West Seattle, Washington
28 Monday
The official observance of Veterans Day today means school’s out for most if not all students, including the entire Seattle Public Schools system. Transit changes include no King County Water Taxi boats or shuttles and “reduced weekday” service for Metro (as detailed here). No US Postal Service delivery. Many government offices are closed, as are city-run community centers and all branches of the Seattle Public Library. One city service is unchanged, though – trash/recycling/yard waste pickup, if Thursday’s your day. P.S. If you are going downtown or anywhere else with pay stations/parking meters, today’s a city “parking holiday” so it’s free.
Three news items from Chief Sealth International High School:
BENEFIT AUCTION NEXT WEEK: The second annual Seahawk Spirit Dinner and Auction is one week from tomorrow night – Thursday, November 18th. The 5:30 pm event will be preceded by guided tours of the school at 4:30 pm. It’ll be highlighted by presentation of the Community Partner Award to: Friends of Sealth (Chief Sealth’s alumni organization) & Sealth’s Latino Community Partners: El Centro de la Raza, Campana Quetzal, Consejo, Sea Mar and South Park Community Center. The dinner/auction is sponsored by Chief Sealth PTSA, Chief Sealth Performing Arts, and Friends of Sealth. Tickets are on sale and auction donations are still being accepted. Information for both is online here, or you can contact Dick Lee at rjlee@seattleschools.org.
GOLF TOURNAMENT: A new fundraiser for Chief Sealth athletics has just been announced – a first-ever golf tournament and dinner, set for Friday, June 3, 2011, at Rainier Golf & Country Club. Information regarding how to participate should become available soon.
FALL SPORTS WRAPUP: As celebrated at the CSIHS sports banquet last night, here are the highlights of the sports season just concluded, courtesy of athletic director Sam Reed:
The Seahawks’ 2010 Fall sports season was a very successful one, in that it saw solid team improvement, outstanding individual achievements and tremendous overall achievement both in the field of play and in the classroom. Overall 175 student-athletes donned helmets, knee pads, shin guards, running shoes or spikes and represented Chief Sealth International in Metro League competition.
Read on to see what they achieved:Read More
In August 2008, the King County Council paid tribute to Mariners announcer Dave Niehaus, and we published this photo with a short item, even noting the only West Seattle link was the fact that then-County Councilmember Dow Constantine is a WS resident. Glad to have the photo so that we too can offer our tribute to the longtime Seattle Mariners announcer, who died today at age 75; here’s a report from our partners at the Seattle Times. On the day the above photo was taken, Mr. Niehaus was quoted as saying, “”Those magic moments of 1995 will return to Safeco Field. I promise you, they will return.” Maybe they will – sadly he won’t be here to see it.
ADDED 7:35 PM: A statement from Mayor McGinn:
‘My oh My’ – Seattle Lost a Friend Today: Seattle has lost a friend. We invited him into our homes and he was with us when we were joyful about the Mariners and when we were sad. Dave Niehaus will be sorely missed. From now on, there will be just two eras of Mariner baseball: the Dave Niehaus era and everything else. We send our condolences to his family and hope they are comforted by the happiness he brought to our lives.
Governor Gregoire also has issued a statement; we’re told 34th District Democrats chair Tim Nuse shared one of his memories at the start of his group’s meeting tonight in Fauntleroy; and there’s word that people are gathering for an informal vigil outside Safeco Field tonight.
ADDED 9:55 PM: From County Executive Constantine:
King County Executive Dow Constantine tonight joins Mariners nation in mourning the loss of Hall of Fame broadcaster and Mariners icon Dave Niehaus:
“I loved listening to Dave Niehaus from the Mariners’ very first season. His evocative descriptions and obvious love of the game will forever be intertwined with my experience of baseball.
“The timbre and cadence of his calls had a musical quality that will echo in our collective memory for many seasons to come.
“I join all fans in mourning his loss and extending our sympathies to his family.”
Since it’ll be too late for a reminder by the time we publish tomorrow morning’s daily preview, a reminder tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: Veterans are welcome to enjoy a free Pancake Breakfast at Merrill Gardens-West Seattle tomorrow morning, 8:30 to 10 am, with a brief program at 9:30 am. 4611 35th SW (map) – please RSVP ASAP to (206) 932-5480.
