Today: Farmers’ Market, benefit brunch, caucus, fighting pain

(Melanie‘s photo of a nest-material-gathering eagle in Lincoln Park earlier this week)
Another day with lots to do! (First make sure you have the correct time, since Daylight Saving Time arrived overnight – 2 am was instantly 3 am)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: The newest additions include Zaw cook-at-home Pizza and more varieties of spring flowers; here’s the latest list. 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska, as always.

NATURE CONSORTIUM BENEFIT BRUNCH: Did you RSVP? Might be a seat or two left. WSB is proud to be co-sponsoring this event to celebrate and raise money for the work of the Nature Consortium, which focuses on restoring the West Duwamish Greenbelt – a green West Seattle treasure. Noon-1:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy.

34TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS: 1 pm (signups start around 12:15 pm) at Mount View Elementary School in White Center (map) – all Democrats in the district (there’s a map in our original story at White Center Now) are invited to help elect county and state convention delegates, among other business. You’re asked to bring donations for the accompanying food drive.

BOARD GAME AFTERNOON: Friends of Southwest Branch Library are doing it again – in honor of “Pi Day” – 1 to 4:30 pm at the library (35th/Henderson).

TOUR DE FRONDS: An invitation from native-plant specialist Steve Richmond:

Join us for a walking tour this Sunday, March 14 at 2 pm – a “Tour de Fronds” in Fauntleroy Park. Trillium, Red Flowering Currant [photo] and Indian Plum are in bloom! See the good work of neighbors, volunteers, and Earth Corps in restoring native plants as they continue to battle invasive species. Meet at the Fauntleroy Church’s parking lot, 9140 California Ave SW (off SW Barton, not far from Fauntleroy Ferry Dock.

PERSISTENT PAIN? DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT … like attending today’s free event at Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, 2-4 pm, with Stas Kudla, ND, L.Ac., to talk about options and strategies.

Even more in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup!

Rollover crash at 8th SW/SW Roxbury

(Photo by David Rosen)
Thanks to David Rosen for the tip: He says a rollover crash has SW Roxbury blocked westbound at 8th SW (map), right on the Highland Park/White Center line. He says it doesn’t look like anybody’s going to the hospital; the driver is OK and being questioned by police.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Key-grab car thief; suspected casing

Tonight, two incidents that resulted in police reports – a car theft with a twist, and a suspected casing – read on:Read More

Next week: Crime Prevention, Delridge District, Alki councils

March 13, 2010 8:04 pm
|    Comments Off on Next week: Crime Prevention, Delridge District, Alki councils
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | White Center

All three community councils meeting this week have announced their agenda highlights:

TUESDAY – WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: This meeting’s scheduled guest is Benjamin Kinlow, Crime Prevention Coordinator for the Southwest Precinct, which means he also helps coordinate the Block Watch program. The newly formed West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network – which you can join on Facebook – is urging members to be there. This meeting also routinely includes a crime-stats update from local police leadership, and time to discuss your neighborhood concerns. 7 pm Tuesday, Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster; map).

WEDNESDAY – DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: Scheduled guests include City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, Nathan Torgelson from Seattle Parks (to discuss the Camp Long Lodge renovations), and Mark Ufkes and Peggy Weiss from the pro-Seattle-annexation White Center Homeowners’ Association. DNDC members also will discuss their recent retreat, as they meet at 7 pm Wednesday, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way; map).

THURSDAY – ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: West Seattle’s school board rep Steve Sundquist is a scheduled guest, along with Seattle Parks staff. ACC meets at 7 pm Thursday, 6115 SW Hinds (map); get the latest info at alkinews.com.

ONE MORE BIG MEETING NEXT WEEK: Monday night, 7 pm at Denny International Middle School, it’s the next in a series of meetings around the cities to talk about Mayor McGinn’s Youth and Families Initiative (explained here). Previous meetings in other neighborhoods have drawn hundreds of people. This initiative involves almost every issue you can imagine – safety, education, health, environment – so whatever you care most deeply about, be ready to advocate for it.

