January 2014

An early morning garage fire in a detached garage destroyed two vehicles inside as well as the building itself on Jan. 23 in the 9400 block of 45th Ave. S.W. just off Marine View Drive S.W. which was closed. The 911 call went out at 4:46 am.

Incident Commander Chief Ron Mondrigan, Battalion 7 said, "We don't know what happened yet. We just put the fire out and we're entering the investigation mode. What we do know is that we had a multi car garage, somewhat of a large structure approximately 30 ft. by 30 ft. that was well involved. We identified a mother in law apartment above but we determined nobody was in the building. I don't know that anybody was in the building in the first place. We were able to contain the fire to the structure even though it had two different exposures and we got it knocked down."

Kyle Moore, PIO, told the Herald "fire investigators have not determined what the cause of the fire was and the damage estimate was about $80,000 to the building and $100,000 to the contents inside".

information from WCCDA

The White Center Community Development Association (CDA) is partnering with the YES Foundation of White Center and the White Center Food Bank to host the second annual White Center 5K Walk & Run. This community event will take place on March 22, 2014 from 9:00am to 11:00am at White Center Heights Park. The theme of this year’s 5K is a Superhero Run, all participants are encouraged to dress up as their favorite superheroes.

The 5K has an official start time of 9:00am with registration beginning at 8:00am. Following the completion of the race there will be an award ceremony to recognize the fastest runners. The cost of participation is $25 for people aged 11 through 18, $30 for people between the ages of 11 and 54, $25 for those aged 55 and up, and free for children 10 years of age and younger. All proceeds from the event will benefit the White Center CDA, the YES Foundation of White Center, and the White Center Food Bank.

By Jeremy Martin

So far this season, the West Seattle girl’s basketball team has seen just about everything. The Wildcats have faced teams with size, teams with speed, teams that run and teams that bang.

At every turn during Thursday night’s clash with Cleveland High school, the Wildcats would need to cull from that extensive experience bank as the speed, aggressiveness and veteran know how of the visiting Eagles proved to be a challenge like none other.

In the end Cleveland was just too much to handle as the visitors controlled the tempo from wire to wire, coming away with a 61-36 victory.

It took until the third quarter and a 19 point deficit, but the Wildcats finally found an edge, coming out of half time with some fire.

The opening minutes of the third saw West Seattle go on a 5-1 run, pick up a couple of steals and hit the glass with a passion that had been lacking during the first 16 minutes of play.

Much of the resurgence can be credited to patience, taking care of the ball and not getting flustered by the press.

information from the Whale Trail

Twelve years ago, the orphaned orca Springer (A-73) was discovered in Puget Sound - lost, alone, and 300 miles away from home. Five months later, she was rescued, rehabilitated, and returned to her pod near the north end of Vancouver Island. In July 2013, she was seen with her first calf! The project is the only successful orca reintroduction in history.

Why did this project succeed while others have failed? What did we learn from the Springer project that can help orcas today?

Join us to hear the true story of how Springer went home, from researchers and organizers who were part of the project team. Help us celebrate the 12th anniversary of this historic undertaking, and the little whale who changed our lives!.

This is the first Orca Talk of 2014, hosted by The Whale Trail in West Seattle.

Celebrate Springer! The true story of how an orphaned orca went home.
Presentation by Mark Sears and Donna Sandstrom
Thursday January 30, 2013, 7 -9 PM,
C&P Coffee, 5612 California Ave SW, Seattle WA 98136
$5 suggested donation, kids free.

information from WSDOT
Prepare to say goodbye to a bottleneck that has long frustrated drivers near the Port of Seattle’s busiest freight terminal.

On Monday, Jan. 27, the Washington State Department of Transportation will open a new overpass to the west of Seattle’s stadiums. The overpass allows traffic to bypass a busy railroad track that crosses South Atlantic Street and will help freight and drivers move faster and more reliably through the area. Today, train activity often blocks traffic for extended periods, which not only slows truckers traveling to and from the Port of Seattle, but also creates backups that stretch onto Seattle streets and Interstate 90.

“If freight can’t move, nobody moves,” said Matt Preedy, deputy administrator of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program. “This overpass can save truckers as much as 20 minutes of travel time between the port and I-5 or I-90. Improving freight mobility will benefit everyone.”

There are variety of projects underway at the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council (WWRHAH) and they are seeking help. Their meetings are 90 minutes once per month, on the 1st Tuesday at 6:15p.m.-7:45p.m. in the upstairs room of the Library at 35th S.W. & S.W. Henderson Street.

