Today/tonight: Chief Sealth’s big game, skatepark review, more …

March 4, 2010 7:38 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Highlights from the WSB Events calendar:

*11:30 am at Daystar Retirement Village, First Thursday Democrats feature a WWII-era singalong with local Rosie the Riveters and a WAVE (here’s our original announcement)
*1 pm at City Hall downtown (map), the Seattle Design Commission reviews the design for Delridge Skatepark, to be built this summer
*5:30-8 pm, the regular Thursday tastings at West Seattle Cellars include Latin American wines (details here)
*6:30 pm, a trip to the state tournament is on the line as Chief Sealth High School boys’ varsity basketball team faces Franklin at Bellevue College (map)
*7:30 pm at Town Hall downtown (map), the League of Women Voters of Seattle presents “Women and Climate Change: Connecting Around the World” – with co-sponsors including West Seattle-co-founded CoolMom.

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From Southwest District Council: Reminder – new Genesee group

March 3, 2010 10:33 pm

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| Genesee Hill | Southwest District Council | West Seattle news

First note from tonight’s Southwest District Council meeting – a reminder about something first announced at the group’s last meeting: We’re now less than two weeks away from the organizational/planning meeting of a neighborhood council for the Genesee area – which would cover much of the turf currently unrepresented between Alki/Admiral/The Junction. That meeting is still on for 7 pm March 16 at West Seattle PCC (WSB sponsor); SWDC co-chair Chas Redmond has put together a flyer that we’re expecting to get shortly – we’ll add it here (and to this meeting’s entry on the WSB Events calendar) when it arrives. 12:10 AM: Added the map he sent – and here’s the flyer.

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Coming to Admiral Theater: “Running the Sahara,” w/ special guest

March 3, 2010 8:15 pm

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| Admiral Theater | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

One week from tonight, there’s a special screening at West Seattle’s Admiral Theater: The documentary “Running the Sahara,” a documentary produced and narrated by actor Matt Damon, directed by Oscar winner James Moll. According to information shared by Dinah Brein McClellan from The Admiral, it’s about three ultra-marathoners’ bid to run the entire length of the Sahara Desert – 4,300 miles, six countries – 50 miles a day. One of the athletes, Charlie Engle, will be at The Admiral for audience Q/A right after the screening. It’s at 6:30 next Wednesday night (March 10), and tickets are available online for $25 – that’s $10 less than the price at the door – here’s where to buy them; the price also includes a DVD of the film.

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Site note: Sorry about the outage

March 3, 2010 7:42 pm

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| West Seattle online

Our server-management company had an outage that apparently affected more than just WSB. First long outage (about 45 minutes) in a very long time – nonetheless, we, and they, work hard to make sure this site is reliable, so we apologize for being unavailable. If you ever have trouble bringing the site up, we do note outages on our other channels – @westseattleblog on Twitter, WS Blog on Facebook – and we’d post breaking news there if necessary (as we do anyway).

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Video: Seattle firefighters train to be ready for quakes, attacks

March 3, 2010 4:41 pm

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| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle video

Story, video and photos by Christopher Boffoli
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

As powerful aftershocks rumbled through central Chile today, closer to home, Seattle firefighters scrambled over a twisted pile of steel reinforced concrete and mangled cars.

Throughout the month of March, SFD is doing structural collapse training at their Joint Training Facility on Myers Way on the southeastern edge of West Seattle, part of their annual rescue training aimed at providing every city firefighter with the necessary skills to deal with what they may someday have to do here in Seattle.

Dana Vander Houwen, Public Information Officer for the Seattle Fire Department, told me today that even though the SFD actually has an excellent specialized technical rescue team, if a catastrophic event were to occur in Seattle they “would not be able to be everywhere.” So by broadening the training for firefighters, the entire department will have essential rescue skills.

The rubble pile being used this month was designed by Seattle firefighters who have training in engineering a rescue environment. It is reasonably realistic but still is generally structurally sound and safe for firefighters to train in. Though Vander Houwen added that part of the training does involve having the firefighters assess for themselves the structural safety of the scene, adding bracing or support where necessary. Adult and child-sized dummies are placed strategically in the rubble:

During the training, firefighters also must make decisions about locating victims, prioritizing patients based on the severity of injuries and the complexity of extraction, and developing strategies to remove the victims in a way that is safe for rescuers. Throughout the process they will use an arsenal of rescue tools, including various saws, the jaws of life, rescue baskets, ropes, etc. Vander Houwen says that each year the training is varied. But the simulated earthquake theme this year seems particularly relevant after powerful earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, as well as this week’s anniversary of Seattle’s Nisqually earthquake. Vander Houwen says this particular training scenario “is a way for firefighters to get hands-on training for an earthquake scenario or terrorist attack.”

