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Fauntleroy Schoolhouse deal updates: Close to closing; more land
September 10, 2009 3:20 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

schoolhouse.jpg

(2008 WSB photo of Fauntleroy Schoolhouse)
The future of one of West Seattle’s long-closed schools is not a done deal yet but it’s very close. The Fauntleroy Community Service Agency‘s purchase of the old Fauntleroy Schoolhouse has been more than a year in the making, and FCSA’s Kevin Wooley tells WSB today that the deal should finally close within a month or two – the legal challenge that had posed a problem earlier in the year has ended, and some of the public financing that’s helping with the deal is close to finalization. The schoolhouse is used right now for a mix of community and business activities, from Fauntleroy Children’s Center to Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering, and while its usage is not expected to change post-purchase, Wooley says they are still planning to explore the possibility of a capital campaign to raise what’s needed for repairs and upgrades, adding that FCSA is currenly “modifying the organization to run the building … It’s pretty exciting that we’re finally getting close to the finish.” They’ll soon be recruiting members for a “building advisory board,” too, and Wooley promises there’ll be a celebration once the purchase officially closes. FCSA and Seattle Public Schools reached agreement on terms of the $1.8 million deal last October.

4:45 PM UPDATE: And in fact there’s more news about the schoolhouse deal today – Kim Sheridan called with word that $1.1 million in additional state funding has been “set aside for purchase of additional playground space,” according to a community e-mail update she just said, adding, “This means that we can purchase all of the climber area on the lower playground, as well as the hill and a bit more!” That’s part of the rear section of the site that had not originally been in the deal.

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West Seattle business news: Westside Pharmacy closing, sort of
September 10, 2009 12:30 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Story and photo by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The free-standing Westside Pharmacy, which has been at the corner of California SW and Brandon Street for 20 years, is closing, but its longtime owner isn’t leaving the business – he is partnering with QFC to provide pharmacy services in their about-to-open Junction store.

Michael Ng, pharmacist and 32-year owner of Westside Pharmacy, tells WSB he is very excited about this partnership with QFC for a number of reasons, including the expanded hours and parking availability for his clients.

Read More

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More politics: Mayoral debate, Port on KUOW, bag-fee breakdown
September 10, 2009 11:23 am
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Free TV : Ustream

MAYORAL DEBATE: In case you’re not going to the big showdown between Joe Mallahan and Mike McGinn at the Cinerama downtown today, sponsors say they’ll stream it here (look for that stream around noon – 12:15 pm update – it’s started, with an intro from moderator Steve Scher – 12:25 pm – added the embedded version above, click to watch – 1:57 pm, it’s over but you can click to see the archived video).

PORT COMMISSION CANDIDATES ON THE RADIO: Marcee Stone mentioned this at last night’s 34th District Democrats meeting (we’ve added more details to our report; see it here) – West Seattleite Max Vekich and incumbent Tom Albro are both scheduled to be on KUOW (94.9 FM or listen online) at noon.

WEST SEATTLE VOTERS HATED THE BAG FEE: May not surprise you. But if you’re interested in the breakdown, seattletimes.com (WSB partner) has made a map with the breakout on what parts of the city backed the bag fee in last month’s election and which parts didn’t. Doesn’t appear ANY part of West Seattle had a majority “yes.” 12:13 PM UPDATE: Via Twitter, @labradoodles points out that if you follow the link to a larger version of the map, you will see two small clumps where the fee was supported (here’s that link).

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Food & drink followups: Swinery; Proletariat Pizza; new Starbucks
September 10, 2009 10:03 am
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | White Center | WS beverages

Three quick updates on food/drink places scheduled to open this month:

THE SWINERY: It’s the home stretch of work to convert the former Muttley Crew Cuts location (first reported here; meantime, MCC is now at 42nd/Admiral) for this new artisan meats/deli shop, and it’s being chronicled online. Check out theswinery.blogspot.com. They still expect to soft-open September 15 (next Tuesday). A few days after that —

(Photo provided by Proletariat’s owners as their sign went up recently)
PROLETARIAT PIZZA: White Center’s new pizza joint, in the northernmost block of the 16th SW business district across from Full Tilt Ice Cream, has pushed its opening day back a week – co-owner Stefanie says they’re now hoping to open September 18th. (12:39 pm note – Bayou points out on the White Center Now version of this item, they’ve got a blog-format website going at proletariatpizza.com.)

