It was all smiles for the ceremonial shovel-turning that concluded the kickoff event for the Alaskan Way Viaduct South End (Holgate to King) project this afternoon – but in the round of speeches that preceded it, some sharp words over the “next” AWV project, the one to replace the elevated structure along the central waterfront. The event included a long line of mostly elected officials on stage, with dozens of union-banner-displaying workers and a few sign-wielding tunnel opponents.
Mayor Mike McGinn alluded to his tunnel concerns but went on to say he didn’t think this was the time and place to talk about them; nonetheless, those who took the podium right after him – including Tom Rasmussen, one of seven Seattle City Councilmembers onstage – promptly proclaimed their strong support for the tunnel. (Hear them both in this next clip, with state Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond – filling in for Gov. Gregoire, who had a sudden trip to D.C. – inbetween:)
Shortly afterward, Seattle Port Commissioner Bill Bryant (below) went so far as to say the process that resulted in the tunnel choice had included hundreds of meetings and thousands of public comments, so, he all but shouted, “Enough already! We cannot wait another day” to build the tunnel.
That project, however, is still at least a year-plus out; south end work starts now. More video and photos shortly; meantime, click ahead for the official news release sent by WSDOT afterward:Read More
(From left, Sean Miller, Kimberly Miller, Carlie Williams, Alexa Severtsen, and their assistant, Seamus)
Today, we welcome a new WSB sponsor: Northwest Academy for the Healing Arts, a massage school located at 2707 California Ave SW. Here’s what they’d like you to know about the school: Its director, Sean Miller, says, “The Northwest Academy for the Healing Arts has set the new standard for massage education in Seattle. As Seattle’s only independent massage school, Northwest Academy offers a personalized education that is unparalleled.” All faculty members have a minimum of five years clinical experience and hold advanced health-care-related degrees, all the way up to the doctorate level. Sean also says, “We offer the smallest class sizes in Washington State, allowing for an individualized classroom experience. Our comprehensive curriculum integrates the art and science of massage therapy with a well-rounded holistic approach to client care.” The academy’s programs are approved by the Washington State Board of Massage, theNational Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, and the Academy is licensed as a vocational school by the Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. Sean adds, “We are dedicated to the success of our graduates. Therefore, we offer ongoing career services to all students and graduates to ensure professional fulfillment. Our career services department offers students and graduates support with career choices and assistance with job placement.” He said the one constant note of feedback he gets from his students is that the Northwest Academy offers a quality massage education as well as a supportive community. Northwest Academy for the Healing Arts is online at nw-academy.com; you can also call them at 206-932-5950.
(Photographed right after West Seattle’s new Jones Barbeque opened: Shyla Jones & Charelle Love) ORIGINAL 12:30 PM REPORT: Just checked on Jones Barbeque in The Triangle – drove by and saw signs of impending business – they tell us they’ll be open in a few hours. Here’s our last update, from June 18th, mentioning their hopes for curbside service – we’ll ask about that once they’re open later today.
2:59 PM: Now open. Saw the sign while driving back from the Viaduct South End groundbreaking event (story on that, to come).
3:33 PM: Added a photo. Address is 4417 Fauntleroy, if you haven’t passed the storefront before. Couple notes: You can’t call in orders yet – the phone won’t be in until Thursday. Hours: 11 to 9 Monday through Thursday, 11-10 Friday and Saturday. They haven’t decided yet about Sundays (including the 4th of July) – we’ll check back in a few days. That curbside service WILL be offered, 11 am-4 pm and 6 pm-9 pm Mondays-Fridays, not during 4-6 because of peak traffic.
(Screengrab from the interactive simulation – be sure to note the upper-right area to choose perspectives)
In advance of this afternoon’s Alaskan Way Viaduct South End Replacement Projectgroundbreaking ceremony, we asked WSDOT for the newest images – some of which were shown at the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce briefing we covered last week. Even better, we just received this link to share – it’s a new simulation you can use to walk through the next three years of south end construction (this is the mile SOUTH of the proposed tunnel), step by step. (Background info – and more “survive the construction work” links – can be found here.)
