West Seattle, Washington
28 Tuesday
Next Sunday morning is when you can put your feet to the street and help Northwest Hope and Healing in its work to help newly diagnosed breast-cancer patients deal with the fact that diagnosis and treatment don’t stop the rest of life from rushing forward. It’s the fundraising Alki Beach 5K Run/Walk, and once again this year, it’ll shut down the street from the Bathhouse to Anchor (Luna) Park for a few hours – so you might as well get out and be part of it. You can register online or in person, and today you can do the latter, with a special discount, at Coastal Boutique on Alki (right along the route you’ll be walking/running next week!) during a registration party starting at noon; you can also register at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor; NW corner of California/Charlestown). The 5K starts at 9 am next Sunday (August 28
(“Oliver!” photo courtesy Twelfth Night Productions)
Sunday possibilities from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
LINCOLN PARK NEEDS YOU: Third Sunday (and first Saturday) of the month Lincoln Park plant restoration party, 9 am – 12 pm. The mature forests of Lincoln Park in West Seattle are a treasure, but they need our help to survive. Join the Friends of Lincoln Park to work on maintaining previously restored forest. We promise you a good work out (Green exercise!) and the planet will thank you! Meet in the north parking lot on Fauntleroy Way SW at the kiosk across from SW Rose St. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW, just north of the Vashon Ferry). Bring garden gloves and hand clippers. We will have extras.
WHAT’S UP TODAY AT THE MARKET: West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm, The Junction (44th/Alaska). Here’s an update from market manager Catherine Burke:
Back by popular demand: EGGS! fresh, organic, free range eggs! Welcome new farmer Palouse Pastured Poultry with organic local proteins.
Music: Pourquois Pas (French café music)
HIGHLAND PARK RUMMAGE SALE, DAY TWO: Giant Group Rummage Sale! at Highland Park Improvement Club, 10 am to 4 pm, 12th/Holden.
ARTS IN NATURE FESTIVAL, DAY TWO: Second day of the Arts In Nature Festival at Camp Long, 11 am-6 pm – check out the performance/activity schedule here.
GIVE A CAT A HOME: Friends of the Animals Foundation will have volunteers on site at Next to Nature in The Junction from 11 am – 3 pm to help you find the perfect rescued feline companion. More info online
IS YOUR DOG A POTENTIAL COVER DOG? City Dog Magazine’s Cover Dog Search comes to West Seattle Thriftway at noon. $10 per entrant (benefiting Doney Memorial Animal Clinic); details here.
GOT A PROJECT BEFORE SUMMER’S OVER? West Seattle Tool Library open in its Youngstown Cultural Arts Center space (east side of main building) 1-5 pm.
YOUNG MUSICIANS’ RECITAL: Music Northwest will present outstanding young chamber musicians (ages 9-21) in a public recital at Olympic Recital Hall, South Seattle Community College, 2 pm. Tickets are $18. Details at musicnorthwest.org
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR DEBBIE NUMOTO: 3 pm, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. Here’s the obituary published on WSB earlier this week.
FINAL PERFORMANCE OF ‘OLIVER’! Twelfth Night Productions presentation of “Oliver!” (with school-supplies drive for Treehouse), 3 pm, West Seattle High School Theater.
(Photos/video by Patrick Sand for WSB unless otherwise credited)
If you didn’t experience it in person today at the Nature Consortium‘s Arts In Nature Festival – which continues tomorrow at Camp Long – you can watch our clip to see and hear the “fire organ” by kinetic sculptor/sound artist Trimpin, one of an almost-endless array of amazing sights and sounds at the festival. At midday today, a festival tradition – the Species Parade (which happens again Sunday at 1:45 pm):
(Photo courtesy Trileigh Tucker)
Puppets by Sarah Lovett were part of the parade, glimpsed by some while wandering between performance zones. Here’s an owl puppet we spotted before the parade:
Even setup can be interesting – this was part of the preparations being made for The Cabiri (who perform again Sunday at noon):
Throughout the park, you’ll find music. On Saturday, the Park West Chamber Players performed:
(Photo courtesy Trileigh Tucker)
Local writer/photographer/musician Trileigh Tucker says that from left to right, the players are Kate Vincent, Jane Johnson, Karen Larsen, Robert Baker, Saralee Stata, and Ann Kendall. She adds, “Most of these wonderful musicians are affiliated with the West Seattle Community Orchestras.” Then there’s music in the dome:
Rose Laughlin was there at midday today:
Right about the same time, West Seattle-based Caspar Babypants entertained families in the Camp Long Lodge:
Throughout the park, festival venues are both indoors and outdoors, many interactive/participatory. The festival schedule for tomorrow is here; Camp Long is at 5200 35th SW.
