Mysterious Ivar’s sign fished out of Elliott Bay

The WSB Forums have been abuzz about this – and we finally have a link to share from one of the photographers who caught it on camera: An (apparently) old Ivar’s sign fished out of Elliott Bay off West Seattle shores last night. See it here at seattletimes.com. Whether it’s history … is for now a mystery.

Video/photos: Arts-in-Nature Festival at Camp Long

WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli reports from the Nature Consortium‘s Arts-in-Nature Festival – which continues through 9 tonight (with evening performers including fire dancing by The Cabiri, shown above in an aerial performance earlier) and again 11-6 tomorrow:

Beautiful weather for the 11th Annual Arts in Nature Festival going on at Camp Long this weekend. I stopped in for an hour around noon on Saturday and each event going on had a healthy audience though it definitely wasn’t crowded. I’d advise people to park on 35th though as open spaces in the Camp Long parking were scarce.

More photos from Christopher, before his report continues:

Lots of crafts for the kids. Coloring, painting, printmaking and face-painting, etc. Music and performance shows inside the geodesic dome on the meadow and down by the pond. The cabins are featuring art installations, including multimedia presentations in some of them.

Christopher also recorded video of one performance, by Lelavision:

For the full Arts-in-Nature Festival schedule, tonight AND tomorrow, go here. Admission is by donation, $5; the Nature Consortium is a West Seattle-based nonprofit whose major work involves restoration of the West Duwamish Greenbelt, the largest remaining stretch of contiguous forest within the city limits.

Update: West Seattle Helpline/Clothesline back-to-school help

We’ve got an update on the West Seattle Helpline back-to-school backpack drive (sponsoring WSB right now to help get the word out) from Helpline director Anna Fern – including information on how you can help, not just with backpacks, but also with clothing donations:

We have collected about 130 backpacks towards our goal of 200. Along with the backpacks, people are donating lots of school supplies. The community response has been overwhelming. The West Seattle Rotary made a large contribution towards the program and the Helpline. A local attorney donated money for over 20 backpacks. Members of the First Lutheran Church of West Seattle donated over 60 backpacks. And individual donations from West Seattle residents are still coming in!

We have over 150 requests for backpacks with appointments for picking them up (including) next Tuesday and Thursday. (But we are receiving over 10 requests a day…so we will end up having more than 200 requests by the middle of next week. We have limited it to just families in the West Seattle area–98106, 98126, 98136 and 98146 zip codes.) …

We still need more backpacks, but even more than that we really need “gently used or new clothing” for school age children. Most families will be picking up the backpacks and then shopping at the Clothesline at the same time.

You can donate backpacks by dropping them off at Capers in The Junction (map/address), Coffee at the Heights (WSB sponsor) in Sunrise Heights (map/address), or Helpline HQ (map/address). To donate money so Helpline can buy more backpacks, use the button atop its website. And to find out how to donate clothes for Clothesline (we’ve reported on this “clothing bank,” here and here), here’s how to contact them.

Door-to-door alert: Magazine sellers

Just got a phone call from a resident in a neighborhood southwest of The Junction – saying two young woman are selling magazine subscriptions door-to-door, claiming to be raising money for a “trip to Holland” (a destination also mentioned in this recent alert). He says neighbors gave them money, then looked up the information online and found claims of a suspected scam, and “ran after them to get their checks back.” Past door-to-door alerts (including comments, where more stories usually emerge) are here; city rules for door-to-door solicitors are here.

Happening now: “Big Bonanza” sale day in The Junction

August 22, 2009 11:32 am
|    Comments Off on Happening now: “Big Bonanza” sale day in The Junction
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

As mentioned earlier, it’s “Big Bonanza” end-of-summer sale day in The Junction. Kathy Mulady is covering it for WSB with updates and photos, and sends this vignette:

Balloons brighten the West Seattle Junction Saturday morning as the Big Bonanza event gets underway. Rob Wastman with the Skate Church (in the red shirt), and a member of the merchants’ association, delivered balloons to businesses and had an extra one in his bunch for Sam “Samster-the-Hamster” Seidl, 4, who was out and about with her dad, Mark Seidl. More than 30 businesses in The Junction have sales and special events planned today. We will be standing by for the Junction Showdown at high noon.

