West Seattle, Washington
13 Saturday
Here’s the summertime chance of a lifetime – a six-week trail-skating series with the Rat City Rollergirls‘ “Rain of Terror” travel team. For six Thursday nights, starting June 2nd (one week from tonight), you’ll hit area skating trails “followed by a heart-pounding off-skates workout” and then a visit to “a nearby watering hole for a refreshing beverage.” RC Rollergirl “Lucinda Pack” shared news of this tonight and says spots are still available – the trails are all around the region, from Renton to Sammamish, with an Alki session planned, all ages welcome, $80 for the entire 6-week series (orientation plus 5 skating sessions, and a T-shirt). Here’s where to sign up.
Just over the ridge in South Park, an exciting day at the community food-gardening site known as Marra Farm. First, a soccer star from the Mexican national team – which is in Seattle to play the Ecuador national team on Saturday – stopped by to meet fifth-graders from nearby Concord International School. 44-year-old Luis Roberto Alves, known as Zague, hung out for a while with the students from Linda Martinez and Kate Ayers’ classes. Besides autographing, he also dropped into a pickup game of keep-away:
The students had walked over from Concord to join in on the final part of a work party with about 50 Home Depot employees from around Seattle:
Their volunteer work included donations of strawberry plants and materials for new garden beds; the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) facilitated the project through its programs at Concord (which is considered part of the West Seattle region for Seattle Public Schools), where the Y supports Head-Start preschool, Community Learning Center programs with after-school academic/enrichment classes, and before- and after-school child care.
The wait is almost over, for fans of Zippy’s Giant Burgers. West Seattle Blog/White Center Now contributor Deanie Schwarz has just spoken to Zippy’s proprietor Blaine Cook, who says the opening date/time is officially set – next Tuesday (May 31st), 10:30 am. Zippy’s left its original location in Highland Park on April 16th, amid much uncertainty that followed the building’s foreclosure (its previous owner ran the now-closed SeaMart store on site), and had hoped to reopen in White Center about a week and a half later, but challenges with permits and upgrades stretched the time far beyond what they had expected and hoped for. As first reported here in February, the new location is at 9614 14th SW.
Just in from Seattle Parks – A mechanical problem at Colman Pool is causing problems with heating the water that’s brought in from Puget Sound, so the pool won’t open for the season until Sunday, instead of Saturday, since the part won’t arrive in time for fast repairs. Usually, Parks explains, the water is heated to 84 degrees (from the upper-40s Sound temperature) – but even with the expected repair schedule, the water will be cooler than normal, in the 70s, when the pool opens on Sunday. Parks spokesperson Joelle Hammerstad tells WSB the problem is unrelated to the vault work that had been under way by the pool the past few weeks. Here’s more info from Parks’ frequently updated site “Parkways.” The pool’s schedule brochure (minus this change) can be seen here, and it includes word that Colman Pool will celebrate its 70th birthday with a 4th of July party, 1:45-4:45 pm.
If you missed Monday night’s Citizen Transportation Advisory Committee workshop in West Seattle, the last of three planned around the city is tonight, at Washington Middle School (2101 South Jackson; map). The question posed here on Monday was two-fold: What are your transportation priorities, and how would you pay for them – would you support new taxes and fees, and if so, how much?
During the forum attended by about 20 people at the Southwest Library, the message delivered through boards and PowerPoint presentations – which are all linked here – was clear: Seattle’s transportation system is currently hanging by its financial fingertips, so if you want anything more than bare-bones progress, the city says, you will need to be further taxed, or tolled.
West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who lives in West Seattle and chairs the council’s Transportation Committee, spoke briefly as the gathering began. More ahead:Read More
Those volunteer-created murals are destined for display on the vacant Delridge site that’s been interim home to many local schools – the former Louisa May Boren Middle School – in hopes that’ll cut down on repeated graffiti/tagging vandalism. Community advocate Pete Spalding is leading the project and invites you to be part of the next step:
Many Delridge area residents were disappointed and frustrated when the Seattle Public Schools district chose to board up the Louisa Boren School this year due to inactivity of the site. A number of community members pointed out to the school district that this would lead to tagging and potential vandalism to the site. As many of you have noted, this has in fact been the case.
After many discussions with School Board President Steve Sundquist and others within the school district, an idea came up to deal with the problem.
On a recent Saturday, 900 Starbucks volunteers showed up to do projects in the Mt. Baker neighborhood. At Franklin and Muir they had over 200 of these volunteers doing painting, grounds cleanup, and playground projects. One of the painting projects was to paint 40 plywood murals for the Boren building.
