listed here along with one on Capitol Hill, and the closing ceremony downtown, on Sunday. (Photo from twitpic.com via @snelson)

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Final meeting set for Junction Plaza Park
September 11, 2009 4:27 pm
|    Comments Off on Final meeting set for Junction Plaza Park
 |   Junction Plaza Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

The final public meeting about Junction Plaza Park (mentioned in our coverage of Tuesday’s Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting) is now officially scheduled: 6:30 pm October 5 at the Senior Center of West Seattle. Topics will include what the Parks Department announcement describes as “plant selection and minor design elements.”

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A West Seattle original: Famous bartender turns 70 today
September 11, 2009 4:05 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS beverages

The neon sign beneath which you see West 5’s bartender Jo-Ann Clutcher and proprietor Dave Montoure came from West Seattle’s legendary Admiral Benbow Inn. Jo-Ann worked at the Benbow for 35 years, and was the first hire at West 5 when it opened six years ago, and today, we and her fans are wishing her “Happy 70th Birthday!” Jo-Ann tells us she started out at the Benbow as a waitress, but after only two weeks, the manager told her she needed to handle vacation relief for a bartender – and she wound up sticking with that job till the Benbow closed in 2002: “I just watched how the other bartenders did things and pretty soon I knew how to do the job.” Her secret after three-plus decades of bartending: “You have to love your work.” She works Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and says she loves meeting people, noting that any conversation starting with the question “Where are you from?” always turns out to be a good one. She’s served customers from as far away as Australia, including celebrities – she recalls serving Randy “Big Unit” Johnson a drink when he was still with the Mariners. Biggest change in the overall biz over the years? People drink more responsibly now, she says. Retirement any time soon? Nope.

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The day after Day of Service: Ways to help in West Seattle
September 11, 2009 3:31 pm
|    Comments Off on The day after Day of Service: Ways to help in West Seattle
 |   Environment | How to help | West Seattle news

Whether or not you got to do volunteer work on this Day of Service – or among the thousands whose volunteer work truly keeps West Seattle running, growing, thriving day in, day out – there are two more events tomorrow we wanted to spotlight, since full details came in after we’d published the West Seattle Weekend Lineup (though both are now added, and you’ll find several other work parties listed there too) – they’re work parties at two of West Seattle’s precious natural treasures. First, thanks to Donn for forwarding details of the Roxhill work party:

Roxhill Park Wetland Restoration Work Party
WHEN Saturday, September 12, 2009, 9 am – 1 pm
WHERE Roxhill Park
2850 SW Roxbury St
SPONSORING ORGANIZATION Friends of Roxhill Park
CONTACT Scott Blackstock
CONTACT PHONE 206-938-2144
NOTE We are restoring the headwaters of Longfellow Creek. More than 300,000 native plants have been planted there in the last seven years. There is a parking lot on SW Barton & 29th Ave. SW. [map] We will meet behind the restrooms.

And Philip sent more details on tomorrow’s Alki Beach Volleyball cleanup at Alki (photo at top of this story is an AVA photo from last year’s cleanup):

The AVA (Alki Volleyball Association) is having another beach cleanup on Alki Beach Saturday Sept 12th. Every year the AVA has two volunteer beach cleanups to help keep Alki beach clean. Local residents appreciate the cleanups and volunteer the day off, helping to pick-up cigarette butts, bottle caps, Glass, Charcoal and other things that make Alki beach unsightly. There will be refreshments and juice from (Columbia Gorge Organic) and prizes! Free T-Shirts to volunteers. Look for the white tent and blue AVA banner close to the Bathhouse side of Alki beach [map] on Saturday morning Sept. 12th between 9 am and 1 pm. More about the AVA on their website: www.alkivolleyball.com

For either event – and the other work parties on the Weekend Lineup (and listed way in advance at greenseattle.org) you’re welcome to just show up and pitch in.