Baseball beginning: Chief Sealth invites community to scrimmage

March 13, 2010 5:59 pm
|    Comments Off on Baseball beginning: Chief Sealth invites community to scrimmage
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Story, photos and video by Randall G. Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

While some people spent the morning in line for the Safeco Field box office or on their computer in an attempt to get tickets for Seattle Mariners games that are at least a month away, others chose to take advantage of the rare March sunshine and the offer of free food at the Southwest Athletic Complex while watching the Chief Sealth High School Seahawks baseball program scrimmage with the Cleveland High School Eagles.

In his second year as the head coach of the Seahawks, Ernest Policarpio says the event was imagined as a way to bring the community closer to the school’s growing baseball program, hopefully stimulating more popularity of the game among parents and students.

Today’s event also featured a barbecue as a chance for community mingling.

This year, Chief Sealth will have enough athletes to field three teams for the first time in recent memory. Growing interest in the sport is not, however, the only positive momentum working in the Seahawks’ favor. The results on the field are also showing improvement.

While today’s game will not count in the standings, Sealth managed 17 runs in just two innings of play today, albeit against a very short-handed Cleveland squad. However, combined with yesterday’s jamboree in which Sealth outscored Foster 5-1 and Franklin 7-1 in a pair of three-inning sessions, there is reason for optimism.

“We wanted to play good baseball,” said Policarpio (photo) about the team’s mission for the day. “When they had the chance, the kids were hitting the ball.”

Policarpio will need those hits to continue next week when his Seahawks officially open their season by hosting the defending 3A champions, O’Dea High School, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Friday at SWAC.

ALSO NEXT WEEK: West Seattle High School boys’ varsity baseball team plays Blanchet at Lower Woodland, also 3:30 Friday … Seattle Lutheran High School‘s winter-athletics awards night is Monday at 6:30 pm (the SLHS baseball team is leading a clinic at the school this weekend for younger players).

West Seattle weekend scene: Engine 29 meets a future firefighter

Via e-mail from the Engine 29 “B Team” – that’s Lt. Paul Andrews and Eli. They explain:

We came across this super-cute kid named Eli down at Alki Beach earlier today and just thought this photo turned out great. He was all dressed up in his fire gear patrolling the beach. Someone suggested we send it to you guys and so we decided we would.

Thanks for sharing! (Station 29 is the one in North Admiral.)

Signs of the (travel) times: SDOT’s putting up 3 in West Seattle

Marisa e-mailed this morning to ask about that new sign over the downhill lanes of bridge-bound Admiral Way. It’s one of three SDOT “Dynamic Messaging Signs” that should all be complete by midweek along major West Seattle paths to The Bridge; the work was mentioned in the list of traffic alerts we wrote about last Thursday, with work on Admiral as the week ended, plus two more:

That’s the not-yet-finished sign on Fauntleroy Way, just east of SW Alaska. And another one is slated for 35th SW at SW Snoqualmie (by the golf course and Merrill Gardens [WSB sponsor]). We can’t find one good overview of the program online anywhere, but docs like this give you a hint. SDOT is expanding use of these signs in time for the major construction work to come on the Highway 99/Viaduct corridor, so that you will theoretically get enough warning of trouble, from crashes to travel times, to make an informed decision on high bridge vs. low bridge, etc. (We can’t help but wonder if there will be a programming option such as “JUST TURN AROUND AND GO HOME” or “GO TAKE THE WATER TAXI” …)

Final day for White Center Food Bank pet-food drive

March 13, 2010 11:18 am
|    Comments Off on Final day for White Center Food Bank pet-food drive
 |   How to help | Pets | West Seattle news | White Center

While stopping by Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, we got that photo of some of the pet food dropped off there for the White Center Food Bank pet-food drive that wraps up today. Food’s been collected at Hotwire and two Burien locations for the past few weeks – and today you can drop off donations at WCFB (which serves part of West Seattle too) until 4 pm, 10829 8th SW (map). Read more about the pet-food drive here; also remember that donations to the WC and West Seattle Food Banks through the end of next month count for MORE because of the Feinstein Challenge (explained here).

