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Another “Nickelsville” showdown ahead? No new extension
July 17, 2009 4:18 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(mid-June photo by Revel Smith)
We sent a note this morning to Revel Smith, asking for an update on the homeless encampment in eastern West Seattle that calls itself “Nickelsville” – since the last update two weeks ago had said their latest extension for staying at the state-owned 2nd SW/Highland Park Way site was only through this Monday. Smith has just sent out a news release saying there’s been no new extension:

Nickelsville’s State-granted 2-week extension to stay at the West Seattle site ends Monday 7/20/09. With understanding from the State of their dilemma, they’ve been able to continue their aggressive search for a place to relocate. Conversations continue as Michael Ramos of The Church Council of Greater Seattle and Rev. Paul Benz, Director of the Lutheran Public Policy Office, and others participate in the search for a new place for Nickelsville. However, nothing certain has been confirmed in this short time.

Nickelsville hopes The Governor and the State of Washington will extend the deadline beyond 2 weeks for this search. In absence of a permanent place to relocate to, they are committed staying at the West Seattle Site.

Nickelsville is calling on the help of friends and supporters to stand with them through the deadline. They ask everyone also contact the Governor’s office at (360) 902-4111 or e-mail: govcommoffice@gov.wa.gov

The encampment returned to West Seattle six weeks ago, moving onto a site (map) just a stone’s throw from the one they briefly occupied last fall.

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It’s done! Delridge Playground-building report #2
July 17, 2009 2:00 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

After less than five hours of work, involving more than 200 volunteers, after months of preparation, Delridge Community Center‘s brand-new playground is done! The closing ceremony for the day is moments away. More to come; our earlier coverage is here. (But remember, the playground isn’t immediately usable – its official opening will be next Thursday night, but we’ll be asking whether it’ll be put into unofficial use sooner.) ADDED 3:10 PM: Answer to that is “no,” so far. Meantime, the best shot at day’s end:

We asked the folks from North Delridge – the ones who’d been pursuing a better playground in other ways before this opportunity presented itself, the ones who keep working to improve their neighborhood bit by bit – to stop for a second and pose for a group photo. (After which, we hope they have all gone home for a big glass of ice water, or something.) Here, meantime, is a different angle on the brand-new playground they and other West Seattle families will be enjoying in a few days:

Yet more visuals from the day to be added later, including the big group shot of all the volunteers, and video of the ribbon-cutting, which actually involved some of the kids tearing up a paper chain! 3:43 PM: But first – the DJ, who kept high-energy music going and got a big shout-out at the end (and the loudest applause):

And the guy who led Team Elmo – couldn’t resist a closer look.

We were curious about exactly how KaBOOM! works, so we looked online for a third-party analysis. Found this, just in case you were curious too.

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Congratulations to the new West Seattle Hi-Yu Junior Court!
July 17, 2009 1:56 pm
|    Comments Off on Congratulations to the new West Seattle Hi-Yu Junior Court!
 |   West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

At Hiawatha within the past hour, the new West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival Junior Court was coronated — they’re seen here with their predecessors — with flowers, left to right (second, fourth, and sixth from left in the photo), 9-year-old Princess Isabella Carufel, 9-year-old Queen Kailin Jo Alexander Spencer, and 10-year-old Princess Kaitlin Morgan. We’ll add more info about them and a few more photos in a bit. Look for them at tomorrow’s West Seattle Grand Parade, and at the Hi-Yu Community Breakfast at the American Legion Hall on Sunday, as well as the Senior Court Coronation on Monday night at West Seattle High School. ADDED 4:05 PM: Another photo — the entire lineup of the previous Junior Court and all eight of this year’s candidates:

Forgive us for not having our left-to-right ID correct but we do want to give them all a shoutout: In addition to the newly crowned Junior Queen and Princesses, the candidates also included, in alphabetical order, Sadie Botuchis, Tess Carden, Jaeley Helmstetler, Caroline Rouse and Lindy Tongol. And of course a big congrats for a big year of excitement, to outgoing Junior Queen Zoe Mahn and Princesses Anna Fuller and Elyse Mitchell, and to Diane Szender, who coordinated the Junior Court process (and reminded everyone that next year’s applications will be out in May 2010, at the Hi-Yu website and here at WSB – thanks for the shoutout!).