Just got a note from Kamala with Marination Mobile, the food truck that’s been a hit in the 35th/Graham lot for months now. Next month marks a year since it’s been making Saturday visits to West Seattle – but it’ll skip the next two Saturdays:
We just wanted to let our W. Seattle peeps know that we will be closed on July 3rd (so that folks can prepare for the 4th), and July 10th as Big Blue will be at the Mobile Chowdown at the Seattle Center. We are already missing West Seattle, but look forward to seeing you all on July 17th. Wow, the 17th already seems too long to be away from West Seattle…
And now, just as a new park is being dedicated, there are two more Seattle Parks projects under construction in West Seattle: Work started at Pro Parks Levy-funded Myrtle Reservoir Park last week (as reported here), and this week – thanks to Mike and Kate for the tip! – construction is under way at Fairmount Playground (map). It’s a Parks and Green Spaces Levy-funded project, and it’s replacing some classic-but-old playground equipment — Mike and Kate’s note pointed out that a backhoe was “mangling the rocket” as they wrote; however, project manager Kelly Davidson says the merry-go-round will be reinstalled. The second and final community design meeting was held last January (here’s our report); you can see the final design here (PDF). The new playground at Fairmount is expected to be finished in August. ADDED 10:21 AM: We e-mailed Davidson to ask about the work – she mentioned she had some images of the old equipment. So for posterity’s sake, here’s “the rocket”:
(Photo by Jillian Lenox)
Maybe it’ll be sunny later. Can’t even rely on the forecast any more. In case it isn’t, here’s a blue-sky photo to enjoy. Fun stuff going on later, clouds, sun, or rain – the long-long-long-awaited Junction Plaza Park dedication (previewed here) at 5:30 pm; a Senior Housing and Resource Fair at Senior Center of West Seattle, lunch provided, 10 am-1 pm (full details here); tonight at 6:30 at Jefferson Square (suite 600), Savvy Seattle Women present “How to Finance and Buy a Fixer” … Porterhouse is the lone West Seattle restaurant on the list of participants for the first Spoke and Food Event — raising money for Solid Ground’s Lettuce Link program if you bicycle to dinner … At 7 pm West Seattle Hi-Yu invites you to the 2010 White Rose Reception, a women-only event celebrating past and present Hi-Yu royalty and candidates at Fauntleroy Church Hall; past royalty are encouraged to wear or bring their sashes and memory scrapbooks … Another reception today, at South Seattle Community College, celebrates the artists showing their work in “This Old Piano,” 12 – 2 pm at the Art Gallery, more info here.
(Program brochure photo provided by Toni Reineke)
Among the many summer programs under way this week is a summer music program that’s in its 57th year, taught by Seattle Public Schools music teachers, and though it started Monday, its head teacher Toni Reineke sends word it’s not too late to join in. It’s for students who just finished 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th grades:
Designed for students grades 4-8 (student must have completed at least one year of instrumental instruction)
Students who attend Seattle Public Schools as well as private schools are welcome!
Band, strings, jazz band, solos, ensembles, improvisation—and more!
Daily field recesses!
Evening concert Thursday, July 15, 7:00 p.m.
Weekdays, June 28 – July 16 (except July 5), 9:00 to noon.
