(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
*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 Schoolstudents 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’sand 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.
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 SW
Please 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).
Could be an omen, or not. Last year, whenSDOT 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
On the first Hometown Holidays Sunday in The Junction (December 5th), the next West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Awards winners will be honored. But before anyone can be honored – they have to be nominated! The deadline is less than a week away – November 15th. The Southwest District Council and Delridge Neighborhoods District Council team with WSB to sponsor the awards twice a year, and volunteers from those two groups review the nominees before choosing the winners. There are four categories: One individual volunteer each in community, environment, and youth work; the fourth is a group award. Just use the online form you’ll find here – and, whomever wins, make plans to come applaud them the afternoon of 12/5 in the heart of The Junction.
Tonight our partners at the Seattle Times report that the mayor’s made his choice for the site of a permanent homeless camp, and it’s not either of the West Seattle sites that were on the list revealed last month. The Times quotes Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith as saying the choice is the former Sunny Jim peanut-butter plant site on Airport Way (map) that was gutted in a September fire; the site’s been owned by the city since the early ’90s.
Tea time tonight for Aimee Pellegrini and daughter Nina on the eve of tomorrow’s official Grand Opening for Aimee’s Tuscan Tea Room and Romanza Floral in The Junction (4521 California SW). Dropping in for a few photos during the special preview, we also got to see more of the fully remodeled space:
That’s of course from the tea room side – and here, the floral side:
The tea/coffee bar opens at 8 tomorrow, the dining room (where lunch and all-day “afternoon tea” will be served) at 10:30. (As noted in our June report with first word of Tuscan/Romanza’s Junction plans, Aimee is one of the founders of West Seattle’s La Rustica Italian Restaurant.)
ADDED 1:26 AM: Thanks to Cozbi Hultz of ZZPhotography & Design for sharing a couple more scenes from pre-grand-opening night – like this view of some of the food!
Thanks to Claire for pointing out this story on the Seattle Fire Department‘s Fire Line site: You’ll see fire crews at 2206 California SW (map) over the next four days. They’ll be setting and fighting fires to train more than a dozen recruits: “There will be sixteen fires ignited over the course of the week. Each day the fires will grow more intense and provide more challenging situations for the recruits.” According to the city website, live/work units and townhomes are planned for the site (after what is described there as “deconstruction”).
Thanks to our friends at KING 5 for sharing their tale of Cosmo, the West Seattle dog who dined on donations … $300 cash, three times as much in checks. Read about it here, and/or view the video above.
(WSB photos by Ellen Cedergreen)
Big news from the north end of theSouth Seattle Community College campus on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge – a milestone for the Seattle Chinese Garden! The visiting Chinese artisans will be returning to China on Wednesday after spending three months on site completing the “Knowing the Spring Courtyard.” Here’s its formal entrance:
The artisans originally weren’t expected to be finished for a few more weeks, but their work is done ahead of schedule, and they say it’ll be exciting to go home and see their families. They lived on site in trailers, which will be relocated to an upper hill now, to make room for a larger visitor’s information trailer. Here’s the interior of the courtyard:
And here’s the south entrance to the courtyard.
A central sculpture in the interior courtyard is located in the southwest corner. The rocks were brought over from China, guided in with cranes and intricately placed by the artisans.
WSB contributing photographer Ellen Cedergreen, who took these photographs today, reports she learned, all that’s left to do is some grading on the grounds, move some trailers around, and complete some landscaping. er.This first phase of the garden is set to be complete by 12/31 in time for it’s soft opening and will be open to the public 12-4, Wednesday-Sunday thereafter.
You might have missed this tidbit of news, since we rolled it up along with a semi-update on the future West Seattle Trader Joe’s: The former Redline Music and Sports on 35th south of Avalon will become The Bridge. As noted in our brief mention Friday, we sent out an inquiry to its proprietor. And we’ve now heard back from Rita Dixson, who says she and her business partner hope to open in mid-December, depending on how renovations go:
Trevor and I are both longtime West Seattle residents and are relishing the opportunity to breathe new life into an underutilized West Seattle feature.
I’m currently working at Talarico’s. Taking over the old Redline building gives us both an opportunity to put our own (hopefully) unique stamp on the nightlife industry.
Some key features of the Redline will remain, such as on-site parking and a large outdoor patio. We aim to add a satellite bar and fire pit in the summer months. Inside we are looking to to create an intimate, welcoming environment with an emphasis on good drinks and good, simple food.
We’ve received more than a few notices about holiday giving campaigns – a roundup with some of the newest ones is in the works, in fact – but we don’t know the definitive answer to this question from Gayle, so we’re putting it out in hopes that, if there *is* such a campaign, you’ll share the info:
In the spirit of helping folks locally, I wonder if you are aware of any West Seattle ‘adopt a family’ programs for the holidays? I’ve contacted the WS food bank about it but thought I’d check with you as well.
I think it’s such a great way to make a difference in these difficult economic times and can also be a meaningful way to teach children the spirit of giving.
Let us know – in the comment section, preferably – if you know of one!
Before rainy season really kicks in, the city has advice for people on “landslide-prone” property – steps you can take immediately, as well as a free landslide-awareness workshop here in West Seattle in a few weeks (in addition to one in North Seattle). Read on for the city’s full announcement:Read More
Retired Brigadier Gen. 
From reports on cases handled recently by 
From tonight’s 
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.
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