West Seattle, Washington

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Spotlight Stories

Update: West Seattle-based Seal Sitters report more pups
September 16, 2009 6:27 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Video courtesy Seal Sitters)
By Brenda Peterson, Seal Sitters
Special to West Seattle Blog

In the past two weeks we have had 5 pups on the beaches in West Seattle. Please be on alert as you walk the beaches (with binoculars!). If you see a pup please let our Seal Sitter hotline know. Call to report a seal pup on the beach at: 206 905-7324 (SEAL).

One vital thing you can do, even if you do not see a pup, is to let dog people know to leash their dogs because dogs and seal pups can pass diseases back and forth. We don’t want ANY of our pups to get hurt. These seal pups are being weaned and really need rest from their first fishing attempts. This is a critical time for weaning pups; they are often thin and exhausted from their first fishing forays without their mothers.

Though WA State has a healthy seal population, 50% of pups do not survive their first year. The main predators are dogs off-leash and people crowding them. NOAA advises that people please stay the 100 yards back from any resting pup and call Seal Sitters hotline for our trained volunteers. If you see a seal being harassed, please call NOAA’s enforcement hotline at: 1-800-853-1964 or NOAA local stranding hotline at: 206-526-6733.

We cannot cover every beach especially during this busy pup season, so those of you who regularly walk the beach, please be on alert for napping pups.

Last week a new Seal Sitter volunteer named a pup “Justice” after her grandson who was born after 9.11. “Justice” hauled out on a beach on 09.09.09 and was healthy and alert. He lifted his head at every passing school bus and garbage truck. He woke from a deep sleep every time a cell phone or loud voice startled him. Scientists have discovered that seal experience R.E.M. sleep just as humans do! Imagine trying to nap in the middle of an intersection – that’s how our beaches must seem to a seal pup. Thanks for your awareness and please help spread the word. Our Seal Sitter kids have been doing a wonderful job in their schools:

Atop this story is a video of “Justice,” who returned to the waves at 3:00 after hauling out at 8 a.m. It is normal to see seal pups on our beaches. Please educate everyone you know that West Seattle shores are a sanctuary for seal pups. Visit our website at www.sealsitters.org for more information, kids’ activities, and brochures you can print out to distribute on your walks. We hope that seal pups will realize they are among friends here on our West Seattle beaches!

On Tuesday 9.15 we had a pup actually on the sidewalk across from Cactus Restaurant on Alki Beach. Some new Seal Sitters were thrilled to take their first turn watching over this pup, who went back into the water at 7:30 p.m.

What We Need Now:

1. A Twitter person who can do quick, up-to-date blogs for those who want to follow Seal Sitters
2. Schedulers who can make calls so we do not tie up the dispatch line when a pup is on the beach
3. Computer-savvy volunteers who can help us with coordinating updates to volunteers
4. Donations of money or time to help us organize our all-volunteer organization
5. Grant writers so we can get some funding

You can reach Seal Sitters through their website – sealsitters.org.

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Traffic alert: Hit-run at Delridge and Henderson
September 16, 2009 5:35 pm
|    Comments Off on Traffic alert: Hit-run at Delridge and Henderson
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle traffic alerts

Westbound Henderson is at least partly blocked at Delridge (map), according to the scanner, because of a hit-and-run crash. Two vehicles were reported to have been hit – no injuries reported at this point – and the vehicle that hit them is described as a maroon minivan. It may be a while before the vehicles are cleared, so you’ll want to avoid that intersection.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Pharmacy held up after it shut down
September 16, 2009 4:08 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Just found out (thanks to Anne for the tip) that someone working inside Westside Pharmacy, which was doing inventory after closing its pharmacy operations last night to move to the new QFC, was held up this afternoon. Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen says the robber went in around 2 pm, showed a silver revolver, demanded drugs, was given a bag of what actually were various “returned” drugs since the pharmacy had no stock left after the move, and took off. No injuries. Only description – white male robber, black male driver in a gray getaway car. 8:32 PM UPDATE: SPDBlotter has published an item about this, with a few more details.