Here's a list of projects they are working on you could assist with:

1. Working with Metro & SDOT about traffic safety in and around Westwood Village related to buses and street crossings. In it's early phases.

2. Working with SDOT on Roxbury Street safety. In it's end stages; this is nearly an SDOT-only affair now. We may assist in some outreach.

3. Various Roxhill Park projects: lighting, safety, educational & volunteer programs for K-12 school children, and hydrology improvements (making the Bog wet again). All in their early stages.

4. Grant writing -- if you have ANY experience in writing grants, we need help.

5. Researching safety issues around 35th Ave SW. Very early stages.

6. Researching neighborhood lighting issues in the WWRHAH area. Very, very early stages.

Mack, my beautiful Border Collie was actually my second dog. I had "Boots" a mutt of mixed breed who we lost in a horrific traffic accident near Astoria, Oregon in 1927. Dad's car was cut in half by a wayward driver, in the rain. Boots was riding with me and my baby sister Norma, in the back seat. The car was cut in two with both halves ending up on the side of the road. The chassis just split, leaving us sprawled up in the back half, unharmed. Mom and dad were up front, also basically unharmed. Boots was gone, never to be found.

Months later we got Mack. A wonder dog who was quite smart. I don't recall how we got him but he was already grown up when he appeared at our door step. In those days, there may have been more stray dogs than people, so it was easy to adopt a pet simply by leaving a dish of food out on the porch. Maybe Mack was a visitor who stayed. We loved him and he loved our stray cat, Nicodemus "cheesebomber". Aptly named as it had the peculiar habit of passing gas on a constant basis, possibly because we often fed it table scraps, including moldy cheese.

West Seattle Little League Document Drop-Off Night is tomorrow, Thursday, January 23rd at Alki Elementary.
 
West Seattle Little League would like to remind everyone that they are hosting their Document Drop-Off Night tomorrow, Thursday, January 23rd from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Alki Elementary in the library.
 
For everyone who has registered for West Seattle Little League this is your opportunity to turn in your registration documentation.  There is also still time to register for the 2014 season and turn in your documentation tomorrow night. 
 
 If you can’t make it tomorrow, you can mail in your documentation to:
WSLL
4742 42nd Ave SW,
PMB 252
Seattle, WA 98116
  
To learn more about WSLL required registration documentation or register for the 2014 season, please visit the league’s web site at: www.westseattlelittleleague.com or contact us at playeragent@westseattlelittleleague.com.

When On Safari Foods moved from their location on 35th S.W. in 2011 they did so because they had become so successful at their catering business they simply needed more room.

The company regular provides catering services to companies like Google and also provides the food for private events such as weddings or corporate meetings.

Now, they've taken the next step. Owner Teresa Carew said they have opened up a cafe. "On Safari Café right in the heart of our commissary space at 3317 3rd Ave. S. This hidden gem has already had many repeat customers. The On Safari Café provides a vehicle for Maria Lofgren and her team to showcase delicious homemade soups, glorious ever-changing eclectic entrees, and a meatball and boerewors roll, the likes you might not have seen anywhere else, made with bread baked daily in our pizza oven."

The café is open Mon-Fri. from 11.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. serving hot food from 11.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.

By Scott Anthony

Dr. Andrew Weil is a medical doctor who favors herbs and organic food products over pharmaceuticals and the food produced by the congloms.

To me, and I’m certain, to a lot of folks he looks a bit like Santa Claus, albeit without the red hat. His cherubic smile, holistic tendencies and professional standing make him popular with the back-to-earthers. Couple of months ago, Mrs. Anthony and I visited with her mother on the outskirts of town. ‘Ma’ is half Irish, half Russian and all beauty queen and I love visiting her. She gives me home-baked organic cookies and sews my torn up jeans. Ma is also what used to be called a ‘health nut’. She can be found at places like Marlene’s or Fred Meyer Nutrition center, stocking up on Stevia or Vitamin Q. At Ma’s house, I noticed a copy of a natural health magazine laying on a pile of newspaper. Dr. Weil’s Christmassy face was beaming from the cover. I said, “Hey Ma, what do you think of Doc Weil…pretty neat guy huh?” I expected her to agree with me, but instead, she wrinkled up her nose and nearly shouted, “OHHH..I can’t STAND his FACE!”