silent is fuck West Seattle Blog… | 2012 | May

West Seattle, Washington

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month : 05/2012 328 results

West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2012 countdown! 6 days
May 6, 2012 10:01 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

garagesaledaysmalllog5.jpgYes, we know the extended forecast is tough to rely on this far out, BUT we have to say we’re excited that the projection is for SUNSHINE next Saturday – the 8th annual edition of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, with 245+ sales of all sizes, all over the peninsula! Have you seen the map yet? It has its own page here on WSB again this year – note the tab (with purple text) at the top right of WSB pages. The online version – with a right-side list of addresses, each of which you can click to go to that specific sale and find out more (via an info-bubble) – is there now. The printable version, with all 245+ listings plus numbered map sections, will be linked from that page (among other places) once it’s ready to go. Whether you’re a seller or a shopper, thanks in advance for joining in the person-to-person-recycling, meet-your-neighbors, explore-West-Seattle fun, next Saturday! And keep an eye on the WSCGSD Facebook page, where sellers are welcome to post photos/more info about their sales – we suggest using the sale #, now that it’s available via the online map (numbers will be the same on the printable version), to make sure everybody knows WHICH sale you’re showcasing.

5:40 PM UPDATE: The printable map is available now too – get it here, or any time from the aforementioned page on which you’ll also find the online map.

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Maintenance work Tuesday at Murray Pump Station
May 6, 2012 9:07 am
|    Comments Off on Maintenance work Tuesday at Murray Pump Station
 |   Utilities | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

Quick note for the Lowman Beach area – the county Wastewater Treatment Division will be doing “some planned maintenance work” at the Murray Pump Station this Tuesday. County spokesperson Annie Kolb-Nelson says it’s NOT related to the combined-sewer overflow control project across the street from the pump station and park, but since you might wonder about that if you see the work crews on Tuesday, she’s sharing the heads-up. Crews will be there 8 am-2 pm; the county’s flyer has more details on exactly what they’ll do and what they’ll use.

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West Seattle Sunday: On the beach, at the Market…
May 6, 2012 8:37 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Sunday: On the beach, at the Market…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Sunny Sunday highlights here:

(Photo courtesy Port of Seattle, taken after Oosterdam docked this morning)
CRUISE SHIP SEASON BEGINS: The Port of Seattle’s first ship of the season is here. Holland America Line’s Oosterdam is docked in Magnolia, but visitors are still everywhere, reports a WSB team member just back from the other side of the bay. (The port’s cruise-ship schedule for this year is here [PDF].)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Here’s their announcement of what’s new today:

Wine and Cider Sampling: Rockridge Orchards & Cidery
Kids’ Tent: The WS Junction Association w/a crafts, giveaways, and a workout routine!

Welcome new creamery Mountain Lodge Farm with FRESH CHEVRE!!

10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska in The Junction.

ALSO AT THE MARKET – BRING YOUR MUGS/GLASSES: Sustainable West Seattle‘s mugs/glasses collection drive – to have a set of reusable dishes for events – is scheduled to be part of their booth at the market today (here’s our original story).

LOW/HIGH TIDES, AND TWO CHANCES TO SEE THE BEACH WITH NATURALISTS: Just after 11:30 this morning, the tide will be minus three feet – one of the lowest tides of the year. A naturalist-led walk is scheduled for 10:15 am across from Me-Kwa Mooks (Beach Drive) and Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists will be south of Alki Point and on the Lincoln Park beach (usually near Colman Pool) starting at 10:30 am.

FAMILY FRISBEE: West Seattle Ultimate Family Frisbee (here’s the WSUFF Facebook page) plays at Fairmount Park, 11 am.

GIRLS ROCK MATH OPEN HOUSE: 2-6 pm today, you’re invited to come find out more about Girls Rock Math (WSB sponsor) at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) – details in the calendar listing. (Also, check out GRM’s new coupon on the WSB Coupons page.)

‘HIPSTER BLUES’: That’s how PK Dwyer‘s music is described in the announcement we published in the calendar; catch PK at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) 3-5 pm today.

WSUU CONCERT: The Westside Unitarian Universalists‘ Chamber Choir performs at 4 pm today at WSUU’s church (7141 California SW), all invited; admission by donation. Details in the calendar listing.