JUNCTION STARBUCKS FOLLOWUP: We mentioned when reporting the sighting inside Capco Plaza (42nd/Alaska) that we’d be checking with Starbucks whether this was company-owned or franchised. Finally got the official answer: Franchised (“licensed”). The QFC store in Capco Plaza is projected to soft-open September 16.

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More back-to-school news: Chief Sealth dinner/auction planned
September 10, 2009 9:55 am
|    Comments Off on More back-to-school news: Chief Sealth dinner/auction planned
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

As the new school year continues, there’s word of another big school fundraiser: Chief Sealth High School‘s PTSA and Performing Arts department are presenting the first-ever Seahawk Spirit Dinner and Auction on November 12th. It’ll be held at The Hall at Fauntleroy on November 12th, with doors opening at 5:30 for a silent auction, buffet dinner at 7, and a live auction at 8. Auction-item donations are being accepted as well as ticket orders – Dick Lee at rjlee@seattleschools.org or 206-252-0476.

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High-school sports: West Seattle HS volleyball starts with win
September 10, 2009 8:55 am
|    Comments Off on High-school sports: West Seattle HS volleyball starts with win
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Just in, from West Seattle High School assistant volleyball coach Jim Hardy:

Westside’s Volleyball team swept Cleveland HS 3-0 Wednesday night in their season opener at Cleveland.

Seniors Jess Harrison and Mariah Doll were the only returning lettermen on a young Wildcats squad that saw 7 players start in their first Varsity matches. Junior setter Taylor Magera had 23 assists in her Varsity debut, and sophomores Emmie Riley and Nicole Broten turned in solid performances in their first Varsity appearances.

Westside Coach Gail Mowrer was very pleased with her young team and relieved to come away with the win. “They are a very scrappy team that plays every ball to the whistle and always give us a lot of trouble.” Mowrer noted. “With so many young players, we felt that the keys for us would be to execute the fundamentals and try to serve and pass well.”

The Wildcats pulled away late in the first game to win 25-18. They controlled the second set, winning 25-14. In the third game, the Cats needed to come from behind to overcome a 7-point deficit midway through the set as Cleveland came out playing very well. In the preliminary match, the West Seattle Junior Varsity team won their match 3-0. The next match will be Monday night at Nathan Hale [map].

Sports is part of the school news from all over West Seattle that we’re committed to reporting – advance word of events is welcome as well as timely reports afterward like this – here’s all the contact info – thanks!!!!

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Today/tonight: West Seattle Art Walk; High Point neighbors; more
September 10, 2009 6:21 am
|    Comments Off on Today/tonight: West Seattle Art Walk; High Point neighbors; more
 |   High Point | West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle people

WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: Tonight, 6-9 pm, all around West Seattle. We previewed some of the featured venues/artists on Wednesday (like The Paint Ball at Feedback Lounge [WSB sponsor]); more to mention today – The Kenney is excited about belly dancer Nadira, resident photographer Phil Gelpi, guest artist Josh Miller, jewelry by Penguina Designs’ Johanna Lindsay, and food; at Capers in The Junction, Banana Blossom Press is donating proceeds from sales of its cards (more here) to 2 breast-cancer-related causes, including Northwest Hope and Healing (WSB sponsor) and its upcoming Alki Beach 5K Run/Walk (Sept. 27 – registered yet?). Get your Art Walk map and more previews at the official Art Walk site.

HIGH POINT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Come to Commons Park Amphitheater at 6 pm for HPNA’s quarterly meeting – topic, how to be a good neighbor, and a good neighborhood. Refreshments!