More later!

Tibbetts UMC celebrates centennial by digging in, digging up

Several West Seattle churches have celebrated their 100th anniversaries in the past year; among them, Tibbetts United Methodist Church, whose Rev. Dr. Joanne Carlson Brown is shown in the top photo, shovel in hand, as she and church members worked to help spruce up Lincoln Park earlier this month. All ages pitched in:

(Kathryn Ushimaru and Nora Hallmon)
Sara Carter shared the photos, explaining, “As part of (our) centennial celebration, we wanted to give back to our community.”

(Amy Hallmon and Howard Bogie)
She added, “Tibbetts is proud to have been living the Way of Jesus in West Seattle for 100 years and we’re looking forward to the next 100 years.” They invite anyone interested in finding out more about their church to check them out online at tibbettsumchurch.org; the church is at 3940 41st SW (map). Other West Seattle churches that have recently celebrated their centennials — or are still in the midst of festivities now — include Fauntleroy Church, Alki UCC and Holy Rosary. And by the way, you don’t have to be part of a group to help beautify a West Seattle park – there are work parties every weekend, always listed in our West Seattle Weekend Lineup, and browsable even sooner at greenseattle.org.

Phone scam? West Seattleite shares a warning

Just out of the WSB inbox, from Carole:

At 9am on 8/22 (Sat) I received a robocall indicating it was from Cardmember Services and informing me I was eligible for a reduced rate (as low as 6%!) on my credit card and all I had to do to take advantage was press “9.” I do have a Chase card managed by Cardmember Services, but wary of a scam and not about to give out personal info over the phone, I hung up and called the number on the back of my Chase card. Customer service informed me that they are not offering rate reductions and are not making these robocalls. IF YOU GET A CALL LIKE THIS DO NOT PRESS “9.” Call your credit card company directly and inform them. I have sent a similar message to the AG’s office asking them to confirm the scam and put out a consumer alert.

Today/tonight: “Bonanza,” free BBQ, Arts-in-Nature, rowing race

August 22, 2009 7:02 am
|    Comments Off on Today/tonight: “Bonanza,” free BBQ, Arts-in-Nature, rowing race
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle festivals | WS & Sports

“BIG BONANZA” DAY IN THE JUNCTION: Saddle up and gallop to The Junction for Western-themed fun spotlighting a multi-merchant end-of-summer sale – more than two dozen participants, many with deals you’ll find listed here; WSB sponsors on the participant list include Brunette Mix, Dream Dinners (discount on orders placed today at the store OR online – if the latter, note “Junction Bonanza”), Hotwire Coffee (drink specials), Mural Apartments (fees/deposits waived if you sign an agreement today), Square 1 Books (15% off), Wallflower Custom Framing (kids’ art special), Pharmaca – just get on down to The Junction and support your neighborhood businesses (and check out the Junction Association’s booth at Walk-All-Ways for extra fun, including the high noon water fight).

FINAL “MOVIES ON THE WALL” TONIGHT: That’s the trailer for “Cars,” the summer’s last West Seattle Outdoor Movies on the Wall presentation, tonight in the courtyard by Hotwire/Dr. Wolff. West Seattle Christian is tonight’s presenting sponsor and they’re grilling up FREE burgers and hot dogs before the movie, starting at 7 pm; the show’s free but bring a few bucks for charity-benefiting concessions and raffles.

ARTS-IN-NATURE FESTIVAL: Found that YouTube video of Nyamuziwa Marimba Ensemble – just one of dozens of groups, artists, dancers, performers and others coming together at the Nature Consortium‘s Arts-in-Nature Festival (WSB sponsor) today at Camp Long – 11 am-9 pm (and tomorrow 11-6) – schedule and much more info here.

startinglinerowers.jpg

(WSB photo from 2007)
GREAT CROSS-SOUND RACE: This morning at 9, you’ll see dozens of rowers off Alki, heading toward Bainbridge in the annual Great Cross-Sound Race; the winner is likely to be back in less than an hour. It’s fun to watch from shore and cheer when announcers call out the finishers as they cross the line.