The free barbecue before tonight’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies presentation of “Toy Story 3” was a hot ticket, according to BBQ-sponsoring West Seattle Christian Church‘s Pastor Dan Jacobs – he says two dozen people were already camped out waiting for the barbecue, and free movie, half an hour before the gates officially opened and the BBQ officially started. On this beautiful night following the hottest day so far this year, the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) was filling fast:
Among the families, Tracy Corey (below right) of Nurturing Expressions (one of our newest WSB sponsors) and daughter Kayleigh, with her team member Magy Hamilton and Magy’s kids Joel and Sophia:
If you were planning to head to the movie and haven’t left yet, don’t wait; it’ll start at dusk, but space is at a premium. One more reminder – WS Outdoor Movies will stretch out an extra week BEYOND tonight, since the original season opener, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” was more like “Ferris Bueller’s Rainout” back in mid-June. So that’s the movie NEXT Saturday, wrapping up the series.
Besides meeting local police (that’s Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen at right, above), there are dozens of other reasons to come on over to the Picnic at the Precinct street party before it wraps up at 4 – including a bouncy house for kids, live music/dancing, ice cream and hot dogs.
The party’s on SW Webster west of Delridge.
3:59 PM: It’s just wrapped up – but in the meantime, we’ve seen Mayor McGinn, Police Chief John Diaz, city tech boss Bill Schrier (a West Seattleite), the Southwest Precinct lieutenants who so often help us get information, and lots of cool people who stopped by our table to say hi. The mayor posed with West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network honchos Deb Greer (left) and Karen Berge (right):
Here’s Lt. Alan Williams chatting with West Seattle Crime Prevention Council president Richard Miller (the council resumes meetings next month):
Someone you’ll also see at those meetings is Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon, who had lots of pamphlets and stickers to hand out today:
The city Department of Neighborhoods represented, too – that’s district coordinator Steve Louie at left in the next photo, with Community Police Team Officer Jon Kiehn:
P.S. In case you wondered – the precinct picnics around the city are presented by the nonprofit Seattle Police Foundation, which among other things also launched a campaign to save the budget-cut-threatened, West Seattle-based SPD Mounted Patrol Unit. Several of its horses visited, including Harvest – who posed with SPD Chief John Diaz:
And though this just might be the warmest day of the summer – the heat was on in the hot-dog “kitchen”:
Crime-fighting equipment was on display too – including the always-popular bomb robot.
That’s the coolest bouncy toy we’ve seen today – part of the Arbor Heights Community Church-sponsored Block Party, continuing till 4 pm in ARK Park at 41st and 102nd (map).
Face painting, volleyball, overall fun in the sun. And face painting!
The AH church is also where a crime-prevention meeting is planned on August 30th – 7 pm.
(UPDATED Saturday night, as we keep getting photos, including one night shot from Port Townsend)
(Added 12:42 pm)
11:51 AM: The Missile Defense Agency would only say, when confirming Friday that its SBX (“big white ball” Sea-Based X-Band Radar dome that’s been on Harbor Island for three months) would leave Seattle today, that its movement would be “in daylight hours.” We’ve been watching MarineTraffic.com in lieu of staking out Harbor Island all day – and the tracking on that site suggests SBX and accompanying tugboats are now under way. Off to check. Let us know if you’re seeing it.
12:21 PM: Commenters confirmed it, and now we can too – it’s definitely moving out, albeit very slowly, so it’ll likely be visible from West Seattle shores for a few hours; it hasn’t even rounded Duwamish Head yet.
3:51 PM: It’s close to being out of Elliott Bay – off Magnolia at last report. Bob A. sends this view from North Admiral:
Thanks to everyone who’s sent photos – just going through them now!
