Received from the family of West Seattle sailor Jarod Newlove, killed last week in Afghanistan:
Petty Officer 2nd Class Jarod Newlove’s memorial service will be held on Monday, August 9, 2010, 11:00 am at Holy Family Catholic Church, 9622 20th Avenue SW [map]. Following the memorial service there will be a procession to Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th Street, Covington [map], where committal service with full military honors will be given at 2:00 pm. There will be a reception directly after the committal service at Kent Civic Center, 10120 SE 260th Street, Kent [map], to honor and remember Jarod and all the joy he brought to our lives. All events are open to the public; please join his family and friends to honor PO2 Jarod Newlove.
From the WSB Events calendar: West Seattle’s own Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) debuts its newest production tonight: “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” – a musical based on a Tony Award-winning show and Pulitzer-winning book. Besides getting entertained, you’ll also be doing a good deed, since part of the proceeds are benefiting FareStart. This is the first of three weekends for “How to Succeed” in the West Seattle High School Theater, with showtimes this weekend at 7:30 pm tonight and tomorrow, 3 pm Sunday – tickets available online here, in advance at Square One Books in Jefferson Square, or at the door. Also tonight: more outdoor music!
That’s Christopher Boffoli‘s WSB video from Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana performing atProvidence Mount St. Vincent during last year’s Summer Concerts at The Mount series – and tonight, they’re back as this year’s four-performance series begins. Bring your own chair/blanket for music at and around the courtyard on the south side of The Mount (4831 35th SW) at 6 pm – the concert’s free, and dinner’s available for purchase around 5 pm (more details in this PDF). Last but not least, today’s Blue Angels schedule:
That spot along the west side of the Boeing Field runway is just one of the many places to watch them take off – as we did yesterday – but the best place is the Museum of Flight, where the famous blue jets are based during the Blue Angels’ annual Seafair visit. (Here’s our story from last year about the MoF timeline on a Blue Angels day.) Of course, you can also go to Lake Washington today and see the practice air show (and hydroplane time trials) for free, as a sneak preview of Saturday/Sunday, when you have to pay admission. But even if you have no interest in watching all this, you might need to know that the I-90 bridge will close again each of the next three days while the Angels are practicing/performing – 12:45 pm-2:40 pm is the schedule each day. And did we mention the Seafair Fleet tours on the waterfront? More at the Seafair website. (The drama as we write this, of course, is what the weather will do – if it stays cloudy but is not too murky, of course, they can have their “low show.”)
West Seattle’s Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic parish has announced a community event for the end of this month as it revs up a fundraising campaign for a $4 million project. The rendering above shows what they’re hoping to build. Here’s the full text of the announcement sent by a PR rep for the church:
Our Lady of Guadalupe, an 800-family Catholic parish in West Seattle, will kick off Building for Our Future: The Next 50 Years Campaign with a community celebration at Noon on Sunday, August 29.
The event, which will take place on the parish campus at 7000 35th Avenue SW, will feature food, music and games for kids to mark the official start of an initiative to build a new Parish Gathering Hall/Gymnasium to serve Our Lady of Guadalupe’s church and school. The 10,000-square foot Parish Life Center/Gymnasium will include beautiful spaces for large events, a full kitchen, outdoor play areas, and a bright and modern gymnasium.
“More than a meeting hall, more than a gym, the building will benefit every person in our parish while also allowing us to better serve the greater good of our entire community,” said Father Jack Walmesley, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“The tunnel’s going to be closed for quite a while.” That’s what we just heard on the scanner, as police call in the major-incident investigators for a crash on northbound Highway 99 at the Battery Street Tunnel. We don’t have details of the crash, but in case you drive the Alaskan Way Viaduct northbound overnight, you should be aware. (“Quite a while” translates to “at least two hours,” according to more scanner traffic heard as we wrote this.) FRIDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: SPD Blotter has the story of what happened – motorcycle crash with two people hurt.