MORE! And the Me-Kwa-Mooks history talk, Washington IPA Challenge, dozens of other events, all in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.

Video: Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana @ Summer Concerts at The Mount

(WSB photos and video by Christopher Boffoli)
South of The Triangle, Providence Mount St. Vincent took on a “South of the Border” flavor tonight during Summer Concerts at The Mount (WSB sponsor), with Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana performing, and Mexican food on sale for concertgoers. WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli reports a grande turnout:

In case you missed it – or if you did, but want to re-savor it – here’s video:

Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana is a Seattle-based group founded more than 20 years ago.

Next Friday night, it’s the season finale for Summer Concerts at The Mount, with Cheryl Serio and Rat Pack Jazz (6 pm, free).

Photos: Seniors for Juniors tournament @ West Seattle Golf Course

(1st four photos by Matt Durham from mattdurhamphotography.com)
A fundraising dinner/auction tonight at West Seattle Golf Course wrapped up the Seniors for Juniors Tournament festivities – hosted by Alberta “Birdie” Griffey, mom to Seattle’s best-known baseball star, pictured above with Robert Woodard, who coordinated the tournament for Fir State Junior Golf. Here are the junior golfers, posing before teeing off:

Then, it was off to play. One of those golfers, 11-year-old Justin Leary-Bigayan, is seen here teeing off at Hole 12:

As for the “senior” golfers – here’s one you’ll likely recognize — former Seattle Mariners player Dave Henderson (1981-1986) teeing off at the 1st hole:

This was the third annual Seniors for Juniors tourney – raising money for the Northwest Senior Games and for young golfers. Dozens participated, as you can see in this photo from Sharonn Meeks:

Each team was co-captained by a junior and “senior” (50+) golfer.

Developer/owner of West Seattle properties forced into Chapter 7

That unfinished building at 35th/Avalon is owned by developer Michael Mastro, as are several other West Seattle properties, including the LLC holding a stretch of land near the south end of Harbor Ave (once proposed for a development called Aqua Bella) and the parent company of the West Water apartment/condo-conversion complex in Morgan Junction. Tonight seattletimes.com reports that Mastro has agreed to go into Chapter 7 bankruptcy (explained here), after three banks took action attempting to force him to take on that status. What this means to his properties here (and elsewhere) isn’t clear; we had contacted the company a few weeks back to ask for comment on the status of the 35th/Avalon property, but received no reply. The most recent activity on the property involved the boarding up and fencing of its previously open street level (as shown in our photo, taken earlier this week).

Followup: Skyelar Hailey charged with two counts of burglary

19-year-old Skyelar Hailey, arrested after a foot chase in Admiral this past Tuesday (first story here, followup here), is now charged with two counts of residential burglary – the first one involving the West Seattle High School purse theft in the original report, second one involving a home nearby. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed the charges today and is requesting that bail for Hailey remain set at $25,000 because: “The defendant has a prior conviction for Criminal Trespass in the First Degree (2008) as an adult and juvenile adjudications for Theft in the First Degree (2008); Theft in the Second Degree (2008); and Harassment (2007, 2007). The defendant is only nineteen years old and has five misdemeanor or felony resolutions in the past two years. The defendant is likely to fail to appear in response to a summons.” We also have the documents detailing the case against him; we are not uploading the documents themselves because they include victims/witnesses’ names, as well as that of a juvenile who so far is not charged in the case, but we have cut-and-pasted the “probable cause” text (with omissions noted either parenthetically or with ellipses). Read for yourself, just ahead (photo credit, Christopher Boffoli, April 2009):Read More

West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Bonanza; Arts-in-Nature; “Cars”…

August 21, 2009 1:36 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Bonanza; Arts-in-Nature; “Cars”…
 |   Fun stuff to do | WS culture/arts | WS Weekend Lineup