West Seattle Saturday – including some late additions!

(Alki photo by Chas Redmond, taken last Wednesday)
From the West Seattle Weekend Lineup and from post-WSWL arrivals in the WSB inbox last night, some of today’s highlights:

WATERFRONT VISION: Mayor McGinn called four meetings around the city to invite citizens to help plan a “great central waterfront.” The third one is 2:30-4 pm today at High Point Community Center; the concept’s explained here.

PLAY BALL! Anthony sent word that Chief Sealth High School‘s baseball team will be in action at Southwest Athletic Complex (across the street from Sealth’s permanent home on SW Thistle) at 12:30 pm, including a free barbecue, and they’d love to see community support!

MADISON STUDENTS AT EMERALD CITY COMICON: Perhaps the biggest event in the city this weekend is the comics/pop-culture gathering at the Convention Center downtown (official website here), and Greg Hatcher will be there with Madison Middle School students he teaches. As he writes here, their afterschool program is partly funded by Partners With Youth from the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), and he says they’re collecting donations at Emerald City Comicon to help make sure the program continues.

CHURCH SALES: Turns out THREE local churches are having sales this weekend – got late word of one for the Westside Unitarian Universalists – it’s at 2008 California SW, Unit B, 10 am-4 pm today, 1-6 pm tomorrow (and will continue the next two weekends as well – watch the WSB Events calendar). Meantime, it’s day two for two churches’ rummage sales – we dropped in for the overviews to show you HOW big – here’s the Tibbetts United Methodist Church scene:

They’re selling from 9 am-3 pm today at 3940 41st SW (map); and the other sale’s a few blocks away at West Side Presbyterian Church:

WSPC’s rummage sale is 9 am-2 pm at 3601 California SW (map).

BOOK SALES: As per this reminder last night, the Sanislo Elementary used book sale is 10 am-2 pm at 1812 SW Myrtle. And Kristi Keithly has a used book sale 9 am-noon at Seaview Methodist (4620 SW Graham; map) to raise money for the Breast Cancer 3-Day.

SCHOOL INFO EVENTS: “Option schools” including West Seattle’s Pathfinder K-8 are represented at an info event at Seattle Public Schools HQ in SODO, 10 am-noon; Three Tree Montessori in Burien (WSB sponsor) has an open house this afternoon, 1-3 pm.

BUSINESS BIRTHDAY: Max and Quinn’s Atomic Boys Shop-O-Rama in the Admiral District marks its second anniversary today, with fun extras for shoppers. 10 am-6 pm.

MUCH, MUCH MORE … in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup . (And remember to set your clock ahead an hour tonight – Daylight Saving Time officially arrives at 2 am.)

“Welcome to West Seattle”: A new arrival’s story

What’s it like to move to West Seattle? A writer who recently arrived from elsewhere shares a few vignettes.

(Peninsula, looking north from Sea-Tac Airport – photo by Gatewood resident Long Nguyen)

By Marika Malaea
Special to West Seattle Blog

I

We were driving the last of our stuff over the West Seattle Bridge when reality finally hit: We were moved! I bounced in my seat, riding a wave of anticipation. “We’re almost there!” I said in a rush, anxiously euphoric. We came around the bend and I saw the welcome sign. “Look,” I cried, “we’re official!”

I shielded my eyes from the sun, trying to read the whole thing. “It says ‘Welcome to West Sea….’I trailed off, confused. I leaned forward to peer out the window, blinking several times – then turned to stare at my boyfriend, unsure of what to say. “Why are there half-naked metal children leaping onto the freeway?” I asked.

