West Seattle, Washington
18 Monday
Another City Council-led hearing on the 2010 city budget is coming up this week. It’s not happening in West Seattle, but the fate of many city-operated services hangs in the budget balance – particularly the Seattle Public Library. According to Friends of SPL, there will be dramatic effects at West Seattle libraries, particularly the Delridge, High Point, and WS (Admiral) branches — which would close on Fridays and Sundays, and cut back other hours — as well as nearby South Park. Sarel Rowe from Friends of SPL says they didn’t get the support turnout they were hoping for at the first budget hearing this past week (as they report here), so they are pleading with library supporters to come make brief remarks in support of prioritizing library funding at these two hearings – one just days away:
5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14
Northwest African-American Museum
2300 S Massachusetts St. (map)5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26 at
City Council Chambers
600 4th Avenue (map)
Rowe says, “We need people who will stand up and speak for two minutes in support of the library. One night at a hearing is a small investment if one considers that the risk is closures and reduced hours of our neighborhood branches. E-mails help alot but we must also have support at the hearings if we have any hope of blunting or avoiding these service cuts.” And if you haven’t taken the Friends of SPL survey about library use yet, go here. Meantime, you can dig into details of the 2010 budget proposal by going here.
Hope we’ll be seeing you tomorrow night at Eat Local Now! – the first year West Seattle is headquarters for this dinner/auction event celebrating the growing (in more ways than one) local-food movement, co-presented by groups including Sustainable West Seattle and CoolMom, featuring a great lineup of local chefs and other food stars, and with co-sponsors including WSB. We got word a couple days ago that tickets were sold out, so if you don’t have yours, it’s unfortunately too late, but organizers asked to share a list of — and acknowledgment for — exhibitors who will be there (including us) — check it out:Read More
Reminder: SDOT announced two days ago that crews planned to work on The Bridge today, westbound, at the Harbor Avenue exit till about 6 pm, replacing a “crash cushion.” And we have word from Marco via Twitter that Sylvan Way through High Point (map) is closed – not sure if that’s related to the bike-lane work that we reported yesterday, but if you usually use that “through route” between Delridge and 35th (or points inbetween), heads up.
Often, the morning preview includes highlights from all dayparts. Today’s got so much going on, we’re just going to start with the morning. 
First: Pancakes! Alki Lodge #152 presents a pancake breakfast at the Masonic Hall (4736 40th SW), 8 am-11 am, sausage, eggs, pancakes, coffee, OJ, adults $5/kids $4. 9 am is when the Tibbetts United Methodist Church mega-rummage sale kicks off day 2, 3940 41st SW, till 3 pm; and there are four fundraising car washes today – this preview details the 3 for West Seattle’s three high schools; this one is for a Burien car wash (in case you’re headed that way) benefiting a teacher fighting cancer. MUCH more going on, of course – see it all in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
West Seattle artist Karen Lyons shares news of an “online studio tour” in which she’s participating, to celebrate Halloween and to raise money for bat conservation. It’s a fun site to wander if you have at least a few minutes to spare – halloweenstudiotour.com – and you can contact Karen at woosel@wildmail.com if you want to know more.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
That spot under the high-rise bridge- a stone’s throw from the low bridge – is at the heart of a no-man’s land of sorts – where multiple jurisdictions have ownership and interests, on the shore of a channel at the north end of the Duwamish. Other interests there are those of residents like a great blue heron known as “Grandpa“:
Pull back, and you can see where he is:
Turn in the other direction, here’s what you see:
That’s Jim Clark Marina. Not just a place to keep your boat when you’re not on it – it’s also headquarters to Neal Chism‘s cleanup mission removing trash from marina waters and a nearby section of the Duwamish – hand tools and all.
The grabber is store-bought, but the other item is an invention – a $3 office-item sorting basket tacked to a piece of wood.
