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    WS HOLIDAY GUIDE: See what’s in it!

West Seattle author Terry Brooks’ annual local reading Saturday
August 26, 2009 10:01 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle author Terry Brooks’ annual local reading Saturday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS culture/arts

Didn’t get an official announcement about this, but we just happened to check the website of Terry Brooks, the mega-selling author who lives in West Seattle, and discovered he’s scheduled his annual-tradition local appearance at Barnes and Noble in Westwood Village: 2 pm this Saturday. This will be the fourth consecutive year we’ve covered his readings there, always in late summer: 2006, 2007, 2008. Also according to the author’s website, Brooks is sponsoring the Seattle Interagency Academy Book Fair at the same time. These appearances always coincide with a new book release, and this time it’ll be “A Princess in Landover,” the sixth book in his “Magic Kingdom” series. (Terry Brooks photo from terrybrooks.net, used with permission)

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Election 2009: Live TV debate in King County Executive race
August 26, 2009 9:00 pm
|    Comments Off on Election 2009: Live TV debate in King County Executive race
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

KCTS (Channel 9) announced tonight that it’s confirmed the first live TV debate between the King County Executive finalists, Susan Hutchison and West Seattle-residing County Council Chair Dow Constantine. 7 pm October 15th. It’ll be held in their studios, according to the station’s announcement.

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Photos: Coast Guard exercise participants sail past West Seattle
August 26, 2009 6:48 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to Gary J for these photos taken as the Pacific Unity exercise participants sailed past West Seattle shores en route to the downtown U.S. Coast Guard station this afternoon. That’s the Yashima, from Japan, above; next, Canadian hovercraft Siyay along with the USCG’s Midgett:

And from Russia, the Volovskiy:

Here’s more on the exercise they’re involved in, from the preview we published last night.

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Fauntleroy Way road work: SDOT says it’ll be done mid-September
August 26, 2009 3:48 pm
|      45 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

(Fauntleroy/Juneau photo taken last week by Chas Redmond)
Just in from Marybeth Turner at SDOT:

We are happy to announce that final paving on Fauntleroy starts tomorrow!

The project has progressed nicely. Our contractor, Gary Merlino, will begin the final overlay tomorrow and expects to complete the work by Friday night. Traffic will be shifted several times throughout the day but uniformed police officers will be on site to assist traffic. We expect work to continue into the PM peak hour as crews work long days in an attempt to complete all the paving before the weekend.

Shortly after the final overlay is completed, the contractor will begin striping the roadway with the new “channelization” (lane line configuration). Barrels and caution tape will remain in place until all of the striping is completed. During the same time, the contractor will take care of the finishing details and cleanup work.

Work is expected to wrap up in mid-September. We thank everyone in advance for their patience.

Here’s how the road will be configured after the work is done:

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Rasmussen: “Will make sure we have (Delridge) skatepark built”
August 26, 2009 1:25 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

futureskatepark.jpg

(future skatepark site at northeastern corner of Delridge Playfield/Community Center park)
A followup this afternoon to a story we brought you yesterday, with Pete Spalding reporting from the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee meeting that the funding situation for the planned Delridge Skatepark was changing. We checked in with City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the Parks Committee, and today he’s sent this update:

As the Chair of the City Council’s Parks and Seattle Center Committee, I am working to ensure that the City keeps its commitment to build the skateparks that are planned. When I saw yesterday’s article in the West Seattle Blog about the money for the Delridge Skatepark vanishing I immediately contacted the Superintendent’s Office to find out what is going on.

There has been confusion about the funding source for the project, but based upon assurances from the Parks Superintendent, I am confident that the solution the Parks Department and Levy Oversight Committee have settled on is a workable one. I will keep a close eye on this during the City Council’s yearly budget review and will make sure we have the skatepark built as planned.

I want to thank Pete Spalding for his work on the Parks Levy Oversight Committee and your readers and the Delridge neighborhood residents for their tireless support of this project. In other areas of the city we have had trouble finding sites for skateparks. Delridge has been very supportive and welcoming. Together we can make this happen!

I am committed to the project 110%. I agree with the suggestion of some of the writers that it would be good to contact the other eight City Councilmembers to ask them to support the Delridge Skatepark. It is important that the Council hear from the community now and during our budget review which will begin at the end of September.