A sampling: Learn about the history of Me-Kwa-Mooks during a walk-and-talk presentation by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society wswllicon3.pngSaturday morning, shop The Junction’s “Big Bonanza” multi-merchant sale (deals listed here) on Saturday, wander Camp Long enjoying the Nature Consortium‘s Arts-in-Nature Festival (WSB sponsor) Saturday and/or Sunday, bring your chair/blanket to The Mount for mariachi music at Summer Concerts @ The Mount (WSB sponsor) tonight AND then tote the chair/blanket to the final West Seattle Outdoor Movies on the Wall presentation of the season Saturday night (“Cars,” with FREE burgers/dogs at a preshow barbecue courtesy of West Seattle Christian, starting 7 pm), plus beer fans can suds up at the Washington IPA Challenge on Saturday … all in all, 50-plus events ahead in this edition of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup:
Read More

Principal change at Alki Elementary School

Thanks to Kippy Jo for the tip that Alki Elementary will start the school year with a new principal: Seattle Public Schools sent a letter to families this week announcing that principal Joanne Hill is on leave and former Loyal Heights Elementary principal Clover Codd has been appointed as interim principal. Read on for the full text of the letter, which the district provided to us by request:Read More

“Nickelsville” update: Organizers report another reprieve

Today was the day by which the Port of Seattle had said it had hoped to use legal action to evict the homeless encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville” from its latest location, at Terminal 107 Park in eastern West Seattle. Instead, encampment spokesperson Revel Smith just sent this news release:

ln a last-minute collaborative effort, Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, Port Commissioner Gael Tarleton, Port Commissioner Kurt Beckett, Michael Ramos, Director of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, Paul Benz of the Lutheran Public Policy Office, Cecile Hansen, Chairperson of the Duwamish tribe and 4 Nickelodeons met together yesterday at the Duwamish Longhouse to discuss viable options for Nickelsville.

Speaker Frank Chopp asked the Port to work together with them. Speaker Chopp has worked on legislation for the Port before, and said he would introduce legislation clarifying the Port’s concerns so they were legally satisfied. In return, Port Commissioner Tarleton agreed to take a proposal to the rest of the Port Commission allowing extension of Nickelsville’s stay.

If allowed, the proposed agreement would allow Nickelsville to remain at the T-107 Park for an initial two months with a third month safety net. This would give parties who were at the table time to work together to find a permanent site for Nickelsville. The Port of Seattle and Nickelsville would seek a Temporary Use Permit from the City of Seattle for the three month stay at T-107 Park. Signals from the City are that a permit would likely be granted, and city police would comply.

Nickelsville thanks Speaker of the House, Frank Chopp for his advocacy and willingness to introduce clarifying legislation. Nickelsville continues to seek a stable permanent site, as well as sustain responsible stewardship of park land or sites which may become available in the near future.

No formal statement yet from the port. 7:33 PM UPDATE: Port spokesperson Charla Skaggs sent a note saying there’s “incorrect information” in the Nickelsville news release we posted verbatim above:

Speaker Chopp requested, and strongly urged, the port commission to grant an extension. In return for that extension, the members of the encampment would guarantee that they would leave willingly at the end of the extension. The port did not request that Speaker Chopp amend the port’s authority in any way.

The port has continuously stated that it is illegal for port land to be used for housing.

Please note that the commissioners have been asked to consider this request; no decision has been made.

Also, Kurt Beckett is the port’s director of external affairs, not a commissioner.

According to the port’s website, the commission has two meetings next week: a special meeting on Monday, a regular meeting on Tuesday. Agendas for both are linked here.

Traffic alert: Westbound backup on The Bridge

Heading back from Mayor Nickels’ news conference at City Hall, WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli sent this photo from a one-car crash that’s backing up westbound traffic on The Bridge. No medic units involved, per 911, so it appears no one was seriously hurt. Note the tow truck in the photo, which means it should clear soon.

