silent is fuck West Seattle Blog… | 2011 | August

West Seattle, Washington

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month : 08/2011 341 results

West Seattle Saturday: Arts in Nature, Big Bonanza, precinct picnic, SBX, movie/free BBQ… and Elvis!
August 20, 2011 8:39 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Bret Wiggins is part of the 1st-ever El-Fest @ Feedback Lounge tonight; photo courtesy Marlow Harris)
Summer finally decided to behave itself! Could get into the mid-80s, per the National Weather Service. From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT CLOSED, SOUTHBOUND: Traffic reminder – you can use The Viaduct leaving the peninsula, but it’s closed all
weekend heading back (southbound) this way.

SBX LEAVING TODAY: As reported here on Friday, the “big white ball” that’s been a Harbor Island fixture for three months is scheduled to head on out – but the Missile Defense Agency would only say “during daylight hours.”

(Photo added 8:55 am)
BREAKFAST TO BENEFIT VETERANS’ MEMORIAL: At the south-central tip of West Seattle, in the south Delridge Triangle, there’s a Veterans’ Memorial. A pancake breakfast under way right now at Holy Family (9615 20th SW) is raising money for some TLC, looking ahead to a rededication next month. The breakfast continues till 11 am. Pancakes with FRESH blueberries, we are told!

HUGE RUMMAGE SALE #1: Peace Lutheran Church TAG SALE! Giant Indoor Tag Sale. Something for everyone. 9 am until 3 pm – 39th SW & SW Thistle.

HUGE RUMMAGE SALE #2: At Highland Park Improvement Club all weekend, 9 am to 5 pm today. There will be *multiple neighbors* with lots of *great stuff* for sale. 12th & Holden.

EVEN MORE YARD/GARAGE SALES: See who’s listed theirs (free!) in the WSB Forums’ Freebies/Deals/Sales section.

‘BIG BONANZA’ ALL DAY IN THE JUNCTION: Wild West (Seattle) deals, wild fun, in Downtown WS – the annual late-summer “Big Bonanza” sale, 10 am-6 pm, look for red balloons and checked tablecloths at participating stores (and here’s a preview of some of the deals).

GET GREENER: Third Saturday Green Seattle Partnership plant restoration party at Camp Long (happens to be during Arts In Nature Festival). 10 am – 1 pm.

GARDENING CLASS: Pests & Diseases – How to Manage Problems Organicallygardening class at Community Harvest Garden at White Center Cultural Community Center (9421 18th Ave. SW), 10 am – noon. Learn how to tackle pest and disease problems in the garden organically. This class is offered in partnership with Community Harvest of SW Seattle. $36 or $25 for Seattle Tilth members. Registration details here.

HELP THE CREEK: Help enhance the Longfellow Creek and the Legacy Trail by planting and mulching at Brandon Street Natural Area every third Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm. This is a Green Seattle Partnership event. Directions: Get on Delridge Way SW. Turn West on Brandon St. Go two blocks and park on 26th Ave SW. Walk down Brandon 1/2 block and look for the gateways on the south.

FREE YOGA! SoundYoga (WSB sponsor) presents free yoga, 10:30 am

ARTS IN NATURE FESTIVAL: All weekend long, it’s the Nature Consortium’s one-of-a-kind Arts In Nature Festival at Camp Long, 11 am-9 pm today – check out the performance schedule here.

ARBOR HEIGHTS BLOCK PARTY: Block party at ARK Park behind Arbor Heights Community Church, noon-4 pm, details here

PICNIC AT THE PRECINCT: Picnic at the Southwest Precinct, meet your SPD team and have fun, kids’ activities and a lot more, plus community groups including West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network. WSB will be live on site all afternoon. 1-4 pm (more here).

SALMON AT THE LONGHOUSE: Duwamish Longhouse Salmon Bake at Duwamish Longhouse (4705 W. Marginal Way SW), 4-6 pm, $10. Free admission to exhibit area and art gallery.

LUCHA LIBRE! Lucha Libre, celebration of Mexican wrestling and South Park itself! 4-8 pm at 14th/Cloverdale in South Park, wrestling starts at 6 – more info here.

ART WALK: White Center Art Walk, 6-9 pm, with live art all over White Center! Full details here

OUTDOOR MOVIE WITH FREE BARBECUE: West Seattle Outdoor Movies in The Junction is showing “Toy Story 3”, movies start at dusk, courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), 4410 California SW – free barbecue starting at 6:30, courtesy of West Seattle Christian Church.