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Can you play host to a visiting teacher?
July 17, 2009 12:45 pm
|    Comments Off on Can you play host to a visiting teacher?
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

From the principals of Chief Sealth High School and Denny Middle School – they’re looking for a West Seattle-area family who can host the Chinese Guest Teacher who’ll be working at both schools this fall:

This is a great opportunity to learn about Chinese culture and pick up some Mandarin Chinese, while doing a great service for our schools. Hosting the Guest Teacher is much like hosting an exchange student, families are responsible for providing the teachers with a room of their own, including the teachers in family meals, and providing them access to things like a washer and dryer. The teacher will receive a modest salary through the Chinese Ministry of Education, and will be provided a car from the schools as transportation.

This year, our Guest Teacher is Mr. Yang Dawei. He will be arriving in early August. If you are interested in serving as a host family, or know of someone in West Seattle who would be interested, please have them contact the Chief Sealth Main Office at 252-8850.

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West Seattle Grand Parade tomorrow: The route & road closures
July 17, 2009 12:07 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news


View Larger Map

That’s our very simple Google Map showing (top) where the American Legion-presented West Seattle Grand Parade starts tomorrow at 11, (center) where the Rotary Club-presented West Seattle Kiddies’ Parade starts tomorrow at 10:30, and finally, where both end (California/Edmunds). Note that the streets (which are already posted for “no parking”) close around 9 am, according to police – and there are restrictions on a few side streets too, particularly 44th near the start and end of the route, and Lander on both sides of the route because of staging (as we showed last year, which was our first time ever walking in the parade – we’ll be doing that again tomorrow, in celebration of West Seattle volunteers, and some of the newly announced West Seattle Volunteer Recognition honorees have promised to join us) – here’s a staging photo from last year:

preparadedownlander.jpg

Also in the parade tomorrow, almost 80 entries, including three marching bands (Seattle All-City Band, led by Denny Middle School music director Marcus Pimpleton; Kennedy High School; Sumner High School), two motorcycle drill teams (Seattle PD and Vancouver, B.C., PD), more than a dozen drill teams and cheer squads, plus four good old-fashioned floats (including West Seattle Hi-Yu), and as we reported Tuesday morning, JP Patches is back! Other parade favorites on the list include Art and Gloria, “still married” (2008 photo):

artandgloria.jpg

If you want to get a taste of the past few years’ parades, here’s our archived coverage, newest to oldest.

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Followup: Latest on the Myrtle (and Beacon) reservoir problems
July 17, 2009 10:33 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

When we broke the story on Monday night of hundreds of leaks requiring the waterproofing membranes to be dug up, removed and reinstalled at Myrtle Reservoir in West Seattle and Beacon Hill Reservoir, our story was cited and linked to by more than half a dozen citywide media sources, including SeattleTimes.com (almost 4,000 people clicked from there to come see the story here). Now today, three days later, the Times has done its own followup, also appearing in the print edition – which (thank you!) again credits WSB for breaking the story – read the new Times story here. The reporter, Susan Kelleher, is the same one who just last weekend broke the story of SDOT do-overs (including ramps along Fauntleroy Way) – she also was unable, however, as were we, to pin anybody down on specifics of cost/blame re: the reservoir membranes – but SPU has promised some cost information next week, so we’ll bring that to you as soon as it’s available. Meantime, we had asked SPU’s Andy Ryan some other followup questions — read on for the answers:Read More

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“It’s really happening!” Building Delridge Playground, report #1
July 17, 2009 9:18 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

At the center of that photo, joining a quick pre-construction stretch with 200+ other volunteers, is Betsy Hoffmeister, co-vice-chair of the North Delridge Neighborhood Council. About 15 minutes earlier, when we first saw her here at Delridge Community Center (where we’ll be on site much of the day), she shouted, “It’s really happening!” Before the playground-in-a-day volunteer project that has just kicked off here, she spent many months working through the difficult process of trying to get playground improvements at another Delridge park not far from here. Then came the KaBOOM’s offer to redo the community center’s dilapidated playground, and Betsy and other members of the North Delridge Neighborhood Council threw themselves into organizing what it took to make this work.