SOUTHWEST SEATTLE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN: They meet in Burien, but West Seattleites are part of the group and you’re invited to join them too. Tonight, 5:30 pm at Yo’s Bistro (205 SW 152nd; map), $10 cash/check at the door, RSVP to Jan at 206-244-7016 or Kay, kbk.bpw@hotmail.com

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West Seattleites’ first day of school: More photos
September 10, 2009 1:54 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle schools

With hours to go till the start of what for many is the SECOND day of the new school year, we have collected the rest of the photos kindly shared with us from Day 1. First, that’s Kandie‘s daughter Cece, who started 2nd grade at Gatewood Elementary. We received a few family photos too – 5-year-old Cole is pictured below with mom Jennifer and dad Brian, on his first day of kindergarten at Arbor Heights Elementary:

By the way, Arbor Heights is the first West Seattle public school we know of that’s on Twitter – not surprising since thanks to teacher Mark Ahlness, who’s also involved with the Twitter account (@arborhts), it was also among the first schools ANYWHERE to have its own website, way back when. (They’re on Facebook too.) Now on to Gatewood Elementary – here’s Katie‘s son Emmett checking out his spot in circle in Mr. Skeffington‘s kindergarten class:

Next, Jen shared a photo of her daughters and this explanation – “Bella, off to Madison Middle School, go Bulldogs, and Lauren off to West Seattle High School, go Wildcats!”

We had a couple pix from Lafayette Elementary earlier today – here’s another one, courtesy of Carrie Ann, who photographed daughter Molly with teacher Mr. Bell. (Carrie Ann says her daughter is one of “five or six” Molly’s in kindergarten there!)

Krystal sent this photo showing the lineup outside Lafayette:

And here are her daughters (Sophia at center, 1st grader in Ms. Nyberg‘s class, and Eloise at right, who’s a year away from kindergarten) with neighbor Aine (at left, 1st grader in Ms. Longo‘s class):

Not far from Lafayette, quite the day at Schmitz Park Elementary. Erik’s 8-year-old daughters Hailey, Caitlin and Sophia started third grade in Mrs. Watson‘s class:

They and their schoolmates got to hear from a descendant of the couple who donated the nearby parkland – Alan Schmitz (grandson of Ferdinand and Emma Schmitz):

And second-year principal Gerrit Kischner was clearly energized as he urged his returning students to welcome the newcomers:

One more back-to-school photo – Daphne shares this snapshot of Chloé, 4, and Pascal, 6:

Thanks to everyone who shared back-to-school photos … pix of West Seattle people, places and events, both the good news and the not-so-good news, are an integral part of WSB, and just one way in which this is collaborative rather than a “we make it/you read it” type of creation. Here are all the ways to reach us, any time.

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More 34th District Democrats endorsements, but not Mallahan
September 9, 2009 10:35 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

We covered tonight’s 34th District Democrats‘ meeting as-it-happened on our special @wsblive Twitter account (read the updates here). And now, here are the headlines from the 2-hour-plus Hall at Fauntleroy gathering, till we add more details later:

Anyone endorsed by the group for the primary who made it to the general got to keep that endorsement. But under terms of a one-time rule change, anyone who wasn’t endorsed and made it to the general was welcome to try again tonight. At the head of the line: Mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan (photo above). For the primary, the 34th DDs endorsed Mike McGinn, who’s in the general with Mallahan, and incumbent Greg Nickels, who isn’t. But a vote to add an endorsement for Mallahan fell short – two-thirds majority was required, and Mallahan came up with 49 percent, so McGinn is the sole 34th District Democrats’ endorsee for November. In the City Council Position 4 race, the 34th DDs endorsed David Bloom tonight, adding that to Sally Bagshaw, who retains her share of the endorsement that also had included West Seattleite Dorsol Plants, who didn’t make it to the general but is backing Bloom. A proposal to endorse Mike O’Brien for Council Position 8 – where the pre-primary dual endorsees were Robert Rosencrantz, who made it to the general, and David Miller, who didn’t – failed.