Thank you,

Tom Rasmussen
Seattle City Councilmember

Here again is the contact information for City Councilmembers

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Swinery sets its West Seattle opening date: September 15th
August 26, 2009 12:28 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(July photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Just announced by Gabriel Claycamp:

After the longest summer in the history of Man, The Swinery is about to open…(with the shortest press release ever)

3207 California Ave SW
shop 206.932.4211
www.swinerymeats.com
sales@swinerymeats.com

artisan butcher, charcuterie, aged cheeses, delicatessen, snacks, sandwiches, wine, etc … Opening September 15th.

You heard about the location here first, you may recall, thanks to the reporting of WSB contributing journalist Christopher Boffoli (June 21 story here, and here’s Christopher’s in-depth look at the space, and what’s planned, from July 26).

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WSB to collaborate with the Northwest’s biggest news organization
August 26, 2009 10:59 am
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Late August is supposed to be a slow time, with summer ebbing, extra time to enjoy the sun. But somehow it always manages to be an exciting time here at WSB HQ. Almost exactly two years ago, your support helped plant the seeds of WSB’s transformation into a business, with seed money raised during our first and only Pledge Day. Today, we’re thrilled to announce our participation in a new journalistic collaboration involving our region’s largest news organization as well as three of our fellow independent, neighborhood-based online news publishers.

Read More

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City councilmembers campaign against state crimefighting cuts
August 26, 2009 9:59 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen calls this to our attention – and yours: The elimination — scheduled to take effect today — of four particular positions in the state Department of Corrections has him and his colleagues worried about the effect on local crime/safety. If you think that department only works with the state prison system, think again: For just one example, there are DOC officers who partner with local police, hitting the street to track down wanted criminals with arrest warrants. (So many times, when we receive “what are police doing on my street?” questions, the answer turns out to be “warrant service.”) In this specific case, according to a letter signed by the Seattle City Council as well as Interim Seattle Police Chief John Diaz, King County Sheriff Sue Rahr and leaders of other cities around the county (plus other law-enforcement agencies, while none of the four positions to be cut in the Neighborhood Corrections Initiative is West Seattle-specific, the cuts do include one position assigned to the King County Sheriff’s Office and created specifically after the murder in White Center of KCSO Deputy Steve Cox (whose killer was under DOC supervision at the time). Here’s an excerpt of the letter:

The cuts would adversely impact our region’s ability to capture wanted felons, to monitor offenders in our communities on DOC-supervised release, and to provide hands-on personal assistance to DOC-supervised individuals who require housing, detoxification services, medical care, social services, and crisis intervention and support in order to stay out of trouble and risk reoffending.

Many DOC-supervised individuals engage in stranger-on-stranger violence to maintain their drug and alcohol addictions; they significantly contribute to social disorder in more densely populated areas due to aggressive panhandling and anti-social behavior associated with mental illness and chemical dependency. As a result, residents are rightly worried about their personal safety. They seek our help to protect them.

Read the full letter here; read more about state DOC budget-cut implementation here. Councilmember Rasmussen says he and Councilmember Tim Burgess, who chairs the council’s Public Safety Committee, developed the letter and believe, “For the sake of the safety of our communities whether they are Bellevue, Shoreline, Seattle or White Center, we need these positions to be able to capture suspects and to ensure that offenders are being effectively supervised by the Department of Corrections.” We are checking with the governor’s office to get reaction to the city leaders’ letter and to see if there is any chance the positions will be restored. If you want to share a comment with the governor (on this issue or anything else), here’s how. 12:55 PM UPDATE: A spokesperson for the governor says she’s been out of town and they’re not sure if she’s seen the letter yet but they’re checking.

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Traffic alert: South Park Bridge to be closed all day Saturday
August 26, 2009 9:08 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   South Park | West Seattle traffic alerts


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Just in from the King County Department of Transportation:

The King County Road Services Division will close the South Park Bridge over the Duwamish River on 14th/16th Avenue South this Saturday, Aug. 29 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for repairs. The bridge will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic over the bridge and to large marine vessels on the water.