Now we need volunteers from our Delridge community to help finish the project. These 40 murals still need to have the back and sides painted to help increase the longevity of the murals. On Saturday, June 4th from 9 – 11 am there will be a work party at the Louisa Boren School site. Please come out and help your community in this project to attempt to curtail the tagging and vandalism at this location. All of the materials and tools to do this project will be provided.
If you are interested in helping, contact Pete at bayouwonder@comcast.net or call him at 206.579.4373. (Boren’s status, in case you wondered, is that it’s remaining in the SPS inventory for possible emergency use.)
(Western Tanager! Photo from Paul in Seaview. Hear one here)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
PARENTING WORKSHOP: At Alki Arts (2820 Alki Ave SW), 7 pm – 8:30 pm, Creating a Whole and Healthy Family, with Bill Dean. 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.
STUDENT ART RECEPTION/AWARDS: This week’s high-school-student art show at ArtsWest Gallery culminates in an artist reception/award ceremony event tonight, 6-7:30 pm.
WEST SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: 11:30 am at the West Seattle Golf Course. (New website: westseattledemocraticwomen.org) Speaker: Elaine Rose from Planned Parenthood Votes Washington on “legal issues in women’s reproductive rights” w/Q & A. Discussion Group before the meeting will discuss the DOMA or Defense of Marriage Act. Discussion Group meets from 10:30 am to 11:15; Registration begins at 11:15 am.; meeting begins at 11:30 am. Lunch $12 for members; $15 nonmembers; and $5 for drink/dessert. Call (206) 935-3216 to see about last-minute attendance.
CAMPAIGN KICKOFF: King County Councilmember Joe McDermott officially launches his re-election campaign at Roxbury Lanes, 5:30-7:30 pm – details here.
BURLESQUE: Westside Burlesque Review at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor, 3803 Delridge Way SW). 21 and over only. Doors at 9 pm, cost is $7.
DINNER: Tuscan Tea Room and Romanza Floral in The Junction debuts dinner service tonight, Thursdays-Fridays-Saturdays, 5:30-10 pm. Menu here.
SANISLO FUNDRAISER: Thanks to Shane for the tip; order pizza from Red Star Pizza tonight, mention Sanislo Elementary, they get part of the proceeds.
(Photos added 6:36 am)
6:01 AM: We’re near 38th and Oregon, which is blocked to traffic because of police activity including the SWAT team.
6:10 AM: Police on scene won’t comment, but whatever it’s about, it’s ending, and they’re leaving. We received a few notes saying people in the area heard loud explosion-type noises within the past hour; there’s no indication from the Fire Department’s 911 log of anyone needing medical attention, but SWAT officers do use devices creating noise as a diversion – we’ll be asking if that’s what happened.
7:09 AM UPDATE: Det. Mark Jamieson with the SPD media-response unit confirms it was a warrant situation – a “high-risk search warrant” with the hopes of finding a particular (not publicly identified) suspect. As for whether they did or didn’t, he’s still checking, so we’ll probably have yet another update here later.
(Rendering of the infrastructure it’ll take to run the recirculating spray park)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
While nature’s own spray graced the world outside the windows of the Highland Park Improvement Club, HP’s forthcoming spray park – or “sprayground” – was the main agenda item for the HP Action Committee‘s monthly meeting Wednesday night.
It was something of a meeting within a meeting, as the first official Seattle Parks community meeting on the spray-park project – to be built at the site of the Highland Park wading pool (above), closed for almost three years – started after a short period of HPAC updates.
Project manager Kelly Goold began with an overview of how it began as a simple project with $200,000 planned from the Parks and Green Spaces Levy – whose Oversight Committee had two members on hand, chair Pete Spalding (from Pigeon Point) and member Donna Hartmann-Miller (from Maple Leaf) – until Carolyn Stauffer, now co-chair of HPAC, led a plan to seek more money from the levy’s Opportunity Fund (as first chronicled here in early 2010). The proposal won approval, and the spray park now has a $635,000 budget, which means “we’re going to be able to build a more robust spray park,” Goold explained. He says the city has applied for an additional $100,000 grant from the state’s Recreation/Conservation fund, but won’t know till early next year whether they’ll get it.