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West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Happy birthday, PCC! edition
September 11, 2009 1:31 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | WS culture/arts | WS Weekend Lineup

wswllicon3.pngMore than FIFTY events on the list this week – including: Sunday’s the big 20th birthday party at PCC Natural Markets‘ West Seattle store (WSB sponsor), kicking off at 11 am with free food, cooking demos, samples, more (details here). All weekend long, looks like the weather will keep the summer spirit alive – other Sunday highlights include the Zucchini 500 at West Seattle Farmers’ Market and free Sunday yoga at SoundYoga (WSB sponsor), North Delridge Neighborhood Council‘s S’mores in the Park … but first, Saturday’s busy too, with the West Seattle HS Volleyball Team fundraising car wash, Cat Adopt-A-Thon at Southwest Community Center; cats also get a boost from the FCAT fundraiser in White Center Saturday night, which you can check out before Admiral Theater showcases Those Darn Accordions .. Now, the FULL WSB West Seattle Weekend Lineup:Read More

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Day of Service: Fauntleroy Schoolhouse grounds get love & care
September 11, 2009 12:00 pm
|    Comments Off on Day of Service: Fauntleroy Schoolhouse grounds get love & care
 |   Fauntleroy | How to help | West Seattle news

All over the country, volunteers are working this Friday on projects that are part of the National Day of Service and Remembrance proclaimed for September 11th. Among them – Microsoft workers sprucing up various spots around Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (map) including the playground and the greenery surrounding the grounds, even along the north-side street:

Thanks to Kim Sheridan at Fauntleroy Children’s Center for mentioning the Day of Service project when we spoke yesterday about schoolhouse-purchase news (here’s our story on that, if you haven’t seen it already). Where else in West Seattle got some Day of Service love? Let us know!

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Door-to-door alert of sorts: Legitimately looking for help?
September 11, 2009 11:50 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Door-to-door alert | Safety

Carrie Ann encountered someone she describes as “questionable” by her West Seattle home this morning, and wondered if he were legit – read on:Read More

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Update: Why Southwest Pool won’t open till at least Sept. 21
September 11, 2009 11:14 am
|    Comments Off on Update: Why Southwest Pool won’t open till at least Sept. 21
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | Westwood

ORIGINAL 11:14 AM REPORT: West Seattle’s only city-run indoor pool, Southwest Pool, has been closed for three weeks while its drain system is upgraded to meet new federally mandated safety standards, and was scheduled to reopen Monday; we just checked with the Parks Department to see if that’s still the plan – and spokesperson Karen O’Connor tells us there’s in fact a new reopening date: September 21st, a week from Monday:

Currently, they are finishing up the work and will run tests on Monday, September 14th. We will have a better idea if the opening on the 21st is firm following the tests on Monday the 14th.

In the meantime, since outdoor Colman Pool is now closed till next year, your swimming options in West Seattle are limited to private pools; the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor) is one of them, and does sell day passes.

2:42 PM UPDATE: Got additional information from SW Pool’s assistant coordinator Matt Richardson, as well as this photo (his explanation is below it):

I thought I would provided a bit of insight into why the closure is running longer than expected.

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGBA) closures have been a challenge for our maintenance personnel. Every site has had its unique elements. Southwest is no different.

Prior to the closure, our engineer and lead pool operator submitted plans and construction drawings to the health department for approval. The permits were issued based on the original construction blueprints. The plan was to use the existing drain sump and attach the new VGBA compliant covers. When the pool shell was opened up, the drain sumps did not match the original blueprints. This required our engineer to design new poured in place concrete sumps and re-submit the drawings to the health department.

The new permit came through in the afternoon of Tuesday, September 8th. Our plumbers have been working feverishly this week. The cement crews should be starting on Monday with pouring new sumps and plastering. The cement requires a couple of days cure time. It takes about 5 days to fill and heat the pool up to our usual 85 degrees F. That puts us opening on Monday September 21st.

A quick note for all of our current lesson participants. The lesson session that was scheduled to begin on September 16th is delayed. We plan on starting lessons on Wednesday September 23rd. All of the currently enrolled participants will have the fees for the missed classes credited onto their accounts.

Our estimate of re-opening on September 21st is based on everything going on as planned. We will update the latest information regarding the opening date on our voicemail and our pool schedule page at
http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/aquatics/Pools/southwest/schedule.htm

Thank you for understanding as we work to comply with the new federally mandated codes that resulted from the VGBA.

