West Seattle, Washington
07 Monday
That’s one of the photos Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor) tweeted – find them on Twitter at @illusionshaird and on Facebook too – during today’s “Have a Heart Day” fundraiser. Stylists donated their time and all proceeds from haircuts went to the West Seattle Food Bank. Illusions says they raised more than $900.
(P.S. The Food Bank has its own big fundraiser coming up in April – “Instruments of Change” – ticket info’s online now.)
At Southwest Community Center in Westwood, it was the perfect segue – right after 100-plus people wrapped up the West Seattle Reservoir Park planning meeting (full report still to come), they were invited to move upstairs to celebrate Neighbor Appreciation Day. Among the surprises: Live music. There were treats, too, plus a free swim at co-housed Southwest Pool, and a thank-you card:
(Thanks to Dina Johnson for the card photo!) West Seattle’s three other community centers – Alki, Hiawatha and High Point – hosted open-house-style Neighbor Appreciation Day parties too. P.S. Southwest CC will be host Thursday night to the Westwood Neighborhood Council‘s next meeting – 7 pm – agenda notes on the WNC website.
Lots of options for the Big Game tomorrow – we have added even more to the West Seattle Super Bowl Viewing Guide first published here Thursday night (now up to Version 1.2). As for the game of love — we’ve got a West Seattle Valentine Dining Guide in the works too; here’s version 1.0 – more to be added, let us know if you have full details on something that’s not listed.
ORIGINAL 12:22 PM REPORT: A crash at California/Monroe (map) in Gatewood has California SW closed for a few blocks in both directions. As you see in our photo, it involves a car and a pole, and utility lines are down. No serious injuries reported. 12:59 PM UPDATE: Street’s still closed. Seattle City Light apparently needs two crews to deal with the pole/line problem caused by the crash, and is still awaiting the second one. 1:19 PM: Brian Zenk shares this photo from another angle:
1:51 PM: California SW is now open again. But you can’t turn onto Monroe – it’s blocked off – the pole is still at an angle.
11:19 PM: That’s one photo we didn’t use earlier – showing that part of the pole was knocked all the way across California to the west side of the street. As of just minutes ago, crews are still out working on the pole and the lines, and the California end of Monroe remains blocked off.
Longtime West Seattle resident Victoria Shaw has a request for West Seattle’s art community (and anyone else who sees this):
I am the director of an international children’s art and cultural exchange program called “The Mural Project” (themuralproject.net).
We are working with the organization Art For Haitian Children to help them rebuild an art school in Jacmel, Haiti and to gather art supplies to take to them this Spring.
I know that there are many artists in the West Seattle area, if any of you might have extra acrylic paints, rolls of canvas and/or paintbrushes or would like to donate new items, these children would love to receive them.
If you have any questions please contact Victoria Shaw at (206) 937-9747 or
_amural98@aol.com
BIG crowd at Southwest Community Center right now for the second meeting to help figure out what the future park atop West Seattle Reservoir (adjacent to Westcrest Park in Highland Park) will look like. At least 100 people here; meeting leaders asked for a show of hands to help classify who’s here and why – dozens raised their hands when asked who’s here to advocate for Frisbee golf at the future park, 
which is being created because the reservoir’s being covered. At least a third of the people here also raised their hands when asked who lives in walking distance of the park; we see Highland Park community advocates here as well as leaders from other eastern West Seattle neighborhoods including Westwood and Pigeon Point. The meeting continues till noon; participants are currently discussing, at tables with maps and Sharpies, what they’d sketch out for the park. Project manager Susanne Friedman from the Parks Department says the final two design meetings are likely to be scheduled for late April and late June. 12:31 PM: Meeting has wrapped up. Crowd voted for the next meeting to be on a Saturday morning again – Parks says the date will be the last or second-to-last Saturday in April. As for all the ideas offered – separate story to come later.
Already got your Super Bowl plans locked up – perhaps with the help of the WSB West Seattle Super Bowl Viewing guide (food/drink specials and TV sizes)? Now it’s time to make sure you’re all set for Valentine’s Day, one week from tomorrow. We’re working on the West Seattle Valentine’s Weekend list of West Seattle dining highlights – additions to come (and if you see something missing, feel free to let us know ASAP) – here’s Version 1.0! (Note – this has been replaced by updated list as of Sunday – go here)
BASKETBALL: From Denny principal Jeff Clark:
I am very pleased to share that both the Denny International Middle School girls’ and boys’ basketball teams are playing in the Seattle Public Schools championship games (today). Our girls will be playing Whitman Middle School at noon at Franklin High School. Our boys’ team is playing Eckstein at 2:00, also at Franklin. Everyone is invited to come and cheer on the Denny Dolphins!