For more info, please call the Fine and Performing Arts Department at 206-252-0051 or 252-0050, or contact Toni Reineke at 206-243-6955 or tonireineke@comcast.net
Two reader alerts to share this morning; both came in last night: One, a man who turned up in a family’s yard; the other, two men caught on a surveillance camera stealing metal including a wheelbarrow:Read More
If you are a longtime WSB’er, you may remember West Seattle Art Attack – the whimsical late-night forays of a glass artist (and accomplices) to leave surprises here and there – here’s our first report from fall 2007. As far as we know, WSAA has been dormant for two years (here’s the last spree) – but we just got a communique:
We are targeting 6 houses in the Admiral neighborhood tonight. We scoped them out in an afternoon drive-by and it was hard to pick but based on our whims and an appreciation for the care they have put into their yards we have selected some recipients for a midnight (perhaps sooner) surprise. As long as everyone knows that this is yard art and often has cracks or chips (but is not dangerously sharp) and is not a piece of studio quality glass we’ll all be good. It’s great to be back attacking again!
WSAA tells us they’re actually already back from the covert operation … so if you find an artsy surprise in your yard, let us all know!
Thanks to Paige for the tip (via Facebook) that some power is out in The Junction. We’re up there looking around and so far all we’re seeing is the traffic lights at California/Oregon and 42nd/Oregon. There’s a crew on scene so we’ll check with them. 9:20 PM UPDATE: We’re told a transformer on a pole in the alley behind Shoofly Pie is to blame for the outage. It’s just affecting that block – east side of California north of Oregon, that area. Crews are working on it (as our photo shows).
First came the online availability of police reports in certain categories of incident (start here) – now, Seattle Police have added incident types to the city’s My Neighborhood map, which has been available a while with multiple layers of other types of information. We’re still wandering around it ourselves but wanted to share the link in case you hadn’t already heard. As explained here, the icons – showing what type of report was taken – will start showing up as soon as six hours later. The announcement on SPD Blotter summarizes:
The crime reporting map is a short-term view of crime: it provides a good sense of what is reported to be going on in a certain neighborhood or the city at large at any time. It is also good for seeing patterns of types of crimes happening (such as an unusual amount of reported bike thefts in your area).
If you choose to use the “neighborhood” view instead of the specific-address view, note that Southwest is basically “western West Seattle,” while Delridge is the label for most of the eastern half of the peninsula. 8:25 PM: After spending some time clicking around, one observation: While more categories of crime are reported on the map, the reports to which you can link don’t offer any additional detail – so far we’ve clicked on the report links for crimes such as auto theft and animal bites, and the only detail on the “report” is what block and what day/time.
Tomorrow night, you’re invited to celebrate West Seattle’s newest park, at the dedication ceremony for Junction Plaza Park – where the finishing touches have been going in (check the bench in our photo taken early this afternoon, one of three alongside the grassy oval on its west side). We noted here earlier this month that Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, who chairs the council’s Parks Committee, was planning to attend; she just announced via Twitter that her predecessor in that role, West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, will be on hand too. The Parks Department had previously announced that Deputy Superintendent Eric Friedl would participate as well, and that music will be provided by violinist Pasquale Santos. The dedication’s scheduled to start at 5:30 pm tomorrow (Tuesday) – if you haven’t been to the park yet, it’s on the northwest corner of 42nd and Alaska, and it’s been more than five years in the making, with tons of volunteer help and donations.
We haven’t yet formally welcomed one of our newest WSB sponsors – so, as is customary, today they get the chance to share information about their business with you: Bin 41, “your Junction wine shop.” Bin 41 co-proprietor T. Frick McNamara explains, “Jon and I are casual West Seattleites who just love wine. Our goal is to provide a welcoming, open atmosphere to discover. Based on a quote we once saw, we believe a meal or get-together without good wine and friends is like a day without sunshine. We want wine to be approachable and affordable so it can find a special place in everyday experiences.” She sees a parallel between this business and the work she has done as an urban designer: “I used to design socially sustainable places with a focus on community. Now we get to be a part firsthand in our community fabric. The most rewarding aspect of our new lives at bin 41 is meeting new faces from the community and getting to share and learn more about the world of wine with them. We love it when customers come back to provide feedback on the last bottle of wine we recommended to help us hand select wines to match their palate, their dinner menu or assist in finding the perfect gift item.” Their current community involvement includes being part of the West Seattle Junction Association and participating in the monthly West Seattle Art Walk (stop by to see them next time, July 8, night before West Seattle Summer Fest). And there are special occasions just about every week – with tastings at the shop – the schedule is here. Bin 41 is in The Junction at 4707 California SW, and online at bin41wine.com.