MORE PICTURES ADDED SATURDAY EVENING – click ahead!Read More
We caught Erin from Twilight Artist Collective in the frontier-fun mood as The Junction goes Wild West (Seattle) today for its annual late-summer “Big Bonanza” sale day. (Their big deal of the day is described here.) Around the corner from Twilight, Brian at Easy Street Records with the vinyl:
Further north on the west side of California between Alaska and Oregon, Marcie told us Jan’s Beauty Supply has discounts today on one-liter sizes:
And we finished our quick jaunt at California/Oregon’s northwest corner, saying hi to Hank at Fleurt:
Who else is on the Big Bonanza list? All here, including WSB sponsors Click! Design That Fits and Hotwire Online Coffeehouse, where you’ll want to be at 6:30 pm tonight as gates open for the West Seattle Outdoor Movies presentation of “Toy Story 3,” preceded by a free barbecue (enough food for 225 people, first come, first served) courtesy of West Seattle Christian Church.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*When a 17-year-old Burien resident decided to swipe $900 worth of clothes from an Alki business, it was her misfortune to do so just as an off-duty State Patrol officer walked by with his girlfriend. He chased the thief down while the girlfriend alerted the store owner to what was going on. When contacted, the suspect’s mom said, “Just take her to juvenile detention,” before hanging up on officers. But the Youth Service Center wouldn’t admit her, so she ended up going home after all.
*Late Monday a chronic 19-year-old offender, well known to officers, was spotted in a convenience store parking lot at 16th and Holden. Officers knew he was wanted on at least two warrants (it ended up being four with a bail total of $50,000) and they placed him under arrest without incident.
Seven more summaries ahead:Read More
(Bret Wiggins is part of the 1st-ever El-Fest @ Feedback Lounge tonight; photo courtesy Marlow Harris)
Summer finally decided to behave itself! Could get into the mid-80s, per the National Weather Service. From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT CLOSED, SOUTHBOUND: Traffic reminder – you can use The Viaduct leaving the peninsula, but it’s closed all
weekend heading back (southbound) this way.
SBX LEAVING TODAY: As reported here on Friday, the “big white ball” that’s been a Harbor Island fixture for three months is scheduled to head on out – but the Missile Defense Agency would only say “during daylight hours.”
(Photo added 8:55 am)
BREAKFAST TO BENEFIT VETERANS’ MEMORIAL: At the south-central tip of West Seattle, in the south Delridge Triangle, there’s a Veterans’ Memorial. A pancake breakfast under way right now at Holy Family (9615 20th SW) is raising money for some TLC, looking ahead to a rededication next month. The breakfast continues till 11 am. Pancakes with FRESH blueberries, we are told!
HUGE RUMMAGE SALE #1: Peace Lutheran Church TAG SALE! Giant Indoor Tag Sale. Something for everyone. 9 am until 3 pm – 39th SW & SW Thistle.
HUGE RUMMAGE SALE #2: At Highland Park Improvement Club all weekend, 9 am to 5 pm today. There will be *multiple neighbors* with lots of *great stuff* for sale. 12th & Holden.
EVEN MORE YARD/GARAGE SALES: See who’s listed theirs (free!) in the WSB Forums’ Freebies/Deals/Sales section.
‘BIG BONANZA’ ALL DAY IN THE JUNCTION: Wild West (Seattle) deals, wild fun, in Downtown WS – the annual late-summer “Big Bonanza” sale, 10 am-6 pm, look for red balloons and checked tablecloths at participating stores (and here’s a preview of some of the deals).
GET GREENER: Third Saturday Green Seattle Partnership plant restoration party at Camp Long (happens to be during Arts In Nature Festival). 10 am – 1 pm.
GARDENING CLASS: Pests & Diseases – How to Manage Problems Organicallygardening class at Community Harvest Garden at White Center Cultural Community Center (9421 18th Ave. SW), 10 am – noon. Learn how to tackle pest and disease problems in the garden organically. This class is offered in partnership with Community Harvest of SW Seattle. $36 or $25 for Seattle Tilth members. Registration details here.
HELP THE CREEK: Help enhance the Longfellow Creek and the Legacy Trail by planting and mulching at Brandon Street Natural Area every third Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm. This is a Green Seattle Partnership event. Directions: Get on Delridge Way SW. Turn West on Brandon St. Go two blocks and park on 26th Ave SW. Walk down Brandon 1/2 block and look for the gateways on the south.