“Welcome to West Seattle,” he said, laughing at me.

II

I saw an ad on Craigslist for a vintage industrial desk, and I had to have it, despite the message attached: “First come, first serve. No, I won’t hold it for you, I’m not your mother. U-HAUL, I’m not going to help. If I ignore your email, it’s gone so don’t email me again. No flakes.”

I sent the guy a message, noting the desk was in West Seattle and that soon we would be residents. Would he be willing to hold it until the next morning, just seven short hours away?

Read More

Buy books, do good: Sanislo sale tomorrow (and more)

That photo e-mailed to us shows part of the crew getting ready for tomorrow’s 4th Grade Used Book Sale at Sanislo Elementary, raising money for their annual educational overnight trip. Coffee, tea and treats, too! 10 am-2 pm, 1812 SW Myrtle (map). That’s one of four benefit sales tomorrow in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup – TONS going on – review the list here.

Update: Denny “Lunch Ladies” did it – they broke the record!

We dropped by the Denny International Middle School cafeteria just before lunch today – to visit the fabled Lunch Ladies who had let us know earlier this week (as reported here) about their plan to try to break a record for most school lunches served in a day. The old record was 599 – and Doree Fazio-Young sent word late today that they did it, serving 604! We talked to her moments before they started serving – and she explained the day’s OTHER big events:

Doree and Sue have worked together for 20 years. Congrats on the record!

Followup: No formal request yet for “low bridge” change

(Thursday night photo by Christopher Boffoli)
As reported here a week ago, May 17 is now set as the date when the city will permanently close the 1st Avenue South/South Spokane onramp to the westbound West Seattle Bridge – and that means no access to The Bridge between I-5 and Highway 99 until the new 1st Avenue South on/offramp opens more than a year and a half later. In the meantime, more traffic will be using the “low bridge” – including rerouted Metro buses – so it’s been suggested that the city should reopen its request for restrictions on marine use of that bridge during rush hours. (In 2008, the U.S. Coast Guard rejected a request for permanent restrictions.) This week, we checked with the city regarding the status of a new request to the USCG; SDOT communications manager Rick Sheridan tells us today it hasn’t been formally filed yet:

SDOT is interested in temporarily prohibiting evening rush hour openings of the Lower Spokane Street Swing Bridge starting in May, when a new phase of work begins on the Spokane Street Viaduct. While we believe this proposal has merit, we also understand there might be impacts to some marine users. We are currently in conversations about it with the marine industry, the Port of Seattle and the US Coast Guard, which is an important coordinating step prior to submitting a formal request to the Coast Guard.

City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, chair of the Transportation Committee and main backer of the previous proposal to restrict rush-hour openings, says he’s aware of this and “willing to help.”

West Seattle Crime Watch: Now we have a purloined pig

From Dicki at Endolyne Joe’s in Fauntleroy – the photo at left and the plea for help finding that sign:

My partner, Mark Silver, who built Joe’s, made a great Pig holding a sandwich board sign that said Eat at Joe’s. We have been putting it on the corner of 45th and Wildwood. He made this incredible sign for free because he loves Joe’s. One of my Managers forgot to bring it in the other night, and alas he is gone! We love our pig and want him back. Would he go under lost pets? He was like a pet to us.

No, this is more Crime Watch than Lost/Found Pets. If you’ve seen the pig, please contact Dicki, 937 5637.

West Seattle whale-watching: Orcas off Lincoln Park

Just got the call from Jeff Hogan at Killer Whale Tales: Five orcas off Lincoln Park – closer to the ferry dock – transient orcas, the kind that hunt sea lions and seals, and he says “they just made a kill” so you may see birds hovering around where they are. Let us know if you see them! 4:15 PM UPDATE: Back from an expedition. Very quick sighting in the distance, via binoculars, off north Vashon. Looked from the Lincoln Park shore like KING5’s chopper found them – video’s not on their site yet, but we’ll add a link here when it’s available. 5:14 PM: Adding the embedded video atop this item.