More on tonight’s endorsements (which included other races), and other news from West Seattle’s biggest political group, coming up.

12:29 AM NOTE: In the meantime, the full list of endorsements is on the 34th DDs’ own website, per webmaster Bill Schrier – check it out here.

ADDED 9:42 AM THURSDAY: More details from last night’s meeting, including Mallahan’s explanation of what he considered an “ignorant” remark – click ahead:Read More

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Archbishop visits West Seattle to bless new housing units
September 9, 2009 10:16 pm
|    Comments Off on Archbishop visits West Seattle to bless new housing units
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle religion | West Seattle video

Seattle Archbishop Alex Brunett – the region’s top Catholic leader – was in West Seattle this afternoon to bless and dedicate a new project of the Archdiocesan Housing Authority, which has 1,900 units around the region: Santa Teresita del Nino Jesus, described as “permanent housing for families transitioning from homelessness”; it’s in the 2400 block of SW Holden (map), with 26 two- and three-bedroom units in four buildings, all already rented. The archbishop spoke in English and Spanish about the saint for whom the complex is named:

Also at the ceremony: reps from the city’s Office of Housing, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Homestead Capital, along with Holy Family’s Rev. Horacio Yanez, and a resident of the new housing, Evelyn Gomez-Ortiz.

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West Seattle High School Foundation’s Back-to-School Breakfast
September 9, 2009 9:00 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle High School Foundation’s Back-to-School Breakfast
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

More back-to-school news: The West Seattle High School Foundation is presenting its second annual Back-to-School Breakfast. Foundation president Christy Rowe says the special guest will be WSHS Class of 1972 alum astronaut Gregory Johnson, recent Atlantis pilot who, according to the official announcement, “will be presenting the student / staff signed basketball jersey that he took into space to the high school.Greg was also inducted into the WSHS Alumni Hall of Fame in 2009.” The event is September 24 at WSHS, with breakfast at 7:30, Greg Johnson at 8, then at 8:20, a program including emcee King County Council Chair Dow Constantine (WSHS alum) as well as Rowe, WSHS president Bruce Bivins, and Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson. Breakfast is free; donations will be accepted; RSVPs are requested – call Dick Lee at 206-252-0476.

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West Seattle Chamber hears from community colleges’ chief
September 9, 2009 8:01 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Chamber hears from community colleges’ chief
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Fitting for what was for thousands of students the first day of school, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly lunch meeting was keynoted today by Dr. Jill Wakefield, who runs the city’s community-college system after more than 30 years with South Seattle Community College here in West Seattle. The heart of her presentation was the fact that almost everything you think about community colleges is probably wrong – as is everything you think about the job market today. On the former point – she called attention to the fact that 50,000 students are now in the Seattle system, “the second largest higher-education provider after the University of Washington.” And she noted that SSCC is one of four community colleges in the state to offer a 4-year degree (it’s in hospitality management); on the latter point, she talked about the specialties in which trained workers are most in demand, such as health care, and noted that while “green jobs” and training for them is growing in popularity, the actual job market has not quite caught up yet. She stressed the importance of technology and the broad adoption of it among students and teachers, saying that 9,000 students in the Seattle system are taking at least one online course now, and that by 2020, 70 percent of classes will be online or “hybrid.” Along with looking to the future, she gave a nod to SSCC’s 40-year past, outlining a bit of its history, dating back to the first classes, before the Puget Ridge campus was built, including some held in the West Seattle High School building. CHAMBER NOTES: Watch the group’s website at wschamber.com for news on next month’s lunch meeting; in the meantime, State Sen. Joe McDermott will be the next “Local Elected Official” at the brown-bag Lunch With LEO at the Chamber offices (RSVP ASAP, only 10 seats) Sept. 24; tickets are on sale for the Bordeaux, Bites and Bingo fundraiser October 2 at the SODO facilty of West Seattle-based Herban Feast.