As you’ll hear in our video, State Rep. and Sen.-elect Sharon Nelson says this is a day she has awaited for 13 years – a day bringing real hope that a section of industrial-company-owned shoreline on her home island, Maury, will be preserved forever.
She, King County Executive Dow Constantine, and dozens of other state and King County leaders, environmental advocates, and Maury/Vashon residents gathered on the Beach Drive shore across from Me-Kwa-Mooks, with the islands visible to the southwest, to formally announce a deal to purchase that mile of shoreline, and 250 adjacent acres of madrone forest. What’s currently been compiled includes $15 million in state money and $19 million in county money – with about $2 million that will have to be raised from other sources to close the deal by year’s end. The land has been the subject of controversy in recent years, with environmental advocates and nearby residents trying to stop it from being mined. The site holds importance for the ecology of all of Puget Sound, say supporters – West Seattleite Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail was at the announcement and told us, “It’s a great day for the whales” – the orcas about whom her group seeks to educate. And for Puget Sound salmon, as underscored by the giant prop brought by the Vashon-based Backbone Campaign:
(You might remember Backbone for the “flash mob” video protest inside West Seattle’s Target store.) According to the county’s announcement, the site is adjacent to the 320-acre Maury Island Marine Park already owned by the county. Opening the news conference, Constantine made a point of saying that the $19 million the county would advance for the $36 million purchase is from the King County Conservation Futures Fund, and that state law says that money can only be used for open-space or resource-land purchases.
The private fundraising work begins now, with various groups involved, and donations being taken at www.cascadeland.org. (Thursday PS: Here’s the official county news release with yet more details.)
Several West Seattle community groups have been lobbying city councilmembers to keep the Neighborhood Service Center in The Junction and its coordinator Stan Lock, instead of the cuts proposed in Mayor McGinn‘s original budget, and it looks (pending a final council vote) like that will happen. But as noted during last night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting, ANA leaders went an extra mile and arranged in-person meetings with five councilmembers. ANA president Katy Walum said they explained that the council’s original “keep almost all coordinators citywide but cut them to 80% time” was not acceptable, given what coordinators are counted on to do. Walum noted that research also enabled them to help councilmembers clarify the lease status for the NSC in The Junction. She said they asked about management restructuring to save money (though as observed during this morning’s council budget meeting, it looks like that’s not being mandated). Also on the agenda last night – the newest developments in the Viaduct/Tunnel, the big Metro changes this winter, and more – lots of quick-read info in the toplines after the jump:Read More
That’s Liame, who Service Dog Academy proprietor Mary McNeight says has been trained in a unique area of service-dog work: Diabetic alerts. Mary says a trained diabetic-alert dog might cost up to $25,000; a dog with this training can tell its owner they are going low “20 minutes before a meter can even register it – dogs’ noses are amazing feats of nature that can be easily harnessed to help their human companions take control of their diabetes.” She’s offering a 16-week, $650 class for regular dogs and their owners that “will teach the dogs to alert when blood sugar levels drop below 80, go retrieve sugary drinks to quickly raise blood sugar levels, go get a meter and if the need arises go get the help of a human companion or call 911.” According to Mary, this is the only training of its kind available in the Northwest right now. She trains not only service dogs but regular dogs/puppies at her recently opened training studio north of Morgan Junction; there’s more info on her website about the upcoming diabetic-alert training and who’s eligible.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
It started with a simple question published here at WSB last April: Anybody interested in an organic, vegetarian restaurant in the under-construction Link in the West Seattle Triangle?
More than 200 mostly-wildly-enthusiastic responses ensued.
That response was “the tipping point” in Chaco Canyon Organic Café‘s decision to choose West Seattle as its second location, owner Chris Maykut told WSB, as he announced, “We’ve signed the papers,” as we chatted inside his U-District restaurant.
While there, we talked with Chris and his current U-District (and future West Seattle) general manager Sarah Coyle (in our photo, from left, are Chris, Sarah, and chef Lois Blanford) about what’ll be different in West Seattle and why they are so excited about joining this community – read on:
Reminder that the King County Water Taxi is NOT running on Veterans Day tomorrow – no West Seattle runs, no Vashon Island runs, no shuttle buses. Metro is on what they’re calling a “reduced weekday schedule,” and we’ve just clarified a bit of confusion that WSB’er JayDee noted while checking the Metro timetables: Not all routes have canceled trips, and Metro is updating the online list to make sure it’s accurate. Most notably, the timetables for Route 37 tomorrow ARE correct, Metro’s Linda Thielke tells WSB – there are NO canceled trips on the 37, even though the “Holiday Service” list, which she says is being fixed, said there would be. Meantime, another transit note for tomorrow: Sound Transit says its buses/trains are on a regular weekday schedule.