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Fire-gutted Alki home torn down, almost 2 years later

March 3, 2010 4:10 pm

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| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(July 2008 photo by David Hutchinson)
That was one of many photos we published the night of July 25, 2008, when flames engulfed a duplex on 56th SW, just off Alki Ave, sending up smoke that was seen for miles around and drew quite a crowd. What was left of the charred building has stood there ever since – till now:

According to city records, a permit was granted in January for “fire damage repair and addition … to existing duplex”; last month, the permit was amended to add “demolition of fire-damaged portions” of the duplex.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Car broken into, ransacked

March 3, 2010 3:35 pm

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| Arbor Heights | Crime | West Seattle news

From MCM :

Our car was broken into overnight last night while parked on our driveway in the Arbor Heights neighborhood, close to the intersection of 32nd Ave SW and 104th [map]. The contents of the glove box and console were tossed as well as all of our grocery bags in the back seat. Items taken included a GPS unit, various loose items and a bag of change. Made a police report first thing this morning. We have seen an increase in drug activity and petty theft on the block.

Police have said that GPS units are a target in particular – so if you have one, not only is it important to take it out of the car, but don’t even leave hints (like suction cup/s on the windshield) visible.

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Another update from Olympia: “Jason McKissack Act” to full Senate

March 3, 2010 1:26 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle police | West Seattle politics

The “Jason McKissack Act” is EHB 1679, the bill we’ve been following closely, to keep catastrophically injured public-safety personnel from losing health coverage because they can’t work, renamed in honor of the now-former SPD officer attacked in 2008 while on duty in West Seattle. The bill, which stalled in the Legislature last year, already has won full House approval and, after an outpouring of public support, made it out of Senate Ways and Means earlier this week – now, we just got word from law-enforcement advocate Renee Maher that the Senate Rules Committee has sent it on to the floor. Just last night, Jason’s wife Kim McKissack posted a public “thank you” as a comment on an earlier WSB story – read it here.

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Feedback Lounge is open and rockin’, even during sidewalk work

March 3, 2010 1:16 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | WS beverages

By the time the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) celebrates its 1st birthday next month, the sidewalk out front will be brand-new – the city says the work should be done by March 19; . In the meantime, the sidewalk repair/replacement work’s a little daunting to look at – this is the view out the front door (the city’s working to protect the street trees):

But Feedback proprietor Jeff Gilbert says they’re still open, regular hours, regular food and fun (as of a few months ago, they’ve been open for lunch, starting at 11 am, and their online calendar lists the weekly special features, like the now-famous Sunday Ribs) . You just need to go ’round back to get in, till the sidewalk’s done.

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Kiwanis Club of West Seattle honors police as “Everyday Heroes”

March 3, 2010 12:02 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle police

From left, that’s Southwest Precinct Captain Joe Kessler with Michael LaFranchi and West Niver from the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, as Kiwanians honored Capt. Kessler and his team as “Everyday Heroes.” The presentation at the precinct this past hour included not just a certificate, but also carrot cake – luckily things were fairly quiet, so some of the precinct leadership and officers were able to take a quick break for the occasion, right after second watch roll-call. (video added 12:35 pm)

Past Kiwanis honorees, as noted in the video, have included West Seattle’s firefighters; West Seattle Kiwanis meets three times a month at Be’s Restaurant in The Junction – 7 am breakfast meetings the 1st and 3rd Wednesday, noon the 2nd Wednesday – and presents special events, like the Charity Motorcycle Run and Car Show coming up May 15 – read all about it here.