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West Seattle kids’ first day of school: More of your photos!
September 9, 2009 4:47 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle schools

Two Lafayette Elementary students’ photos happened to be among the first we received today (thanks to those who’ve answered our request for “kids starting school” pix if you didn’t mind sharing – it’s so much nicer to “meet” individual people, instead of us just heading out and getting a wide shot of school buses pulling up somewhere) – First, that’s Brynn, whose proud mommy Brandi explains was “preparing for her big day in Mrs. Bell’s kindergarten class at Lafayette. The atmosphere was perfect for the first morning at school – sun, laughter and new friends to be made.” Also attending Lafayette for the first time ever today was 4th grader Zack – stepson of longtime WSB Forums contributor Hopey:

Starting kindergarten at Gatewood Elementary today, here’s Jordyn (thanks to mom Karisse):

And mom Marcia sends this photo of Aidan on the first day of Kindergarten at Hope Lutheran, noting that he’s in Mrs. Burza’s class:

Then, there were those last precious moments of summer – Lashanna shares this photo of daughter Coco the night before starting kindergarten at Pathfinder K-8:

More photos to share later!

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SODO traffic alert: Microsoft annual meeting tomorrow
September 9, 2009 4:23 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | Transportation

So many West Seattleites travel through SODO, we’re passing along city traffic alerts for that area – like this one about the Microsoft annual meeting at The Safe tomorrow – read on:Read More

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Sites to see during tomorrow night’s West Seattle Art Walk
September 9, 2009 3:13 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle Art Walk | WS culture/arts

Remember West Seattle Art Walk night last month? Thunder, lightning, downpours? Looks like tomorrow’s expected weather will be much more conducive to wandering. And the offerings keep getting more and more creative. Sampling from among the ranks of WSB sponsors who are participating, for example, Feedback Lounge in Morgan Junction is presenting The Paint Ball – billed as “Four artists, 120 minutes, public scrutiny, suffering” (more here). At Brunette Mix in The Junction, Gatewood artist/writer Pam Mandel (also known for Nerd’s Eye View) is showing collages. Ventana Construction, between Alaska and Morgan Junctions, is having an “artist blowout.” Back in The Junction, Wallflower Custom Framing will show the work of Kelly Rae Cunningham, whose creations adorn walls in Mural Apartments (where Wallflower’s in the ground-level-retail area). Across the street at Dream Dinners in Jefferson Square, Betty Olson Vacca‘s oils, pastels and watercolors. Other WSB sponsors participating: Click! Design That Fits in Admiral, M3 Bodyworks between Alaska and Morgan Junctions, Coffee at the Heights in Sunrise Heights, Endolyne Joe’s in Fauntleroy. One more participant of note: A very young artist, Schmitz Park Elementary third-grader Romy Ehrsam – who likes to draw, paint with watercolor and make block prints – will show her work at Shoofly Pie in The Junction. Here’s the printable map to all of tomorrow night’s participants; look for more venue/artist highlights at the official Art Walk site, and if you have something to highlight, let us know for the next preview tomorrow morning!

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Love gardening, food, wine? Here’s an offer for you
September 9, 2009 2:06 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | How to help | West Seattle news

