November 2010

Swanson’s Nursery is once again home to reindeer Blitzer and Dasher, who will be staying at the nursery until Christmas.

This is the eighth year of the Reindeer Festival and each year they attract hundreds of kids, said retail manager, Leslie Bruckner.

“They love it here because we spoil them,” she said. “And it’s great for kids. How often do they get to see a real reindeer up close?”

Male reindeer lose their antlers in early fall meaning that Blitzen and Dasher, who still have their large antlers, are both female.

For the next two weekends, Santa will visit the nursery from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and a third reindeer will be brought in to stand for photos for this event. While Blitzen and Dasher are people-friendly, the third reindeer has been specially trained to stand still for hours at a time, Bruckner said.

“Kids get to take pictures with Santa and pet the reindeer and we”ll have cider and cookies,” Bruckner said. “It’s a great way to get into the holiday spirit.”

Also visiting this year are Curly, the curious camel and his companion, Moe, the miniature donkey.

Bruckner said that the animals are fun for kids and good for business.

Locöl Barley and Vine, a wine and beer pub soon to open at 7902 35th Ave SW in West Seattle has been in the process of getting ready for more than eight months.

Owners Kyle Duce and Shane Whittall have endured the long bureaucratic process and now with only a few weeks until they open they are asking for help from the neighborhood.

The business is essentially self financed and the time spent waiting for official wheels to turn has taken a toll. During the construction process Whittall said, "We would have a lot of people come up to us and ask if there was some way they could help. We know that people don't have a lot of cash but we decided we might be able to give our friends and future customers a unique way to help us launch."

The company is sponsoring a "Community Puzzle", literally a jigsaw puzzle in which customers can purchase a piece. The puzzle will be 3 feet by 4 feet in dimension and will be an image once completed. Each piece purchased will have the name of the person who contributed on a plaque adjacent to the puzzle on permanent display.

The 2nd Annual Chief Sealth International High School Spirt Dinner and Auction Thursday, Nov. 18 was well attended with over 200 community members on hand. The live auction, and Funded Item sale raised more than $12,000 for the school though the final total from all auction items will be tallied later.

The event featured a silent auction with more than 190 items donated and bid on, ranging from wine to a "ride along" with the Seattle Police Department.

The Sealth Band was on hand to play as well as the Orchestra and the Choir who sang in the Galleria.

Both silent and live auction duties were handled by well known Seattle radio personality Stephen Kilbreath. Helping out as readers for the evening were Lori Douglas and Peter Junkerman.

The goal of the event was to raise money to support the students of Sealth with a focus on academics, the arts, athletics, and student activities.

On hand and organizing the event were Amy Daly-Donovan Chief Sealth PTSA President, Liz Strongman, Chief Sealth Performing Arts President and Debbie Taylor Friends of Sealth President.

EDIT: Changed the point at which the city sends a letter to speeders from 20 mph over the speed limit to 20 percent over the limit.

With frustration over speeding in their neighborhoods, West Seattleites had an opportunity to meet with Seattle Department of Transportation associate civil engineer Jane Rebelowski on Nov. 17 as the first step in slowing down traffic.

Each month SDOT holds a Neighborhood Traffic Calming meeting for residents of non-arterial streets, generally at different libraries throughout Seattle. The Nov. 17 meeting was held in the West Seattle Library meeting room and about 15 residents showed up to begin the process of slowing drivers down.

And showing up is a required first step, Rebelowski said. SDOT requires that at least one representative from the block show up for a monthly meeting where they sign up for further information in SDOT’s two phase process of slowing drivers down.

After attending the meeting, people are sent an enrollment form and must get the signature of five other houses on their block before SDOT will move forward, Rebelowski said.

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has approved the City of Des Moines' recently updated Shoreline Master Program.
Among provisions of Des Moines' approved plan is a requirement that a minimum buffer of 115 feet be maintained from the ordinary high water mark for properties in areas designated Urban Conservancy or Shoreline Residential.

Meanwhile, Ecology has established a comment period and set a public hearing date for Burien's Shoreline Management Program update.
The comment period ends on Dec. 17 at 5 p.m. The public hearing is scheduled for December 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Burien council chambers.