CELEBRATING ‘THE KING’: Elvis Festival at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 7 pm (free!).

2ND TO LAST CHANCE TO CATCH ‘OLIVER!’ Twelfth Night Productions presentation of “Oliver!” (to benefit Treehouse – bring school supplies for foster kids!), West Seattle High School Theater, 7:30 pm, 3000 California SW.

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‘Gallery of West Seattle History’ helps Helpline, at Alki Arts
August 20, 2011 7:55 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Looking ahead while looking back, the West Seattle Helpline celebrated a “Gallery of West Seattle History” last night at Alki Arts. That’s executive director Tara Byrne, with one of the displays, which recounted Helpline’s own 22-year history. This time of year, Helpline has traditionally helped local kids with school supplies – and this year, they’re working to help the efforts of Pencil Me in For Kids, a project near and dear to partygoers Martha and Sue:

Showing off food donated by nearby Alki restaurants as well as Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering was Helpline board member Rev. Ron Marshall from First Lutheran Church of West Seattle:

Miss the party? You can reach out to help Helpline any time; find out how by going to their website.

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34th District Democrats’ Garden Party, with a visit from Vinnie
August 20, 2011 2:53 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

If you garden, you know our area is described as having a “Mediterranean” climate. Last night at West Seattle Nursery, Mediterranean also applied to the music and food at the 34th District Democrats‘ annual Garden Party/Auction – above, the Sinovi Tamburitza Orchestra, specializing in Croatian music. Another guest star: New York Vinnie returned to West Seattle – more than a year after his move to Pittsburgh – to serve as auctioneer. WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand asked Vinnie what he misses about life here:

Ahead, more photos from the 34th Dems’ fundraiser, outdoors on a lovely summer night, including costumes and shades:Read More

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West Seattle authors: McMurray @ Easy Street; Brooks @ B&N
August 20, 2011 12:56 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle authors: McMurray @ Easy Street; Brooks @ B&N
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

West Seattleite Jacob McMurray was at Easy Street Records in The Junction on Friday night to sign “Taking Punk to the Masses: From Nowhere to Nevermind.” As explained on the Easy Street website, the book chronicling the rise/evolution of grunge, from punk, is companion to the EMP Nirvana exhibit curated by McMurray. Easy Street is selling the book; the exhibit continues at EMP for another year and a half.

Another West Seattle author is one week away from his customary annual reading here in the home ‘hood: After releasing “Legends of Shannara: The Measure of the Magic” this Tuesday, megaselling fantasy author Terry Brooks will be at the Westwood Village Barnes and Noble the following Saturday (2 pm August 27th). He has drawn a crowd there every summer, dating back at least as far back as WSB goes (our coverage: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010).

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Video: Justin Roberts helps Family Promise raise more than $1K
August 19, 2011 10:27 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

If you can bring sea monsters and pizza into the Biblical creation story, or turn the tale of Daniel and the lion into “Here, Kitty, Kitty,” you can work your own kind of miracles. And so did Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/kindie-rocker Justin Roberts tonight in the Fauntleroy UCC Church sanctuary, helping Family Promise of Seattle raise more than $1,000. Fauntleroy UCC is one of ten area churches that are in partnership with Family Promise, taking turns providing sleeping quarters, dinner, and breakfast to newly homeless families. But tonight – instead of housing homeless kids, they were accommodating dancing kids.

(Photo courtesy Kathy Ablott)
Before the concert, FP board leader David Jones explained the organization’s mission:

Roberts performed about an hour of songs from his “Why Not Sea Monsters?” album. He’s a one-time divinity student turned singer/songwriter, who played guitar throughout his set, and enticed the audience – all ages – to sing along, sometimes goofily, sometimes quietly, as golden evening sunlight illuminated the evergreens outside the huge window at the front of the sanctuary. Though his songs riffed off Biblical stories – Jonah and the whale, loaves and fishes, walking on water, the burning bush – they were by no means preachy or somber. Just exuberant music. One review quoted on Roberts’ website describes him as the “Paul McCartney of kids’ music”; appropriate, then, that a toddler who joined the dozen or so dancers up front wore a Beatles T-shirt. FP also accepted donations for refreshments afterward; More ways to help them are listed online.