The other night, we heard from the West Seattle High School Class of 1990 reunion organizers – and now, another milestone reunion – WSHS Class of 1980 alums are invited to the 30-year reunion tomorrow night and Saturday. Here’s the order of events: Friday night at Brickyard BBQ in the Admiral District, there’s a no-host bar/barbecue get-together, starting at 6 pm; then the big event is at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center on Saturday night – here’s the schedule, plus a message from reunion organizers:
Greetings, fellow WSHS Class of ‘80 classmates! Our reunion event is coming up fast and this is a last-ditch effort to reach those of you who we may have missed in connecting with. Our official party will be at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center where, in addition to live music brought to you by the 30 Year Itch band made up of fellow classmates, the evening will include beverages (beer, wine, soda), casual main dishes & dessert. All are invited to contribute a (optional) potluck appetizer or side dish!
A small crew of planners have tried hard to contact all of you, and invite your help in spreading the word to get folks onboard. Price is $40 advance or $50 at the door per adult, kids $10 and under 5 free.
Check out our Facebook sites, where you may also submit a casual pre-register to secure your $40 advance rate.
That video clip is tonight’s KING5 story about Jayme Miller, a White Center woman, and 1994 West Seattle High School graduate, whose friends are working to get the word out about a fundraiser coming up in a little over two weeks. As you’ll hear in the story (here’s the full online version with text), she is fighting her way back from a rare neurological problem, transverse myelitis, that struck out of the blue three months ago and left her suddenly, terrifyingly paralyzed. Jayme’s friend Sydni Smith also sent WSB word of the fundraiser (and a photo), explaining:
… While in therapy Jayme surprised the doctors again and again. She pushed her herself harder and added new challenges each day. Walking 10 feet down the hallway last month, using a walker and with an aide behind her in case she fell, was a monumental victory. Every time she was told she might not be able to regain a function, she willed herself right through that obstacle.
Jayme went home on Tuesday the 20th of July. She still has many mountains to climb, but hopefully she will keep progressing and regain full function. At this point she’s able to walk short distances with the aid of a walker and a “spotter” behind her in case her legs suddenly give out.
She has medical insurance, thankfully, but with three months of hospitalization and being away from work, her medical bills are another mountain she’ll need to climb. The ten-day stay in the hospital cost $200,000. The Doctor visits while in the hospital were between $80 – $140 each. The ambulance ride cost nearly $900 and each day in Mount St Vincent she was charged $575 a day for the room alone.
We’re holding a fundraiser/birthday bash we’re calling Walk On, Jayme! which will be held at RockSport Bar and Grill August 21st. There will be a silent auction from 7:30 to 9:30. Bring cash or your checkbook and bid on items from local artists and businesses and follow it up with Karaoke and dance hits hosted by DJ Tony B.
You can also donate to help her right now – viaPayPal (which works if you have a credit card – you don’t have to be a PayPal accountholder), click “Send Money” and send it to WalkOnJayme@gmail.com. Or if you can give something for the silent auction at the August 21st event, e-mail Sydni at heysyd@gmail.com. There’s a sharable Facebook event page for this too – find it here.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
2 face painters – that’s Wild Smiles in action, above – are among tonight’s special features at the second Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, co-sponsored by businesses including WSB. New tonight, they’re testing a different configuration for the stage – angled south instead of facing east:
That’s the PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) Kid Picks van at right – PCC’s one of the series’s two major sponsors, along with The Johnson Team. On stage tonight: Back Burner with bluegrass:
(video added later)
Next Thursday night – also 6:30 pm on the east lawn of Hiawatha Community Center – it’s Pearl Django with guest vocalist Greta Matassa. (And if you want to enjoy more outdoor music sooner – be at Providence Mount St. Vincent tomorrow night for the first of their four Friday night freebies, starting with Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana, 6 pm.)
Thanks to MargL for the tip that the California/Oregon stoplight is out. (Also thanks to those who messaged us about it via Twitter.) No word at this point if it’s part of a larger outage; we’re checking. Earlier this afternoon, according to a note we received from Craig, there was a small outage in Admiral:
A crow got a little too close to the primary and secondary terminals on the transformer between Fairmount Ave SW and Walnut Ave SW alley close to Hanford St. There were about six customers that were without power for about 35 minutes. The Seattle City Light Crew was here in 28 minutes. That’s GREAT.
(Craig included a photo of the crow atop its final resting place; we’ll just let it be.)