New ruling on Seattle park-gun ban – this time, a judge says it’s OK

A new ruling on the city’s ban on guns in certain park/community center facilities – and this time, the judge says it’s constitutional, according to this story just published by our citywide-news partners at the Seattle Times. They were ruling on the challenge that happened here in West Seattle last year, filed by the Kent man who went into Southwest Community Center last November (after letting the city and media know of his intention) and was asked to leave (WSB coverage here). This follows a county ruling in a separate challenge, overturning the ban (here’s that story). The Times says the city’s trying to sort out what this all means. 6:12 PM: The city has sent out a news release – more of a summary than a reaction – read on (also added, the ruling document itself):Read More

West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Daylight Saving Time edition

March 12, 2010 11:41 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Daylight Saving Time edition
 |   Fun stuff to do | WS culture/arts | WS Weekend Lineup

(Photo from “Sunlight” by Matt Durham)
It’s the first weekend for “Sunlight” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) – you can see the play tonight, Saturday night or Sunday afternoon – and that’s just part of a HUGE slate of events: Rummage sales, book sales, food drives, a chance to help brainstorm the Seattle Waterfront’s future, benefit dinners, school open houses, live music, forest-restoration events … you HAVE to browse the list. Plus, Daylight Saving Time kicks in Sunday morning – at 2 am, forward ahead an hour to 3 am. From tonight through Sunday, more than SIXTY! events/activities on our list, sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food:Read More

Metro proposes change for Route 22 through Gatewood

While we were at King County Department of Transportation HQ on Thursday afternoon to talk about some of the ongoing routing changes caused by construction, KCDOT’s Linda Thielke mentioned a proposed change was in the works for Route 22 through Gatewood. She didn’t have full details, but they’re out now: Metro wants to take the 22 off about half a mile of residential streets (41st and Ida) and move it to California SW for the full stretch through Gatewood, so that it stays on arterials all the way. Here are the details; note the “online survey” on the right side for comments. If Metro goes through with the change, it’ll take effect in October. (Disclosure, because we always try to let you know when we have skin in the game: WSB HQ is on the proposed new route.)

West Seattle Weather Watch: About the wind

It’s kicking up bigtime at WSB HQ in Upper Fauntleroy – the forecast does mention possible gusts up to 45 mph “midday” and this afternoon. (No advisories so far, though.) 10:54 AM: Just a quick Flip clip to let you know, it’s NOT Windpocalypse – just gusty from time to time:

West Seattle businesses: New in The Junction, Fleurt

Coming to The Junction at California/Oregon, in the space recently vacated by Craze – you might have seen the window sign for Fleurt (WSB sponsor), a flower/gift shop. We asked Sam at Fleurt for comment – and she put together an official announcement:

April showers brings flowers and Fleurt, a new locally owned flower and gift shop that have taken over the former Craze store on the corner of California Ave and SW Oregon. The gals at Fleurt are hard at work giving the store a complete makeover and hope to open on or before April 1st.

The flower gals will offer charming and unique fresh flower arrangements and stems in the shop, free West Seattle delivery, a $10 charge for other Seattle locations. They do events, occasions, weekly installments for businesses and say “I do” to weddings.

Fleurt uses flowers that are locally grown (whenever possible) that are always fresh, seasonal and a little wild. The containers include one of a kind vintage pots, antique glass, and vessels reclaimed sustainable from nature. An assortment of gift items will also be available at the shop

“We are so excited to be able to offer our neighbors in West Seattle a special place to browse, enjoy and purchase unique flowers and gifts. We have waited years for the right location in West Seattle to become available, and when the former Craze store closed, we jumped with joy at the opportunity to open Fleurt. A quick thank you to Funky Jane’s for their support and guidance!” Check out their website at www.fleurtstudio.bigcartel.com

As at least one WSB’er has pointed out – The Junction had a flower shop at that intersection for years – Neilsen, right across the street, where Shadowland is now.