Sincerely,

Matthew Richardson, Assistant Coordinator
Seattle Parks – Southwest Pool

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Is everything better the 2nd time around? Fauntleroy says “yes”
September 11, 2009 9:52 am
|    Comments Off on Is everything better the 2nd time around? Fauntleroy says “yes”
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

That room full of stuff is almost ready for you to browse and buy at the Fauntleroy Church Second Time Sale, 9 am-3 pm tomorrow. Volunteers have been busy all week pricing everything in those mounds of merchandise. It’s one of the church’s biggest fundraisers of the year; they’re at 9140 California SW (map). Also at Fauntleroy Church this weekend – nationally renowned singer/songwriter Susan Werner in concert Sunday night, 7 pm (ticket info on the church website). And if you’re looking for more sales this weekend – several are listed in the WSB Forums’ Freebies/Deals/Sales section (where you can list freebies, deals, sales for free).

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This week’s schedule for West Seattle’s high-school football teams
September 11, 2009 9:28 am
|    Comments Off on This week’s schedule for West Seattle’s high-school football teams
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

West Seattle High School (1-0) is at Memorial Stadium (at Seattle Center) tonight, 5 pm, to face Franklin (0-1); Chief Sealth High School (0-1) is at Southwest Athletic Complex (next to Southwest Community Center) vs. Rainier Beach (1-0) at 7 pm tonight; Seattle Lutheran High School (0-1) goes to Ocean Shores to play North Beach (0-1) at 2 pm tomorrow. Good luck, Wildcats, Seahawks and Saints!

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WS Art Walk report #2: 3 exhibitions that challenge perceptions
September 11, 2009 1:35 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

You wouldn’t know unless you were told that the art on the walls of Shoofly Pie Co. (4444 California SW) are by an eight-year-old. The linoleum block prints by Schmitz Park Elementary third-grader Romy Ehrsam are surprisingly accomplished. But once you meet Romy, you’re not as surprised — the artist is quite self-possessed.

“I’m being interviewed!” she says proudly to a friend walking by, and then strikes a perfect pose for a photo with her work.

The truth is, Romy’s already an old hand at this.

Read More

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High Point Neighborhood Association: New leaders, new projects
September 10, 2009 11:58 pm
|    Comments Off on High Point Neighborhood Association: New leaders, new projects
 |   High Point | West Seattle news

Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The High Point Neighborhood Association (HNPA) held its quarterly meeting tonight at the High Point Commons Park Amphitheater under clear skies and with a higher-than-usual turnout – including young attendee Elena, who rode her new bike to the meeting, with dad Jeff (above photo).

Andrew Mead (left), immediate past president of the HNPA (who will be stepping into the role of Vice President) introduced new Board Trustees and the new executive members of the Board. New Trustees are: Eleanor Hall, Chris Smithco and Ayan Jama. The new executive committee is: Jennifer Cobb, President; Andrew Mead, Vice President; Miranda Taylor, Secretary; and Chris Smithco, Treasurer. Trustees are representatives elected by their neighbors in one of four “voting groups” that High Point is divided into. These Trustees serve two-year terms.

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West Seattle Art Walk, report #1: Scenes from a clear night
September 10, 2009 11:12 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

First of two reports from the September West Seattle Art Walk, which – unlike last month’s thundering, torrential-downpour night — was graced with clear skies: We walked into a full house at Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor), where artists included Bayou and Kelly showing off their bag creations (online at Rat City Rags). Moving north to The Junction, the featured artist at Brunette Mix (WSB sponsor) was Gatewood’s Pam Mandel:

We know Pam best for her travel writing at Nerd’s Eye View, but she revealed she was creating art, including the collages she showed tonight, long before she wandered into technology and writing. More collage was on display at Twilight Artist Collective, where there’s always a party on Art Walk night – here’s work from Shaw Osha, part of Twilight’s featured The Ontology of the Image show, curated by Chris Crites:

And the night’s boldest show involved art that hadn’t even been created yet when tonight’s Art Walk began: Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) hosted the Paint Ball, giving four artists each a blank canvas and the mandate to transform it. We dropped in around two-thirds of the way through the evening:

That’s Chani Murac – here’s Jeremy DeCory:

Also participating, Steve Klinkel and V. Blast (who did the Feedback’s ornate metalwork); the pieces were to be silent-auctioned – we’ll check on their status tomorrow. For October’s Art Walk, Feedback proprietor Jeff Gilbert tells us, it’ll be another demonstration of art in the making – punk-rock pumpkins – stand by for more on that! And we’ve got a second report on tonight’s event; the Art Walk is way too big for just one news-gathering duo to cover, so we asked WSB contributing reporter Mary Sheely to hit the street too – her coverage, still to come.