Ron Angeles, Delridge Neighborhood District Coordinator for the city Department of Neighborhoods, just put out the call for volunteers for a big event coming here later this month: The 2010 Seattle Race Conference will be held at South Seattle Community College, 8 am-4:30 pm on August 28th. The theme: “Racism and Health Inequities: Eliminating Barriers and Healing Our Communities.” Registration is open at seattleraceconference.org, and since the event is “100 percent volunteer-powered,” they’re looking for help – if you can pitch in, contact Joyce at Tseng_joyce@hotmail.com or 206-579-5330. Read on for the list of volunteer opportunities:Read More
Another side note on the Admiral Safeway project: The old house on the southeast corner of the site, 42nd/Lander, had been offered for many months to anybody who would pay to have it moved – but no takers – it’s now set for demolition. We got a tip from area resident Forest that the fencing had come down and some windows were boarded up; went by, and found the banner you see in the photo above. The company named on the banner, Earthwise, salvages what it can from old houses like this and resells the material to both contractors working on projects and homeowners in the throes of DIY work. That’s according to James Klicpera, Earthwise’s acquisitions manager, who, it turns out, is a West Seattleite. He tells WSB they subcontracted with Safeway to salvage whatever would be reusable and have actually finished most of the work, with much of the “recyclable” material coming from inside the house: 400 square feet of fir flooring, some appliances, windows, a few doors, and he mentions, “There was a very nice fireplace front – kind of Art Deco, tile – so we gathered up as many of those tiles as we were able to.” They also salvaged “several pallets” of bricks from the backyard patio as well as the fencing from around the house (as Forest had noticed). They resell the material, James explained, from a warehouse on 4th Avenue South in SODO. He says some of what they’ve salvaged from other sites is incorporated around West Seattle – like the bar top at Beveridge Place Pub, a recycled bowling lane. Safeway’s Sara Corn tells us other material from the house will be reused after demolition, which could happen as soon as next week – or as late as mid-September, when the existing grocery store comes down. (As first reported here last week, the store will close August 21, with the new store to be open next July.)
The BECU ATM located in the Admiral Safeway will remain there until the store is officially closed on August 21st. While the Safeway is closed there are additional ATM’s in the area that can be utilized. BECU members are encouraged to visit www.becu.org and look under “locations/ATM’s” to find the one that is most convenient for them. We are pleased to announce that when the new Safeway opens in 2011, BECU will have two ATM’s at the new store, one inside and one on the outside of the store.
The idea of the outside ATM came up at Design Review Board meetings, as noted in our report on the 5th and final such meeting for the Admiral Safeway project – though at the time, it was cautioned that Safeway hadn’t finalized a deal with a bank; now, BECU’s announcement indicates, it has. (The sketch above is from the artwork shown at that meeting last February; it shows part of the California SW frontage of the new store.)
A team of Seattle Parks managers and design consultants made it clear last night: They’re just beginning to dig into the details of one potential layout for the West Seattle Golf Course‘s future $3.4 million driving range.
Here’s what else they made clear: Whether you’re a golfer, a neighbor, or an occasional visitor to the vicinity, they want to hear from you about what they’re looking at – right now, and down the line as the design proceeds.
The 50-stall driving range has to go somewhere between the golf course’s 9th hole and 35th SW. The very-tentatively-sketched-out location (photo above shows roughed-out art displayed at the meeting) would require a whole lot of earth-moving and tree-removal – and would dramatically change the experience at West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park immediately west of the driving range (see the “dash” type marker on the left side of the drawing): What’s now a greenery-framed view to downtown would wind up on the other side of the net setup meant to keep golf balls from flying onto 35th – a net that would rise 50 to 90 feet above the street level at the viewpoint site.
Last night, we published a brief note about the “disappearance” of one of West Seattle’s beloved murals, “Press Day,” from the side of the building that’s home to the Terry Gangon Insurance Agency (and others) – thanks again to Ken Beres for noticing it was gone, and e-mailing to ask what we knew. This morning, we have additional info from Julia Gangon regarding what exactly is being done and when the mural will be back:
The mural was removed to paint the surface underneath. It has been over twenty years since the wood beneath was inspected and treated.
The wood was intact. It needed some cleaning, primer and two coats of paint. The mural will be put back up as soon as we are finished with the surrounding area. We want to make sure that it is not damaged by the painting process.