After the basic facts – it was time to talk design.Read More
Michelle Sloan at West Seattle High School shares news of several students’ accomplishments, starting with the above photo: It’s by Sage Taber, who won an award for it in the district’s annual art competition. It’s on display – as are other student works – at the Seattle Art Museum through June 5th … 20 creations by WSHS students are part of the ArtsWest Student Art Show that opened yesterday; tomorrow night, meet the young artists at a reception and awards ceremony, 6-7:30 pm. The show continues through Saturday … Student artist Jimmy Le will have work published in a student art book as the result of being selected in the Celebratingart.com competition … And last but not least, Michelle reports:
West Seattle High School Marketing students recently competed against each other in a Micro Loan competition. Student Marketing teams used the Kiva.org website to find small business entrepreneurs throughout the world who are in need of small loans to build their businesses. Students presented their entrepreneurs’ business to a panel of judges from the marketing/business industry. Holland America Cruise Line and West Seattle resident Jon Dawson and Marketing Judge Christa Peck contributed over $500 to fund the Micro Loans. After the loans are paid back (most within a year), West Seattle High School students will be able to loan the money out again to other small businesses throughout the world in need that cannot get loans through large banks.
Congratulations to all!
(Photo by Shari, via Twitter)
8:33 PM: We don’t know a lot about the circumstances yet, but there’s a “heavy rescue” callout on southbound 99 at the West Seattle Bridge exit; one caller tells us a car has “one wheel over the edge.” (And now we’re getting photos via Twitter too – just added one above – thanks to Shari and Judy for sharing theirs.) For now, if you happen to be in or north of downtown, you’ll want to find an alternate route back to WS. No information yet on injuries.
8:57 PM UPDATE: The Fire Department has cleared the scene, according to the 911 log, but still no official info yet. In comments, “Mn” says it appeared the driver was OK and talking with authorities.
9:35 PM UPDATE: Just drove The Bridge/99 downtown and back, and the scene is clear, everything moving normally.
We caught up with World MS Day Seattle organizer William Khazaal and family as they arrived at Spring Hill in The Junction a short time ago. You still have the rest of the night to get out and dine/nosh at dozens of participating restaurants/lounges to raise money to help kids with multiple sclerosis, including more than 30 in West Seattle (Spring Hill, of course, among tem). The map page (with the sites listed on its left side) is here. Here’s the backstory on what the event is all about.
(CLICK FOR FULL-SIZE VERSION: Top of the rendering is west, left is south, right is north)
That’s the final layout of what will take the place of the current Denny International Middle School buildings at 30th/Thistle/Cloverdale, once they are demolished after the school year ends. BNBuilders, the contractor on the project, has just shared the rendering along with news that’s about to be distributed in the Denny-area neighborhoods, via door-hanger flyers: A community meeting to discuss the demolition/construction plan is scheduled for 6-8 pm June 14th at nearby Southwest Community Center. According to River Steenson from BNBuilders, “The agenda will cover an introduction of the project team and key members from the Seattle Public Schools district, Bassetti Architects, BNBuilders, etc. We’ll describe the project, review the schedule, what neighbors can expect to see over the coming months, answer any questions, etc.”
As for that demolition schedule – we’re told the contractor will take over the site on Monday, June 27th, days after school ends. After abatement work – removal of asbestos, doors, windows, etc. – actual teardown is likely to start in mid-July. Denny’s summer operations will be in the new adjacent-to-Chief-Sealth building (Denny’s new official address will be 2601 SW Kenyon). As noted here earlier this week, a June 11th farewell-to-the-old-building event is in the works.
Just nine days till the West Seattle High School all-school reunion on June 3rd, announced a month ago, PLUS the annual after-party – Terese Machmiller wants to get the word out, particularly to prospective performers:
It’s that time of year again – the first Friday in June WSHS all-school reunion at the school starting around 5 pm and the fourth annual afterparty at The Bridge, starting after 8 pm.
In addition to live music brought to you by the Tim Turner Band following the all-school reunion, Tim once again invites fellow alumni performers to come share the stage at The Bridge at 4439 35th Ave SW (formerly Redline Music and Sports/Legends). As always, dedicated musicians will be on hand to back up other musicians – and as well, standup comedians, acoustics and other performers are encouraged.
In years’ past, WSHS alumni classes spanning about 50 years fill the house, with fellow classmates and even current WSHS faculty/musicians taking their turns on the stage. Tim keeps things hopping as a dynamic host and entertainer. This year, the space is newly renovated, the outdoor patio extended and polished up and the menu expanded. Come check it out, support our alumni musicians and a new Westside business, and kick up your heels to some rockin’ tunes!