The repairs involve drawbridge alignment – more details here.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 3 cars targeted, family keepsake gone
August 26, 2009 8:27 am
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

The latest West Seattle Crime Watch reports we’ve received involve three cars, three neighborhoods around the peninsula, from Admiral all the way south almost to White Center — one broken into, one tagged, and one stolen while its owner was moving, with a precious family keepsake now gone – read on for details (and prevention info, too):Read More

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West Seattle scenes: Whole lot of practice; plus – still summer!
August 26, 2009 12:45 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle scenes: Whole lot of practice; plus – still summer!
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

In a parking lot by Jack Block Park Tuesday afternoon, Kevin McClintic happened onto Seattle Fire Department‘s West Seattle-based Ladder 11 practicing a couple of mesmerizing maneuvers with its 100-foot-long centerpiece:

Thanks to Kevin for sharing the photos. This also gives us an excuse to mention a semi-related Daily Weekly item you may not have seen – The Weekly’s West Seattle-residing managing editor Mike Seely reported last week that a ladder truck is in Station 11‘s future too. One other West Seattle scene to share:

Mike caught Tuesday night’s glorious sunset – which we’ll use to segue to the newest forecast, which says we’re going back into the 80s; summer’s not giving up without a fight.

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West Seattle neighborhoods: Your next chances to get involved
August 25, 2009 10:53 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle neighborhoods: Your next chances to get involved
 |   Crime | Delridge | High Point | West Seattle news | White Center

Many West Seattle neighborhood/community groups skip August meetings because it’s such a busy time for vacations, back-to-school prep, you name it, but now they’re about to rev up again. Here’s some of what’s coming up:


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HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE: Tomorrow night, 7 pm, HPAC meets at the Highland Park Improvement Club building (address/map – Google Street View above). On the agenda, from the preview sent out by HPAC chair Dan Mullins today, “a presentation from a local youth group that has been cleaning up Westcrest Park and the greenbelt, AND, former HPAC Chair and Seattle City Council candidate, Dorsol Plants will tell us about his election campaign experience and answer your questions …” This is also the only regular neighborhood-group meeting with a business spotlight (Cafe Rozella this month) AND a raffle.

ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: This Thursday is the grand finale in its first-ever series of six Summer Concerts at Hiawatha – and they’re meant to be a neighborhood-building opportunity as well as good old-fashioned outdoor fun. Come enjoy the West Seattle Big Band, free, at 6:30 pm Thursday, east lawn of Hiawatha Community Center, meet the ANA reps who’ll be on hand (and then join them at the regular September meeting, 7 pm 9/9 in the basement meeting room at Admiral Church).

NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: Next regular meeting is Wednesday 9/2 (6:30 pm, Delridge Library) but we’re reminding you again about the Ice Cream Social THIS Thursday, all neighbors invited, with games as well as treats (here’s the invite). 6:30 pm Thursday, Cottage Grove Park (address/map).

SOUTH DELRIDGE/WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY SAFETY COALITION: Crime and safety news for southeastern West Seattle and beyond, St. James Place, 9421 18th SW (map), 6 pm Thursday (free dinner).

Looking a couple weeks into the future, this meeting was just announced today:

HIGH POINT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION’S QUARTERLY MEETING: 6 pm September 10th, Commons Park Amphitheater. Topic, according to Jennifer Cobb – how to be a good neighbor(hood), by getting involved, pitching in, etc. Refreshments! RSVP via Facebook.

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Close call for West Seattle driver in hit-run crash tonight
August 25, 2009 9:23 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Luckily, nobody is hurt. But it was a close call for the driver of that car — she got sideswiped earlier this evening at California/Charlestown (map). WSB’er Diane called to let us know as others summoned police. The driver says she was heading north on California when a silver 4-door BMW, maybe a year or two old, sideswiped her while turning left onto eastbound Charlestown, from southbound California, before she was out of the intersection. Witnesses say the driver stopped briefly a half-block or so away, looked at his car – which would have front-end damage – then got back in and kept driving. The Seattle Municipal Code is very clear (as you can see here) about a driver’s duty to stop after a crash. 11:11 PM: Check the comments – where Larry says a similar-sounding car hit his in the same time frame.

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Multi-national ship delegation to pass West Seattle shores
August 25, 2009 8:33 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

The Russian Border Guard Vessel Vorovskiy is one of the ships you can expect to see off West Seattle shores tomorrow as Coast Guard ships from several Pacific Rim nations arrive for to continue the Pacific Unity exercise. According to a media advisory tonight from U.S. Coast Guard District 13, “Japan, Russia, Canada and the United States are sending vessels to take part” in the exercise, while “China and South Korea will be participating as observers. Specifically, the partner nations will be coordinating simulated search and rescue, aids to navigation, law enforcement and security operations during the three-day event.” Arrivals are expected on the downtown waterfront around 2:30 pm, so watch for them earlier in the afternoon; others heading this way include the Canadian Coast Guard Hovercraft Siyay, shown here in Coast Guard video from the Port Angeles area, where the exercise also has been under way:

The USCG has lots more info online, including links to other video clips, reachable from this special page.