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Seen the ‘supermoon’? Go take a look! And tidewalk tomorrow
May 5, 2012 9:06 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Thanks to Brian Coy for the photo! Added 10:49 pm)
9:06 PM: The sky’s clear enough to see the “supermoon” on the rise in the east – go take a look! It’ll have an orange cast until it gets a bit higher in the sky.

(Thanks to Danny Vinci for this photo shared via the WSB Facebook page)
9:21 PM: It’s losing the orange cast as it continues to rise – still a beautiful bright full moon, though. And as previously noted, the tides are getting interesting too. Even today, it was a notable minus tide – Doug B shared this photo via Flickr:

Alki low tide

Tomorrow’s low tide will be even lower (minus three feet just after 11:30 am) – and Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists will make their debut south of Alki Point and at Lincoln Park, too – locations and schedule here.

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Happening now: ‘Wine for Our Times’ at Highland Park Improvement Club
May 5, 2012 6:57 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news

At the Highland Park Improvement Club tonight, festive gift baskets await the raffle that’s yet to come at the popular “Wine for Our Times” celebration – and it has a special purpose tonight: It will benefit Martha Mallett, longtime HPIC member whom the club describes as their “raffle queen,” and her son Brian, who lost their belongings in the 20th SW house fire a few days ago. It’s just part of the outpouring shown to the fire survivors; earlier today, as previewed here, neighbors sold hot dogs and lemonade, and we are told Martha stopped by.

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When school’s out, learning can continue; see how, next Saturday
May 5, 2012 4:15 pm
|    Comments Off on When school’s out, learning can continue; see how, next Saturday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

With summer vacation only a month and a half away, families are finalizing plans for what their kids will be up to this summer – and learning can be part of it, even with school out till September. That’s the message of a symposium next Saturday to which all parents are invited, and it’s here in West Seattle, at Chief Sealth International High School. The event coordinated by Seattle Public Schools is called “Building Bridges for Summer Learning,” and along with workshops and a resource fair, you can check out workshops and enjoy a free breakfast and light lunch – kids’ activities are planned too. You don’t have to RSVP – just show up next Saturday; it’ll be ongoing, 9:30 am-2:30 pm The district’s Office of School-Family Partnerships is organizing it; here’s a webpage with full details.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Search in North Delridge
May 5, 2012 2:42 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

2:42 PM: Via Facebook and Twitter, we’ve been told of a police search in North Delridge. People in the area say they were told police are looking for a man who might be armed. They’ve blocked off SW Brandon in the vicinity of 26th SW on the boundary of Camp Long, and tow crews are there, reportedly because of a stolen car. We’re working to find out more. No report of any injury related to this so far.

2:55 PM UPDATE: Per the scanner, police are reopening SW Brandon.

3:30 PM UPDATE: A little more information from police – a car went into a ditch; a man and woman were heard yelling, and she apparently said he had a gun, then somebody reported hearing what sounded like a shot. A K-9 team was brought in to look for the man (no word at this point about the woman who was yelling) but couldn’t find him.

7:34 PM UPDATE: Lt. Alan Williams from the Southwest Precinct has a full summary of the incident tonight: “An adult male assaulted his 17 yr old girlfriend in an automobile, during which time he drove recklessly and crashed into the woods south of the West Seattle Golf course.  The suspect fired a shot at the victim and then fled into the woods.  The car sustained a bullet hole through the passenger door outward, but the victim was not hit.  A large wooded area between the West Seattle Golf course and High Point was contained and 2 K-9 units tracked/searched the wooded area for an extended period of time without locating the suspect.”

(SPD Blotter featured this case a few hours after we published that update.)

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West Seattle weekend scene: WS Montessori plant sale
May 5, 2012 12:30 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

From left, Payton, Caleb, and Sasha are among the young gardeners whose work is on sale right now at the annual West Seattle Montessori/WS Academy (WSB sponsor) plant sale, till 3 pm at 11214 15th SW. The school website even has a list of what they’ve been growing for the occasion. Leading the project: teacher Clary Gasper:

Proceeds from the sale – which also includes plants donated by Village Green Perennial Nursery (WSB sponsor) – are going toward greenhouse equipment and pre-primary botany.

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West Seattle Saturday: Cinco de Mayo; plants; music; moon…
May 5, 2012 8:19 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Maples at Fauntleroy Park, photographed earlier this week)
The sun should appear this afternoon, if not sooner (we see patches of blue out there even now)! From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

CITYWIDE TRAFFIC ALERTS: No bridge closures or other major road work planned in our area this weekend, but the city is now sending out its weekly list of weekend events elsewhere that might land you in a major traffic snarl if you (a) have to leave West Seattle and (b) are not forewarned. So – as published here Thursday – here’s the latest list.