Following the comment period Ecology will determine if Burien's plan complies with state guideline requirements. The agency can approve it as submitted by the city, approve it with changes, or reject it.
Citizens can submit written comments and questions to: Regional Planner Bob Fritzen, 1440 10th Street, Suite 102, Bellingham, WA 98225 or email: bob.fritzen@ecy.wa.gov.

Press Release:
South Seattle Community College’s Landscape Horticulture program and Arboretum received Envirostar™ certification on November 3 from the King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks Local Hazardous Waste Management Program. The program received the highest rating possible, five out of five stars. This award acknowledges the program’s commitment to environmentally responsible practices.

LHO student Bridget Kelsh worked with instructors Van Bobbitt, Sarah Skamser, arboretum gardeners and Dean Mike Ryan on the application process. The group developed an integrated pest management policy for the horticulture complex. Envirostar™ program coordinator Lisa Neihaus inspected the site and determined it met all criteria for the certification.

This is the second Envirostar™ certification awarded to a South program. Earlier this year, South’s Automotive Collision Repair program earned certification.

At the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement hearing on Wednesday opinions among attendees differed but they were there for a common purpose: to get informed.

In an educational setting, attendees moved from station to station, asked questions and submitted their comments.

“We do these stations a lot because it lets people go around and find what they’re interested in whether that is the construction process, the tolling, the environmental process or the building settlement,” said Travis Phelps from WSDOT Communications.

“These are complex ideas but here they’re written and explained for the average person not engineers.”

Ballard resident Anthony Boscolo attended the hearing to get informed.

“The average person can’t follow up on the many stages of the process. I’m just here to figure out what stage they’re on,” he said.

Boscolo commutes around town on his bicycle but said he still relies on the viaduct for trips to the airport or to get out of town.

“As long as bicycle travel isn’t impacted, I’m for below ground,” he said.

“I think it will have a positive impact on the city as a whole. It will make it more livable and attract more tourists.”

On Monday, the Design Review Board will hear from Scott Thompson of Weber Thompson and their proposal to build a six-story mixed use, retail-residential building to replace the old library on 24th Ave N.W.

The proposed building titled “Ballard West” will contain 9,572 sq. ft. of ground level retail space and three live-work units with 107 residential units.  Below grade parking for 80 vehicles to be provided.  

At the meeting, the developer must address how it will meet the Design Review Guideline priorities which were established at the Early Design Guidance Board meeting in August.

The proposal will provide the required bicycle parking spaces and it contains several sustainability goals including a green roof and an ambition to meet LEED Platinum requirements.

The LEED program encourages sustainable green building and development practices through a suite of rating systems that recognizes projects that implement strategies for better environmental and health performance.

NOV. 23 PRESS RELEASE:

The open house fundraiser for Sofia Goff scheduled for today and this evening has been postponed due to hazardous driving conditions.

Please come to Kenyon Hall this Saturday, November 27, anytime from 7 P.M. until midnight, to help Sofia.

We’ll have entertainment, refreshments, a silent auction, and a raffle. When details are sorted out, I’ll send an update.

Thanks to all who have responded with offers to help. I know that Sofia and her family are grateful for your kindness, and I’m thankful to be part of such a caring community.

Have a good Thanksgiving.

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NEW SCHEDULE:

Benefit for Sofia date changed due to bad weather. It will be this Saturday November 27th instead. See below for details.

Benefit for Sofia Goff at Kenyon Hall!

Join us for a day of local entertainment and silent auction. Celebrate Cafe Revo while helping Sofia and her children. This is a day to come together to officialy say good-bye to a local business that truly loved its guests and its community.

The tradition continued Tuesday night, Nov. 16, when, in the mode of Jack Benny, King County Executive and West Seattle resident Dow Constantine celebrated his 39th birthday, again, and for the 11th time. The fundraiser party took place at the crowded Kells Irish Restaurant and Pub near Pike Place Market. His actual birthday is Nov. 15.

"No, he is not 50 yet," insisted Shirley Carlson, Constantine's longtime girlfriend. "People keep coming up to me and saying that. He was 39 at his first annual party, so he won't be 50 until next year," she grinned.

"I'm feeling pretty good," said the birthday boy. "It's an awful lot of work," Constantine said of his roll as Executive. "There are probably more relaxing jobs in the world but it is tremendously rewarding to be able to fix some of the problems that face us. I'm very excited about Maury Island."

He is referring to the former gravel site there which looks to be headed for becoming a nature preserve.