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West Seattle Garden Tour awards: Greenery begets greenery
September 16, 2009 3:24 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Garden Tour awards: Greenery begets greenery
 |   Gardening | How to help | West Seattle news

Thanks to Rachel Jackson at ArtsWest for the photo from last night’s West Seattle Garden Tour Awards at AW. The WSGT is a fundraiser as well as a great day of garden-wandering, and the photo shows WSGT president Lee Kramer (left) presenting a symbolic check for the fundraising proceeds to this year’s beneficiaries: Junction Plaza Park, Seattle Youth Garden Works, Transitional Resources, Plant Amnesty and ArtsWest (where the second week of AW’s season-opener “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” starts tonight). Jane Watson reports that the total amount raised this year was $22,500, adding:

Begun in 1995 as a fundraising event for the ArtsWest Theatre, the West Seattle
Garden Tour has evolved into an annual fundraising event for a variety of non-profit and educational organizations in West Seattle and surrounding communities. We would like to take this opportunity to thank this year’s sponsors, gardeners, volunteers and the West Seattle community for supporting the Garden Tour and for making the 2009 tour our most successful yet!

We would also like to extend an invitation to anyone interested in joining the WSGT as a volunteer. The WSGT committee meets every second Wednesday of each month at a members home for a group potluck and to plan the upcoming Tour. For additional information, contact us via our website www.westseattlegardentour.com.

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Want to study overseas? Rotary Club of West Seattle can help
September 16, 2009 3:02 pm
|    Comments Off on Want to study overseas? Rotary Club of West Seattle can help
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Just got word from Steve Fuller with the Rotary Club of West Seattle – through the end of next month, they are accepting applications for the Rotary International Youth Exchange program, which he says is “geared toward students, generally ages 15-19, interested in a short (6 weeks) and/or long-term (1 year) international educational opportunity.” Find out more about the program here; get your application in by October 31st. If you have questions, e-mail wsrotary@gmail.com

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For your Halloween calendar: 1 more trick-or-treat time set
September 16, 2009 2:14 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

The business-district trick-or-treat trifecta for West Seattle is now locked in – as noted in the past week or so, the Admiral District will be handing out treats 3-6 pm Friday 10/30, The Junction will welcome trick-or-treaters 1-3 pm Saturday 10/31, and Westwood Village manager Stuart Crandall has just announced their trick-or-treat session will be 4-7 pm 10/31. It’s all on the WSB Events calendar now in case you lose track and want to check back!

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglary victim catches suspect
September 16, 2009 11:55 am
|      39 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Gatewood | West Seattle news

Last night at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (earlier reports here and here), Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen briefly mentioned that officers had been busy yesterday afternoon chasing after burglars who’d hit at least three places. He also said an arrest had been made thanks to alert citizens noticing and reporting someone suspicious. This morning we have the story firsthand from one of those citizens – who happened also to be among the victims – and actually tracked down one of the suspects:

Our home, in which we have lived for 26 years, near 35th and Morgan [map], was robbed September 15, 2009.

Our neighbor saw a youth with a backpack leaving the area about 4 PM.

My wife arrived home at about 4:30 PM and found a window screen off a back window, door open, drawers open in bedrooms, my son’s coin containers on the floor, and a laptop computer missing.

I returned home about 5 PM and decided to check the Westwood QFC to see if the thief had deposited the coins my son had saved for years on his dresser.

There was the thief, feeding my son’s coins into the Coinstar machine. I introduced myself and asked to look in the backpack, there was the computer and my son’s iPod speakers…I detained this young man until the police arrived.

Several youths left the parking lot in a white car with a spoiler in a hurry when the police arrived.

Our possessions were returned and the thief was described to me as a convicted felon.

We have asked police for more information today about this case and any other related break-ins yesterday and will add to this story when those details come in. 4:54 PM UPDATE: Talked with Detective Brian Ballew. He says they’re not sure if this suspect is linked to the two other burglaries yesterday afternoon – the only thing in common is that “large amounts of coins” were taken in the others. Also they’re not sure if anyone else was actually involved with this break-in – the one suspect who was nabbed matched the description of the one person seen afterward – but someone did drop the suspect off at the QFC, and, as described above, left in a car described only as “white … with a spoiler.” Det. Ballew also confirmed the suspect was booked into jail and that he has a record.