With those items, and a few others, Neal has been fishing trash out of the waterway, and pulling it from the shore, for about four months now. As he explains it:
Around about the first of June this year I reached a point where I could no longer stand to look at all the trash that was building up in the parking lot area out in front of our small marina on Harbor Island. At the same time, I was frustrated at the fact that while trash was floating in the waters of the marina just a few feet away from the boat docks I could not reach it.
He is a self-described “semi-retired engineer,” so of course he’s been tracking what he’s finding and making charts:
That chart shows the volume fluctuation in the trajectory of trash he has been picking up on nearby beaches along the waterway – just within a mile or so; the beaches have nicknames, like “Safe,” where a discarded safe turned up once, and “Seal Pup,” for a little critter who turned up there. They aren’t sandy beaches like Alki – more rocky shores, like this one on the north side of the bridge, not far from a pocket park on Port of Seattle land:
Also nearby, a city sewer-line project related to the reason we first heard from Neal – a big project under the bridge (something we’ll follow up on separately!):
But first, more about what he’s doing and why. Neal cites the infamous story of the Great Garbage Patch in the middle of the Pacific – hundreds of miles wide, a repository for trash, particularly plastic, that starts a million places that ultimately feed into the ocean. Neal says he traveled extensively in the South Pacific and was horrified by what garbage has done – a disposable lighter that finds itself into the water, for example, might get eaten by an albatross with a 10-foot wingspan, get stuck in its throat, and starve the bird to death. So, to keep at least a small portion of the trash from getting that far, he’s taking action, one piece of trash at a time. “This is for the birds,” he says – including ones he’s photographed, like Grandpa:
He shows us the photos in a shack at the marina, where he has been restoring an old sailboat, and where he also keeps the “cataraft” he uses to travel to nearby beaches – pull up, pick up some trash, get back into the water and row to the next beach – it’s atop this stack of small boats:
The narrow end of the channel where the marina sits is something of the last bottleneck before trash is closer to making its way into Elliott Bay – he showed us this on a navigation chart:
What he picks up isn’t all trash. He also cuts plastic rope left behind when net fishers remove their nets; he’s invented a battery-powered, gun-shaped device that heats a wire to slice through them:
So far, his project has been a one-person effort. Later this month, he’ll be talking to others at the marina about what he’s been doing, and how they might help. It’s something almost anyone can help with – not just by avoiding throwing trash on beaches, let alone into the water, but also being careful not to lose items in the water – some of what he picks up involves tennis balls tossed for dogs to fetch, for example. Also, it just so happens that the next semiannual Duwamish Alive! cleanup is a week away – 10 am-2 pm October 17th – with hundreds of volunteers set to work along the waterway and in nearby greenbelts (including here in West Seattle). His project, however, isn’t really formal – except for this:
Picking up the trash turns out to be the easy part. Finding a way to have the collected trash hauled away is tougher. I came up with the idea of having the area officially adopted under the Seattle Public Utilities “Adopt a Street” program. Instead of adopting a street, however, I adopted an area from Klickitat Way over to the water. The benefit of using this program is that the city gets volunteers (me) to pick up an area, and the city will take the refuse and clean-green away for free.
If we haven’t mentioned this sooner – Neal didn’t contact us looking for publicity – he e-mailed regarding the aforementioned sewer project, and when he mentioned his cleanup work, we asked if we could meet him to do a story about it. Turns out he COULD use a little publicity – he’s pitched his project as an idea for the Discovery Channel show “Dirty Jobs” – read his pitch on their forum, and give him a vote if you think it would make a good episode.
We’re adding two more high-school benefit car washes to tomorrow’s calendar – which means all three of West Seattle’s high schools are offering you the chance tomorrow to help out AND get a cleaner car (sunny forecast!):
WEST SEATTLE HS GRAD NIGHT: Putting on the stay-safe-while-having-fun event takes a lot of fundraising throughout the year, and tomorrow’s 10 am-2 pm car wash at the WSHS parking lot (3000 California SW) is the next event.