FREE PANCAKES! From partner site White Center Now – till 10 this morning, it’s the annual McLendon Hardware pancake breakfast in WC.

WEST SEATTLE MONTESSORI/WEST SEATTLE ACADEMY PLANT SALE: Big sale with more than “just” plants – organic soil, bake sale, too – but the plants themselves are notable for reasons including: Students’ vegetable starts, donated plants from Village Green Perennial Nursery (which like WSMS is a WSB sponsor), more. 9 am-3 pm (11215 15th SW)

LOW TIDE, HIGH TIDE, AND SUPERMOON: As noted here yesterday, we’re starting several days of water- and sky-watching – today, low tide is -2.1 just before 11 am and high tide is 11.5 just before 6 pm (here’s the monthly chart), while this evening’s moonrise – if visible – is one worth watching for the “supermoon” appearance.

NEIGHBORHOOD BENEFIT FOR FIRE SURVIVORS: Neighbors of the Highland Park mother and son who survived a house fire this past week are offering hot dogs and lemonade this afternoon for donations on their behalf.

BOREN BEAUTIFICATION: Join families of this fall’s first K-5 STEM at Boren school enrollees, and other community members, to help pull weeds and otherwise tidy up outside the Boren Building in the 5900 block of Delridge, 1-5 pm (here’s our preview).

CRAFTS AND DRAUGHTS: The arts/crafts sale at Skylark Café is back, 4-7 pm today (3803 Delridge Way SW).

SEATTLE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL BENEFIT DINNER: Tonight at the SLHS gym, starting at 5 pm, with special guests Nesby Glasgow and Deacon Demetrius Deke Devers. Details in our preview from earlier this week. (41st/Genesee)

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL/SOFTBALL BENEFIT DINNER: Spaghetti, raffle/auction, and more, in the WSHS Commons, starting at 7:30 pm. Details in the preview published here Friday morning. (3000 California SW)

CINCO DE MAYO SPECIALS: Menu and drink specials at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction (6451 California SW).

CINCO DE MAYO PIG ROASTS: Mission in the Admiral District – starting at noon, teaming with the Swinery – and Fresh Bistro in The Junction (between 5 and 11 pm) are both having pig roasts to mark Cinco de Mayo.

WINE FOR OUR TIMES: It might be the Highland Park Improvement Club‘s most popular event of the year. Doors open 6 pm; full details on the HPIC website. (12th and Holden)

WHITE CENTER JUBILEE DAYS GALA … IN WEST SEATTLE: At Youngstown Cultural Arts Center tonight, the big party will be on behalf of Jubilee Days, WC’s summer festival, with music, food, drinks, and a silent auction. 6:30 pm – details and ticket info on the WCJD website. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

LIVE MUSIC: 6-8 pm, Steve Jordan plays at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) … 8 pm, King County Queens, The Thing Changers, the Fuzz, at Skylark … 9 pm, The Throbs are at The Poggie in The Junction … 9 pm, Aaron Zig, Better Left Unsaid at the Benbow Room in the Admiral District … (Got music? Let us know so we can include it in the WSB calendar and previews!)

‘ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW’: As usual on the first Saturday of each month, the night concludes at midnight with “Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Admiral Theater, including a “shadow cast.”

ONE WEEK TILL WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE DAY: Check back here later today if you want to preview the official maps, which will be available, free, online this afternoon, with locations and information about next Saturday’s 245+ sales, so you can start planning!

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1 week till West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2012! Maps available later today
May 5, 2012 12:44 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

garagesaledaysmalllog5.jpgNow that it’s Saturday … we are officially one week away from the 8th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – 9 am-3 pm next Saturday, May 12th! As promised, the maps showing all 245+ sales – clickable online version and printable/downloadable PDF version – will be available today, and as usual, it’s down to the wire for us completing them, doublechecking them, etc. Just wanted to get a mention here in case you are a seller or shopper eagerly anticipating next Saturday – a few sellers have stumbled into PREVIOUS YEARS’ maps out there in the archives and mistakenly thought they had been left off the map – no, the 2012 maps are NOT online as of this early-early-am writing. We’ll announce it here in our 5 official channels (here, westseattlegaragesale.com, the WSCGSD Facebook page, the WSB Facebook page, and the WSB Twitter feed) when they are. Thank you!