P.S. Roberts is part of the lineup for the Tots ‘n’ Tunes kindie-rock extravaganza at Seattle Center this Sunday, 11 am-5 pm, as is West Seattle’s own Caspar Babypants (who is busy this weekend! tomorrow he performs in the Camp Long Lodge at 11 am during the Nature Consortium‘s Arts in Nature Festival).

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Junction double bill: ‘Big Bonanza’ deals; ‘Toy Story 3’ outdoors
August 19, 2011 6:58 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

Saturday doubleheader in The Junction! First, it’s an August tradition, as West Seattle shopping turns into Wild, Wild West Seattle shopping – “The Big Bonanza” (participants listed here) is tomorrow, with more than 35 merchants participating in a day of sales. Look for the red balloons and checked tablecloths. The West Seattle Junction Association sends along a sampling of what you’ll find:

SWEETIE:

Our Big Bonanza special at Sweetie couldn’t happen at a better time of the year – 50-70% off all summer fashion – get it while it’s hot!

And we’re kicking off our fall fashion preview the same day, with 10% off all new fall fashion, Saturday, August 20 only.

CURIOUS KIDSTUFF:

25% off all purchases over $100, and up to 50% off selected items

CARMILIA’S:

Offering sale items at 50-85% off and all new fall merchandise will be 20% off 8/20 through 8/25……a five day jump on fall!

SHADOWLAND:

Cowboy Chicken Fried Steak on special and wet your whistle with a tall, frosty one.

Then tomorrow night in The Junction:

“Toy Story 3” is the feature at West Seattle Outdoor Movies, on the big screen in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor). Gates open at 6:30, and though the (free!) movie isn’t till dusk, stake out your spot early. If you bring some $, you can get in on bargain-priced concessions and great raffle prizes – all benefiting local nonprofits. Plus – FREE BARBECUE, starting at 6:30, courtesy of West Seattle Christian Church, whose Pastor Dan Jacobs (who’s also the regular projectionist for the movies, little-known fact) announces: “We will be serving the free BBQ from 6:30 to 7:30 or when we run out of food. We have hot dogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers, chips, and drinks for 225 people.”

(An early reminder – though the posters and schedules show tomorrow as the final movie, there’s another one a week later, on August 27th, the movie that got rained out on what was supposed to be Outdoor Movies’ opening night, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”)

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Just 2 more 2011 weekends to tour Alki Point Lighthouse
August 19, 2011 5:52 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

If you’ve never toured historic Alki Point Lighthouse – your chances for this year are running out. Liesbet T. shared photos after a tour last weekend, and pointed out that this weekend and the next weekend are your last chances in 2011 to take the free 1-4 pm Saturdays/Sundays tour.

That’s the northward view from the top of the 98-year-old lighthouse – two other angles, and a few interior sights, ahead:Read More

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White Center suspect charged with second-degree murder
August 19, 2011 2:46 pm
|      38 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | White Center

(WSB photo of deputies at the murder scene, early Tuesday)
Just in from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office:

A charge of Murder Second Degree (11-1-07472-9) was filed today against Anthony H. Smith, 25, who is accused in the shooting death of a 23-year-old woman in White Center on August 16. The charge includes a firearm enhancement. If convicted as charged, the sentence range is 16 to 24½ years in prison. Smith is scheduled to be arraigned on September 1 at 8:30 a.m. at the King County Courthouse, courtroom 1201. He remains in jail with bail set at $1 million.

The documents contain additional details of what preceded the shooting, including an allegation that Smith and two other as-yet-unidentified suspects approached victim Sweetheart Marie Failautusi and her friends, asked for a cigarette, and were told “no”; an argument and fistfight ensued, following a short while later by the shooting.

ADDED 3:10 PM: Transcription of the charging document’s narrative – the story of what law enforcers say happened – ahead:Read More

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Say goodbye to a temporary icon: SBX leaves tomorrow
August 19, 2011 12:45 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from July)
The Missile Defense Agency just sent word that the SBX is leaving Harbor Island tomorrow, 3 months and 10 days after its late-night arrival drew crowds to West Seattle shores. We’re checking on an estimated time – meantime, here’s the announcement:

The Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX) will depart August 20th from Seattle, Washington where it has been undergoing scheduled maintenance and planned upgrades at Vigor Shipyards since May. The work has taken about three months to complete and was consistent with the normal work accomplished at Vigor for other government and commercial vessels.