We have been surprised how much concern has been generated in such a short time. The mural was removed Monday August 2nd and stored inside the building. By Tuesday we were receiving calls, questions and emails.
The mural should be reinstalled by next Monday or possibly sooner. We are sorry it has caused such a stir. Our aim was to protect the wood underneath from potential moisture damage.
We have a bit of background on the murals in the “West Seattle 101” excerpts republished on WSB – read it here. “Press Day” was painted in the early ’90s by Alan Wylie, who also painted the “Bank Day” mural on the side of the Chase branch at California/Oregon.
Just got a little more information on a police/fire “assault with weapons” call early this morning in the 8800 block of 16th SW (map). Scanner traffic at the time, just before 2 am, did not suggest a suspect on the loose, and no details were available then, but we have some now: Det. Mark Jamieson in the SPD media unit tells WSB that police were called about a “disturbance” described as a “loud verbal argument”; then a second call mentioned an “intoxicated” man with a knife outside, “screaming.” Turned out one man had been stabbed in the upper back and arm, resulting in what were called “superficial wounds,” and the suspect was quickly arrested; scanner traffic during the call suggested the suspect might also have had some kind of injury, but Det. Jamieson is still checking on that. 9:54 AM UPDATE: A few more details – the victim is 46; the suspect, 28, and was indeed taken to the hospital for “facial and head wounds” – he is under guard there but once released, Det. Jamieson says, will be booked into King County Jail for investigation of assault and harassment.
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli, after Blue Angels’ arrival Tuesday)
The city’s weekend traffic alert expands to four days this week – today through Sunday – since the I-90 bridge closures for Seafair Blue Angels practices and shows are about to begin. (Today’s practices – with two I-90 closures – are not the official show maneuvers, but rather the “get acclimated to the area” flights.) Also in the alert – though no roads will be closed or blocked – is an Alki event, the Festival of India on Saturday and Sunday. Read on for SDOT’s full alert list:Read More
Attention Chief Sealth International families: Sports packets are now available for pick-up in the main office down on Delridge. A completed packet must be turned in prior to hitting the practice field later this month (football starts 8/18, while volleyball, girls soccer, cross country and golf tee off 8/23). As part of the packet, students need a current physical (good for two calendar years) from a licensed physician.
Packets can be picked up and returned in the main office, from 9 am-3 pm and running until operations are moved to the new building.
Up-to-date athletic information, including summer practice times, will be published on the school’s website beginning August 9th.
In addition, those that may be in need of some new or updated athletic equipment – make Big 5 your place to shop from August 14th – August 23rd and 5% of your total purchase will benefit Chief Sealth Athletics (must present attached coupon – [click here to get it as a PDF])! Valid at ANY Big 5 store during that time.”
Also this morning: West Seattle Pee Wee Baseball has a new “Fall Ball” league, and signups are under way right now. From Pee Wee president Eric Olson:
We play on Sundays starting August 22nd until October 17th. This is Sandlot Baseball to the core. Kids will get to play with a different team of kids each week. It’s a chance for kids moving up a level to learn the rules of the higher division. As usual, it’s geared toward having fun. We’ve chosen to play on Sundays so we don’t interfere with West Seattle Soccer. To register, go to www.westseattlepeewee.com.
Eric says you have until the end of next week to sign up for Fall Ball.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports – including one with a warning/reminder (and not just the ones you think you’ve heard a million times before). Read on for all three, as reported by those who were hit:Read More
Hundreds of people spread out across the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center last Thursday night to enjoy the first of this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association (co-sponsored by local businesses including WSB) – and you’re invited to join the fun again tomorrow night for concert #2: 6:30 pm, with Back Burner onstage playing bluegrass. ANA president Katy Walum says kids can get free face-painting (2 painters will be there!) – the concert of course is free – but tomorrow night, please bring nonperishable food and/or money for the West Seattle Food Bank. Katy shares this note from WS Food Bank’s Anna Guitchounts:
The West Seattle Food Bank would like to thank the Admiral Neighborhood Association, Hiawatha Community Center, and all of the sponsors and community supporters of the Summer Concert Series at Hiawatha Community Center this year. We are very honored to be the recipient of the donations collected at the concert being held this Thursday August 5th. Last fiscal year this agency provided food and other supplies to families in need more than 36,000 times. The support of our community is essential in helping us fulfill this need. We thank you for your support of this event and the West Seattle Food Bank and we look forward to seeing you there!