Just back from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce monthly lunch, where Bill Hibler of West Seattle Internet mentioned that the West Seattle Garden Tour – which included his Gatewood home this past July (photo above) – is inviting people to join the committee, and there’s a meeting tonight, which he described as part party (that’s where the food comes in – wine too) and part meeting – as Bill puts it, “One member suggested that the committee was actually a gourmet cooking club masquerading as a garden committee!” If you’d like to investigate the possibility of helping out the WS Garden Tour, be at 1300 SW Webster (map) at 6:30 (phone numbers if you get lost: 206 225-6508, 206 225-4109). If you just can’t make it, but are interested in being on the WSGT committee, contact Clay Swidler at 206-669-4653. (The tour is a nonprofit annual event that raises money for nonprofit and educational organizations in West Seattle and vicinity – more info at westseattlegardentour.com.)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Homophobic graffiti again
September 9, 2009 11:43 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Kelli e-mailed last night to say that she saw graffiti in three areas north of Lincoln Park, including a business sign, with the same homophobic three-word slur that led to a police investigation and arrest this past May. She has reported it through the city’s online graffiti-reporting form and is contacting police as well – as we told her, police have said publicly recently that they want to hear about graffiti because they might be able to match it to certain suspects/repeat offenders. While no suspect has been described or identified in this case, we did check on the status of the man arrested after last May’s graffiti incidents. According to Seattle Municipal Court online records, the charges were dropped in June because he was found incompetent to stand trial. As for what happened after that, online records don’t say, but we are checking whether there is any publicly available information; he spent about a month in jail after being arrested in mid-May. P.S. Kelli said in her original note that she was hoping a report might “broadcast to these dunces that their feelings do not represent those of most West Seattleites. I found it disgusting and, frankly embarrassing for our neighborhood.” One spot she said had been vandalized, a bench at the tennis courts north of Lincoln Park, was already getting some work; she said “an elderly gentleman was busy trying to sand the words off the park bench” as of late yesterday afternoon.

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Election 2009: Who voted for whom and where
September 9, 2009 10:19 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

checkbox.jpgThe precinct-by-precinct breakdown of votes from the August primary is available; seattletimes.com (WSB partner) has published a look at the mayoral race (summary: the areas of West Seattle that didn’t vote for the WS-residing incumbent were split between Joe Mallahan and Mike McGinn). If you’d like to do some number-crunching of your own, here’s the link to a zip file with enough numbers (in plain text) to make your eyes swim. We pulled out the mayor’s home precinct in North Admiral just for curiosity’s sake — turnout passed 50 percent, and Mallahan came in second – this is the text block pulled/cut-and-pasted directly from the county file:

“City of Seattle Mayor”,”SEA 34-1417″,8,34,7,”Kwame Wyking Garrett”,0
“City of Seattle Mayor”,”SEA 34-1417″,8,34,7,”Registered Voters”,320
“City of Seattle Mayor”,”SEA 34-1417″,8,34,7,”Times Counted”,167
“City of Seattle Mayor”,”SEA 34-1417″,8,34,7,”Norman Zadok Sigler”,0
“City of Seattle Mayor”,”SEA 34-1417″,8,34,7,”Jan Drago”,10
“City of Seattle Mayor”,”SEA 34-1417″,8,34,7,”Write-in”,0
“City of Seattle Mayor”,”SEA 34-1417″,8,34,7,”Joe Mallahan”,37
“City of Seattle Mayor”,”SEA 34-1417″,8,34,7,”Greg Nickels”,75
“City of Seattle Mayor”,”SEA 34-1417″,8,34,7,”James Donaldson”,12
“City of Seattle Mayor”,”SEA 34-1417″,8,34,7,”Mike McGinn”,22
“City of Seattle Mayor”,”SEA 34-1417″,8,34,7,”Times Over Voted”,0
“City of Seattle Mayor”,”SEA 34-1417″,8,34,7,”Times Blank Voted”,6
“City of Seattle Mayor”,”SEA 34-1417″,8,34,7,”Elizabeth Campbell”,5

A completely nonscientific comparison to a precinct on the other side of West Seattle – ours, 34-1524 in Gatewood/Upper Fauntleroy, with 253 registered voters – it was Mallahan 38, McGinn 30, Nickels 27, Drago 13, Donaldson 10, Campbell 2, Sigler 1, Garrett 0, 7 blank ballots. If you want to find out your own precinct number so you can see how the vote total turned out, one way is to look up your “voter guide” (right side of this page). ADDED 10:38 AM: The Times has just added another breakout – county executive – see it here.