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Thursday night notes: Eat Local Now; Swinery; Junction Halloween
September 10, 2009 10:32 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Holidays | Sustainable West Seattle | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

EAT LOCAL NOW: This event celebrating locally grown food, with sponsors including Sustainable West Seattle and CoolMom.org, is now just a month away, and tickets are on sale: 5 pm October 11th at the Alki Masonic Hall in The Junction. Read more about it here; buy tickets here.

SPEAKING OF FOOD: Just this morning, we noted The Swinery (taking over 3207 California SW) was chronicling its push toward an expected opening next week. Tonight WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli has learned from Swinery proprietor Gabriel Claycamp that last-minute renovation challenges have pushed that date back to September 21st.

JUNCTION TRICK-OR-TREATING: Jennifer e-mailed tonight to ask whether this megapopular annual event will be on Halloween itself, since it’s a Saturday this year, or the week before. The West Seattle Junction Association has scheduled it for 1-3 pm Saturday, October 31st, so go ahead and mark your calendars. We’re also asking Admiral merchants what they’re planning to do and will share that information when we get it.

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Got the perfect place for this (free!) landscaping project?
September 10, 2009 9:11 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | West Seattle news

From the Camp Long mailing list:

We’re still looking for an appropriate site in West Seattle to do pruning. Do you know of a church, institution or yard that could use some major pruning that would be done for free? The only thing is, it has to fit the qualifications below.

Here’s the updated site requirements info for the Oct. 1st workshop.

Site Requirements for PlantAmnesty’s Spanish Language Pruning and Renovation Workshop
Thursday, October 1st, 2009, 8 am – 4 pm

This workshop is a classroom and hands-on all-day event for Spanish-speaking landscape professionals. Pruning and creative solutions to an overgrown landscape will be taught as a landscape is renovated during the workshop. In the morning George Ortiz of Signature Landscape Services will give a lecture at Camp Long. Then in the afternoon everyone moves to a location where professionals work in small groups with the workshop students, practicing pruning methods. For the afternoon portion of the workshop we are looking for a site that meets the requirements below.

Site Requirements
– A private home, church, library, commercial landscape, school or park located in West Seattle.
– Large enough so that it is maneuverable by a group of 20-30 people.
– It is preferable for us to work on different groupings of overgrown, neglected shrubs and small trees that are as old as 15 years. And a diversity of types of shrubs (i.e. not just a landscape of mostly Rhodys).
– Nearby parking for as many as 20-30 vehicles.
– A place to leave pruning debris.
– A bathroom for use by potentially muddy workers.
– A representative of site should be present during the workshop.
– A small monetary donation to PlantAmnesty is required, unless it is a public property.
– This type of work will NOT be done: hedge shearing, a lot of blackberry and weed removal, and work on steep slopes. Only one large tree can be pruned by a certified arborist. Several smaller or younger trees are preferable for this class situation.

Benefits to the Site Owner
– A pre-workshop consultation with author-expert Cass Turnbull, and the benefit of several professionals’ insights into possible solutions to existing landscape problems.
– Pruning and renovation work done by approximately 8 landscape professionals and 15-20 students.
– Opportunity to attend the workshop (taught in Spanish) and receive all workshop materials (a pruning DVD and handouts on pruning topics, in Spanish or English).
– A beautiful landscape at the end of the workshop!

If you are interested in having the workshop held at your residence, business, church, library, school, or park, contact PlantAmnesty, 206.783.9813 or info@plantamnesty.org

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Update: Fire call – smoke damage displaces Alki residents
September 10, 2009 8:08 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

(photo added 8:55 pm, courtesy Cami)
ORIGINAL 8:08 NOTE: Near Whale Tail. We just arrived. No obvious sign of fire. 2600 block Marine, north of Whale Tail [map]. 8:12 PM UPDATE: No fire – “food on stove.” Fire crews now airing the place out. 10:35 PM UPDATE: New information in comments from KH, who says there was damage, and the people living in the house were displaced because of the smoke.