FREE YOGA! SoundYoga (WSB sponsor) presents free yoga, 10:30 am
ARTS IN NATURE FESTIVAL: All weekend long, it’s the Nature Consortium’s one-of-a-kind Arts In Nature Festival at Camp Long, 11 am-9 pm today – check out the performance schedule here.
ARBOR HEIGHTS BLOCK PARTY: Block party at ARK Park behind Arbor Heights Community Church, noon-4 pm, details here
PICNIC AT THE PRECINCT: Picnic at the Southwest Precinct, meet your SPD team and have fun, kids’ activities and a lot more, plus community groups including West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network. WSB will be live on site all afternoon. 1-4 pm (more here).
SALMON AT THE LONGHOUSE: Duwamish Longhouse Salmon Bake at Duwamish Longhouse (4705 W. Marginal Way SW), 4-6 pm, $10. Free admission to exhibit area and art gallery.
LUCHA LIBRE! Lucha Libre, celebration of Mexican wrestling and South Park itself! 4-8 pm at 14th/Cloverdale in South Park, wrestling starts at 6 – more info here.
ART WALK: White Center Art Walk, 6-9 pm, with live art all over White Center! Full details here
OUTDOOR MOVIE WITH FREE BARBECUE: West Seattle Outdoor Movies in The Junction is showing “Toy Story 3”, movies start at dusk, courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), 4410 California SW – free barbecue starting at 6:30, courtesy of West Seattle Christian Church.
CELEBRATING ‘THE KING’: Elvis Festival at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 7 pm (free!).
2ND TO LAST CHANCE TO CATCH ‘OLIVER!’ Twelfth Night Productions presentation of “Oliver!” (to benefit Treehouse – bring school supplies for foster kids!), West Seattle High School Theater, 7:30 pm, 3000 California SW.
Looking ahead while looking back, the West Seattle Helpline celebrated a “Gallery of West Seattle History” last night at Alki Arts. That’s executive director Tara Byrne, with one of the displays, which recounted Helpline’s own 22-year history. This time of year, Helpline has traditionally helped local kids with school supplies – and this year, they’re working to help the efforts of Pencil Me in For Kids, a project near and dear to partygoers Martha and Sue:
Showing off food donated by nearby Alki restaurants as well as Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering was Helpline board member Rev. Ron Marshall from First Lutheran Church of West Seattle:
Miss the party? You can reach out to help Helpline any time; find out how by going to their website.
If you garden, you know our area is described as having a “Mediterranean” climate. Last night at West Seattle Nursery, Mediterranean also applied to the music and food at the 34th District Democrats‘ annual Garden Party/Auction – above, the Sinovi Tamburitza Orchestra, specializing in Croatian music. Another guest star: New York Vinnie returned to West Seattle – more than a year after his move to Pittsburgh – to serve as auctioneer. WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand asked Vinnie what he misses about life here:
Ahead, more photos from the 34th Dems’ fundraiser, outdoors on a lovely summer night, including costumes and shades:Read More
West Seattleite Jacob McMurray was at Easy Street Records in The Junction on Friday night to sign “Taking Punk to the Masses: From Nowhere to Nevermind.” As explained on the Easy Street website, the book chronicling the rise/evolution of grunge, from punk, is companion to the EMP Nirvana exhibit curated by McMurray. Easy Street is selling the book; the exhibit continues at EMP for another year and a half.
Another West Seattle author is one week away from his customary annual reading here in the home ‘hood: After releasing “Legends of Shannara: The Measure of the Magic” this Tuesday, megaselling fantasy author Terry Brooks will be at the Westwood Village Barnes and Noble the following Saturday (2 pm August 27th). He has drawn a crowd there every summer, dating back at least as far back as WSB goes (our coverage: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010).
If you can bring sea monsters and pizza into the Biblical creation story, or turn the tale of Daniel and the lion into “Here, Kitty, Kitty,” you can work your own kind of miracles. And so did Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/kindie-rocker Justin Roberts tonight in the Fauntleroy UCC Church sanctuary, helping Family Promise of Seattle raise more than $1,000. Fauntleroy UCC is one of ten area churches that are in partnership with Family Promise, taking turns providing sleeping quarters, dinner, and breakfast to newly homeless families. But tonight – instead of housing homeless kids, they were accommodating dancing kids.