What it’s taking for one is volunteers – Mayor Nickels, seen here between two of those volunteers, told the crowd during the kickoff ceremony that he’ll announce later this month that his stated goal of 10,000 new Seattle volunteers this year has been met. (Also at the kickoff ceremony, city Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher, as we noted with photo links and short updates via Twitter.) And it’s taking donated materials – which are coming from a variety of sponsors, particularly the Bank of America Charitable Foundation (this is the 5th of KaBOOM’s 1,651 playground projects that it’s funded) – we passed the shovel/rake station as we arrived at the site:

Right now, the volunteers have broken into small groups, each with a KaBOOM leader and a mascot/symbol, from Hello Kitty to Elmo to, in this group’s case, the American flag:

Theyre engaging in all sorts of assembly and carpentry tasks, spread all over the parkland around the community center, before, sometime in the next six hours or so, everything moves to the site itself:

More photos shortly – we’ll post several updates during the day, and we’ll add a few video clips from the opening ceremony, too. 10:12 AM UPDATE: The small group work continues – with an energizing soundtrack :

The work zone is for ages 18 and up only, but there’s child care on the nearby tennis courts – and all the kids there have been issued their own little hard hats:

The groups will be taking lunch breaks in staggered shifts starting around 11:30. Part of the playground site itself is already starting to take shape! 11:07 AM UPDATE: Some more pix. First, the playground!

Second, pieces of the playground as they were moved into place:

Third, we haven’t mentioned that some other work is being done here today for the community center – like new cubbies:

They’ve also just put a call out around the site for people who write “languages other than Spanish, French and English” to go write messages of peace on a section that’s under construction. Anyway, we’re leaving the site for a while to go cover the Hi-Yu Junior Court Coronation and Hiawatha Fun Festival (it’s almost lunchtime for the volunteers, anyway) but will be back here in early afternoon for a new round of progress reports on Delridge’s new playground (which will officially open with a ceremony next Thursday night).

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Alki Community Council: Guns in parks, plus: Paper or pixels?
July 17, 2009 7:41 am
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

From last night’s Alki Community Council meeting (held at Alki UCC because the Alki Community Center‘s closed till July 25th):

PARK GUN BAN? The ACC has sent city leaders a letter urging support for a ban on guns in parks. Even if it’s not the city’s jurisdiction – if that would have to go through the state Legislature, as was suggested after the mayor proposed such a ban last year – ACC’s Paul Carr says they hope the city would lobby strongly for a guns-in-parks ban. The ACC’s support for this is a result of discussions that followed the May 1st Alki shooting (photo at left). Carr stresses that this is not a challenge to individual gun-ownership rights – but if firearms can be off-limits in a particularly vulnerable public place like a school, he asks, why not parks?

Ahead: Paper or pixels? And politics … Read More

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Happening today: Playground, “citations,” Fun Fest, coronation …
July 17, 2009 6:48 am
|    Comments Off on Happening today: Playground, “citations,” Fun Fest, coronation …
 |   Safety | West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

DELRIDGE PLAYGROUND-BUILDING DAY: As previewed here last night. It’s been less than four months since first word that a new playground at Delridge Community Center could happen largely thanks to donated materials, time and labor, and today’s the day, with hundreds of volunteers on site.

“SAFETY CITATIONS”: 10-11 am, firefighters from Engine 29 will be on Alki looking for kids wearing their helmets properly – and they’ll get “safety citations” good for free Subway sandwiches!

HIAWATHA FUN FEST: Noon-3 today at Hiawatha Community Center – games, activities, prizes.

WEST SEATTLE HI-YU JUNIOR COURT CORONATION: During the Fun Fest, starting around 12:45 pm, the new Hi-Yu Junior Court will be announced and coronated (look for the stage on the east lawn @ Hiawatha).

FREE GUIDED ECO-HIKE: Once a month, the West Seattle-based Nature Consortium< offers a free guided hike through the West Duwamish Greenbelt, where it works on forest restoration, and today’s the day – 1 pm, meet at trailhead at 14th SW/SW Holly (here’s a map; RSVP if you can to lisa@naturec.org).

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Mediterranean Fantasy Festival, this weekend!
July 17, 2009 1:24 am
|    Comments Off on Mediterranean Fantasy Festival, this weekend!
 |   Announcements

More details on the festival that’ll be happening at Hiawatha on Saturday and Sunday:

The Mediterranean Fantasy Festival, July 18 & 19, 2009, happens at Hiawatha
Community Center, 2700 California Ave SW.