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Next Clean and Green event in West Seattle set for March 27

March 3, 2010 10:01 am

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| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Photo from June 2009 Clean and Green event in West Seattle, preparing Genesee P-Patch)
Just got word from Stan Lock, the city’s Southwest District Coordinator for the Department of Neighborhoods, that a Clean and Green event is coming up March 27, 9 am, Fairmount Playground (map). Tree-planting and litter pickup are part of the plan, and the official city flyer says those who are already on board include Rotarians, Boy Scouts and city officials. The city brings the tools; refreshments are provided; just bring yourself, family, friends, neighbors to help “spruce up” the area. Need more info? Ron Harris-White (ron.harris-white@seattle.gov or 206-684-7389)

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Today/tonight: Police award; library future; SW District Council …

March 3, 2010 6:03 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Eric Bell from fridgefoto.biz)
From the WSB Events calendar: 11 am, join the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle at the Southwest Precinct as they present the Everyday Hero Award (explained here) to Captain Joe Kessler on behalf of all the SPD personnel who serve West Seattle. Carrot cake is promised too. … 4-6 pm at High Point Library, come join the conversation about the Seattle Public Library‘s future. Read more here … 7 pm, two events – West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen guests at the Southwest District Council’s monthly meeting (board room at South Seattle Community College), and our energy future is the focus of CoolMom‘s monthly meeting at C & P Coffee. … REMINDERS: Don Armeni Boat Ramp (including the parking lot) is scheduled to close this afternoon and stay closed for two days for paving work … Today’s an early-dismissal day for Seattle Public Schools.

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Your vote can help West Seattle contenders in Neuro Film Festival

March 3, 2010 2:44 am

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| Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle video

That short film – 7 minutes – is by two West Seattleites, Max Larkin and Emily Boardway, and if you can spare the time to watch and rate it, you could help them keep advancing the film’s mission: Telling the story of Young Onset Dementia. The short film, “The Music in Hugh: A Look at Young Onset Dementia,” shows Max taking care of – and sharing music and laughter with – his father, a practicing physician until stricken by YOD a few years ago at age 56. The film is entered in the 2010 Neuro Film Festival, launched by the American Academy of Neurology Foundation. If Max and Emily win, the prize will go toward their project Spoke Your Mind, not just raising awareness about Young Onset Dementia but also gathering support for the children of those with it. There are three prizes in the festival, including Fan Favorite, which is where your vote comes in – after you watch the video (or before), click through to its page on the YouTube site and rate it – you need a YouTube or Google log-in for that. The voting deadline is 3/17 (two weeks from today).

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New show at Twilight Artist Collective: “10 and Change”

March 3, 2010 12:58 am

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| Announcements

From Twilight, in The Junction:

SHOW: 10 and Change, curated by Kate Protage

WHERE: TwAC Gallery / WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION

WHEN: Opening Reception during the West Seattle Art Walk Thursday, March 11, from 6 to 9 PM

In a time when many people are scaling back on luxuries, how do we keep the momentum and interest in collecting art going? How about by making it so irresistible that it’s a necessity?

TwAC artist Kate Protage is on a mission: to give people more opportunities to collect art that speaks to them, that’s also affordable and accessible. She challenged ten notable Seattle artists to “think big by creating small.” How do their concepts and styles translate to a small-scale format? Join us in March and see.

10 and Change features a 10″ x 10″ piece plus other brand new work by:

Michelle Anderst
Sharon Arnold
James Caudle
RobRoy Chalmers
Chris Crites
Cristin Ford
Zanetka Gawronski
Ryan Molenkamp
Cheryl Robinson
Chris Sheridan

Show runs from Thursday, 3/07 to Monday, 4/05.

ABOUT TWILIGHT:

TWILIGHT ARTIST COLLECTIVE “TwAC” is an eclectic group of more than 60 contemporary artists, who are largely based in Seattle. We are focused on providing the venue for ourselves and others to share inspiration, expose people to original ideas through art, and build a sustainable artist community. We are committed to making art a part of our everyday lives, and strive to be the catalyst for a greater collection, exhibition and appreciation of fine art.

In addition to exhibiting throughout the region, the Twilight Artist Collective operates a brick and mortar store in the West Seattle Junction where we show and sell work from all the artists in the collective. The store offers fine art in a variety of mediums including: painting, photography, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, clothing and much more. Please visit www.twilightart.net or our store for more information about the collective, joining and our unique art from local artists.

Twilight in the Junction is located at: 4306 SW Alaska St. Seattle, WA. 98116

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Basketball tournament update: Chief Sealth beats Seattle Prep

March 2, 2010 8:52 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

From Chief Sealth High School (at Boren) – The Seahawks boys’ varsity team won tonight’s district-tournament game against Seattle Prep, 57-50. They play again Thursday – if we’re reading the chart correctly, the opponent will be Franklin. .