Franklin High School is at 3013 South Mount Baker Blvd.; here’s a map.
RESERVOIR: As per yesterday’s reminder, this morning you can help plot the course of the extra parkland being created atop West Seattle Reservoir in Westcrest Park. 10 am-noon, Southwest Community Center (map).
ADOPT-A-STREET: Hit the street with the North Delridge Neighborhood Council. Join them outside Delridge Community Center (map) at 9:45.
NEIGHBOR APPRECIATION DAY: Events include tours at every city fire station, including the five in West Seattle (list here – ours are 11, 29, 32, 36, 37), 11 am-3 pm; fun events at all four community centers in West Seattle (Alki 11 am-2 pm, the other three noon-2 pm), and the “Raise the Beds” work party at the taking-shape garden (first covered here in October) behind C & P Coffee, 10 am-noon.
CUTS FOR A CAUSE: “Have a Heart” haircut day at Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor), 10 am-3 pm, all proceeds to West Seattle Food Bank (call to see if they have any appointments left, 938-3675)
FOOD DRIVE: It’s “Care To Shop” food-drive day (explained here) at West Seattle PCC (WSB sponsor) for Chicken Soup Brigade/Lifelong AIDS Alliance, 10 am-3 pm
And that barely scratches the surface of what’s up today/tonight in and around West Seattle – including the WestSide Baby fundraising tea (sold out!) and the Chief Sealth HS music program dinner-dance; the longer list is in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
Eric Shalit of Box Turtle Design shared that rather grabby shot of a “slackliner” he encountered today at Alki. So, we asked, how high off the ground was he, and what was the “slackline” tied to? In reply, Eric sent another photo; to see it, click here.
Saturday, as part of Neighbor Appreciation Day, Seattle fire stations are all open for tours 11 am-3 pm. This’ll be the last Neighbor Appreciation Day for Station 37, since its replacement is under construction a short distance away. A student journalist accepted our challenge to tell its story before it’s too late.
(A video tour inside West Seattle’s Fire Station 37)
Story and video by Nicholas Trost
University of Washington News Lab
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
When Fire Station 37 (map) shuts down later this year, it will be sorely missed. Those firefighters lucky enough to have worked at the station appreciate its unique appeal and residential feel.
“The station feels and looks like home,” said firefighter Jorge Bernal, who currently works there. “When you’re away for 24 hours at a time, it’s a comforting place to be.”
The station has the ambience of a residential home. Upstairs there’s a nook with a couch and television where firefighters can go and rest. The living room is also similar to one you would find in any home, with low lighting and comfortable-looking furniture.
“There are cool areas where you can go away and relax for a bit,” said Lt. Lori Bish, a firefighter also at the station. “Not all places have those areas.”
Sadly, Station 37 is no longer able to adequately serve the Seattle Fire Department. At only 4,148 square feet, the station is too small to accommodate firefighters of the 21st century and their equipment.
“We have to move,” said Bish.
Scores now, video and details to be added to this story later: In high-school varsity basketball at Chief Sealth High School tonight, both Sealth teams beat West Seattle High School – girls CSHS 40, WSHS 31; boys (just completed) CSHS 50, WSHS 39.
(Added 12:36 am Saturday, the details) GIRLS’ VARSITY: Chief Sealth’s Lady Seahawks combined a near perfect night of free throw shooting and a big defensive outing to beat West Seattle 40-31. The game was largely decided in the third quarter when Sealth managed to keep the Wildcats from moving the ball upcourt. Between effective rebounding and sharp passes, the Lady Wildcats found themselves spending most of their evening under Sealth’s basket. At times, both teams tried to shoot the ball from the perimeter, but neither had any success.
Three updates tonight on West Seattle help for Haiti post-earthquake relief: First, we’ve got word that The Community School of West Seattle preschoolers’ Bake Sale for Haiti today brought in $422! The kids, ages 3-5, helped manage the money themselves – above, just a few of the preschoolers involved when we stopped by during the sale – pretend cash register, but real cash! Meantime, Kristina just e-mailed this update from Alki Elementary School about a fundraiser happening there right now:
Alki Parent Jill Rose has organized a movie showing of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs in the school cafeteria to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. It looks like we are going to be at capacity! 100% of the proceeds are going to the Red Cross to benefit the people of Haiti, and the families of Alki Elementary are out in force. The school did a penny drive for Haiti, as well, and tonight we’ll be announcing to the students that their small change added up to over $1200!