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Delridge double-shooting case: One more sweep for evidence
September 10, 2009 6:14 pm
|    Comments Off on Delridge double-shooting case: One more sweep for evidence
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

That’s the top of a flyer that law enforcers are about to start distributing around Delridge – asking for help from anyone who saw anything the night of a double shooting in May of last year, in which a woman and her 10-year-old son were hit by bullets fired from outside their home. Here’s the flyer – the back of which includes part of a WSB report about the crime. Washington State Patrol Detective Donovan Daly says they’re making one last sweep to make sure they’ve got as much evidence as possible, for the strongest case possible. It’s been eight months since an indictment was announced, as originally reported by KING5 (our followup includes a link to the indictment paperwork) – the suspect, DeVaughn “Buster” Dorsey, was accused of a variety of charges that also related to an alleged “chop shop” in West Seattle; the shooting was allegedly intended to intimidate a witness. According to the new flyer, any little thing you recall from the night of May 18, 2008, could be helpful:

ANY information relating to the events of that night, however insignificant they may seem: loud voices, people running, rumors you have heard on the street, suspicious cars, barking dogs are all important information to the Washington State Patrol.

This is the number to call if you have anything that might help in the case: 425.401.7743.

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Thursday afternoon notes: More on QFC; Shoremont; Westwood
September 10, 2009 5:06 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | Westwood

YET MORE ON THE JUNCTION QFC: Checking in with regional spokesperson Kristin Maas this afternoon, she reconfirmed next Wednesday’s opening date for the store in Capco Plaza (42nd/Alaska), and noted it’ll kick off with a 7 am ribbon-cutting ceremony that day (so if you ever wanted to be among the first to shop a brand-new grocery store, be there!). Store hours: Round the clock. We’re expecting a fact sheet a bit later and will add it here, in case you have any other questions about what the store will offer.

SHOREMONT ON ALKI: There’s an update on this vacant building (2464 Alki SW), slated for eventual demolition, which had been the subject of an emergency city order because it was open to the elements (and potentially transients) – AlkiNews.com reports it’s boarded up. The city’s online records say the site failed an inspection in late August after the emergency order was “served.”

WESTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: This community group has scheduled its first meeting in months, and you’re invited – 7 pm September 24th, Southwest Community Center (2801 SW Thistle), bring a dessert to share. Here’s the flyer outlining some of what’ll be discussed.

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What should be in the next school levy? Have your say, here
September 10, 2009 3:24 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Seattle Public Schools just announced 3 community meetings, including one in West Seattle – 6:30 pm September 24th at Madison Middle School – to talk about what should be on the 2010 ballot. Here’s the announcement (including how to comment if you CAN’T go):Read More

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Fauntleroy Schoolhouse deal updates: Close to closing; more land
September 10, 2009 3:20 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

schoolhouse.jpg

(2008 WSB photo of Fauntleroy Schoolhouse)
The future of one of West Seattle’s long-closed schools is not a done deal yet but it’s very close. The Fauntleroy Community Service Agency‘s purchase of the old Fauntleroy Schoolhouse has been more than a year in the making, and FCSA’s Kevin Wooley tells WSB today that the deal should finally close within a month or two – the legal challenge that had posed a problem earlier in the year has ended, and some of the public financing that’s helping with the deal is close to finalization. The schoolhouse is used right now for a mix of community and business activities, from Fauntleroy Children’s Center to Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering, and while its usage is not expected to change post-purchase, Wooley says they are still planning to explore the possibility of a capital campaign to raise what’s needed for repairs and upgrades, adding that FCSA is currenly “modifying the organization to run the building … It’s pretty exciting that we’re finally getting close to the finish.” They’ll soon be recruiting members for a “building advisory board,” too, and Wooley promises there’ll be a celebration once the purchase officially closes. FCSA and Seattle Public Schools reached agreement on terms of the $1.8 million deal last October.

4:45 PM UPDATE: And in fact there’s more news about the schoolhouse deal today – Kim Sheridan called with word that $1.1 million in additional state funding has been “set aside for purchase of additional playground space,” according to a community e-mail update she just said, adding, “This means that we can purchase all of the climber area on the lower playground, as well as the hill and a bit more!” That’s part of the rear section of the site that had not originally been in the deal.

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