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West Seattle Food Bank reports records – and gratitude
September 16, 2009 11:03 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news


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Even as signs of economic improvement break through the clouds, local nonprofits that help those in need are still very much in need themselves, of your ongoing support. Latest example: We heard this morning from West Seattle Food Bank board president Pete Spalding. He reports:

At our board meeting of the West Seattle Food Bank last night we were discussing our continuing to see record numbers of clients. I wanted to share with you that in July we served over 3,000 households, which worked out to over 7,600 individuals and we distributed over 100,000 pounds of food. The continuing generosity of the West Seattle community and our very loyal donor base is a never ending wonder to me.

To help all those people, it takes a lot of donations, from a lot of sources. Just this week, we’ve received info on results of a few contribution-yielding efforts – for example, the Holy Rosary Christmas Tree Lot reported its distribution from last season, including $2,057 to the WS Food Bank and two other nonprofits; the Food Bank also was among the beneficiaries from raffles that raised hundreds of dollars before West Seattle Junction Summer Outdoor Movies on the Wall presentations, and from the Paint Ball event that raised $500 at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) during last week’s West Seattle Art Walk. And while we were at the new Junction QFC store opening this morning, it was pointed out that they’ll be partnering with WS Food Bank in the “grocery rescue” program, where food that’s about to be “culled” from market stock will instead go to the food bank. You can donate any time online – just go here.

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2 days till Holy Rosary School’s 20th-anniversary Westfest
September 16, 2009 9:33 am
|    Comments Off on 2 days till Holy Rosary School’s 20th-anniversary Westfest
 |   West Seattle news

Changes this year for Westfest (WSB sponsor), the family fun festival coming up this Friday-Saturday, presented every fall by West Seattle’s Holy Rosary School on the north side of The Junction. One of them, a new festival-site layout – it’s viewable on the Westfest website – click the map on this page to enlarge it. Westfest also has rolled back the ride prices (and you can get a third-off discount for buying in advance). Read on for the official Westfest news release with details:

Friday, September 18th, 2009 6 -10 p.m.
Saturday, September 19th, 2009 10 a.m. ­ 10 p.m.

Holy Rosary School
4142 42nd Avenue SW
(map)

westfest.holyrosaryws.org
WestFest is fun!

Imagine a sunny Fall weekend in September that brings together family and friends from the West Seattle community, an event put on by the Holy Rosary School and Parish that¹s safe and tons of fun for all ages. You¹ll find rides, kids games, an entertainment stage, specialty food booths, BINGO, a used book sale, a raffle, an arts & crafts fair, and much more on the Holy Rosary School grounds.

WestFest is community!

Now on its 20th year, WestFest has become our community¹s Fall Family Festival. In it, we celebrate the culmination of a summer well spent as well and the beginning of an exciting new school year!

Join us this year for our 20th anniversary! In celebration, we are rolling back prices on the kid¹s ride wristbands to $10 for unlimited rides. (Purchase in advance at Curious Kidstuff ­ 4740 California Avenue, West Seattle. Phone ­ 937-8788). Wristbands will be available at the festival.

My ID Club will be on site to make ID cards for kids. Check them out at MYIDCLUB.org. This is one of the only times they will be in West Seattle! Hope to see you there!

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Update: Junction QFC opens, after sneak-preview tour
September 16, 2009 6:50 am
|      58 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL 6:50 AM REPORT: That’s QFC president Donna Giordano, one of many executives in the Bellevue-headquartered chain (owned by national chain Kroger) here at the new Junction QFC, which opens with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7 am. We just finished a preview tour with QFC media liaison Kristin Maas taking us around as workers bustled to finish the last-minute touches. Got to see some items we didn’t know they were offering – like gelato:

Here’s the sandwich menu:

The main parking for the store is on a deck you enter from 42nd, with elevators and a staircase leading down.

The street entrance at 42nd/Alaska has a seating area, as does a corner right inside the store, close to its Starbucks kiosk. The store is managed by Jeff Brown, who used to run the Westwood Village QFC:

We’ll add video and info after the ribbon-cutting – just as we finish this (writing from inside the store), someone announced over the loudspeaking, “Ten minutes till ribbon-cutting! Everyone start clearing the store. Have a good time, and remember, customer first.” The store’s open 24 hours a day and is the chain’s 75th store, first one they’ve opened in two years, since the Uptown store near Seattle Center in Lower Queen Anne. It has 110 employees, and a QFC news release says “60 of them are new to QFC – net new jobs.” ADDED 7:51 AM: Here’s the ribboncutting less than an hour ago:

Dozens of early-bird shoppers poured into the store afterward; we’ll have another report coming up with more video, including what Capco Plaza owner/developer Leon Capelouto – a longtime Junction entrepreneur – told us right after he went inside. (If you’re on Facebook, be sure to “friend” us at WS Blog – we’ve just added an “album” with all 20-plus stills we took inside the store before it opened.)