The Mediterranean Fantasy Festival features belly dancing and other dances from the
Mediterranean Area.

2009 is the 22nd annual Med Fest.

The festival runs two days, Saturday and Sunday, and has non-stop dancing on two
(indoor and outdoor) stages. Saturday from 11:00 to 9:00(ish) and Sunday 11:00 to
7:00(ish).

There are workshops in conjunction with the festival; Friday evening, Saturday
morning and Sunday morning. This year featuring the fabulous, world renowned Aziza.
Aziza will perform Saturday, just about 3 pm, on the outdoor stage.

There are also lots of vendors, selling a wide variety of belly dance related items,
henna artists and Middle Eastern food. Tons of glitz and glam and sparkle.

Med Fest is family friendly entertainment, with lots to see and shop. There’s even a
wading pool for the little ones (and sometimes big toes too).

The festival is FREE to attend. Co-sponsored by the Babylonian Ensemble and the
Hiawatha Advisory Council. Funds collected go to the park and city, and help sponsor
kids events.

For more information, visit www.babylonianensemble.com

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Curious Kidstuff class schedule
July 17, 2009 1:18 am
|    Comments Off on Curious Kidstuff class schedule
 |   Announcements

Just announced:

Curious KidStuff Toy Store is offering Kids Art classes in the upstairs ART STUDIO now through end of August.

More Classes in the Fall!

Toddlers Age 1 1/2-2 1/2 with parents
$15/hr
Monday 10-11 am
Thursday 9:30-10:30 am
Thursday 4:30-5:30

Age 3-6
$15/hr
Monday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday, or Friday 10-11 am
Thursday 11-12 noon,
Thursday 4:30-5:30

Age 7-10
$35/ 2 hrs
Tuesday or Thursday 2- 4 pm

Call or drop by the store to register a week in advance!
206-937-8788
4740 California Ave. SW
West Seattle WA 98116

Class Schedule changes in the Fall for back to School!

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Hope Lutheran Vacation Bible School “camp” starts Monday, July 20
July 16, 2009 11:59 pm
|    Comments Off on Hope Lutheran Vacation Bible School “camp” starts Monday, July 20
 |   Announcements

Here’s the announcement from Hope Lutheran:

Hope Lutheran Church invites all children, ages PK-4 through grade 5, to join us at Son Rock Kids Camp Vacation Bible School, daily July 20-24, from 9am – 12 noon.

“We’re ready for a VBS your children will never forget!” said camp Director, Leighellen Landskov, of Hope Lutheran Church. “At Son Rock Kids Camp, your kids will experience an adventure camp like no other! Children will have a great time singing songs, watching skits, creating crafts, and playing games. Most importantly, they will learn how their lives can be transformed by God’s great love for them.” “We’re looking forward to sharing this exciting event with the children and parents in our neighborhood. We hope they will join us at Son Rock Kids Camp!”

Son Rock Kids Camp VBS begins Monday, July 20, at 9am and continues daily through Friday, July 24th. Hope Lutheran Church is located one block East of the West Seattle Junction on the corner of Oregon and 42nd Ave. The church address is 4456 42nd Ave. SW. You may pre-register by calling the church office at 206-937-9330 or by e-mailing the church at church@hopeseattle.org. Registration begins Monday, July 20 at 8:30am and costs only $5! Plan on arriving early as we will be packed! All children must be potty trained as we don’t have adequate staffing or facilities to meet the needs of children in diapers. Please disclose any allergies your child may have on the forms you fill out during registration.

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Election 2009 close-up coverage kickoff: Robert Rosencrantz
July 16, 2009 11:49 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

checkbox.jpgThough the primary election is officially one month from Saturday, voting begins in as little as two weeks – it’s an all-mail election, and ballots go out on July 30th. Starting tonight, WSB takes a closeup look at the Seattle City Council races and how several key West Seattle issues figure into them. Veteran journalist Kathy Mulady sets the stage, right before her first candidate report:

Two of Seattle’s longest-serving city councilmembers are giving up their seats. Jan Drago is running for mayor, and Richard McIver is retiring. The vacancies have opened up crowded contests, with 11 candidates running for the two seats.