Added at 5:39 Here’s a closer shot that more clearly illustrates how the vehicle hit the barrier:

Bulletin: Mayor Nickels concedes, congratulates Mallahan & McGinn

(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli, added 10:21 am)
Mayor Nickels has just announced at City Hall, with family at his side, and applause greeting him as he entered, that he’s called Joe Mallahan and Mike McGinn to congratulate them on advancing to November’s general election. He is making his statement with a tone of “no regrets” and pride. He says he and city government has “made a difference each and every day” of his two terms. He says, “The Seattle today is stronger, better and kinder than the Seattle of yesterday” and says this is “an amazing place in an amazing time.” He says he will continue working hard for the “131 days left” of his administration. In response to the first question after his statement – why he lost – “I think the people of Seattle have decided it’s time for a new generation of leadership” and then he semi-joked, “I think there are dozens of issues” which caused people to vote against him. He said leadership means making tough decisions and “You get to make everybody unhappy – The Viaduct might be an example of that.” He says he hasn’t decided which candidate he will support in November. And regarding what he’ll do next – he says he has “no idea” yet. 10:19 AM: The mayor’s news conference just wrapped up. (Side note: In our photo above, in addition to family members with the mayor, that’s Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis near the center of his photo, also a West Seattleite, looking on.) ADDED 12:03 PM: Seattle Post-Globe has published a statement from City Council President Richard Conlin (who decided against a mayoral run, going for re-election instead; he faces West Seattleite David Ginsberg in November). ADDED 12:56 PM: You can see some of the humor that the mayor displayed, in this clip published to YouTube by the politics site horsesass.org:

ADDED 2:06 PM: Covering the announcement for WSB, Christopher Boffoli provides this transcript of what Mayor Nickels said this morning, including the questions that followed from the assembled media:Read More

Whole Foods’ current stance on West Seattle’s “Hole Foods” site

We’ve been working on an overall update regarding what’s up – or not up – with the excavated-then-stalled site many West Seattleites have nicknamed “Hole Foods.” We’d hoped to wait to nail down a few more aspects of the story before publishing what Whole Foods itself is saying about it these days, but since a couple people (thanks!) have already e-mailed us about a short item at seattletimes.com today, we’d better just go ahead and share what WF’s regional spokesperson Vicki Foley told us yesterday afternoon, regarding whether they are still committed to that stalled site or possibly looking elsewhere:

We are watching the Fauntleroy Place project closely as the developer appears to have a number of obstacles to overcome, if he is to deliver the space to us by the deadlines in the lease.

Our original inquiry to WF earlier this week had been regarding whether there is a certain point at which they are no longer committed to the site (whose permit history is listed here); according to Foley, their commitment currently extends into next year. Meantime, WF announced earlier this week that its Interbay store is set to open October 14, and in other West Seattle grocery news, two sources (including this WSB Forums post) say the new QFC at Capco Plaza will open September 16th (10:31 am update: QFC spokesperson Kristin Maas confirms to WSB, “that’s the date we’re shooting for”). Our last Whole Foods WS site report was a month ago, when we broke the news that a West Seattle investor who’d hoped to buy the site was no longer pursuing a purchase. The financial firm that now owns the site has not yet responded to our requests for an update; there are currently four legal actions pending related to this project.

Alki’s long-empty Shoremont now subject of “emergency order”

shoremontdoomed.jpg

(WSB photo from 2008)
It’s been almost a year since a demolition permit was issued for the 86-year-old Shoremont Apartments on Alki (map), with a new development planned at the site. Since then, as the development climate has cooled, they have sat empty, somewhat battered and “forlorn,” the word used by “S” in tipping us that the city DPD has posted an “emergency order” at the Shoremont after finding it in violation of city codes by being “open to entry” – see the complaint/violation history here. The Shoremont last changed hands in early 2008; we last heard from its owner/developers in October and will seek them out again for comment on this.