The SBX is one of the sensors for our nation’s Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Its mission is to identify ballistic missile threats to our nation and to relay that information to the command and control center for missile defense.

A Naval Vessel Protection Zone, applicable to government vessels in transit and undergoing maintenance at Vigor Shipyards, will be applied to SBX as it departs. The US Coast Guard will be assisting with the NVPZ.

One month ago today, the seagoing radar dome drew crowds again as it left Vigor for a few hours so an oil-drilling ship could be moved in:

(July photo by Debra Herbst)
The SBX has been based in Alaska, though there’s no official word if it’s headed there next.

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Breakfast Saturday to benefit local veterans’ memorial
August 19, 2011 12:29 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | White Center

(December 2010 photo by Deanie Schwarz)
The mini-park where Delridge, 16th SW, and SW Roxbury meet holds not only the public art that was decorated at Christmastime last year, but also a Veterans’ Memorial. Now, improvements and a rededication are in the works for the memorial in the South Delridge Triangle, and you can contribute tomorrow by going to a benefit breakfast at Holy Family. The memorial has long needed TLC, and community members are working to make it happen, but fundraising is needed, and this is a major step. The pancake breakfast is planned for 8-11 am Saturday, 9615 20th SW, with the menu also including eggs, sausage, coffee, and juice, for $6 suggested donation adults/$3 kids under 12. The rededication and flag-raising ceremony, meantime, is planned for 4 pm September 18th, with veterans from West Seattle and White Center participating.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Drive-by pellet-shooting arrests
August 19, 2011 8:24 am
|      47 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | Crime | West Seattle news

8:24 AM: A possible breakthrough in the recent series of drive-by pellet-gun shootings: Late last night, we checked out police activity on 35th SW in Arbor Heights, after scanner traffic indicated someone had called 911 after getting hit near 37th SW/Ocean View Drive with an Airsoft-type pellet from someone driving by. While medics were on the way to check out the victim, police quickly stopped potential suspects blocks away, on 35th near 104th. Their investigation briefly closed 35th SW (iPhone photo at right), till the suspects’ car could be towed, but we didn’t get details confirmed till this morning: Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams confirms that “3 juvenile males were arrested in the Arbor Heights area last night for shooting an Airsoft gun at more than one person. The juveniles were shooting at people from the car they were cruising around in. The potential that this group is responsible for recent previous incidents of a similar nature is being explored in the investigation.” We’ll add anything more we find out today.

1:03 PM UPDATE: A little more information from SW Precinct operations Lt. Pierre Davis – starting with how the incident was reported last night: “The victim reported he had been shot in the chest by teenagers in a passing vehicle. As Officers came into the neighborhood another victim called 911 to report he had also been shot by the same group. The vehicle was stopped leaving the scene and all three 17-year-old male passengers were arrested for assault. The three was in possession of a very realistic looking Air-Soft (toy) assault rifle which is very capable of causing injury. The Southwest Precinct officers did an outstanding job investigating this incident and also in stopping this group’s crime spree.”

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West Seattle Friday: Viaduct, music, movie, fun(d)raisers…
August 19, 2011 8:06 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by t_ravtyler, from the WSB Flickr pool)
The morning murkiness won’t last, promises the forecast. So on with the outdoor, and indoor, highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar – including several major fun(d)raisers:

TRAFFIC ALERT STARTING LATE TONIGHT: 11 pm is the scheduled start for what WSDOT says will be a weekend-long shutdown of the SOUTHBOUND direction of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

DANCE! An afternoon of music and dance with Lauren Petrie at Delridge Community Center, 1:30-3:30 pm, $3, 4501 Delridge Way SW.

CHERYL SERIO AT THE MOUNT: Friday nights in August mean free concerts at Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor) – bring your own chair/blanket, and family/friends, to the patio on the south side of The Mount (4831 35th SW). Dinner/beer/wine are available for purchase starting at 5:30, music starts at 6, tonight featuring Cheryl Serio. Kids’ activities, plus free popcorn/snow cones.

STORIES: Storytelling event at the White Center Cultural Center (9421 18th Avenue SW), 5:30 pm, with Oromo/Ethiopian storytelling by Mergitu Argo.