(Photo courtesy Kathy Ablott)
Before the concert, FP board leader David Jones explained the organization’s mission:
Roberts performed about an hour of songs from his “Why Not Sea Monsters?” album. He’s a one-time divinity student turned singer/songwriter, who played guitar throughout his set, and enticed the audience – all ages – to sing along, sometimes goofily, sometimes quietly, as golden evening sunlight illuminated the evergreens outside the huge window at the front of the sanctuary. Though his songs riffed off Biblical stories – Jonah and the whale, loaves and fishes, walking on water, the burning bush – they were by no means preachy or somber. Just exuberant music. One review quoted on Roberts’ website describes him as the “Paul McCartney of kids’ music”; appropriate, then, that a toddler who joined the dozen or so dancers up front wore a Beatles T-shirt. FP also accepted donations for refreshments afterward; More ways to help them are listed online.
P.S. Roberts is part of the lineup for the Tots ‘n’ Tunes kindie-rock extravaganza at Seattle Center this Sunday, 11 am-5 pm, as is West Seattle’s own Caspar Babypants (who is busy this weekend! tomorrow he performs in the Camp Long Lodge at 11 am during the Nature Consortium‘s Arts in Nature Festival).
Saturday doubleheader in The Junction! First, it’s an August tradition, as West Seattle shopping turns into Wild, Wild West Seattle shopping – “The Big Bonanza” (participants listed here) is tomorrow, with more than 35 merchants participating in a day of sales. Look for the red balloons and checked tablecloths. The West Seattle Junction Association sends along a sampling of what you’ll find:
SWEETIE:
Our Big Bonanza special at Sweetie couldn’t happen at a better time of the year – 50-70% off all summer fashion – get it while it’s hot!
And we’re kicking off our fall fashion preview the same day, with 10% off all new fall fashion, Saturday, August 20 only.
CURIOUS KIDSTUFF:
25% off all purchases over $100, and up to 50% off selected items
CARMILIA’S:
Offering sale items at 50-85% off and all new fall merchandise will be 20% off 8/20 through 8/25……a five day jump on fall!
SHADOWLAND:
Cowboy Chicken Fried Steak on special and wet your whistle with a tall, frosty one.
Then tomorrow night in The Junction:
“Toy Story 3” is the feature at West Seattle Outdoor Movies, on the big screen in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor). Gates open at 6:30, and though the (free!) movie isn’t till dusk, stake out your spot early. If you bring some $, you can get in on bargain-priced concessions and great raffle prizes – all benefiting local nonprofits. Plus – FREE BARBECUE, starting at 6:30, courtesy of West Seattle Christian Church, whose Pastor Dan Jacobs (who’s also the regular projectionist for the movies, little-known fact) announces: “We will be serving the free BBQ from 6:30 to 7:30 or when we run out of food. We have hot dogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers, chips, and drinks for 225 people.”
(An early reminder – though the posters and schedules show tomorrow as the final movie, there’s another one a week later, on August 27th, the movie that got rained out on what was supposed to be Outdoor Movies’ opening night, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”)
If you’ve never toured historic Alki Point Lighthouse – your chances for this year are running out. Liesbet T. shared photos after a tour last weekend, and pointed out that this weekend and the next weekend are your last chances in 2011 to take the free 1-4 pm Saturdays/Sundays tour.
That’s the northward view from the top of the 98-year-old lighthouse – two other angles, and a few interior sights, ahead:Read More
(WSB photo of deputies at the murder scene, early Tuesday)
Just in from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office:
A charge of Murder Second Degree (11-1-07472-9) was filed today against Anthony H. Smith, 25, who is accused in the shooting death of a 23-year-old woman in White Center on August 16. The charge includes a firearm enhancement. If convicted as charged, the sentence range is 16 to 24½ years in prison. Smith is scheduled to be arraigned on September 1 at 8:30 a.m. at the King County Courthouse, courtroom 1201. He remains in jail with bail set at $1 million.
The documents contain additional details of what preceded the shooting, including an allegation that Smith and two other as-yet-unidentified suspects approached victim Sweetheart Marie Failautusi and her friends, asked for a cigarette, and were told “no”; an argument and fistfight ensued, following a short while later by the shooting.