Happening today/tonight: Mayor, Mobile Market, “Music Man”…

August 21, 2009 8:23 am
|    Comments Off on Happening today/tonight: Mayor, Mobile Market, “Music Man”…
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics | WS culture/arts

MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENT: WSB will be at City Hall with the rest of the media at 10 am today to cover Mayor Greg Nickels‘ first news briefing since Election Night. Widespread speculation is that he will concede; after three days of vote-counting, he remains in third place, behind Joe Mallahan and Mike McGinn, though thousands of ballots remain to be counted.

DELRIDGE PRODUCE CO-OP MOBILE MARKET, WEEK 2: Lots of buzz about Week 1 of this experiment in making more fresh food available in Delridge. Today, this month-long pilot project starts its second week – a different location for each of four consecutive days (the same 4 each week). Find them today at Watts Electric, 9050 Delridge (map), 3:30-7:30 pm.

“THE MUSIC MAN”: Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) is now in the final weekend of this exuberant production (our video from last Saturday shows why we use that adjective!) – and since they had sellout crowds last weekend, you’ll want to buy tickets early (they’re available online). 7:30 pm tonight and Saturday, 3 pm Sunday, West Seattle High School Theater.

LAYNE STALEY TRIBUTE PRE-SHOW PARTY: Tonight, 7 pm at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), there are “giveaways, raffles, a silent auction, rare video footage and a night of music from the late Seattle singer” one night before the downtown tribute concert raising money for heroin recovery in memory of the late rocker. More at the Feedback Lounge website.

That’s just part of what’s happening today/tonight – check the WSB Events calendar, and the coming-up-later-this-morning West Seattle Weekend Lineup, for more.

West Seattle Junction parking: What might change, what might not

We’ve been covering the West Seattle Junction parking review since it was first announced a year and a half ago (archived here, newest coverage first). Last month, the city announced pay stations would not be recommended – but the parking review continued, and a committee meeting tonight revealed more of its possible results.

By Jack Mayne
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Even though paid parking kiosks are off the table for The Junction’s business district, a small contingent of the West Seattle Junction Parking Project Committee expressed worries tonight about parking problems once various apartment projects and new business spaces are finished.

Currently, in terms of potential changes to city-controlled parking in The Junction, it appears only some adjustment in the number and placing of “2-Hour Parking” signs is needed, the city says. Dante Taylor, heading the parking review in the Junction area for the Seattle Department of Transportation, told three members of the committee at the meeting at Ginomai that the city could come back and check how things are going in six months and possibly again six months after that.

Read More

West Seattle outdoor tunes: Hiawatha tonight, Mount tomorrow

August 20, 2009 9:00 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle outdoor tunes: Hiawatha tonight, Mount tomorrow
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli reports (and photographed) a big crowd for tonight’s Brian Waite Band performance, second-to-last in the first-ever Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association (co-sponsored by local businesses and organizations including WSB). Christopher says that “all of the kids were dancing up front and having a fun time. After a few days of heat the weather forecast says the lows will be back down into the 50’s tonight and it was already fairly breezy out there tonight. But the crowd didn’t seem to mind.”

Video to come. (added 10:58 pm – here it is)

Next Thursday night, 6:30 pm, the Admiral concert series concludes with the West Seattle Big Band; tomorrow night, Summer Concerts at The Mount (WSB sponsor) – which, like the Hiawatha series, is free – presents Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana, 6 pm.

Once-in-a-decade chance: Last call for the neighborhood survey

Tomorrow’s the final day – after an extension – to fill out a relatively quick survey (explained here) regarding your thoughts on the state of your neighborhood (or, if yours isn’t in the survey, one that you visit frequently) and how you’d like to see its future shape up. The Seattle Planning Commission has been updating that bar chart lately, and while on one hand it looks like Ballard/Crown Hill is insurmountably ahead, if you add up the five West Seattle neighborhoods that are included (Delridge, Junction, Admiral, Morgan Junction, Westwood Village/Highland Park) the peninsula is number one – but we still haven’t even totaled 1,000 responses – need fewer than 200 to hit that mark – so can you spare a few minutes to have a say on how you think it’s going and where you think it should go? Start here – deadline’s tomorrow.