(Artegos Design crew winterizing the Liberty Bell Printing planters this week – photo courtesy Michael Hoffman)
They’ve talked about the future of area streets, and tonight the West Seattle Triangle advisory group is scheduled to look at land use and zoning, 6 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle … The City Council Budget Committee is getting closer to final decisions about potential changes, and the fate of West Seattle’s Southwest District Coordinator and the Neighborhood Service Center in The Junction are scheduled for discussion again today, as are Crime Prevention Coordinators (here’s the long agenda; the meeting’ll be live at seattlechannel.org and on cable channel 21 starting at 9:30 am) … 2 councilmembers speak to our area’s biggest political group, the 34th District Democrats, when they meet at 7 tonight at The Hall at Fauntleroy — the agenda includes Councilmembers Sally Clark and Sally Bagshaw plus State Sen.-elect Sharon Nelson, State Rep. Eileen Cody, and State Rep.-elect Joe Fitzgibbon … Following up on OrcaFest 2010, tonight The Whale Trail presents an orca research update at the Duwamish Longhouse with NOAA’s Brad Hanson, 7 pm ($5, more here) … Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) has an open house for prospective students and their parents, 6:30-8 pm … As previewed here last night, three West Seattle authors present “Literary Fires” at C & P Coffee, 7 pm … At Chief Sealth International High School, it’s PTSA meeting night in Room 222, with a guest speaker discussing the state of education funding.
Retired Brigadier Gen. Steve Ritchie, legendary as a pilot ace during the Vietnam War, is speaking at two local schools on this day before Veterans Day, and one appearance is open to the public. This morning, he’s at a Seattle Lutheran High School assembly; tonight, Holy Family Parish School invites the community to hear him speak to the Seattle Chapter of the Air Force Association and the Puget Sound Chapter of the United States Air Force Academy Association of Graduates. That appearance is at 7 pm, 9615 20th SW (map), no admission (though school donations accepted), but principal Frank Cantwell requests that you RSVP – fcantwell@hfseattle.org.
When a mysterious “media advisory” rolled in late Tuesday saying King County Executive Dow Constantine will meet the media at Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook on Beach Drive this afternoon to “announce agreement on a major new land acquisition that would permanently protect one of King County’s longest stretches of undeveloped Puget Sound shoreline and provide trails and open space,” it seemed clear the announcement would not be about West Seattle shoreline, as nothing around here meets that description and would be for sale. And indeed, our partners at the Seattle Times are now reporting that the announcement has to do with a site visible in the distance from Beach Drive: Maury Island. The Times reports that a deal has been reached for public and private entities to buy a controversial mining site for $36 million. You can read their story here.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the sixth weekly installment of this new WSB feature, and now it has a name! If you missed the explanation/introduction with which we prefaced the series, you can see it here.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*On Wednesday around 3 a.m., officers were dispatched to 26th SW and Hudson, where citizens reported that a man was driving up and down the street with a flat tire and repeatedly trying to start the already running vehicle. Officers found the abandoned car in the 7000 block of 21st SW (complete with a smoking engine, shredded tire and with fresh damage to a fender and door).
The registered owner lived a couple of blocks away, so officers went to the home to continue their investigation. Smelling strongly of alcohol, the owner insisted that his car was with friends: “I’m not supposed to be driving because of my three DUIs.” He denied he had been driving the vehicle, and went back inside.
A while later, the owner showed up as officers were arranging to have the car towed. (Interestingly, he knew just where to find the car, even though the officers hadn’t disclosed its location.) He demanded the officers’ badge numbers before leaving and then spent several minutes—to no avail—trying to persuade the tow truck driver to simply drop the vehicle off around the corner.