We thank bin 41 for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.
Quick update on last Friday’s three-location West Seattle Community Car Wash fundraiser for West Seattle Food Bank and Haiti relief (via World Vision) – Terry Gangon says they raised $2,577, with $2,000 of that going to the food bank. (Here’s our as-it-happened report on last Friday’s event.)
Thanks to Larry Nitkey for that photo from 4516 42nd SW (map), where one of the houses scheduled to be cleared away for future development is in the process of being moved. According to Larry, “One of the contractors said they are moving this to 47th & Stevens.” This is one of four houses on the site of the 42nd/Oregon development that’s been in the works for more than 2 years. This house in particular, in fact, came up in a WSB discussion two years ago about saving old houses.2:07 PM NOTE: Went by to check on progress, and crews are doing some work on the structure; we’ve got a message out to the construction firm to see if there’s a timetable for actually moving it. LATE-NIGHT NOTE: We did talk with the firm’s proprietor – the move actually is still more than 2 weeks away, very early July 17th.
For starters, the process of moving out of the temporary Chief Sealth International High School campus at Boren, getting ready to occupy the renovated permanent campus in fall, is a big job – we happened onto the band equipment getting packed up. But that’s not the main reason we were at the school:
It’s the first day of the first weeklong session of the 13th annual edition of the popular Chief Sealth Life Skills and Basketball Camp. In that view, everyone’s gathered for the team meeting. Guest coach this week with Coach Colin Slingsby(right) is recent Sealth grad Daniel Davis:
Coach Slingsby noted that Daniel first attended the Sealth camp way back in third grade – and now he’s coaching. Participants – 2nd through 9th grade boys/girls – spend the day in everything from warmups to specific basketball-skill-coaching to drills.
And as the name indicates, it’s more than sports. The printed schedule has the quote of the day: “You have not lived a perfect day, even if you have earned your money, unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” For info on the summer’s remaining sessions, check out the brochure (PDF).
(WSB photo of Maia Santell at The Mount in August 2009)
Once again this August, Providence Mount St. Vincent plans a slate of outdoor concerts. The Mount’s Arlene Carter has just shared the lineup, including info on family activities accompanying the music, as well as the dinner offerings you can buy:
August 6th: Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana
Taco salad, burgers, hot dogs. Clown, face painter, caricature artist.
August 13th: Maia Santell & House Blend
Jambalaya, burgers, hot dogs. Bouncy House, face painter, caricature artist.
August 20th: Illusion of Elvis by Danny Vernon
Fried chicken picnic, burgers, hot dogs. Clown, face painter, caricature artist.
August 27th: The Haggis Brothers – Rockin’, swingin’, fiddle-driven string band
BBQ ribs, burgers, hotdogs. Magician, face painter, caricature artist.
Providence Mount St. Vincent is located at 4831 35th Ave SW (between SW Hudson & SW Edmunds in West Seattle. (206) 937-3700.
This morning, the official city report is out on a major development reported here Friday in a story that’s been ongoing for almost three years – a request to change the zoning for both sides of one full block (and a bit extra) of California SW. Most of it currently has a 30-foot height limit; the proposed new zoning would add 10 feet. As property owner/rezoning proponent Mike Gain told WSB on Friday, the Department of Planning and Development, which has had the rezoning proposal under review since summer 2007, is recommending approval. This page explains how to comment before the public hearing, which is planned before the city Hearing Examiner at 9 am August 18th (her chambers are on the 40th floor of the Municipal Tower downtown) – after that, it goes to the City Council. The full Director’s Report on the recommendation can be seen here (PDF); we’re reading it now and will add its toplines to this story.