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West Seattle business notes: Brickyard; Cherry; A Child Becomes
August 25, 2009 6:15 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

BRICKYARD BBQ: Word was forwarded to us that the new barbecue joint at 2310 California SW (map) will open Friday instead of tomorrow, because of “late last-minute finishing touches.”

Meantime, a new business is open further south on California:

CHERRY CONSIGNMENT: Thanks to Jennifer for that photo and word that Cherry Consignment is open at 4142 California SW (map). The space was formerly home to Designer Labels; Cherry Consignment opened under brand-new ownership, and its website notes that the store is dealing in both women’s and men’s clothing, 11 am-6 pm Mondays-Saturdays. (Added 11:09 pm – a note from proprietor Nyla Bittermann with more info:)

We look forward to establishing ourselves as a Women’s/Men’s consignment store that caters to women and men of all shapes, sizes and lifestyles. We plan to provide those “hard to find items”: plus size, maternity and men’s business attire, in addition to women’s clothing.

We are SO excited to be new business owners in West Seattle. My husband grew up in WS, I have been here almost 20 years and we are raising 3 kids in this amazing community we call home!

We are currently in transformation with a new name, new signs, website in the works and a coat of fresh paint. In our two weeks of business we have met wonderful people who have welcomed us with open arms and we look forward to getting to know even more of our WS neighbors.

She says a grand-opening event is planned for September 1st (next Monday).

A CHILD BECOMES : Teaching assistant Hope from A Child Becomes Preschool e-mailed to share the news that the school has moved – it’s now based at Admiral Church (California and Hill; map) – and has opened a new Pre-K class that still has openings, Tues/Thurs/Fri, 11:45-2:45.

New business? Moved? Expanded? Special event? Let us know (all our contact info’s here); businesses also are welcome to post sales/special deals in the WSB Forums’ Freebies, Deals, Sales section, and job openings in the West Seattle Jobs Offered section, both free.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 incidents along Fauntleroy Way
August 25, 2009 5:35 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Triangle | West Seattle news

One, a business break-in attempt – the other targeted a car (whose owner is puzzled why the thief/thieves took what they did) – read on for both reports (one includes a photo):Read More

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Port says “Nickelsville” encampment must go by end of September
August 25, 2009 2:04 pm
|      33 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Followup to last week’s update from a spokesperson for the homeless encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville”: The Port of Seattle has just published a statement saying it’s rejecting the encampment’s request for an “extended stay” at Terminal 107 Park in eastern West Seattle, and will post new trespassing notices this week, expecting the camp to clear out by the end of September. We’re checking with encampment organizers for their reaction/next steps; they moved to the site a month ago.

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Happening now: West Seattle photographer’s freebie for jobseekers
August 25, 2009 1:34 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
That’s West Seattle photographer Rasmus Rasmussen in the foreground, Kelly Cline in the background. They’re at C & P Coffee till 6 pm tonight, or till they’ve photographed 120 jobseekers taking advantage of the “free headshot” offer (announced two weeks ago). We just checked in with Kelly via Twitter and she says it’s been a “slow-but-steady trickle” since this began at 11 am; she adds, “Happy people and gracious hosts. Very awesome feel-good vibes all around.” 4:12 PM: Diane just called, saying she’s just back from the photo setup and they haven’t maxed out yet, so they’ll definitely be there till 6. 10:27 PM: Here’s tonight’s Channel 13 TV story on the event.

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Back-to-school concerns? Meet your school board rep tomorrow
August 25, 2009 12:01 pm
|    Comments Off on Back-to-school concerns? Meet your school board rep tomorrow
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Seattle Public Schools are back in session two weeks from tomorrow, and if you’ve got concerns/issues to discuss with your School Board rep, Steve Sundquist has issued an open invitation to his next coffee chat, 9 am tomorrow at Uptown Espresso in The Junction (California/Edmunds/Erskine). From the announcement:

This is an opportunity to share what’s happening in education here in West Seattle, with students from West Seattle and across the district. I hope you can join me, and spread the word with the people in your community. If you cannot make it, feel free as always to contact me with your concerns at (206) 252-0040 or steve.sundquist@seattleschools.org