PERFORMERS: Please contact Tim @ cell 206.271.5384 ASAP and no later than Tuesday 5/31 to reserve your performance slot, let him know what you have in mind to contribute and what you want by way of jam partners so Tim can get you covered.
Questions? You can reach Terese at 206-890-2277.
That’s how Trileigh Tucker referred to them, headlining the note that included that photo:
I was delighted (Tuesday) evening to come across both of Lincoln Park’s resident Barred Owls together. Although we probably won’t be seeing owlets in the park this year, this pair is loyally mated for life and I’m sure they’ll try again next year. In the meantime, there’s lots of hunting available to keep them busy.
Thanks to Trileigh for this, and for sharing another photo of a different bird we’re saving for tomorrow!
The scene’s clearing, but in case you passed by and wondered – the police/fire response at 35th and Barton (map) this past hour was for a bicycle-car collision. Police were still sorting out how it happened but told us that no one was hurt badly enough to be taken to the hospital. It happened on the northwest side of the intersection.
(Route 560 bus photo by Flickr member Atomic Taco)
The date is set for service cuts on Sound Transit Route 560 – June 11th. We found this out thanks to Nicholas, who uses Route 560 regularly between West Seattle and Sea-Tac and heard that the service was about to be reduced. ST spokesperson Kimberly Reason confirms it to WSB:
As first communicated last year in our DRAFT 2011 SIP (Service Implementation Plan) and posted in the final 2011 SIP, the 560 will continue to run during the weekday, but the route segment between West Seattle Junction and Burien Transit Center is being discontinued weeknights and weekends beginning June 11th. The West Seattle segment will operate from approximately 4:20 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. and from 3:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on weekdays.
As background, total Route 560 ridership has declined about 23 percent between 2nd Quarter 2009 and the same period in 2010. This does not necessarily mean that these riders are lost but it is likely that many now use other public transit services.
With the increased availability of Metro alternatives between many of the points served by Route 560, the West Seattle-Burien segment will be deleted entirely except during weekday commuter hours. This will continue to provide West Seattle residents with direct access to the airport during peak demand times while achieving significant cost savings. Alternative West Seattle-Airport service is now available outside of commuter hours using Metro Route 128, which operates between West Seattle and the Tukwila International Boulevard Station with a one-station connection to the airport via light rail.
A detailed explanation (starting on page 72 of this document) notes also that midday service on the route was cut from every half hour to once an hour last year, and that too may account for ridership reduction. Meantime, another ST document notes that further restructuring of Route 560 is possible in 2013, “in conjunction with startup of Metro Rapid Ride Line F (Renton-Burien),” which is to replace Metro Route 140.
Last night, KING 5 aired that report with the latest on the Beach Drive mudslide/wet-road mess – a lawsuit filed by more than two dozen property owners. Today, we’re following up (as are other TV stations, which is what choppers were doing over the area this past hour, thanks for the calls and notes!). We’ve reported on the dispute before – here and here – involving the mudslides in the 6000 block of Beach Drive. The neighbors had warned in January (as noted in this WSB report) that they might hire legal counsel, because they were upset the city didn’t seem to be doing enough to address the situation, even with legal action (reported here) against upslope property owner Peter Saladino, whose 2007-built project they blame for much of the trouble.
Now they have, according to the court documents – which you can read here – 28 property owners filed a claim with the city for damages, and, saying it went nowhere after two months, followed it up with a lawsuit filed two weeks ago against the city and Saladino. The suit alleges, among other things, “Each of Plaintiffs’ residential properties has been adversely affected by the ongoing instability of the slope between Atlas Place SW and Beach Drive SW,” and that “Defendants have caused or perpetuated a trespass by allowing mud, debris and water to invade and damage the Plaintiffs’ properties.” They’re seeking unspecified damages, though according to KING’s report, they’re hoping to work out a deal with the city rather than taking the case to trial (which wouldn’t happen before next year). Their pre-lawsuit efforts included speaking to the City Council Transportation Committee (chaired by West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen) last January (coverage here).
Thanks to Nate for sharing a letter received from Seattle City Light about work ahead in Brace Point that will include planned power outages – it in turn led us to information about another project that’s about to restart in southern West Seattle.
First, the Brace Point work. Here’s the notice Nate shared. It describes underground electrical upgrades that will take about seven weeks to complete, with work expected to start around June 20th. First, a community Q/A meeting is planned for June 6, 7 pm, at the White Center Library.