HISTORY MEETS HELPLINE: Tonight’s the night for the Gallery of West Seattle History benefit for West Seattle Helpline at Alki Arts, 6-9 pm – music, wine, food, art, and West Seattle history displays courtesy of the nearby Log House Museum. Beneficiaries will include school supplies for kids in need, through Pencil Me In For Kids.

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS’ GARDEN PARTY: Tonight is the Garden Party/Auction for West Seattle’s biggest political organization – details here, West Seattle Nursery, 6-9 pm. Auctioneer: New York Vinnie, who’s back in West Seattle for the occasion!

WINE TASTING: Wines from the south of France featured at Bin 41 in The Junction, 6-7:30 pm.

JUSTIN ROBERTS FUNDRAISING CONCERT FOR FAMILY PROMISE: Grammy-nominated kindie-rocker Justin Roberts and The Not Ready For Naptime Players sing snappy sacred songs to benefit Family Promise of Seattle, an emergency shelter program helping newly homeless families stay together while getting back on their feet. (Here’s our FP update from earlier this week.) 6:30 pm at Fauntleroy UCC Church (9140 California Ave SW), suggested donations are $5/child (under 10), $10/adult, $15/family. Organizers say The Hall at Fauntleroy has opened its back lot to overflow parking.

MOVIE NIGHT IN HIGHLAND PARK: Free movie at Highland Park Improvement Club, 12th and Holden – “Ponyo,” with the Gildenfire Dancers as the opening act. Doors open 6:30 pm, movie at 7.

ENJOY ‘OLIVER!’ AND HELP FOSTER KIDS: The final three-run weekend of “Oliver!” by Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) starts tonight (to benefit Treehouse – bring school supplies for the donation barrel!), at West Seattle High School, 7:30 pm. Tickets are available online at Brown Paper Tickets or at the box office tonight.

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Tell the city what you want to see in Seattle in the next 20 years
August 19, 2011 7:29 am
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

When the city sent around a survey link, explaining it was about the “Comprehensive Plan,” we wondered if anyone would really take a survey about something so generic-sounding, as important as it is. But the fine city folks working to drum up participation for the survey explain that it boils down to nothing less than “what do you want to see in Seattle in the next 20 years?” And they share a few of the suggestions West Seattle participants have offered so far:

*Walkable. When neighborhoods are walkable: people recognize their neighbors, can get to services – even when weather shuts down the City, cars stay home and pollute less, household finances are improved with lower transportation costs, local businesses thrive because they are neighbors and tax dollars stay in the City, life is simpler.

*For neighborhoods and businesses to be more diverse voluntarily, and have more/better housing choices for all citizens. Work on ways to create jobs even if they are just entry level. Assist those getting off of welfare and out of prisons with real job skills so they won’t have to go back to welfare or jail, but will be able to support themselves and exist and contribute in society.

*Install a sea organ along the waterfront.

(We had to look that last one up.) Fewer than 1,000 people citywide have taken the survey so far – so take a few minutes and voice your ideas now! The survey is here.

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Missed the Frances Farmer walking tour? Special encore planned
August 19, 2011 1:23 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Transportation | West Seattle news

Following our story about Wednesday night’s Admiral District walking tour focusing on “The Life and Times of Frances Farmer,” the brilliant, beautiful, and tragic West Seattle-raised movie star, several commenters voiced regrets they’d missed it. Guess what – there’s going to be an encore! With a catch: It’s exclusively for participants in West Seattle In Motion, the walking/biking/transit/etc. initiative for which WSB is the media sponsor this year. Whether you are already a member, or sign up now, as long as you log your trips through WS In Motion next week (August 21st-27th), you’ll be entered into a drawing for one of the 30 spots on a special Museum of History and Industry-presented encore tour the evening of September 7th, guided again by “MOHAI Minute” video-series co-host Peder Nelson (left). Not signed up yet? You can do it from our WS In Motion page (where you can also check out the latest progress reports on the “savings” West Seattleites are scoring as part of the program). P.S. Other special deals/offers for West Seattle In Motion participants continue – including a discount on special activities as part of the August 27th Duwamish River Festival, and a discount this week at Cycle U. Photo by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Teens held up; home broken into
August 18, 2011 8:52 pm
|      30 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Hoping these will be the last ones for the night, but they couldn’t wait till tomorrow. Ann wants to send out a warning about the robbers who held up her son and friends in Westwood last night, and Jeanine sent word of a break-in this afternoon. Both reports ahead:Read More