Two other seats are also up for election, those held by Council President Richard Conlin and Councilmember Nick Licata. Both men are fighting to keep their positions.

In all, you will see 14 city council candidates on the primary ballot (with only one challenger, Conlin advances automatically to the November general election). In the days/weeks ahead, we’ll try to help you make a little sense of it all, at least in regard to West Seattle issues – like growth, and the economy.

–How do we preserve the hometown feel of West Seattle, and still bring new jobs here so people don’t have to commute?

–With more people comes more traffic – just as plans are laid to tear down the Alaskan Way Viaduct and replace it with a deep-bored tunnel. Should West Seattle have better bus service, or even a streetcar line like South Lake Union?

–And there are still lingering questions about plans for a new jail – does the city really need its own jail, and where would it be built? West Seattle is still officially a possible site – should it be?

We asked the candidates those questions and more. Check back here during the coming days to see what they say and ask your own questions. We have asked candidates to watch WSB and respond to questions asked by readers when they have a chance.

SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, POSITION 8: ROBERT ROSENCRANTZ

By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Robert Rosencrantz has a theory about giving up – “don’t.” He also knows hard work pays off, and that the easy way often isn’t the best way. With those life lessons well ensconced, Rosencrantz, a 53-year-old Montlake resident, is making his third run for a Seattle City Council< seat.

Although his early life was spent on crutches, Rosencrantz went on to become a race-walker and runner. While in high school, he started sweeping and doing minor maintenance at an apartment building to save money for college. Now Rosencrantz owns four apartment buildings with his wife.

Read More

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Video: 3 concerts in 1 at tonight’s Westsidewalk in Fauntleroy
July 16, 2009 10:27 pm
|    Comments Off on Video: 3 concerts in 1 at tonight’s Westsidewalk in Fauntleroy
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle video | WS culture/arts

(video unavailable due to blip.tv shutdown)

Rev. Pat Wright and the Total Experience Gospel Choir – which practices at West Seattle’s Kenyon Hall — co-headlined tonight’s first-ever Westsidewalk three-act concert: At three venues in Fauntleroy Church and the old Fauntleroy Schoolhouse across the street, each group played half-hour sets simultaneously – punctuated by breaks so audience members could rotate to the next group/venue. While Total Experience played inside the church sanctuary, the Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band performed outdoors:

(video unavailable due to blip.tv shutdown)

And Sambatuque‘s sleek samba jazzed up The Hall at Fauntleroy:

(video unavailable due to blip.tv shutdown)

Tonight’s proceeds benefit Seattle Artists, which operates Kenyon Hall and its programs (including Kindermusik with Lou Magor). Lots more summer music ahead – in addition to live indoor shows like those at Skylark Cafe and Club (WSB sponsor) Thursdays-Sundays (schedule here), two outdoor series are still to come: the Admiral Neighborhood Association’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha (co-sponsored by WSB) start Thursday night with Alma Villegas (full series details here), and Providence Mount St. Vincent will present its Friday night concert series starting August 7.

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West Seattle scenes: Mater Matrix Mother & Medium @ Camp Long
July 16, 2009 8:17 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | WS culture/arts

Chas Redmond shared that photo from Camp Long, where it was a beautiful night to sit in the forest and enjoy the Mater Matrix Mother and Medium performance. We also received this photo from Sharonn Meeks, who estimated about 200 were on hand and shows us a closer look:

Tonight’s performance is over, but artist Mandy Greer‘s crocheted river, part of the Water Calling “temporary public art” series, is scheduled to remain in the forest through the end of this month.

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Hours till Delridge Community Center Playground construction!
July 16, 2009 6:39 pm
|    Comments Off on Hours till Delridge Community Center Playground construction!
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

This afternoon, it was just piles of wood chips and a cleared, fenced site – by early tomorrow morning, it will be abuzz with hundreds of volunteers building the new playground for Delridge Community Center, and Holli Margell has sent an update with some things you might want/need to know:

Traffic Alert – With Build Day happening this Friday, we are expecting over 250 people to arrive at the Delridge Community Center by 8am. As a result, we have strongly encouraged all volunteers to arrive by bus, bicycle, skate board, foot or through carpooling. However, we realize not everyone can do so resulting in additional traffic during the morning commute along SW Genesee Street and Delridge Way S.W.