And the third update: While working on a project for WSB, reporter Mary Sheely learned this afternoon that all Matador locations, including West Seattle, plan to donate 100 percent of profits on Fat Tuesday — which is one and a half weeks away, February 16th — to Haiti relief.
Yes, the Super Bowl on Sunday is the main event – and if you haven’t seen our as-complete-as-possible-so-far West Seattle Super Bowl Watching Guide, check it out here – but there’s MORE! Tonight, for example, the first High Point Neighborhood Night – And Saturday is Neighborhood Appreciation Day, with events at all your local community centers, tours of all your local fire stations, plus a work party in the garden behind C & P Coffee – and neighborliness continues Sunday with a fundraising pancake breakfast at Hiawatha Community Center (you can go straight from there to Free Sunday Yoga at SoundYoga [WSB sponsor]). From tonight through Sunday night, more than 50 events/activities, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food – like the special Valentine brunch and dinner deals next weekend:Read More
(Sketch showing the “hill” and “valley” topography of the added future parkland)
It’s on the Events page and will be in the forthcoming West Seattle Weekend Lineup BUT since it’s a rare weekend public meeting, wanted to send out one more standalone reminder – the second public meeting about the West Seattle Reservoir/Westcrest Park expansion is TOMORROW (Saturday 2/6), 10 am-noon at Southwest Community Center. Here’s our story about what happened at the first meeting; it’s another chance to have a say about what’s done with the extra park space when the Highland Park reservoir cover is done.
Mentioned here on Thursday that the South Park Bridge closures had been rescheduled, and that nighttime work was planned on the West Seattle Bridge next week. New details are in on both plans – read on:Read More
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
As the saying goes, the ink is barely dry on the lease.
Lori and Tim McConnell just signed a deal for second-floor space in Charlestown Center, which has been home to just two businesses – Budget Cuts and Anytime Fitness – for the year-plus since it opened.
Their new business doesn’t have a name yet (in fact, they’re inviting you to offer suggestions, in case the one they’re checking on doesn’t pan out) – but they are very clear on what it will be: West Seattle’s one and only “specialty running” store.
“The closest sporting-good store is Big 5, and you can only get two flavors of GU there!” Tim points out.
If you know what he’s talking about, you’re going to love their store.
Announced this morning – a series of meetings at which Mayor Mike McGinn invites you to help him fulfill one of the promises made in his inaugural address, for a Youth/Families Initiative. One of the meetings is in West Seattle, March 15th at Denny International Middle School. Here’s the full announcement.
Longtime WSB sponsor Hotwire Online Coffeehouse usually offers seasonal beverages (right now a Valentine’s group is among the offerings) – and in the short run, there are two Super Bowl drinks, accompanying a prediction contest – just in from Hotwire proprietor Lora Lewis:
Is it possible to predict the Super Bowl just by a coffee beverage? The customers of Hotwire Online Coffeehouse think so. Starting today customers will begin purchasing the coffee shop’s two Super Bowl beverages in an attempt to predict the outcome of this Sundays game between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts. The staff will keep track of the beverages purchased and tally up the sales as each drink is sold.
Customers can also leave their name and e-mail address along with their vote. If they pick the winning team Hotwire will give them a free 12 oz Americano and a free hour of Internet surfing. Says Lora Lewis, owner of Hotwire Coffee, “We were able to predict the outcome of the Presidential election with our ‘Barackacanno’ and our ‘Average Joe Biden’ (vote was 65 to 11) why not the Super Bowl?”
The Super Bowl drinks will be available through the third quarter of the Super Bowl Sunday then will be removed for final tally. Winning Customers can pick up their free beverages starting Monday.
The Super Bowl drinks are the New Orleans Saints ‘who-dat?’ special (dark chocolate/cinnamon mocha) and Indianapolis Colts special (blueberry/white chocolate mocha). They’ll be available through the third quarter on Sunday. Hotwire’s at 4410 California, just north of the Junction post office. As for watching the game – no big screen at Hotwire but here’s our list of where you can see it on TV in West Seattle (with food and beverage specials listed as well as TV-screen sizes).