CHIEF SEALTH MUSIC: Washing cars at the school parking lot (5950 Delridge) 9 am-3 pm tomorrow. The Sealth music program is raising $ for tuxedos and travel expenses. Monica Kenny writes, “We are hoping that once again our fellow West Seattleites would like to liberate themselves of car-wash duty and help out a great bunch of musicians at the same time.”
SEATTLE LUTHERAN FOOTBALL: 10 am-1 pm at Swedish Automotive (WSB sponsor; 7501 35th SW). They’re raising money to help with travel expenses – particularly in the league in which they play, they have to go to a lot of farther-flung spots (Concrete, Naselle, etc.).
FIRST: One week from tomorrow, the White Center Food Bank presents its annual Harvest Dinner/Auction – a key fundraiser for an agency that serves people in the city limits (as well as WC) but doesn’t get city funding. The auction will include chairs hand-decorated by local artists – among them, WSB’er Babs, who just finished and turned in the one you see above, and shared its story:
Discarded and found in a local Goodwill, this lonely chair cried out for a new beginning. It started life over 80 years ago in a Tacoma woodworking shop and since then only we can be the judge of the many dining tables it has graced. Time gave it life scars but it remained sturdy and strong – awaiting placement at a new table to oversee more stories from life shared over meals.
To get tickets for the White Center Food Bank Harvest and Auction (5:30 pm October 17 @ Brockey Center), call 206-762-2848.
SECOND: The West Seattle Food Bank needs plenty of help too – business is booming there too. WSB has just signed up to be one of the sponsors of an annual event that’s all about collecting $ (as well as food) for the WS Food Bank – the Beer Church‘s 11th annual Turkey Bowl. It’s not till November 21st, 5:30 pm at West Seattle Bowl, but tickets just went on sale online, and an early purchase is the best way to guarantee you’ll be part of the fun. Go here to buy in (you can even buy your own lane!), and find out more.
A little more today from SDOT on the source-of-much-discussion Admiral/California signal timing. Here’s what Marybeth Turner found out for us:
SDOT did change the signal timing around a month ago and has been actively monitoring the traffic since then. Based on our observations, the corridor is operating very well during the AM and PM peak times. We will make some minor changes to the signal timing at the intersection of California Ave SW & Admiral Way SW for the off-peak and weekend periods. That will extend the green time for eastbound and westbound traffic within the next couple of weeks. If your readers have additional concerns, please e-mail them to SDOT at traffic.signals@seattle.gov
Please do take her up on that request – comments on this item are great TOO (and when you e-mail us about concerns, that helps us ask authorities the right questions), but if you also send them to SDOT as requested here, they’ll also circulate directly into mailboxes that matter.
(looking north on Fauntleroy from just south of Holly)
Thanks to John C for noting that the long line of “no parking” signs along Fauntleroy Way east/south of Morgan Junction has been followed up by what appeared to be lines for bike lanes, and work crews like the one you see above. That stretch indeed is identified as a bike-lane prospect in the citywide Bicycle Master Plan (get a closer look at West Seattle plans here); we asked SDOT‘s Rick Sheridan for details on what exactly is being done right now:
As part of the Bicycle Master Plan, SDOT is adding new bike lanes and sharrows on Fauntleroy Way SW from California to the ferry terminal. Your readers can basically expect to see a bike lane on the northbound side and sharrows on the southbound side. To accommodate the new bike facilities, we are shifting the center line in some locations and reducing the width of the two-way left turn lane. No parking will be lost due to the changes. Weather permitting, the work should be completed by the end of next week.
Over the next few days, we will also be installing bike lanes uphill and sharrows downhill on Sylvan Way SW from Delridge to High Point.