Once the playground is built, it needs to sit untouched while the cement dries. Please don’t be disappointed if you go to the Delridge Community Center and can’t play on the playground this weekend. This is for your safety.

Everyone is invited to help us celebrate this momentous community project!

What: Delridge Playground Grand Opening
When: July 23, 6:30 pm
Where: The Delridge Community Center Playground, of course!
4501 Delridge Way S.W.
We will enjoy light refreshments and live music while the children play!

And in a comment on an earlier report, Betsy Hoffmeister adds:

It’s not too late to have your name or business recognized on the playground wall! Cash donations are still being accepted and will be on the day of; also, donations of food and beverages for the grand opening are enthusiastically welcomed — we will have a grand opening at 6:30 pm on July 23 where we will be serving, at very least, 200 cupcakes donated by Coffee to a Tea With Sugar. If you want your name up on the playground wall, contact us to donate! helpdelridgeplay@gmail.com Thanks neighbors!!

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Another bank robber caught on cam: Friday’s Westwood holdup
July 16, 2009 6:04 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

In addition to the photo we shared earlier this afternoon showing the man who’s believed to have robbed both the U.S. Bank branch in The Junction yesterday and a Maple Valley bank five days earlier, we also now have a photo from last Friday’s holdup at the Alaska USA branch in Westwood Village QFC. The FBI acknowledges it’s not that clear, but it’s all they have. No additional description, just the photo. Same advice if you see this one – call 911.

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New start date for 16th SW work: Week of July 27th
July 16, 2009 5:43 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Puget Ridge | Transportation | West Seattle news

Last week, the city said it expected the 16th SW paving work to start “the week of July 20th”; now SDOT has sent an update saying the road closure (and detour shown above) will kick in a week later than that. Read on for the latest advisory:Read More

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Psssst, don’t tell the kids: Sandwich surprise tomorrow at Alki
July 16, 2009 5:35 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

Here’s hoping they don’t need the incentive to wear their helmets properly anyway – but just in case a little encouragement helps, the Seattle Fire Department says West Seattle’s own Engine 29 will be out on Alki between 10 and 11 am tomorrow, “handing out Safety Citations to children who are properly wearing their helmets. The program will continue through the summer at Fire Stations throughout the City. Each citation entitles the child to a free child-size sandwich at participating Subway locations. The goal of the program is to reduce the incidence of childhood head injuries.” Engine 29 is also scheduled to be in the West Seattle Grand Parade on Saturday.

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SoundYoga has 10 slots open for certified teacher training
July 16, 2009 4:08 pm
|    Comments Off on SoundYoga has 10 slots open for certified teacher training
 |   Announcements

Just in from SoundYoga (WSB sponsor):

West Seattle’s own SoundYoga is now accepting applications for its Certified 500-hour Teacher Training program.

SoundYoga’s Chris Dormaier limits the class to only ten students. “The small class means that each student can benefit from the rich learning environment that we create and the personal attention of a mentor,” said Chris. “Our program is also special because our students learn not only to teach beginning yoga to groups but to individuals as well.”

The teacher training course includes:
• History and philosophy of yoga
• Anatomy and physiology
• Asana
• Pranayama
• Ayurveda
• Meditation, mantra and chanting
• Course planning
• Teaching methods for groups and individuals

The training fulfills all the requirements for Krishnamacharya Healing Yoga Foundation (KHYF) Teacher Certification and is the only teacher training course in Seattle registered with the KHYF.

“Some students participate to deepen their understanding of yoga for their own practice,” said Chris, “and others enroll because they see teaching yoga as their path in life.”

The course is presented by Christine Dormaier, M.S., CYT, ERYT 500, the director of SoundYoga and a certified Krishnamacharya Healing Yoga Foundation (KHYF) Teacher Trainer. Guest teachers for special sessions are Sonia Nelson, a KHYF Certified Teacher Trainer; and Julie James, LMP, Yoga Teacher and Ayurvedic Practitioner.

Information about SoundYoga’s Teacher Training course is available at www.soundyoga.com or by calling Chris at 206-938-8195. SoundYoga is located at 5639 California Avenue, Seattle, WA 98136.