9:36 PM UPDATE: Confirmed – Sealth plays Franklin at Bellevue College, 6:30 pm Thursday. Winner goes to the state tournament.

ADDED 10 PM: Here’s our video of how the game ended – listen for the countdown:

Our summary: Most of the elements that had been missing from Sealth’s last two games managed to make a return tonight as the Seahawks beat Seattle Prep 57-50 to move on to play in the next round of the Sea-King 3A District Tournament. The game was a tight one, tied at halftime. Sealth only pulled away from Prep in the fourth quarter by controlling the rebounding. Big games for Sealth: Keon Lewis with 18 points, repeatedly powering his way through Prep’s defense under the basket; Tomas Ogbaslassie with 15 points, including a couple of 3-pointers and a perfect night at the free-throw line. Side note: Congratulations to Sealth coach Colin Slingsby for being honored as the 2010 Star Times boys’ basketball coach.

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West Seattle scenes: Downtown = the gold at rainbow’s end

March 2, 2010 8:19 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Two takes on the view of this evening’s rainbow over downtown, seen from West Seattle. First, Edgar from Captive Eye Media caught it from The Mount; next, Babs caught it from a spot further north on the peninsula:

ADDED 9:12 PM: And another rainbow view just in from Alki’s David Hutchinson – Lady Liberty in the glow:

Photos? Here’s how to share them – thanks!

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Followup: “Jason McKissack Act” – what happens next?

March 2, 2010 5:29 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle police | West Seattle politics

This time yesterday, we were still gathering reaction to news that the State Senate’s Ways and Means Committee took an action some advocates had feared they wouldn’t – voting EHB 1679, now known as the “Jason McKissack Act” after the former West Seattle police officer, out of their committee. (This is the bill to keep catastrophically injured public-safety personnel like McKissack, who suffered brain damage from being attacked while on duty, from losing health coverage because they can’t work.) The W/M Committee’s recommendation was that Rules Committee members, who have it now, “do pass” the bill – and they have to, this week, in order for it to get to the floor for a full Senate vote. West Seattle’s Sen. Joe McDermott says he’ll work to get it out of Rules. For some more legislative context, we heard from Arbor Heights resident Gary Gardner of GRG Government Relations. He explains that while the Ways and Means Committee had to approve the bill because of its potential costs, the Rules Committee is a filter of whether to let the bill get to the floor. (More explanation here.) Gardner says the best way to express interest in getting a bill moved out of Rules is to let the leader of the appropriate house – in this case, the Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Lisa Brown – know that you want to see this bill come up for a vote. Here’s her contact information (she also is on the Rules Committee, whose membership is listed here). He says this Friday is the deadline for this bill to clear its next hurdle, as the cutoff for advancing bills that originated in the other house (as did this one). ADDED 11:45 PM: Jason McKissack’s wife Kim, who testified twice in Olympia as the bill has progressed, left this message in comments on Monday’s story:

I am injured officer, Jason McKissack’s wife. I just want to thank the West Seattle Blog for staying on top of this for the past (almost) 2 years. I wish I could thank everyone in person, but I don’t think I’d make it thru all my tears of gratitude. I did give a big thank you to WSB last night on Q13, but they edited it out :( But did, thankfully, kept in my thanks to Ms. Margarita Prentice. This sure has been a ride I didn’t expect to take – but thankfully, I’ve met many wonderful people and did learn a lesson about how important our voices are. We were in the right place, at the right time, with the right message. Renee Maher, could not have done it without you and will always be grateful. So far so good. Hope to have the best news EVER really soon! Thank you all! The McKissack Family

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Help your local food banks now – your donation counts extra!

March 2, 2010 4:22 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news | White Center

It’s March, which means Feinstein Challenge time – your donations to the two food banks serving West Seattle go further! This news release sent by White Center Food Bank executive director Rick Jump explains, on behalf of the WS Food Bank as well:

The White Center Food Bank and West Seattle Food Bank are encouraging community members to make donations between March 1st and April 30th so they can receive additional funds from the Feinstein Foundation’s $1 Million Challenge.

For the past 12 years Rhode Island philanthropist Alan Shawn Feinstein has made $1 Million available to help anti-hunger agencies. For every cash and food donation received by the end of April the Feinstein Foundation will add a financial contribution.