ADDED 10:35 AM: As promised – click ahead for toplines from the report, including what it forecasts would be the eventual effects of the rezone:Read More
Yet another award for the West Seattle Hi-Yu “Dreams Do Come True” float – the President’s Award in the Port Orchard Fathoms O’ Fun Parade on Saturday, according to Hi-Yu vice president Deena Mahn. (We should have some photos to add soon.) Next up for the float, next Sunday’s Burien 4th of July Parade (time/route info here). And before then, the West Seattle Hi-Yu Order of the White Rose Reception – a women-only event honoring Hi-Yu royalty and hopefuls, past and present – is 7 pm this Tuesday at the Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall. 8:14 AM: Photos added. In the one below, from left, Senior Court Princess Kelly Nealson, Junior Court Princess Kaitlin Morgan, 2009 Junior Court Princess Anna Fuller, 2009 Junior Court Queen Zoe Mahn, and Queen Georgia are posing with the President’s Award plaque.
You’ll get to see the award-winning Hi-Yu float (and royalty, and volunteers) in the West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade on Saturday, July 24, starting at 11 am from California/Lander in the Admiral District and proceeding down California SW to SW Edmunds in The Junction.
In the latest West Seattle Crime Watch roundup – an e-mailed warning from a WSB’er that car prowlers will break into “even the most dirty old beat-up car” – plus, from the police files, the baseboard burglary, the overgrowth pathway, and the bike burglar caught on tape, among other cases – all ahead:Read More
(Photo by Gilbert, taken at Hamilton Viewpoint on July 4, 2009)
The annual WSB 4th of July events/info page will be up tomorrow morning for easy reference throughout the coming week. But while it’s still in progress, a few notes if you’re looking ahead to the holiday: The Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Paradeis happening once again, with every kid in West Seattle invited to join in (families too) – followed by fun activities at Hamilton Viewpoint – details in our previous preview. Fireworks-wise, it’s the second consecutive year with no Elliott Bay display, but much of the Lake Union Family 4th show can be seen from northernmost West Seattle, particularly spots like Hamilton Viewpoint – this is the one saved by donations around the city, mostly from businesses (we chipped in, as did WSB sponsors Ventana Construction and Merrill Gardens). Some in southwesternmost West Seattle (Arbor Heights, the Arroyos) will have a view of the Three Tree Point fireworks, which are also donation-supported (more info here). And in case this is your first 4th of July here, a reminder about fireworks laws: They are illegal in Seattle, but not in unincorporated King County, where legal fireworks stands are allowed to open starting at noon tomorrow (the northernmost one we spotted setting up tonight is in the bowling alley parking lot across from Roxbury Safeway). However, even though sales start tomorrow, fireworks use in the unincorporated area (which is smaller since the North Highline South/North Burien annexation took effect this spring) is only legal 9 am-midnight on the 4th. (Leaving the area for the holiday? Here’s the full list of fireworks displays around the state.)
If you have a 4th of July event in West Seattle or White Center that’s open to the public, please let us know ASAP so we can include it in our calendar and on the forthcoming holiday page!
Though summer vacation has barely begun, the nonprofits that heIp make sure kids get what they need for the new school year are already working hard to gather donations and support. One of them, West Seattle Helpline, wants to get out the word that it’s starting to collect kids’ and teens’ clothes for its Clothesline clothing bank, looking ahead to the August backpack/school supplies drive; Tatum from Helpline explains, “We try to allow folks coming in to do back to school shopping on the days we give out backpacks.” She also suggests that if you are having a yard/garage sale, you consider donating any “gently used” clothing that’s left over – and if you’re shopping this summer for kids’ socks/underwear, “grab an extra pack for the Clothesline” – items they always need more of, year-round. Here’s more info on what they do and how to help.
This morning, the official city report is out on a major development 
In the latest 
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