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Delridge Skatepark construction funding takes another turn
August 25, 2009 10:12 am
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Funding for the future Delridge Skatepark has taken as many twists and turns as a virtuoso performance by one of the talented skaters who will use it someday. First it was going to be in this year’s city budget – then that changed at the last minute. Then, half a million dollars was found after bids on other work – including Hiawatha Playfield renovations – came in much lower than planned, and another $250,000 was moved from what once was to be a “skate spot” at the future Myrtle Reservoir park (which is currently behind schedule for non-Parks reasons). Now, we have news from last night’s Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee meeting that the funding situation has taken another turn: Committee member (and Pigeon Point resident) Pete Spalding tells WSB:

The monies that the Parks Department had originally earmarked for this project vanished last month. This was once again attributed to the ongoing financial issues the City of Seattle is facing. The folks at Parks are committed to trying to make sure that the Delridge skatepark gets built. At last night’s Parks & Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee meeting a proposal was brought forward to use 500k in surplus Opportunity Fund dollars from the Pro Parks levy to fund this portion of the Delridge skatepark. There was lots of discussion of the pros and cons of making this transfer but eventually a motion was made and after more discussion the motion did pass. Now this has to be turned in to legislation that will go to the City Council for approval later this year. The folks in our community that support this project need to send e-mails, write letters and/or make telephone calls to all 9 of our City Council members encouraging them to support this legislation when it comes before them for a vote.

(Pro Parks is the levy that preceded Parks and Green Spaces.) We have messages out to other city sources to get more details on this situation, and will add that information as we get it. Meantime, here’s the contact information for City Councilmembers – West Seattle-residing Tom Rasmussen chairs the Parks Committee but since all members are elected “at large,” no one represents this area in particular, and it’s vital to express your opinion to all of them. 1:52 PM UPDATE: A bit more information: According to Parks spokesperson Dewey Potter, the $500,000 “vanished” because the city Finance Department said no to moving it to the Delridge Skatepark budget. (We’re still looking for the reason WHY the Finance Department said no; meantime, note that this was NOT money that the Levy Committee had a say over, in the first place – it didn’t come from the levy; it came from other projects, including Hiawatha, that came in with under-budget bids. Potter says last night’s committee vote to use remaining Pro Parks Opportunity Fund money “makes the budget whole” and faces the following Council action: “This money will be included in the 4th quarter supplemental budget legislation and adopted with the budget in November.” Meantime, the council Parks Committee will vote next month on the $250,000 move – so if you’re contacting councilmembers with an opinion, you’ll want to let them know what you think about that too, since it’s not a done deal yet.

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Neighborhood-plan survey: More than 1000 from West Seattle!
August 25, 2009 8:12 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

After extending the deadline for the once-in-a-decade survey to help update neighborhood plans around the city, the Seattle Planning Commission has posted that final tally of how many surveys it received per neighborhood. Yes, technically, Ballard/Crown Hill finished first, BUT as noted before, that area has just one plan, while West Seattle is broken into five neighborhood-plan areas, so if you add them up — Admiral, Delridge, Highland Park/Westwood, Morgan Junction, West Seattle Junction — the peninsula finished first, with 1,076 total. Watch for word of followups this fall, including meetings to discuss how the survey information (and input from last month’s meeting at Youngstown Arts Center) will be used to update those plans. Never seen your (or the nearest) neighborhood plan? You can find the plans for those five areas — developed a decade ago — in the right sidebar here.

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2 Tuesday reminders: Free head shots; African Children’s Choir
August 24, 2009 11:57 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

FREE HEAD SHOTS: We brought you first word two weeks ago of West Seattle photographer Rasmus Rasmussen‘s idea to help local jobseekers, and it’s since gotten attention from a couple of citywide media outlets, so it might be a hot ticket: 11 am tomorrow (Tuesday), first-come first-served, free head shots for jobseekers, C and P Coffee (5612 California SW; map). Here’s his own original post about it, and his followup about the publicity. (Early Tuesday update: Rasmus just announced via Twitter he’ll photograph up to 120 people, up from 100.)

FREE CONCERT: It’s been almost a month since we got the news that West Seattle Christian Church would play host to the African Children’s Choir for a free concert (donations accepted) – and now it’s almost here – Tuesday, 7 pm, in the WSCC activity center (east side of 42nd, south of Genesee; map). Here’s our original preview, including a clip of the world-renowned group.

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Door-to-door alert: Be careful who you let into your building
August 24, 2009 10:52 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Door-to-door alert | West Seattle news

As a side note to the recent West Seattle door-to-door alerts regarding magazine sellers who may or may not be legit, Ann shares a warning about solicitors in what are supposed to be secure buildings – read on:Read More

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