(Four more summaries, including the case of the sleeping suspect, after the jump:)Read More
From tonight’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting: Topic A remains the recently surfaced suggestion that the south parking lot of Lincoln Park might be the best place for a storage facility to reduce combined-sewer overflows (CSO) from the Murray Pump Station at Lowman Beach. As noted in previous coverage, the idea came from a citizens’ advisory group made up mostly of people who live outside Fauntleroy, which already is in line to get a CSO-reduction project for the area feeding the Barton Pump Station next to the ferry dock. Tonight, FCA members decided they’ll seek to meet with King County Wastewater Treatment Division‘s Linda Sullivan to talk about their ongoing concerns, many of which were expressed at last week’s community meeting about the proposal (WSB coverage here, including video of the entire meeting). They also want to talk about what might be done to mitigate the effects if the site is chosen. The comment deadline is November 15th, and King County – according to what spokesperson Annie Kolb-Nelson told us a few days ago – expects to decide on its “preferred alternatives” for Murray and Barton in mid-December, so there’s some urgency. Main issues for the FCA regarding the parking lot: Where would people park during construction? How would local businesses be affected? (For more information on the CSO proposals, go here for the Murray process, and here for the Barton process.) One other item of business tonight: March 15, 2011, is the date chosen for the FCA’s annual Food Fest membership-drive event.
The FCA meets the second Tuesday of each month, 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy (in the schoolhouse).
By Christine Johnson-Duell
Special to West Seattle Blog
“Literary Fires,” tomorrow (Wednesday) night at C&P Coffee (WSB sponsor), is a poetry and prose reading on the topic of fires, real and conjured.
The firestarter is poet Susan Rich (left), who won a 2010 CityArtist grant to write about her experiences in Spain during the 2009 wildfires. This reading is part of the grant project.
To help her fan the literary flames, Susan invited award-winning writers Harold Taw and Elizabeth Austen to read with her. All three writers live in West Seattle — and all three have had a literary year that was, well, on fire; Rich’s invitation to Taw and Austen might serve an additional purpose: To mark the achievements all three have enjoyed this year.
King County asked if we would share this announcement to help them recruit for these discussions about the West Seattle Water Taxi (WSB Traffic page sponsor):
This coming week the King County Department of Transportation’s Marine Division will conduct three focus group discussions with West Seattle residents. The purpose is to learn more about how the King County Water Taxi can better serve the West Seattle community.
Two of the three groups will include residents who regularly commute via the Water Taxi. These will be held at 8 PM on Monday the 15th, and at 8 PM on Wednesday the 17th. The third group, to be comprised of occasional Water Taxi riders, will be held at 8 PM on Thursday the 18th.
The discussions will take place in downtown Seattle and participants will be served snacks and receive a $75 gratuity.
If interested and one of these times works for you, please contact Chris Wheeler at christopher.wheeler@kingcounty.gov to sign up and receive further details.
“I thought Veterans Day was just another day until July 23rd of this year,” you’ll hear Will Newlove tell Chief Sealth International High School students in our clip. He spoke during their Veterans Day assembly today, as a tribute to his brother Petty Officer Jarod Newlove, also a Sealth graduate, missing in Afghanistan on that day in July. He tells the story of how they got the news, first that his brother was missing – then, that he was gone. Like his brother, as you might have deduced from the uniform, he is in the US Navy. Also at the assembly, Sealth singers performed the national anthem:
(The Sealth honor choir is raising money for a once-in-a-lifetime trip – separate story on that is in the works.) Also acknowledged during the assembly, five Sealth staffers who are veterans: assistant principal Lupe Barnes, a former Army ROTC 1st lieutenant; literature teacher James MacDonald, a U.S. Army veteran whose wide-ranging experience included Operation Silent Echo, which removed short-range nuclear weapons from Europe; former MP “Jimbo” Di Obilda, now working security; and two Marine Corps veterans, DuWayne Young and Mr. Jewels. A plaque honoring 15 Sealth graduates who lost their lives in combat was presented today as well.
The actual Veterans Day is this Thursday – and Seattle Public Schools, along with many others, are closed that day.
(Photo courtesy David Rosen of SlickPix Photography)
As noted here last night, the Seattle Fire Department is burning down an Admiral District house bit by bit this week to help train new firefighters. We’re publishing this reminder because not everybody got the message (we just received a note from someone who thought it was a “real” fire incident). SFD has said it’ll set more than a dozen fires in the house at 2206 California SW (map) before the week’s over.