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Video: LeRoy Bell & His Only Friends @ Hiawatha
August 18, 2011 7:23 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends have made some new friends tonight on Hiawatha Community Center‘s east lawn, and there’s still time to get here before 8 pm and be part of the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s weekly Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show. Video:

Music’s great, and the PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) Kid Picks van is here as usual with samples of healthy treats:

As much fun as the music is, it’s also fun to watch neighbors and friends catching up with each other – it’s like one big neighborhood party, with many families bringing dinner, kids running around, etc. Tonight’s guest emcee, West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen:

Two more shows in this year’s series (with co-sponsors including WSB) after tonight – Caspar Babypants next Thursday, and be sure to have the kids bring coins for the Wellspring drive (donors get the chance to win a custom CB song, as noted here earlier this week), and Star Anna for the final show on September 1st – ANA president Katy Walum says that night will include a diaper drive for WestSide Baby (early warning, get some before then and have them ready to bring along)! P.S. If you have any questions about the new Umpqua Bank branch coming to the Admiral District, Umpqua had reps here tabling tonight and they say they’ll be back next week. So far, it’s looking like a mid-October opening for the branch, they say.

One more upcoming event to mention – signs around the field are promoting the 100th birthday celebration for Hiawatha itself, coming up 11 am-5 pm Saturday, September 17th, with festivities including a 5K, basketball and pickleball tournaments, a barbecue, and concert.

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Ahead: West Seattle Rainbow Bingo; South Park ‘Lucha Libré’
August 18, 2011 7:21 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

2 lively local events up ahead, in West Seattle and South Park:

After a few months on hiatus, Rainbow Bingo returns to the Senior Center of West Seattle one week from tomorrow – Friday, August 26th, with Sylvia O’Stayformore (“Seattle’s Effervescent Hostess“). The night starts at 6 with Mariner Dogs, Teriyaki Chicken Burgers, Sloppy Joes, and cold drinks; 6:30 pm, music and entertainment; 7 pm, Tropical Rainbow BIngo! Admission by donation, and prepaying early gets you a discount – check out the Senior Center website at sc-ws.org.

Before then – South Park has a larger-than-life street party this Saturday:

The “Lucha Libre” Mexican-wrestling spectacular will be shakin’ the street 4-8 pm this Saturday (August 20th) at 14th and Cloverdale in South Park (map) – kids’ activities start at 4, the wrestling starts at 6. South Park is alive and kickin’, bridge or no bridge – construction’s starting to rev up, and you can check that out while you’re there – and they’re inviting their West Seattle neighbors (and the rest of the region!) to come join the party. Check out their new catchtheculture.org website, too.

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Traffic-alert update: NO Spokane St. Viaduct closure tonight
August 18, 2011 5:16 pm
|    Comments Off on Traffic-alert update: NO Spokane St. Viaduct closure tonight
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Just in from SDOT: Tonight’s scheduled westbound Spokane Street Viaduct closure (would have been the third night in a row) has been canceled; it’ll be rescheduled, but no date yet.

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$1 million bail for White Center murder suspect
August 18, 2011 2:55 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news | White Center

2:55 PM: A bail hearing for the 25-year-old man arrested on Wednesday in Highland Park in connection with Tuesday’s White Center murder has just ended in a King County Jail courtroom. WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand reports from KCJ that bail was set at $1 million; the suspect waived his right to appear in person, so was not there. Next step in the case will be a King County Prosecuting Attorney decision on filing charges (Monday’s the deadline), and of course two suspects remain at large – as the King County Sheriff’s Office noted in its official confirmation of the arrest (added today to our story from last night that first reported the suspect had been booked into jail).

3:22 PM UPDATE: A few more details have arrived in the probable-cause documents from prosecutors. Among them: Gang rivalry is believed to have caused the fight that led to the shooting of 23-year-old Sweetheart Failautusi. And this suspect (whom we won’t identify until he is charged) is alleged to have fired the deadly shots; we’ve transcribed the probable-cause allegation in our report on White Center Now.