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Happening tonight: Delridge Neighborhoods District Council
September 16, 2009 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on Happening tonight: Delridge Neighborhoods District Council
 |   Delridge | Delridge District Council | West Seattle news

One major event on the calendar tonight — the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council‘s regular monthly meeting: Reps from major community groups and organizations in eastern West Seattle will gather to talk about successes, challenges, projects, ideas and more – and you’re invited. 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center (4408 Delridge; map). ADDED 8:44 PM: Got word from DNDC’s Pete Spalding of Pigeon Point that the date is set for the DNDC/Southwest District Council candidates’ forum – 7-9 pm October 15th at Youngstown.

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West Seattle Crime Prevention Council report #2: Hailey case
September 16, 2009 1:22 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Crime Prevention Council report #2: Hailey case
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Second of at least 4 reports from Tuesday night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting: A rep from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office confirms that the case of 19-year-old West Seattle repeat offender Skyelar Hailey is being reviewed to see if the Repeat Burglar Initiative could apply. Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg didn’t mention it specifically in his speech to the group (though he had a lot to say about the juvenile-justice system and how he believes repeat-offender juveniles are not appropriately dealt with – Hailey had a juvenile record), but Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen mentioned Hailey’s August arrest (detailed here), and a Satterberg assistant spoke up to say the RBI deputy is taking a look. Hailey is still in jail, by the way, though his bail was cut two weeks ago to $15,000. He’s due back in court next month.

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West Seattle scene: Bellydance improv at Skylark
September 15, 2009 11:43 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Double bill at Skylark Cafe and Club tonight – after turntable time, bellydancers took the stage. Dina Johnson shares the photo and a report:

Terrific bellydance show from 7:30 -8:30 at Skylark on Delridge, about 8 short sets by solo and troupe acts. The place was packed with bellydancers & friends, but at least one guy there for the self disc-spinning was surprised and HIGHLY entertained by the bellydance show.

Picture: 3 members of the polished Troupe Hipnotica, who improvise all their routines using invisible cues in American Tribal style. Julia, on the right, is a resident of Highland Park.

Could become a regular thing if enough interest, I hope so!

Skylark is at 3803 Delridge, just south of The Bridge (map), usually known a bit more for their four-nights-a-week live music (here’s the calendar).

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West Seattle scene: Closing night for the last indie drugstore
September 15, 2009 10:33 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle video

It wasn’t a quiet closing night for West Seattle’s last free-standing drugstore: When we got to Westside Pharmacy just before its posted shutdown time of 6:30 pm, the little shop at California/Brandon bustled with workers taking inventory – they’re supposed to be up and running in the new Junction QFC store’s pharmacy less than a mile away by morning. As reported in our feature story last week, owner Michael Ng – who’s had Westside for 32 years – said his decision to make the move was in part because red tape is making it tougher for independent pharmacies to run efficiently. (We’ll look for the pharmacy when we’re touring the QFC pre-opening early tomorrow morning.)

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West Seattle Crime Prevention Council report #1: 2 trouble spots
September 15, 2009 9:49 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Much news from tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting. We’ll break it up into chunks. First, updates on two spots that have sparked community concern – both were asked about while Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen was answering attendees’ questions:


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ADMIRAL PUB: Particularly since the gunfire/beating incident outside the bar on August 28th, some questions came up about repeated problems (as noted in this WSB comment thread, too). Lt. Paulsen said, “We had some concerns about whether it was managed responsibly, so we are working with the owner”; he explained that police and City Attorney’s Office reps met with the Admiral Pub‘s owner last week, talking about “how (the problems) are affecting the residential community surrounding it.” He told the group the owner said he wanted to cooperate to have a “good safe business”; assistant city attorney Beth Gappert, who is based at the Southwest Precinct, said that the city has till the end of the month to decide whether it wants to object to the renewal of the Admiral Pub’s liquor license. (Side note – as we wrote in this comment thread last night, court documents show that the man arrested after the Sept. 1st incident, Jedidiah Doyle, is charged with second-degree assault.)