This afternoon, we officially welcome one of the newest WSB sponsors, C & P Coffee Company. New sponsors are offered the chance to share information about their business, and here’s what C & P Coffee wants you to know:
(Photo by Chris Landry)
C & P Coffee Company was founded in 2003 by husband and wife team Cameron (“C) and Peter (“P) Moores. The couple’s vision of providing a community gathering place that features excellent coffee, friendly service and a platform for local events, art, and music came to fruition when they found a charming craftsman-style house for lease. Over the years, they have established themselves as an intrinsic part of the West Seattle community; supporting local events, fundraisers, a community garden space, and a place for neighbors to meet and gather.
Come enjoy the ambience for yourself and bring your laptop to use the free wireless internet access. Proudly serving Lighthouse Roasters’ fine espresso and coffees, as well as a rotating selection of beer and wine. Indulge in wholesome baked goods from Essential Baking Company, Little Rae’s and Mighty-O vegan doughnuts.
C & P hosts a variety of events; wine tastings, arts and crafts fairs, weekly live music, poetry readings, and offers their lovely setting for parties, baby showers, meetings and private event rentals.
Open Mondays-Fridays 6:30 am – 8 pm, Saturdays and Sundays 7 am-8 pm, C & P Coffee is at 5612 California SW (map), and online at candpcoffee.com; the live-events schedule can be found here.
We thank C & P Coffee for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
As first reported here last Thursday, Mayor Mike McGinn is coming to West Seattle on December 2nd for what’s now billed as a “community forum.” The city is circulating more details today about the event’s format – here’s the official announcement:
West Seattle Community Forum with Mayor Mike McGinn
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
Thursday, December 2, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
4408 Delridge Way SWPlease join Mayor McGinn, City Department staff & West Seattle neighbors for a conversation about issues relevant to Seattle as a whole, as well as those specific to West Seattle.
Agenda:
6:00-6:30 p.m. Information tables and staff from City Departments and local Community Groups
6:30-6:35 p.m. Energetic performance from a local youth group (to be announced)
6:35-8:00 p.m. Open question and answer session with the Mayor and City staff
The mayor came to North Delridge three months ago for a walking tour (WSB coverage here).
Seattle Public Schools is out this morning with new reports on every school in the system. Our partners at the Seattle Times have gone through the documents already and report that Lafayette and Schmitz Park Elementaries in West Seattle are among twelve schools citywide receiving the highest rating possible. Here’s the Times story; here’s a link to the page from which you can access all the school reports.
Could be an omen, or not. Last year, when SDOT invited the media to its Charles Street yard to discuss its revamped and beefed-up snow plan, it was a brilliantly sunny day. Today, the same event happened on a day graced by a regional rainstorm. Mayor McGinn was there for the briefing; the photo above is from WSB contributing photojournalist Ellen Cedergreen, who’ll be sending more information and photos we’ll add to this report soon – snowplows and sand were part of the snow-fighting arsenal that was to be shown off. (Photo added – salt, too:)
In the meantime, SDOT has said that the revamped plan from last year — which never had to be deployed — is the basis for what’s in place this year; you can check out its Winter Storm information online here.
ADDED 2:25 PM: Just in, SDOT’s news release with highlights of the updated plan discussed today (including other city agencies, plus weblinks and phone numbers to keep handy in case of weather trouble) – click ahead:Read More
(Monday photo by David Rosen of SlickPixPhotography. Read more about West Seattle’s latest pup sightings at Seal Sitters‘ “blubberblog” site)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: 2 neighborhood meetings tonight, both at 7 pm – Fauntleroy Community Association at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9141 California SW), and Admiral Neighborhood Association at Admiral UCC Church (California/Hill) … After the grand-opening-eve celebration, today’s the real opening day for Tuscan Tea Room and Romanza Floral in The Junction (4521 California SW) …. Fall sports banquet at Chief Sealth International High School tonight, 6 pm … Free remodeling/custom-home workshop tonight at Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor), 5458 California SW, RSVP to 206-932-3009 … High Point Library (35th/Raymond) invites you to a Poetry Workshop at 6:30 tonight, call 206-615-1637 to register … Special workshop tonight at SoundYoga (WSB sponsor), Restorative Yoga with Milo Minnis, 6:30 pm … At Senior Center of West Seattle, “Matter of Balance” begins weekly classes at 1 pm – reduce the risk of falling – free but call 206-932-4044 ext #1 to register … We’ve reported multiple times lately on the new Duwamish River cleanup-alternatives report; learn more about it in a workshop tonight in South Park, SP Neighborhood Center (8201 10th Ave. S.), 5:30, RSVP to contact@duwamishcleanup.org, since dinner’s included.
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