ADDED 3:10 PM: Transcription of the charging document’s narrative – the story of what law enforcers say happened – ahead:Read More
(WSB photo from July)
The Missile Defense Agency just sent word that the SBX is leaving Harbor Island tomorrow, 3 months and 10 days after its late-night arrival drew crowds to West Seattle shores. We’re checking on an estimated time – meantime, here’s the announcement:
The Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX) will depart August 20th from Seattle, Washington where it has been undergoing scheduled maintenance and planned upgrades at Vigor Shipyards since May. The work has taken about three months to complete and was consistent with the normal work accomplished at Vigor for other government and commercial vessels.
The SBX is one of the sensors for our nation’s Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Its mission is to identify ballistic missile threats to our nation and to relay that information to the command and control center for missile defense.
A Naval Vessel Protection Zone, applicable to government vessels in transit and undergoing maintenance at Vigor Shipyards, will be applied to SBX as it departs. The US Coast Guard will be assisting with the NVPZ.
One month ago today, the seagoing radar dome drew crowds again as it left Vigor for a few hours so an oil-drilling ship could be moved in:
(July photo by Debra Herbst)
The SBX has been based in Alaska, though there’s no official word if it’s headed there next.
(December 2010 photo by Deanie Schwarz)
The mini-park where Delridge, 16th SW, and SW Roxbury meet holds not only the public art that was decorated at Christmastime last year, but also a Veterans’ Memorial. Now, improvements and a rededication are in the works for the memorial in the South Delridge Triangle, and you can contribute tomorrow by going to a benefit breakfast at Holy Family. The memorial has long needed TLC, and community members are working to make it happen, but fundraising is needed, and this is a major step. The pancake breakfast is planned for 8-11 am Saturday, 9615 20th SW, with the menu also including eggs, sausage, coffee, and juice, for $6 suggested donation adults/$3 kids under 12. The rededication and flag-raising ceremony, meantime, is planned for 4 pm September 18th, with veterans from West Seattle and White Center participating.
8:24 AM: A possible breakthrough in the recent series of drive-by pellet-gun shootings: Late last night, we checked out police activity on 35th SW in Arbor Heights, 
after scanner traffic indicated someone had called 911 after getting hit near 37th SW/Ocean View Drive with an Airsoft-type pellet from someone driving by. While medics were on the way to check out the victim, police quickly stopped potential suspects blocks away, on 35th near 104th. Their investigation briefly closed 35th SW (iPhone photo at right), till the suspects’ car could be towed, but we didn’t get details confirmed till this morning: Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams confirms that “3 juvenile males were arrested in the Arbor Heights area last night for shooting an Airsoft gun at more than one person. The juveniles were shooting at people from the car they were cruising around in. The potential that this group is responsible for recent previous incidents of a similar nature is being explored in the investigation.” We’ll add anything more we find out today.
1:03 PM UPDATE: A little more information from SW Precinct operations Lt. Pierre Davis – starting with how the incident was reported last night: “The victim reported he had been shot in the chest by teenagers in a passing vehicle. As Officers came into the neighborhood another victim called 911 to report he had also been shot by the same group. The vehicle was stopped leaving the scene and all three 17-year-old male passengers were arrested for assault. The three was in possession of a very realistic looking Air-Soft (toy) assault rifle which is very capable of causing injury. The Southwest Precinct officers did an outstanding job investigating this incident and also in stopping this group’s crime spree.”
(Photo by t_ravtyler, from the WSB Flickr pool)
The morning murkiness won’t last, promises the forecast. So on with the outdoor, and indoor, highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar – including several major fun(d)raisers:
TRAFFIC ALERT STARTING LATE TONIGHT: 11 pm is the scheduled start for what WSDOT says will be a weekend-long shutdown of the SOUTHBOUND direction of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
DANCE! An afternoon of music and dance with Lauren Petrie at Delridge Community Center, 1:30-3:30 pm, $3, 4501 Delridge Way SW.
CHERYL SERIO AT THE MOUNT: Friday nights in August mean free concerts at Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor) – bring your own chair/blanket, and family/friends, to the patio on the south side of The Mount (4831 35th SW). Dinner/beer/wine are available for purchase starting at 5:30, music starts at 6, tonight featuring Cheryl Serio. Kids’ activities, plus free popcorn/snow cones.