One of the most recent citywide-media reports about developer Michael Mastro – forced into Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings, with properties including the half-done 35th/Avalon building as well as Harbor Ave land and the West Water condo conversion – focused on his “Friends and Family” investors. That’s what appears to be at the heart of charges just announced by the state – read on for the news release:Read More
When we published this update a week and a half ago on the new Shipwreck Tavern (4210 Admiral Way), they were on track for an October 10th opening – but as we’ve seen with many new restaurant/store projects, you never know for sure till you get there, so we just checked with Shipwreck proprietor Chris Long, who says tomorrow IS definitely opening night. Chris told WSB contributing reporter Mary Sheely that the doors open at 6 pm tomorrow, Colby Imus & the Good Lieutenants will play, music starts between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. – there may be more than one act but they’re the only ones confirmed. Twelve beers on tap including the old standbys like Bud and Bud Light and also selections like Rogue Dead Guy Ale, Manny’s Pale Ale, Mud Shark Porter, Stella Artois, Red Hook, and Jubelale.”
The Eat Local Now! event Sunday night is sold out – hope you got your ticket – but if not, we hereby encourage you to “eat local” this weekend in a variety of ways: Support West Seattle restaurants, markets, Farmers’ Market vendors and other food purveyors! WS has 100+ places to chow down, including WSB sponsors Cafe Revo, Endolyne Joe’s, Feedback Lounge and Skylark Cafe and Club (which sponsors the WS Weekend Lineup!). And there are cooking classes at West Seattle PCC (two this weekend that still have space). Other weekend highlights include a WSHS Grad Night fundraising car wash, first Board Game Afternoon on Sunday at Southwest Library, and “Art in the Garden” opens Saturday at West Seattle Nursery. Read on for our list of 50+ events and activities:Read More
Two notes, both cooked up in this WSB Forums thread but worth noting here too: Marination Mobile will NOT be at its usual High Point spot tomorrow – it’s part of the Mobile Chowdown in Interbay 11 am-3 pm (map). Meantime, a quick update on Rancho Bravo Tacos‘ plan to come to West Seattle (first reported in April); checked with proprietor Freddy and he said he’s aiming for a mid-November start. He also had a question for YOU regarding the site (the old West Seattle Motors lot [map]):
How about some ideas from your beloved readers about what to do with the building on the property since the taco stand will be outside?
Last night at The Hall at Fauntleroy, we checked in on the second of two West Seattle open houses regarding the King County Wastewater Treatment decisions-to-be-made about how to handle “combined sewer overflows,” which happen (on average) at least four times a year, a million gallons of stormwater/untreated sewage into Puget Sound each time, from the Murray (Lowman Beach) and Barton (by Fauntleroy dock) spots. Talked with KCWT’s Martha Tuttle for two points of clarification: (1) The CSO plans are separate from the still-in-the-works plans to upgrade the underground pump stations at Murray and Barton. (The latter, she says, is on track for construction in 2011; Murray will be sometime “later” – Tuttle points out there’s already been a fair amount of upgrading at that site.) (2) Look for another round of meetings in late January where KCWT will return with the proposed “alternatives” (from the four general types described in our report on the Wednesday night meeting); then decisions will be made in May. She says that despite King County budget woes, these projects ARE in the budget – the overflows are a situation the county is required by law to fix. (P.S. Next time there’s a storm – check out the real-time CSO info for West Seattle on this county page.)
Two quick reminders before we get to the full West Seattle Weekend Lineup later: First, Seattle Public Schools (and most others) have no classes today. Second, Tibbetts United Methodist Church‘s big semiannual rummage sale starts today – 9 am-4 pm, 3940 41st SW.
More than a few West Seattle schools had open house/curriculum night events on Thursday night – and some were combined with added special features, as was the case at Arbor Heights Elementary, where teacher Mark Ahlness shared photos. The Arbor Heights PTSA reports that more than 500 people came for dinner, and were served ably by around 30 volunteers, among them, Cub Scout Troop 799, whose scouts set up the tables, tablecloths and chairs. Leftover food was taken to a shelter in White Center. Next up, as the next picture hints, AH has its first-ever dinner/auction fundraiser coming up November 6th at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor).