“During these tough economic times local food banks are serving more families than ever. Many of them are first time visitors to a food bank,” said Rick Jump, executive director of the White Center Food Bank. “This increased demand for services is likely to continue over the next several months and we urgently need to support of the community to insure that we are able to provide nutritious meals to our neighbors in need,” said Jump.

For the White Center Food Bank, donations may be mailed to 10829 8th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98146. To make a donation online or for information about the White Center Food Bank’s programs benefited by the $1 Million Challenge, visit www.whitecenterfoodbank.org or contact Rick Jump at (206) 762-2848, or email rick@whitecenterfoodbank.org.

For the West Seattle Food Bank, donations may be mailed to 3419 SW Morgan, Seattle, WA 98126. To make a donation online or for information about the West Seattle Food Bank’s programs benefited by the $1 Million Challenge, visit www.westseattlefoodbank.org or contact Fran Yeatts at (206) 932-9023, or e-mail fran@westseattlefoodbank.org.

Information about the Feinstein Foundation and the $1 Million Challenge, visit www.feinsteinfoundation.org

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West Seattle Elementary on “state’s lowest-performing” list

March 2, 2010 1:34 pm

| 15 COMMENTS

| High Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Just published by our citywide-news partners at the Seattle Times – an update on the state’s list of “lowest-performing” schools. Three Seattle Public Schools are on the list, and the only one in our area is West Seattle Elementary. According to the Times, Seattle Public Schools plans to send letters home to parents. And WS Elementary will get a new principal, because of the district’s plans for dealing with “lowest-performing” schools – if a principal at any such school has been there longer than two years, as has Gayle Everly, the district will replace them. The designation also means that the school may be eligible for a federal grant; the district has until the end of this week to apply. (Two months ago, we covered an at-times-contentious meeting in High Point at which local parents faced district leaders with their concerns, mostly about WS Elementary.) 2:39 PM UPDATE: We’ve now received the district’s news release about all this – focused on the grant possibilities – read on:Read More

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North Delridge notes: NDNC meeting set; playground-pickup plan

March 2, 2010 12:19 pm

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| Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

First – after a little time in semi-limbo following the schedule change at Delridge Library, the North Delridge Neighborhood Council has now settled on a regular meeting time/place: Second Tuesday of the month, 6:30 pm, Youngstown Arts Center conference room next to the office. That means NDNC’s next meeting is one week from tonight. Then, a bit later this month:

(July 2009 photo by Hai Truong)
Remember the sea of people who pitched in to build the Delridge Community Center playground in a single day last July? Seven months have gone by, and volunteer power is needed again on March 20th to show it a little love. From NDNC co-secretary Holli Margell:

With our new playground, and unusually warm weather this year, the playground and surrounding park is getting littered with trash. With budget cuts, the Parks Department is unable to keep it picked up. The planting beds could use some sprucing up too, so if you have some gardening tools you can pull weeds too. Let’s work together and have fun! All ages are welcome.

We’ll provide some coffee and hot chocolate to warm you up. Please dress appropriately for the weather. Prizes will be awarded – the very last chance to own a (Heart) Delridge Tee Shirt!

The cleanup won’t take long – they’re planning for 10 am-noon on March 20th, which is two weeks from this Saturday. Can you help? E-mail Holli at holli.margell@gmail.com – or talk to her at next week’s NDNC meeting.

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Update: Don Armeni Boat Ramp to close tomorrow for paving

March 2, 2010 10:35 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Paving prep work this afternoon)
Update from Seattle Parks senior capital-projects coordinator Garrett Farrell: With prep work now under way, the paving work that will temporarily close West Seattle’s Don Armeni Boat Ramp and its parking/staging lot is scheduled to start tomorrow afternoon, but should only take two days, so the contractor expects to be done by noontime Friday. As first reported here last Friday, this is the first major repaving work in a quarter-century at the city’s busiest boat ramp.

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West Seattle Summer Fest countdown: “Local” deadline nears

March 2, 2010 8:32 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

West Seattle pride is at the heart of West Seattle Summer Fest – T-shirts like that one, photographed at Summer Fest ’09, are one way to show it; if you’re a local business, even better, be part of the festival! Now that it’s March, Summer Fest is a scant four months (and change) away, and the West Seattle Junction Association reminds us all that the first deadline’s rolling up: Local businesses interested in being part of Summer Fest need to get their applications in by March 15 (as first announced here); make sure you write “West Seattle Local” in the comment area on your app. Get the forms here; see you there!

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