STORIES: Storytelling event at the White Center Cultural Center (9421 18th Avenue SW), 5:30 pm, with Oromo/Ethiopian storytelling by Mergitu Argo.
HISTORY MEETS HELPLINE: Tonight’s the night for the Gallery of West Seattle History benefit for West Seattle Helpline at Alki Arts, 6-9 pm – music, wine, food, art, and West Seattle history displays courtesy of the nearby Log House Museum. Beneficiaries will include school supplies for kids in need, through Pencil Me In For Kids.
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS’ GARDEN PARTY: Tonight is the Garden Party/Auction for West Seattle’s biggest political organization – details here, West Seattle Nursery, 6-9 pm. Auctioneer: New York Vinnie, who’s back in West Seattle for the occasion!
WINE TASTING: Wines from the south of France featured at Bin 41 in The Junction, 6-7:30 pm.
JUSTIN ROBERTS FUNDRAISING CONCERT FOR FAMILY PROMISE: Grammy-nominated kindie-rocker Justin Roberts and The Not Ready For Naptime Players sing snappy sacred songs to benefit Family Promise of Seattle, an emergency shelter program helping newly homeless families stay together while getting back on their feet. (Here’s our FP update from earlier this week.) 6:30 pm at Fauntleroy UCC Church (9140 California Ave SW), suggested donations are $5/child (under 10), $10/adult, $15/family. Organizers say The Hall at Fauntleroy has opened its back lot to overflow parking.
MOVIE NIGHT IN HIGHLAND PARK: Free movie at Highland Park Improvement Club, 12th and Holden – “Ponyo,” with the Gildenfire Dancers as the opening act. Doors open 6:30 pm, movie at 7.
ENJOY ‘OLIVER!’ AND HELP FOSTER KIDS: The final three-run weekend of “Oliver!” by Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) starts tonight (to benefit Treehouse – bring school supplies for the donation barrel!), at West Seattle High School, 7:30 pm. Tickets are available online at Brown Paper Tickets or at the box office tonight.
When the city sent around a survey link, explaining it was about the “Comprehensive Plan,” we wondered if anyone would really take a survey about something so generic-sounding, as important as it is. But the fine city folks working to drum up participation for the survey explain that it boils down to nothing less than “what do you want to see in Seattle in the next 20 years?” And they share a few of the suggestions West Seattle participants have offered so far:
*Walkable. When neighborhoods are walkable: people recognize their neighbors, can get to services – even when weather shuts down the City, cars stay home and pollute less, household finances are improved with lower transportation costs, local businesses thrive because they are neighbors and tax dollars stay in the City, life is simpler.
*For neighborhoods and businesses to be more diverse voluntarily, and have more/better housing choices for all citizens. Work on ways to create jobs even if they are just entry level. Assist those getting off of welfare and out of prisons with real job skills so they won’t have to go back to welfare or jail, but will be able to support themselves and exist and contribute in society.
*Install a sea organ along the waterfront.
(We had to look that last one up.) Fewer than 1,000 people citywide have taken the survey so far – so take a few minutes and voice your ideas now! The survey is here.
Following our story about Wednesday night’s Admiral District walking tour focusing on “The Life and Times of Frances Farmer,” the brilliant, beautiful, and tragic West Seattle-raised movie star, several commenters voiced regrets they’d missed it. Guess what – there’s going to be an encore! With a catch: It’s exclusively for participants in West Seattle In Motion, the walking/biking/transit/etc. initiative for which WSB is the media sponsor this year. Whether you are already a member, or sign up now, as long as you log your trips through WS In Motion next week (August 21st-27th), 
you’ll be entered into a drawing for one of the 30 spots on a special Museum of History and Industry-presented encore tour the evening of September 7th, guided again by “MOHAI Minute” video-series co-host Peder Nelson (left). Not signed up yet? You can do it from our WS In Motion page (where you can also check out the latest progress reports on the “savings” West Seattleites are scoring as part of the program). P.S. Other special deals/offers for West Seattle In Motion participants continue – including a discount on special activities as part of the August 27th Duwamish River Festival, and a discount this week at Cycle U. Photo by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB
| Comments Off on Alki Beach 5K Run/Walk: 1 week away; registration party today