Cheryl suspects this solicitor was legit and is planning to check tomorrow, but wanted to share the story anyway:Read More
Seattle Post-Globe has coverage of the mayoral candidates’ participation in the midday candidates’ forum at Youngstown Arts Center that focused on housing issues. Among other things, the article notes both support approval of the housing levy that’s on next month’s ballot. Mayoral and council candidates are expected back in West Seattle for the only major forum targeting issues of specific importance to WS, one week from tonight, 7 pm 10/15, also at Youngstown.
ORIGINAL 7:22 PM REPORT: Back at WSB HQ to put up a few pix from our West Seattle Art Walk ramblings so far – heading back out to see more. (For blanket disclosure, all three of these first photos are from WSB sponsor locations.) Top photo is painter Paul Creasman, who is showing at M3 Bodyworks – 5410 California SW, upstairs, quite the party, lots of beer, catering by seasonalpalate.com, stop by till 9 pm. In North Delridge, we caught up with photographer Jenny Jimenez:
Her exhibition “Show Me Your TIFFs” features 10 years of music photography and is at Skylark Cafe and Club – two walls of photos – 3803 Delridge Way, and she’s there in person till 9 pm tonight too. (Plus live music – singer-songwriter Damien Jurado and Amy Blaschke.) Artists are on hand at many venues but not all; we dropped in at Dream Dinners, where Betty Olson Vacca‘s paintings are on the walls but the creating’s being done by clients:
Dream Dinners is on the 41st SW street side of Jefferson Square (4701 41st). Our next stops include Feedback Lounge to see how the punk-rock pumpkin carving is going. More later. Beautiful night. Here’s the Art Walk map – even if you don’t want to go far, there are likely venues near you. ADDED 11:29 PM: Photos from four more venues we made it to – first, two punk-ins from the Feedback Lounge carve-a-thon:
Showing at The Kenney, here’s artist Jan Hahn, who lives in the Ballymena building:
Back in The Junction, Dave Sheely showed his jewelry at Cherry Consignment – we liked his display card, too:
And in the Admiral District, Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) continues to feature the work of Rachel Austin, which debuted during their recent 5th anniversary party:
Click! proprietors Frances and John Smersh say Austin is coming up from Portland to discuss her work in person during an event Nov. 21. Meantime – next West Seattle Art Walk is November 12th.
ORIGINAL 7:21 PM REPORT (FOOTBALL): The final from Memorial Stadium downtown: West Seattle High School 46, Cleveland 0, second straight shutout for the Wildcats. More to come. (You can read some of the highlights in the stream from our live tweets – @wsblive.)
ADDED 9:54 PM: From co-publisher Patrick, who covered the game: The Thursday night edition of Wildcat football saw West Seattle defeat Cleveland, 46-0. The West Seattle High defense was the standout on the night. Cleveland was held to only one first down in the first half, and their best drive stalled on the 31. The Wildcats also forced several turnovers, including a blocked punt that was recovered by senior Emmet Holte. After the game, coach Davis Lura talked about Emmet and the play of the special teams.
The Wildcats are now 5-1 (4-0 in conference play). As for West Seattle’s other two high school varsity football teams: Chief Sealth travels to Clatskanie, OR, for a game at 3 pm Saturday, while Seattle Lutheran has this week off.
GIRLS’ SOCCER: Thanks to Sandy for the report: WSHS 3-0 over Sealth in girls’ soccer today.
Maybe it’s the rush before the winter weather hits. Another one just in from SDOT:
SDOT will rebuild the west side of the roadway and repair the sidewalk from 6543 to 6551 Beach Drive Southwest starting Monday, October 12. The road will be reduced to one lane for three weeks with a flagger to guide traffic during the day.
Just got word from Mary Ellen Cunningham of Friends of Dakota Place Park (map) that the dedication is set for 3:30 pm October 22nd “rain or shine.” The exterior work is done, including the art installation (photo), and as reported here last week, the city is putting together funding to finish the interior of the historic substation building on the site so that it can be used as a satellite facility for Hiawatha Community Center programs.
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