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Roxhill Elementary meeting touts ‘magical place’ that needs ‘worthy’ building
May 4, 2012 9:30 pm
|    Comments Off on Roxhill Elementary meeting touts ‘magical place’ that needs ‘worthy’ building
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Lots of love, lots of concern, and lots of questions.

That’s the three-part bottom line for last night’s two-part community meeting at Roxhill Elementary School.

It was originally announced three weeks ago as a chance for the school’s community to speak out about what was at the time a possibility that Seattle Public Schools‘ forthcoming BEX IV levy might result in the closure of Roxhill and its “merger” into a large new elementary school on the Arbor Heights campus a mile and a half away.

That option is not in the newest levy draft, though nothing’s officially ruled out, either, given that the BEX-IV plan won’t be finalized till a School Board vote this fall. But since it’s not currently in play, the plan for last night’s meeting morphed to a two-part mission: Advocacy for Roxhill’s needs, and a West Seattle-wide look at how BEX-IV might best benefit the peninsula, with high-profile district reps there to listen – West Seattle’s board rep Marty McLaren, and assistant superintendent Pegi McEvoy.

Roxhill principal Carmela Dellino (right) presided over the first part, which included not just advocacy, but also passionate testimonials about her school.

It was that passion, in fact, she suggested, that led to the closure/”merger” proposal getting shelved. “We had 300 surveys returned from our families and staff that said ‘no’ – there was not one supporting a merger. It was a clear message.” She described her school as “an incredibly magical place.”

Even a “magical” place, though, “has to be safe” – and that’s part of why she and the school community want someplace new.

Read More

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High-school sports: Carne Asada Bowl trophy goes to Sealth
May 4, 2012 7:25 pm
|    Comments Off on High-school sports: Carne Asada Bowl trophy goes to Sealth
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

The sun dropped in for a while during this afternoon’s Carne Asada Bowl soccer game/cookout at Southwest Athletic Complex, with Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks beating the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center (aka Seattle World School) Internationals – which means they get the trophy, with which we got head coach Ron Johnson to pose:

The Carne Asada Bowl is about more than soccer – Sealth athletic director Sam Reed described it in his announcement as “a way to unite two communities that share much in common – many of our past and current Chief Sealth players have transitioned into high school through the BOC – and celebrate soccer as a diverse, worldwide sport.” Celebrations, of course, mean food:

The feast was free, thanks to lots of help, including parents, other supporters, and faculty – like Sealth’s Delfino Muñoz, who cooked up the event’s namesake Carne Asada:

He was all smiles at the big turnout for today’s game – Sealth’s acclaimed band played too:

Next stop for the Metro Sound Division-winning home team, the playoffs – one more look at the field today:

We’ll have the postseason games in the calendar soon as they’re announced.

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West Seattle’s Nature Consortium shares wisdom – internationally!
May 4, 2012 4:31 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

West Seattle-based Nature Consortium got the chance to share its wisdom this week with visitors from thousands of miles away. The World Affairs Council brought over a delegation from South Africa to talk with half a dozen NC team members “about how we engage and empower youth and exchange ideas with them,” as NC founder/executive director Nancy Whitlock explained it. “It was a really great meeting.” The visiting delegation included a member of South Africa’s Parliament and representatives of organizations including Heal the Hood. Next week, one of their restoration work parties will have guest participants from Burma, also here to visit the WAC (which is located on the downtown waterfront).

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West Seattle water and sky: Extreme tides, and ‘supermoon’
May 4, 2012 1:21 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

A few bonus reasons to go outside the next several days/nights … very low and very high tides, plus the “supermoon”! The latter arrives at moonrise Saturday evening – Space.com has details. And along with this month’s full moon come some very high and very low tides. Today’s low tide at midmorning – when we took the cameraphone photo above, during a brief Alki visit – was a modestly low minus tide, but as our favorite monthly tide table shows, the lows get lower over the next few days, bottoming out at -3.4 just after noon on Monday (one of the lowest daytime low tides of the year). At the same time, the high tides are higher than usual, topping out at 12 feet (or slightly past that) Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday evenings.

SIDE NOTE: Any time you are interested in sunrise/set, moonrise/set, and tide information, that’s part of what we provide (automated so you can trust it’s always updated) on the WSB Weather page – follow that link OR click the “Weather” tab below the header on any WSB page.