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3 more for West Seattle’s 9/09/09: ArtsWest, 34th DDs, HPIC
September 9, 2009 7:06 am
|    Comments Off on 3 more for West Seattle’s 9/09/09: ArtsWest, 34th DDs, HPIC
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle politics | WS culture/arts

(Photos by Matt Durham from mattdurhamphotography.com)
ARTSWEST SEASON BEGINS: The Seattle premiere of “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Carol Roscoe, opens the ArtsWest 2009-2010 season tonight. Performances continue through October 3rd. From the ArtsWest news release: “When Jean answers the cell phone of the corpse at the next table, she unwittingly embarks on a quirky odyssey that takes her from a high society funeral to the black market to the afterlife.” Buy tickets online here.

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: Just two months after their almost-five-hour endorsement meeting preceding the primary election, the 34th District Democrats plunge back into the waters at tonight’s regular monthly meeting. Here’s the agenda, including a link to a proposed rule change which would set the parameters for endorsement consideration at this meeting.

HIGHLAND PARK IMPROVEMENT CLUB: Meeting tonight at 7 to kick off a busy autumn, including plans for HPIC’s 90th anniversary celebration and other fall/winter events. More info here.

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Back-to-school day for thousands of West Seattle students
September 9, 2009 6:03 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | West Seattle video

As Seattle Public Schools start classes today, Pathfinder K-8 principal David Dockendorf and his student body – now grown to almost 500 – begin in the Cooper building on Pigeon Point. As you heard him say during those remarks at the “opening ceremony” last night, Pathfinder is finally under one roof, after years on the former Genesee Hill Elementary (now closed) campus with some classes in portables. He also acknowledged the difficulty of the changes for those who were displaced by the district’s closure process, including the hundreds who were in the Cooper Elementary “program” when it closed. Also speaking at last night’s Pathfinder ceremony, Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen:

This morning at Pathfinder, principal Dockendorf and PTSA president Akemi Hart will welcome parents with a reception after their children have gone off to class.

Start times are big news at many West Seattle public schools this year – Pathfinder will start classes at 8:20, not long after the start times at the public middle and high schools here, but many elementaries are starting later – as late as 9:25 am, at Sanislo and Schmitz Park. (Start/end times districtwide, school by school, are listed here.) The district says the new transportation policies that led to start/end time changes will save $2.2 million.

Other SPS notes for West Seattle – Several local schools start the new year with upgrade work completed over the summer (Alki and Lafayette among them); this is the second and final year that Chief Sealth High School will be in the Boren building, as renovations and upgrades are completed at its permanent campus, where a new Denny Middle School is being built (scheduled for occupancy in 2011). Aside from Boren, other shuttered schools in West Seattle – Hughes, Fairmount Park and most recently Genesee Hill – are scheduled to remain idle this year.

Today of course also is the first day of school for most of the West Seattle private schools that haven’t already started: among them, West Seattle Montessori (WSB sponsor) opens its new campus in White Center; Tilden School starts with a half-day today, and a Back-to-School picnic tonight. (Got school news? Let us know!)

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Admiral Neighborhood Association: Concerts’ encore, and more
September 9, 2009 4:12 am
|    Comments Off on Admiral Neighborhood Association: Concerts’ encore, and more
 |   Development | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Notes from WSB contributor Keri DeTore, covering Tuesday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting:

(August photo)
SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA:
The concert series was a hit and plans are already in the works to do it again next year. There will be an effort to increase the diversity in the music, but certain bands will be asked back as well. To provide feedback regarding the concerts, music types, or what you thought was successful or not successful, e-mail coordinator Katy Walum at: katy.walum@gmail.com.

(August photo by WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli)
DEVELOPMENT:
No updates for either the Admiral Safeway redevelopment or the 3200 block of California rezone. But the 2743 California Avenue project—the 14,100 sf medical and administrative office building behind PCC (WSB sponsor) — is moving forward and a hole for the foundation has been dug.