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Seen in West Seattle: Grouchos return, after a year away
August 18, 2011 2:43 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Pigeon Point | Seen around town | West Seattle news

The Grouchos are back. They’re tougher to see than during their previous appearances on the north-facing slope alongside the eastbound West Seattle Bridge (our photo is from 2007) – but, as Patt posted on the WSB Facebook wall today, they’re back. Until last year, they seemed to appear magically each spring. This year, it turns out, they actually reappeared a few weeks ago, according to West Seattle writer Mark Bourne, who had chronicled them in the past; we contacted him this afternoon to mention the new sighting, and he pointed out he’d already written about it (with new photos showing they’ve multiplied!). Who puts them there? Still a mystery.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Cabiri aerial/trapeze equipment stolen
August 18, 2011 12:34 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

One of our area’s most distinctive nonprofit performing groups is the victim of a crime – and hoping you can help solve it. Just out of the WSB inbox:

The Cabiri is a nonprofit organization based in West Seattle. We offer aerial arts classes for adults at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center and provide performances at community events and festivals throughout the Seattle area. We perform at a wide variety of benefit events and provide scholarships for nearly 20% of our students and we need your help.

On Monday night, August 15th, our vehicle was broken into in front of our house in the Highland Park neighborhood of West Seattle and a bag was taken that contained some of our teaching aerial apparatus.

The bag was a standard issue military seabag about 42″ long and it contained two trapezes, multiple aerial tissu, several black steel locking Omega Pacific carabiners, several 18″, 36″ and 72″ Polyester Roundslings (spansets) with “Cabiri” written on them in black marker, multiple Petzl rescue swivels, multiple CMC steel rescue eights, a can of Tuf Skin spray rosin and an iPod connector cable.

Attached are sample images of the equipment for distribution.

If you see any of this equipment or anyone approaches you about purchasing the equipment, please be aware that it is stolen and is property of The Cabiri. Contact the police and then notify us. We have filed a police report and would very much like to get this expensive equipment back, which we cannot afford to replace at this time. Total value of the stolen equipment is approximately $2,500.

If you would like to make a donation to help us replace this stolen equipment, we welcome you to do so on our web site: anunnaki.org/page.php?page=contribute or in person at the Arts In Nature Festival this weekend at Camp Long in West Seattle. We and our students will be there performing all weekend on both Saturday and Sunday.

We are devastated at the loss of this essential equipment and thank you in advance for helping us spread the word in hopes that it will make a safe return to us.

Sincerely,

Charly McCreary
Managing Director
The Cabiri performance troupe
http://www.cabiri.org

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SDOT weekend traffic alerts, including West Seattle/South Park
August 18, 2011 11:59 am
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 |   South Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Besides the southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct closure from 11 pm Friday night through 5 am Monday morning (at the latest), there are other traffic advisories around the city this weekend – so as usual, we’re sharing the official SDOT roundup (which includes, in West Seattle, Picnic at the Southwest Precinct, 1-4 pm Saturday, and in South Park, the “Lucha Libre” Mexican-wrestling spectacular street party 4-8 pm Saturday) – read on!Read More

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West Seattle Thursday: Traffic alert; concert; barbecue; more
August 18, 2011 9:59 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Thursday: Traffic alert; concert; barbecue; more
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

That’s a 2010 clip of LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends, the group that headlines Summer Concerts at Hiawatha tonight – one of the highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

TRAFFIC ALERT: The westbound Spokane Street Viaduct is scheduled to be closed again overnight tonight, starting earlier than the past two nights – 10 pm-5 am.

KENNEY BARBECUE: Family, friends, and neighbors are invited to the annual summer barbecue on the Seaview lawn at The Kenney (WSB sponsor), 5 pm. Bring a donation for West Seattle Food Bank.

SHOP LATE THURSDAYS: Another edition of Shop Late Thursdays in The Junction, till 9 pm; participants’ list here – check with your favorite shops to see if they’re offering Thursday-night deals!

SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: Tonight, the fourth of six concerts in this summer’s series (with co-sponsors including WSB) – get a taste of LeRoy Bell‘s music in the clip above; show’s at 6:30 pm on the east lawn of Hiawatha Community Center; bring your own blanket/chair.

FREE PARENTING WORKSHOP: 7 pm at Alki Arts: “Creating a Whole and Healthy Family,” with Bill Dean, free. This is for parents who are concerned about their kids who may be … struggling, or who just want to find out how to assist their children as they begin to traverse the slippery slope of adolescence.

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