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Followup: Seattle Public Schools now wants your opinion on transportation plans that could change ‘bell times’
May 4, 2012 11:20 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

We have followups today on the Seattle Public Schools board considering a staff recommendation to change the transportation plan for next year because of a budget problem, as reported here Wednesday afternoon. A transportation-plan change in turn would change start/end times for most if not all schools, since they are linked to bus arrival/departure times, and the last-minute discovery of this agenda item led to an outcry because part of the proposal could dramatically change those “bell times.” The video above is from Wednesday night’s board meeting – the second of two clips published by Seattle Channel; forward it to about 95 minutes in, when the discussion on this topic finally began. West Seattle’s school-board director Marty McLaren said during the meeting that she had talked with WS High School principal Ruth Medsker on how a much-earlier start time would affect high-school students, many of whom take Metro buses – often being passed frequently by already-full buses – and McLaren said her understanding is that this could have a “catastrophic impact” on that situation, especially considering an anti-tardiness campaign that she said has been working well at WSHS, and has led to improved academic performance.

Among other things, the district manager who briefed the board Wednesday acknowledged that this had all unfolded without public input – in fact, he said the “accelerated project” did not “allow” it. But today, the district has put out an update on where the situation stands, now REQUESTING public input before the school board’s possible vote on May 16th. You can read their full update here. Right now, district staffers are doing more “analysis” of various options and promised to have that by next Friday (May 11th). This all has to be finalized soon, the district says, because start/end times have to be set in stone for next year by the end of this month.

Got something to say to the district? Here’s the address: transdept@seattleschools.org

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Video: Inspiration + fashion = NW Hope & Healing’s ‘Style ’12’
May 4, 2012 10:28 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

On and off the runway, smiles, words of hope, and flourishes of fashion were the order of the night at Northwest Hope and Healing‘s “Style ’12” event last night at Showbox SODO. The video above is courtesy of Edgar Riebe at Captive Eye Media – the survivors you’ll see and hear from in his clip include West Seattle’s three-time survivor and fundraiser extraordinaire Tracy Dart (who told Edgar, “It’s fun to feel pretty in front of 500 people, and to show that you made it out on the other side”), the keynote speaker. West Seattle businesses participating included >West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), Ola Salon, and boutiques Carmilia’s, Sweetie, and Coastal. This summer, as usual, there’s a big West Seattle fundraiser for NW Hope and Healing: The 5K Alki Beach Run/Walk on August 26 (yes, registration is already open!).

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West Seattle Friday: Food bank, Roxhill benefits; Musica Sacra…
May 4, 2012 9:06 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Machel Spence photographed this saw-whet owl with her cameraphone by Pathfinder K-8)
Happy Friday! The forecast promises some weekend sun. Here are highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

(added) CARNE ASADA BOWL: A soccer celebration at Chief Sealth International High School! Today’s reminder from athletic director Sam Reed:

Today’s the day for the 5th Annual Carne Asada Bowl, the annual soccer game between the CSI Seahawks and the SBOC Internationals!

Former Principal John Boyd, a former principal of both schools actually, came up with the idea years ago as a way to unite two communities that share much in common – many of our past and current Chief Sealth players have transitioned into high school through the BOC – and celebrate soccer as a diverse, worldwide sport. Current Sealth Principal Chris Kinsey took the idea and ran with it, ensuring that we will keep the traditional alive!

The event features a game between the two teams, a giant trophy for the winning team, and a community feast including Carne Asada prepared by Sealth’s own Delfino Munoz and a myriad of sides prepared by Sealth soccer supporters including parents Dave and Nenita Rosario.

The best part? This is yet another free event, with soccer starting at 4:00pm and food following – Don’t worry, the players, referees and coaches all get to eat first!

FREE TEEN ZUMBA: 5 pm tonight at Southwest Teen Life Center (2801 SW Thistle).

‘INSTRUMENTS OF CHANGE’: The West Seattle Food Bank‘s annual dinner/auction benefit is tonight at The Hall at Fauntleroy, social time at 5:30, dinner at 7, keynote speaker Ron Sims. (Usually sold out, but lots of other ways to support WS Food Bank!)

WINE TASTING: Bin 41 in The Junction features Dusted Valley from Walla Walla with winemaker Chad Johnson, 6-7:30 pm.

ROXHILL ELEMENTARY ‘NIGHT FOR THE STARS’: Work downtown? Don’t leave – go to the Roxhill fundraiser “Night for the Stars” at 415 Westlake, 6:30 pm. Full details in our original preview.