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Fauntleroy Community Association: Meet South Brace Point
September 8, 2009 11:30 pm
|    Comments Off on Fauntleroy Community Association: Meet South Brace Point
 |   Fauntleroy | Safety | West Seattle news

From tonight’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting:

SOUTH BRACE POINT COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Spokesperson Mark Johnson told FCA leaders this new group formed last month; 7 members came to FCA tonight to get acquainted. While they acknowledge that Brace Point (map) is part of the greater Fauntleroy area, they want to advocate for certain neighborhood-specific issues, such as traffic safety along 50th SW and the part-private/part-public pedestrian trail connecting 50th and Fauntleroy. They’re researching whether to make the path more uniformly accessible, and also looking into possible improvements to some of the neighborhood staircases.

ROAD/SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS? FCA’s Vlad Oustimovitch is working on a proposal for SDOT regarding some areas that need to be fixed up, in the Endolyne vicinity, including the commercial “triangle” area and sidewalks near Canine Casa.

FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL: Everything’s on schedule as festival preparations continue; the big day is Sunday, October 18th. Watch the FCA website and Facebook page for more info as it gets closer.

Fauntleroy Community Association’s meetings are usually the 2nd Tuesday, 7 pm, in the old schoolhouse.

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Junction Neighborhood Organization: Updates on parking, parks
September 8, 2009 10:03 pm
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 |   Junction parking review | Junction Plaza Park | West Seattle news

From tonight’s Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting:

JUNCTION PARKING REVIEW PROGRESS: SDOT‘s project manager Dante Taylor (right) briefed the group –Though the decision NOT to propose pay stations for street parking in The Junction has been in the books for a month and a half, the decision on whether to make ANY changes in parking in that area hasn’t been made yet – but it’s getting closer. The Junction Parking Project Committee will meet again toward the end of this month (no date announced yet); Taylor says whatever proposal emerges after that will be put up for public comment in October; a decision would be made in November; and implementation would happen early next year. Some Junction-area residents, particularly east of the commercial core, say they’d like to see a Restricted Parking Zone so that their streets wouldn’t be crowded with “park-n-hiders” who they say drive from other parts of West Seattle to catch the bus. But Taylor showed a variety of parking-usage stats that seemed to cast some doubt on whether the spaces were consistently full enough to merit an RPZ. JuNO president Erica Karlovits said, “I don’t know what the numbers are going to tell you, but I can tell you what I see outside every day – people are lined up waiting for anybody to pull out of their space, and those people don’t come back (for their cars) till 6, 6:30 (pm).” One other tidbit: Where restrictions are posted, there’s a 90 percent compliance level — he didn’t know, however, how that compared to other parts of the city. He also distributed numbers on parking usage in various areas at various times of day; you may not be surprised to hear that the least-used spaces are The Junction’s private-lot paid spaces – checks at 1 pm on two different days reported no more than 46% utilization on weekdays, no more than 19% utilization on weekends. While the RPZ issue is still clouded – Ann Sutphin with SDOT said a compromise measure might be parking restrictions in neighborhoods for certain hours of the day – Taylor said there’s a possibility that some time-limit signage could be implemented in areas that don’t have it now, toward the south end of the commercial district – he’s got a meeting coming up with the West Seattle Junction Association to listen to businesses’ thoughts.

JUNCTION PLAZA PARK: According to Karlovits, Friends of Junction Plaza Park is getting close to the end of fundraising for the $350,000 or so needed to finally build the park, years after the site was purchased. She also says that – as happened with Morgan Junction Park to the south – much-needed sidewalk work will be done in conjunction with park construction; a $60,000 grant has been secured to help with that, and SDOT is seeking funding for the remaining $14,000 or so. Karlovits says there will be one more public meeting to finalize details of park design before construction – likely in early October. If all goes well, groundbreaking could happen next February, and the park could be complete in May.

JuNO usually meets every other month, second Tuesday, 6:30 pm, at Ginomai Arts Center.

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