It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Gatewood pilot Long Nguyen, who shared some spectacular aerial views last year. This new one, he says, was taken from 10,000 feet over Sea-Tac, on a descent to Boeing Field. (Click the image to see a larger version on his gallery site.)
You may have heard about the court ruling on Thursday ordering Seattle Public Schools to re-examine their use of a certain set of “reform math” books in local high schools (here’s the story from our partners at the Seattle Times). This morning, we’ve learned that retired math teacher Martha McLaren, one of the three people who took the case to court, is a West Seattle resident. She has a blog-format website with their reaction to the ruling – one of her co-plaintiffs is famous forecaster Cliff Mass – and previous updates, at seattlemathgroup.blogspot.com. The school district, which told the Times the ruling was “surprising,” is deciding whether to appeal.
Several more West Seattle-linked fundraisers for Haiti earthquake relief are in the works. First one is TODAY – thanks to Kristin for sharing the news of a bake sale today at the Community School of West Seattle – an idea hatched by CSWS preschoolers! Kristin writes:
It’s … from 11:45-12:30 in front of the school (22nd and Roxbury) [map] and all proceeds will go to Haiti relief efforts. The preschoolers came up with the idea during discussions of the Haiti earthquake (my daughter is in the class). It certainly isn’t a big event, but its cool for the kids to be able to do something…
And we have an update from local artist/businessperson Stephanie Hargrave (co-owner of smallclothes) about her big event next weekend – she says she has more than 30 artists signed up to contribute to the fundraising sale she’s organizing, many from West Seattle:
I’m hosting an Art Sale / Haiti Fundraiser on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14th from 11 am-6 pm at my studio located at 3234 California Avenue SW [map] in West Seattle. Anyone who would like to donate, simply give me a ring or e-mail, and by all means, forward this information along to anyone who would like to buy some art and help the earthquake victims in Haiti at the same time.
ALL proceeds will go directly to Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health, or Mercy Corps – the art buyers will write checks to these organizations directly. My goal is to raise several thousand dollars to send off by the end of the weekend.
I’ll be selling encaustic paintings, some ceramics, and hand-made cards – other artists are donating oil and acrylic paintings, photographs, jewelry, and crafts. It should be a great selection! I’ve got painters Juan Alonso (www.juanalonso.info) and Diane Culhane on board, photographer Conrad Chavez of Brightbox Studio, and Smersh Design Jewelry!
Last but not least, we also have heard from Pepper Petersen, owner of The Pepper Boutique on Alki. She says there’s a silent auction, all proceeds to Haiti relief, as part of the art show she’s been having at Alki Starbucks this month:
“… my highest -end couture collection in the most vivid colors imaginable… It’s very beautiful… All the pieces are currently on the walls right now. But more importantly in efforts to contribute my talents in helping to fund raise money for Haiti, I worked unbelievably hard and late into the evenings to create a one of a kind couture dress in the Haitian flag colors of red and blue. It is a beautiful dress that is … hanging above the fireplace in the air from a lighting rail. You can’t miss it as you walk in the door.”
She says the retail value of the dress is $2,000 and the bids start at $500; the silent-auction card is at the store.
Got word of this from Erika Schreder at the Washington Toxics Coalition: On Thursday, Dr. Molly Jones Gray from West Seattle Natural Medicine spoke to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health, during its hearing “Current Science on Public Exposure to Toxic Chemicals.” Dr. Gray participated in the WTC’s biomonitoring study “Earliest Exposures,” and Erika says her testimony was about the toxins found in her body while she was pregnant with her now-7-month-old son Paxton. WTC says the subcommittee is working toward an update of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act. Dr. Gray and others are asking for tougher laws to keep toxic substances out of products. You can read excerpts of her testimony and get a link to the video, by going to the WTC’s website.
Related to the ongoing coverage of Toyota safety concerns, our citywide-news partners at the Seattle Times have published a story tonight about an incident a year ago in West Seattle: Their story says a man driving a 2007 Toyota Prius believed unintended acceleration caused it to go out of control and wind up hanging over a retaining wall in February 2009. The Times says federal regulators checked out this and other Prius cases, as well as the other Toyota concerns. We checked our archives and it doesn’t appear the car-on-wall incident was something we covered. (Thanks to Diane for quickly spotting and sharing the link.)
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