The notice points to a City Light webpage that doesn’t actually have information about this project yet but does mention that underground maintenance work along SW Roxbury is scheduled to restart next week. This is described as a six-month project along Roxbury all the way east to 4th SW and then along Olson Place. It too will include “planned outages”; full details here.
(Looking westward over the site, from sidewalk along Delridge)
In the middle of Tuesday afternoon’s sunshine, we stopped by the Delridge Skatepark site (map) for new photos, after receiving this note Monday from Tony:
Inquiring minds that haven’t been able to have a look lately would love an update on skatepark construction. At the very least, I would. Heh.
It’s already been a month since work began. At the site, you can clearly see both bowls taking shape; the excavation is deeper to the east, closer to Delridge.
(Looking south into the easternmost bowl, from sidewalk along Genesee)
After our site visit, we asked Seattle Parks project manager Kelly Davidson for a progress report on West Seattle’s first skatepark, from her standpoint:
All of the drainage is installed and approved. The concrete benches are complete and all work from here on out will be skatepark formwork and concrete. Things are going very smoothly and Grindline is doing a great job.
I just processed a change order that incorporated weather and change days. Our ‘substantial completion’ date is now August 24th. We are hoping to be able to combine the opening event with the Delridge Day event.
As reported here in our coverage of last week’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting, that is tentatively set for September 10th.
From Bremerton to Issaquah – with 35 West Seattle businesses among those inbetween – the map shows where you can dine or shop today to be part of the World MS Day Seattle fundraiser, previewed again here last night. Follow the link under the map to see the list of participants on the left side of the full-page Google Map, or see the list on this Facebook page. Here are other highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
SPRAY PARK MEETING: The official Seattle Parks community meeting on the planned Highland Park wading pool-to-spray-park conversion is the topic after the Highland Park Action Committee‘s regular meeting, 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club (1116 SW Holden). The public meeting is scheduled to start at 7:30 pm (click for more information). Parks wants your thoughts on how different spray-park features can be integrated into the wading pool site. More details here.
‘RACE TO NOWHERE’: “Race to Nowhere” documentary screening at Chief Sealth International High School Little Theater (a change from the originally announced venue), sponsored by Arbor Heights Elementary PTSA, 6 pm (full details and ticket info here).
HEALTH SCREENINGS: Futura Health Screening will be offering screening exams from 9 am to 3 pm, hosted by Merrill Gardens at Admiral Heights (2326 California SW; Futura and Merrill Gardens are both WSB sponsors). Screenings are $45 each or $125 for all three. No doctor referral necessary. Pre-registration required; call (425) 398-7797 this morning to check on space.
PREPAREDNESS: Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon) presents Personal Preparedness beyond 3-day kits! 12:15 – 1:15 PM. What do you do on day 4, day 5, day 6, day 10. . . when there is no power for weeks.
WRITERS’ OPEN MIKE: Poetry Bridge presents Poems & Tales at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW, 7-9 pm. May is Open Mike month for all, including past featured poets and readers, as well as those who have contributed poems and storytelling in the past. New readers always welcome. Sign-ups start at 6:45 pm.
SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL CONTINUES: SIFFhas films at the Admiral Theater for all three weeks this year – the first week is wrapping up, but follow the link to the SIFF website to check the schedule of what’s being shown today/tonight.
TRAFFIC ALERT:SDOT crews plan to close the eastbound, right curb lane on the Schmitz Park Bridge (SW Admiral Way) today, 9 am – 2:30 pm, for a routine inspection.
After a spill at 35th/Barton (map), a West Seattle bicyclist found himself deluged with offers of help from multiple Good Samaritans, so he wanted to publicly thank them – read ahead for the story Ryan e-mailed last night:Read More
(Click image to go to YouTube video page, where you can watch the video)
If you want to keep a burglar from kicking your door in, what matters is “not the deadbolt, it’s the door frame.” That potentially surprising advice was part of a briefing on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, presented Tuesday night by Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Officer Jonathan Kiehn for the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network.
Officer Kiehn had briefed the group on CPTED principles back in March, and recapped that briefing last night before attendees headed to the local home chosen for the on-scene review. Once there, we rolled video on his entire outdoor-and-indoor review, which you can watch above, unedited and nearly an hour long – looking at everything from landscaping to lighting to doors to the back yard to the alley, and yes, the door-frame issue.
(Even if you’re not a Block Watch Captain – yet! – follow the group on Facebook and the Web for invaluable crime-prevention advice and meeting announcements.)
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