North Delridge and Morgan Junction leaders have just learned that their neighborhoods are winners in the latest round of decisions about who should get a share of city Neighborhood Street Fund Large Projects money. These proposals went through a lot of review, including the local district councils. The decisions just announced will allot $112,000 for crossing improvements – such as striping and signage – at three California SW intersections – at SW Frontenac and SW Othello, as well as, north of Morgan Junction, SW Findlay (see the full proposal here). And $501,000 will be allotted for curbs and rain gardens 25th SW between Brandon and Juneau (see the full proposal here). These are two of 11 projects citywide (here’s the list) that were chosen for NSF money this time around; the mayor and City Council have to sign off on it for next year’s budget, and provided that happens, SDOT says design will likely start this December.
MISSING MURAL: Notice what’s not in that photo? Ken Beres sent it and wondered why the “Press Day” mural had disappeared from the side of 4727 44th SW. We called the nearest office – Terry Gangon‘s insurance agency – and were told the building’s being painted, so the mural (closer look at it here) was removed but will be restored. (Working to find out more specifics bout this.)
ROAD CLOSURE ALERT: Writing about this Friday’s registration party for the Alki Beach 5K Walk/Run to benefit Northwest Hope and Healing, we noticed something new – confirmed by NWHH’s Shari Sewell – this year, Alki Avenue will close for the run, instead of having more than 1,000 people to run on the sidewalk/bike path. She says, “It’s the same route as the WSHS 5k back in May. The closure runs from Alki at 63rd (near the old Pegasus Pizza) to Don Armeni boat launch, from 8 am until 11 am (will re-open earlier if all participants are off the course). Our 5k route turns around at Anchor Park but the police will be directing folks up California Ave off Harbor if they live along the route. There will be one northbound access lane along Alki open for folks who need it.” Again, that’s a three-hour closure the morning of August 29th.
As part of West Seattle Elementary‘s “transformation plan,” required because it was on the state’s “lowest performing” list, the school had to change principals. We checked withSeattle Public Schools today to see if a new one had been named yet, since WSE’s school year starts early – August 31 – and learned that a letter recently went out to WS Elementary families with the announcement. The new principal is Vicki Sacco, who, the district says, has worked for 15 years in Brevard County, Florida. There are more details on her background in the letter sent to WSE families – read it here. The school website invites families to meet the new principal at a barbecue on August 30th. As for former principal Gayle Everly, news about her next job is expected later this week.
(Photo shared by anonymous contributor)
Just in from Dana Vander Houwen at the Seattle Fire Department, regarding the fire that destroyed a garage in the 5100 block of SW 98th (map) this morning (WSB coverage here):
Fire investigators determined that the garage fire that occurred this morning was intentionally set. They estimated that the damage totaled $52,000. The fire extended to a vehicle and also caused some damage to several nearby structures.
Seattle Fire Department Investigators are working with the Seattle Police Arson Bomb Squad, who will take the investigation from here. We ask that anyone who may have information related to this incident call the Arson Alarm Hotline at 1-800-55-ARSON. If people see any suspicious activity taking place they should call 911 immediately.
No one was hurt, but the smoke could be seen from miles away, and the flames burned so high, they were seen from the Vashon ferry (see the video clip in our first report).
Petty Officer 2nd Class Jarod Newlove’s memorial service will be held on Monday, August 9, 2010, 11:00 am at Holy Family Catholic Church, 9622 20th Avenue SW [
… While in therapy Jayme surprised the doctors again and again. She pushed her herself harder and added new challenges each day. Walking 10 feet down the hallway last month, using a walker and with an aide behind her in case she fell, was a monumental victory. Every time she was told she might not be able to regain a function, she willed herself right through that obstacle.
Just got a little more information on a police/fire 
MISSING MURAL: Notice what’s not in that photo? Ken Beres sent it and wondered why the “Press Day” mural had disappeared from the side of 4727 44th SW. We called the nearest office – Terry Gangon‘s insurance agency – and were told the building’s being painted, so the mural (
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