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35TH/MORGAN CONVENIENCE STORE: Talk about loitering and suspected drug dealing has bubbled up from time to time regarding this corner. Asked about it tonight, Community Police Team Officer Kevin McDaniel said, “We’ve been aggressively taking care of that situation.” He said he’s “trespassed” – a citation that requires someone to stay away – at least a dozen people, and says other tactics are in the works. “We are very much on top of that spot there …pretty soon we’ll have it under control.” He drew laughter by noting he’d outsmarted some would-be repeat offenders who figured out what hours he usually worked and tended to stay away during those hours — “For two nights two weeks ago I changed my shift, and trespassed more people” – who apparently were surprised to see him.

More to come later tonight, including the latest crime trends, and what King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg told the group.

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Alki Statue of Liberty time capsule: Getting ready for Saturday
September 15, 2009 8:48 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Alki Statue of Liberty | West Seattle news

One year ago this month, the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza was dedicated. Now, extra touches including a time capsule are about to be added, with a celebration at 2 pm Saturday; tonight David Hutchinson sends photos, with this preview info:

Seattle Parks & Recreation has begun the preparation work for the burial of the “Strengthening the Arm of Liberty” Time Capsule. The capsule will be buried at the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza this Saturday in a ceremony that begins at 2 PM. The name of the capsule refers to the theme of the Boy Scout 40th Anniversary campaign that placed over 200 of the original statues in over 39 states and several U.S. possessions and territories – http://troop101.thescouts.com/liberty

More details of Saturday’s event are at sealady.org.

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Fire call in The Junction – now closed
September 15, 2009 7:00 pm
|    Comments Off on Fire call in The Junction – now closed
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

On our way to a single-family residence fire call at 42nd and Edmunds. More shortly. 7:03 PM: Closed fast but we’re continuing on to see what it was. (Footnote: Scene totally clear. We’re carrying on with tonight’s other coverage of three community meetings.)

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Crime Watch followup: Suspected serial robber in jail
September 15, 2009 6:36 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Thanks to Todd in Westwood for noting this in the WSB Forums: A man whom authorities believe is half the duo responsible for at least 17 bank robberies around the region, including 3 here in West Seattle (here’s our report from a week ago), is now in jail. Here’s the latest from the Seattle Times (WSB partner). No indication at this point whether the man who’s in jail is the one caught on camera in the three local robberies, or his accomplice, caught on camera in others. According to the King County Jail Register, his bail is set at $750,000; online court records show he has a criminal history, including a burglary case. ADDED 8:02 PM: Here’s the entirety of the news release the FBI sent tonight:

On September 11, 2009 at approximately 9:30 PM, Quincy Quinn, age 36, was taken into custody at his residence located in Skyway, Washington by deputies and detectives of the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO).  The arrest came as a result of a joint investigation by KCSO Detectives and members of Seattle FBI’s bank robbery task force.  Since June 1, 2009, agents and detectives had been investigating a pair of males believed to be responsible for as many as 17 King County bank robberies.

On September 10, 2009 the investigative efforts to date along with bank surveillance photos were shared with local media.  As a result, several leads were developed that focused the investigation onto Quinn and an as of yet unidentified associate.  After his arrest, Quinn was booked into the King County Jail with regard to an outstanding warrant in an unrelated matter and investigation of multiple counts of 1st Degree Robbery.  

We’re still trying to determine which of the two suspects in photos is Quinn and which is still being sought – we’ll update as soon as we know that for sure. 8:45 PM UPDATE: Finally have that nailed down. The suspect in jail is believed to be the one shown in photos from at least two West Seattle robberies – meantime, here are photos of the man who is NOT YET UNDER ARREST:

If you know or see him, call 911.

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Admiral District trick-or-treat date/time announced
September 15, 2009 5:40 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

As reported recently, The Junction is having its trick-or-treating event 1-3 pm on Halloween (Saturday 10/31) … and now we know that the Admiral District merchants will offer theirs the day before, Friday 10/30, 3-6 pm – that word just in from Kent and Parris Sadow at Max and Quinn’s Atomic Boys Shop-O-Rama, this year’s event coordinators. Haven’t heard from Westwood Village yet if/when they’re having one, but we’ll be checking.