‘SACRED MUSIC, DIFFERENT VIEWS’: Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale‘s concert is at Holy Rosary Church tonight at 7:30 pm – concert details here.

FRIDAY NIGHTLIFE: Alan Ehrlich performs at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) 6-8 pm; also, live music at Skylark Café and Club at 9 pm – check their site for the lineup; the Benbow Room has live music at 9 too (here’s their lineup).

Preview the weekend via the calendar (and let us know if we’re missing something)!

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Another benefit! WSHS baseball/softball dinner Saturday
May 4, 2012 7:49 am
|    Comments Off on Another benefit! WSHS baseball/softball dinner Saturday
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Late last night we mentioned a few upcoming fundraisers for which tickets are still available – and just found out about one more! Co-chair Kim Gearon sends word of tomorrow night’s West Seattle High School Baseball and Softball Teams’ spaghetti dinner/auction/raffle. It’s the teams’ biggest fundraiser of the year. Tickets are $7 (available at the door), with dinner served beginning at 5:30 pm in the WSHS Commons (3000 California SW). Kim notes that the proceeds will help cover many expenses beyond the limited amount allocated to the school’s athletic budget, from equipment to uniforms to transportation. (You can get to the Commons through the gates that open onto the school’s parking lot facing California SW, near the illuminated sign on the school’s west side.)

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This weekend’s traffic alerts for the rest of the city
May 4, 2012 7:12 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | West Seattle news

Yet one more sign that spring/summer events are here – SDOT‘s first major citywide alert of big events around Seattle that might affect traffic, starting with tonight’s Mariners game – read on if you’re planning to be outside West Seattle this weekend (or if you’re just curious what else is up!). P.S. for food-truck fans, the Sunday Mobile Food Rodeo in Fremont will affect who’s in West Seattle that day (Snout and Co. told us last weekend they’re skipping West Seattle this Sunday as a result):Read More

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3 fun(draisers) ahead: Jubilee Days, WestSide Baby, West Seattle 5K
May 3, 2012 9:51 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | White Center

Before we all go summer-crazed in another month or so, there are multiple chances to have fun while fun(draising). Three quick reminders tonight:

WHITE CENTER JUBILEE DAYS GALA AND AUCTION: The folks working hard to make this year’s WC Jubilee Days the liveliest ever are coming to West Seattle on Saturday night to celebrate and round up some $ toward their cause. Small plates, cash bar, music, and bidding! You are invited – 6:30 pm May 5th at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center; you can buy tickets online here.

WESTSIDE BABY BENEFIT – THE ‘SHAKE, RATTLE, AND ROLL’ COCKTAIL PARTY: Just two weeks till The Hall at Fauntleroy rocks for WestSide Baby, 7 pm May 18th – Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) sends award-winning cocktail creator Matt Johnson to do the drinks, The Mountain’s Marty Riemer is emcee, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering provides the appetizers, Not Dead Yet plays the music, and the auction items include a Walla Walla wine getaway and a Palm Desert spring break getaway. You have to buy tickets in advance – click TICKETS near the top of this page.

LAST CHANCE FOR WEST SEATTLE 5K EARLYBIRD DISCOUNT: Tonight’s your last chance to save $5 on signing up for the 4th annual West Seattle 5K, which is just two weeks away – Sunday, May 20th, along Alki, the kickoff to “car-free” Seattle Summer Streets as usual. The walk/run is a benefit for the West Seattle High School PTSA (and again this year, WSB is among the co-sponsors). Register online here.

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Transportation questions dominate mayor’s West Seattle Town Hall
May 3, 2012 6:13 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Mayor McGinn has just wrapped up a two-hour visit to West Seattle, starting with a walking tour that began at Mountain to Sound Outfitters in The Triangle…

… and then moving on to an hour-long Town Hall Q/A session at the Senior Center of West Seattle. We’ll be adding more photos, but first, here’s our as-it-happened highlights from the Q and A:

QUESTION: Dick Hurley said he’s lived in West Seattle more than 30 years and sees lots of transportation expenditures “while my alley has fallen apart – it’s so bad that cars will bottom out, just in my alley.” He wondered why Local Improvement Districts to fix things like that are no longer available.