Today/tonight: Church rummage sales; WS Eagles’ Irish dinner

Just a few highlights before the West Seattle Weekend Lineup comes out later:

TWO CHURCH RUMMAGE SALES, DAY ONE: It’s the unofficial start of Garage/Yard/Rummage Sale Season in West Seattle – two churches with two-day mega-sales, today and tomorrow. Here’s where and when to find them – just blocks apart, so you can easily hit both: Tibbetts United Methodist Church, 3940 41st SW (map), 9 am-4 pm today and 9 am-3 pm tomorrow; West Side Presbyterian Church, 3601 California SW (map), 9 am-5 pm today and 9 am-2 pm tomorrow (Facebook fan page, with photos, here).

“LUCK OF THE IRISH” BENEFIT DINNER: The West Seattle Eagles are raising money tonight for the 2010 MS Walk tonight, with a corned beef and cabbage “Luck of the Irish Dinner.” Dinner (served 5:30-7 pm) and music are open to the public (non-members who would like to drink must be signed in by an Eagle member). 4426 California SW (map; please use the door at the back of the building, closest to the alley).

New WSB feature: What West Seattleites are reading

Wandering around the website of our citywide-news partners the Seattle Times recently, we noticed a best-sellers’ list for West Seattle’s Square One Books (WSB sponsor). Looked like something that might interest book lovers here most of all, so we asked proprietor Gretchen Montgomery if that list might be available to WSB – and she said yes. So here’s the first edition of “What West Seattleites are reading” (working title, maybe we – or you? – will come up with something catchier).

Adult Hardcover:
1. The Pacific by Hugh Ambrose
2. Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson
3. Angelology by Danielle Trussoni
4. Rediscovering Values by Jim Wallis
5. Blackout by Connie Willis

Adult Paperback:
1. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
2. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
3. The Forgotten by Kate Morton
4. Ghost Train to the Eastern Star by Paul Theroux
5. Little Bee by Chris Cleave

Teen Bestsellers:
1. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
2. The Pendragon Series by D.J. MacHale
3. North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
4. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
5. Madapple by Christina Meldrum

Children’s Bestsellers:
1.The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth
2. Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan
3. The Lion & the Mouse (Caldecott Winner!) by Jerry Pickney
4. Happy Easter, Curious George by Margaret and H. A. Rey
5. When You Reach Me (Newberry Winner!) by Rebecca Stead

Look for the next round of “What West Seattleites are reading” next Thursday!

Chief Sealth winter-sports banquet celebrates “Sealth Pride”

What a day for Colin Slingsby, boys’ basketball coach at Chief Sealth High School. Not only did the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce announce he’d been chosen as Westsider of the Year, he also got to celebrate his team’s successful season during the Sealth winter-sports banquet tonight. Also on hand, athletic director Sam Reed:

His wrap-up of the winter-sports season, e-mailed last weekend, was printed out and handed out at tonight’s banquet. Here’s what he wrote:

Nearly four months after the season started, the last of the Chief Sealth Winter sports teams concluded their season last week, when the boys basketball team was defeated in a winner-to-state, loser-out game versus Franklin High School. While the 68-65 loss wasn’t the desired result, it doesn’t dampen the amount of ‘Sealth Pride’ that was built throughout the season.

All of our Winter Sports have things to be proud of. Foremost, it was a season marked by excellent coaching. Long-standing coaches Dave Rosario (wrestling) and Colin Slingsby (boys basketball) each took home Metro League Coach of the Year honors and added regional awards as well. Tony Trahan, in his first year at the helm of the girls basketball team, and Katie Hathaway, also new to the school as head swim coach, helped craft hard-working teams that competed well throughout the season. Gymnastics was led in conjunction with West Seattle High School and coached by Echo Balliett-Legge.

Read More