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Junction QFC opens tomorrow: A look inside, plus – valet parking
September 15, 2009 3:36 pm
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

We asked QFC media liaison Kristin Maas if she’d share photos from inside the new Junction QFC, which opens with a 7 am ribbon-cutting tomorrow (public invited if you’re up that early and interested); she offered a few from the past week-plus of setup:

And here are the “gourmet cheese” and sushi areas:

What else is in the store (in Capco Plaza at 42nd/Alaska; map? Here’s the fact sheet listing it all – pizza, bakery, flowers – and noting that it’s about the same size as Westwood Village QFC. She also says there will be valet parking on the store’s “exclusive customer-parking deck” over the store (entrance is midblock on 42nd SW) 10 am-8 pm tomorrow through Sunday. We’ll be up bright and early tomorrow for a tour of the store before the ribboncutting so watch WSB, Twitter and Facebook for updates after 6 am.

ADDED 7:07 PM: A little more information about parking, from QFC’s Kristin Maas:

There are several areas to park for the complex (residential and retail), so there are signs around the building. Here’s the layout:

* QFC Customers Only Parking on the deck above the store – with easy access mid-block on 42nd. This will be the easiest access for our QFC customers, both for parking and for access to the store.

** And tomorrow, our Valet Parking will be available beginning at 7am for the ribbon cutting and then the rest of the week through Sunday it will be from 10am to 8pm.

* Two levels of underground parking located mid-block on 41st is for the loading dock, other retail customer parking, QFC customer overflow parking and residential parking.

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2 Net notes: 1-stop CityLink; West Seattleite tweets for SBUX
September 15, 2009 2:59 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online | West Seattle people

CITYLINK: We noticed a while back that some of the city’s newer web sections, such as SPDBlotter, had a “CityLink” logo, perhaps a sign of something to come. Turns out it was — the city has just unveiled CityLink Seattle, with 11 city “newsfeeds” (including SPDBlotter) linked from one page. See it here.

TWEETING FOR STARBUCKS, AND HITTING THE ROAD: Got word from Starbucks PR that its official tweeter at @starbucks, Brad Nelson, is hitting the road as part of a nationwide promotion for the company’s new instant coffee – and she noted she was letting us know because Brad is a West Seattleite. They had a big kickoff event today – we were at the Concord event instead, but they promise they’ll be tweeting (at @starbuckslive), posting video, and more. (P.S. Brad’s not the only West Seattleite who is the “Twitter voice” of a major Seattle-based company – there’s also Elliott Pesut, who tweets for Alaska Airlines at @alaskaair.)

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Concord International School assembly: “Our world has changed”
September 15, 2009 2:18 pm
|    Comments Off on Concord International School assembly: “Our world has changed”
 |   South Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Just east of West Seattle – but part of the Seattle Public Schools‘ West Seattle “region” – Concord International School held its first assembly today under its new designation, one day after a similar assembly at Denny International Middle School (WSB coverage here), whose principal Jeff Clark was on hand (not only to visit with potential future Denny students, but also because he’s a Concord dad). The Concord assembly also featured cultural performances – and new Concord principal Dr. Norma Zavala explaining why multiculturalism matters, after talking about growing up bilingual/bicultural in a small Eastern Washington town:

Concord social-studies teacher Robin Kanev (a West Seattle resident) told us she’s excited – she’s been at Concord for nine years and specifically wanted to work at a school with a dual-language program. Meantime, district Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson also noted the significance of Concord’s new status:

And of course, there were performances – African-Cuban drummers to open the assembly, and shortly afterward, these dancers:

Concord has more than 300 students speaking 15 languages, and, as described in a Seattle Public Schools news release, “two classes of Spanish/English dual immersion program as well as an English cohort in kindergarten and 1st grade, (adding) 2nd grade this year, continuing to expand to additional grades each year.” Never been to Concord? Here’s a map.

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West Seattle scene: Alki Lighthouse gets a scrubbing
September 15, 2009 1:27 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news

Just in from Gary Jones – some love and care for a West Seattle icon!

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