MAYOR: “It’s news to me … I’ve always thought we should make it easier to form those, because if people want to tax themselves, we should make it easier to form one.” He talked about his history in the Greenwood neighborhood and getting sidewalks put in to alleviate pedestrian challenges. He went on to acknowledge that the city has been neglecting road problems, though he is “blowing away pothole records set by previous administrations” – though he would just as soon not have the potholes there in need of filling. And he wishes he could find more funding for street and right-of-way improvements/repairs: “That’s what makes this special down here, how it feels on the street.”

QUESTION: From Sam with Standup America: “I spoke to you at another town hall last week about the salary gap” – he meant the mayor’s salary: “You’re talking about money you can’t get for roadways, but you’re giving yourself an annual increase … Why do you think it’s right that your income continually grows while (others’ income doesn’t)?” An audience member asks where Sam lives; “Capitol Hill” he replies.

Much more ahead, including news of a major paving project for Delridge Way:Read More

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Update: Final defendant in Steve Bushaw murder pleads guilty to manslaughter
May 3, 2012 4:34 pm
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 |   Crime | West Seattle news

The last defendant in the case of the February 2009 murder of lifelong West Seattleite Steve Bushaw (right) will NOT be going to trial after all – he pleaded guilty today. A status hearing was scheduled for Brandon Chaney, the only one of four original defendants who had not either pleaded guilty or been convicted (a jury deadlocked on his fate during the double trial last summer that resulted in Bryce Huber‘s conviction). We just checked on the court files, and there’s a document filed that says:

This cause comes before the Court for change of plea.

State’s motion to amend information to Count I, Manslaughter in the 2nd Degree with Firearm, and Count II, Felony Rendering Criminal Assistance in the 1st Degree.

Motion is granted.

The Court signs Order Permitting Filing of Amended Information. The Second Amended Information is filed.

Defendant is arraigned on Second Amended Information, and enters a plea of guilty. The Court inquires of Defendant, and accepts the plea. Statement of Defendant on Plea of Guilty is executed. Sentencing date is set for May 10, 2012 at 8:45 a.m.

Chaney was described as the getaway driver; he was tried last summer along with Huber, who was described as the person who planned the murder. The two men who shot at Bushaw in The Junction the night he was killed, John Sylve and Danny O’Neal, both pleaded guilty to murder. More to come.

10:26 PM NOTE: No further documents in the case have been available tonight, but we’re hoping to get them tomorrow, to find out more about the recommended sentence, for starters. (Huber was sentenced to 31 years; O’Neal, to 15 years; Sylve, to 20 years.) We’ll publish a separate followup when we know more.

ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe tells WSB they’re asking for a 70-month sentence for Chaney – that’s five years and 10 months. KCPAO also provided a court document that was not available online when we published our first report last night – it includes Chaney’s statement that “I caused the death of Steve Bushaw, by criminal negligence, I was failing to be aware of the substantial risk that death may occur because of the others’ actions and words. They were armed with pistols … Also I prevented/hindered/delayed the discovery and/or apprehension of the others – whom I knew had committed murder … by transporting them and concealing weapons.”

According to court documents, Chaney was present during the home-invasion robbery two weeks before the murder that was central to the murder motive. The victim sold marijuana, in addition to working as a longshoreman, and the home-invasion robbery happened at the home of his supplier. The robbers were said to have been on the phone with someone during the robbery, and the robbery victim believed it was Bushaw, and that he had orchestrated the home-invasion robbery. However, he was never arrested or charged, and as the case unfolded – the arrests came 10 months after the murder – police said Bushaw had not even been a suspect.

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West Seattle fire followup: Neighborhood benefit for victims
May 3, 2012 4:28 pm
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 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(Tuesday photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
Just in from Lisa, via WSB comments following our coverage of the Tuesday night fire on 20th SW:

Hi everyone, just want to get the word out that as neighbors and friends of the family, we are having a fundraiser hot dog & lemonade sale for the family this Saturday. Our front lawn at 8442 20th Ave SW, just three doors down. My husband will be grilling hot dogs from noon-5 pm for a minimum donation of $2 and my daughter will be selling lemonade for donations. We have been in contact with the granddaughter and we will be giving all monies to her to give to Martha and her son. Martha was always very involved in the community and we hope that same community will come by and show their support.

Lisa says Martha’s community involvement included being a longtime member of Highland Park Improvement Club: “We know she lost everything, so hopefully with the money we make she can go out and get some basic necessities. More than anything we want to show our support as neighbors and give back to a very wonderful person who has given so much to her community.”

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