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“Dreadlocked” West Seattle bank robber now linked to 2 heists
July 16, 2009 3:40 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

In the comments after our report on yesterday morning’s robbery at the U.S. Bank branch in The Junction, some wondered if the dreadlocked bandit who struck in Maple Valley July 10th was the same dreadlocked bandit who got away here. The King County Sheriff’s Office now says yes, it’s believed to be the same guy. Sgt. John Urquhart from KCSO says, “The robber in both stick-ups was wearing a multi-colored hat with fake dreadlocks. In the Maple Valley robbery the man handed the teller a note which said ‘Give me all the money’ and mentioned something about a gun. No gun was seen, however. He was given the cash and left the area on foot.” The photo above is from the Maple Valley heist; we’ve asked the FBI for any photos available from the one here, but so far none have been provided. If you think you’ve seen this man, call 911.

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Higher electricity rates? Councilmember Harrell’s take
July 16, 2009 3:34 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Once a month, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is hosting small brown-bag gatherings that president/CEO Patti Mullen has dubbed “Lunch with LEOs” – local elected officials. We’ve made it to all three, and today, the guest was City Councilmember Bruce Harrell, who heads up the council’s Energy and Technology Committee. The roundtable chat with seven of us representing local businesses/organizations covered a wide range of topics; of most interest – will Seattle City Light rates go up? Harrell stressed that SCL is technically a distinct entity but that he hasn’t seen any “data” regarding alleged money woes, which he says include “leaked” suggestions they might seek a rate increase of 20 percent next year. He says, “There might be a rate increase of some sort, but nothing close to that,” promising to closely scrutinize any such request, and the utility’s operations. He also discussed the city’s just-submitted application to get federal funding to put City Light on a “smart grid” – they’re hoping for up to $100 million of the $200 million he says it would cost to install technology that would enable more efficient management both at the operations level and at the individual customer level. Harrell says it would also assist in outages, potentially rerouting power around a trouble spot. That was good news to Marcia Chittenden, operator of the Chittenden House B&B, who told the story of how her business was without power for a week and a half after the December 2006 windstorm. According to Harrell, the “smart grid” money is being sought from a “stimulus” fund administered by the U.S. Energy Department and a decision on the grant should be in by October. Other projects Harrell says are on the drawing board include pursuing subsidized broadband for some low-income residents. Participating in the gathering as well as covering it, we put in a pitch when it was time to go around the table: Since his committee oversees technology as well as energy, we asked to have Seattle Police crime information available online, in something closer to real time – right now, the primary way reports are distributed to the media involves turning them into PDFs, copying them onto CDs and distributing them to precincts for reporters to peruse.

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8 gardens, raffles, Ciscoe: West Seattle Garden Tour this Sunday
July 16, 2009 2:47 pm
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 |   Fun stuff to do | Gardening | West Seattle news

We’ve talked a lot about the West Seattle Grand Parade at midday Saturday, the first Outdoor Movie on the Wall Saturday night, and other big events in West Seattle this weekend – but before your plans are set in stone, a shoutout for one more major event: The 15th annual West Seattle Garden Tour is this Sunday – and since it’s self-guided, 9 am-5 pm, you can tour at your leisure. We got a sneak peek at one of the 8 featured gardens a few days ago, the Hailey Family Garden in Admiral (see it here on the WSGT website). Above, a photo of just one tiny corner, showing one of the ways small and large in which color are texture is wound throughout this garden – with open sunny “grassland” out front, and a shady refuge (including beautiful birches) in back. In addition to the Haileys, the team that created this garden – wrapping around a classic, remodeled Admiral home — includes designer Shon Robinson, who was there to do a bit of tidying when we stopped by:

Every stop on the Garden Tour will feature something special. Along with the 8 tour stops, your West Seattle Garden Tour ticket includes admission to Northwest gardening legend Ciscoe Morris‘s lecture at noon at The Kenney, and a chance at winning raffle prizes including a bench donated by Capers (one of the places where tickets are still available) and a stone bench that you’ll see on display at the aforementioned Hailey Family Garden, plus many other items listed here – including, from WSB sponsor Endolyne Joe’s, a $100 gift certificate and $175 gift basket. Here’s where else to get tickets – including online at Brown Paper Tickets (which you in turn can exchange at two places Saturday or Sunday for ticket books).

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