WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli has been shooting neon signs around West Seattle, and this is the first compilation he put together – after we took a look at it, we thought you might be interested too. See if you recognize the signs!
After the Chile earthquake over the weekend – and a belated reminder that yesterday was the 9th anniversary of our area’s last big quake – it’s high time for us all to be sure we’re ready for the unthinkable, just in case. So on Saturday, we published a reminder about West Seattle, Be Prepared – the trailblazing preparedness effort that tireless volunteers have been ramping up peninsula-wide for two years. Part of it is making sure you know about the West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs – the nine spots marked on the Google Map above; memorize the one closest to you, because in case of catastrophe, that’s where you’ll go to get information and help. Tonight, West Seattle, Be Prepared got a citywide spotlight, as part of a KING 5 TV story about local readiness – one of its key organizers, Cindi Barker from Morgan Junction, is featured in the middle of reporter Glenn Farley‘s story:
In addition to the Hubs map, the West Seattle, Be Prepared website has tons of information – take some time and wander around – and if you’re on Facebook, be sure to join the WSBP group —just go here (and if you haven’t friended us on FB yet – we’re WS Blog – go here).
(Parks Department photo of cracked pavement @ Don Armeni) As first reported here Friday night, Seattle Parks plans to repaveDon Armeni Boat Ramp for the first time in a quarter-century, and that means a temporary closure is ahead. Just got a Parks news release with an update – prep work is now scheduled to start tomorrow, though that will not require lot shutdown – read on for the latest:Read More
A quick followup on the Pigeon Point “shots fired?” reports from early Sunday morning: Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James says that officers found “no evidence of gunshots” while investigating – in other words, no shell casings turned up anywhere. The hours-earlier Alki call turned out to be fireworks, according to nearby residents. That’s often the case with “shots fired?” calls, but you never know, so police would rather hear from you, just in case.
ORIGINAL 1:26 PM REPORT, WHEN WE GOT WORD THE BILL *WOULD* BE VOTED ON TODAY: Just got that word from Sen. Joe McDermott and law-enforcement advocate Renee Maher – it’s now on the list for the Ways/Means Committee meeting that’s about to start. 2:53 PM UPDATE: The meeting is live on TVW – we’re watching online here. Looks like they are still in public hearings; the votes, described on the agenda (see it here) as “executive session,” generally come up afterward (the public hearing on this bill was held last Monday – we went to Olympia to cover it; here’s our story). As of a moment ago, they took a break to go into “caucuses” prior to those votes, but the live broadcast should resume soon. 4:18 PM: The live broadcast just resumed. 1679 is the next bill. 4:24 PM: Senate Ways and Means voted for it unanimously. It goes to the Rules Committee with a “do pass” recommendation. We’re checking on what exactly that means – and what happens next, as well as whether further expressions of support are still needed – look for an update. 4:48 PM: Sen. McDermott tells WSB he will keep working to move the bill ahead – getting out of Rules is apparently not a slam dunk; the bill’s history says that’s where it stalled last year.
AUCTION: Just got word from multiple sources (thank you!) that this Saturday (March 6) at 9 am, there’s an auction of surplus Seattle Public Schools items at the old Hughes School building (map) in Sunrise Heights. Power tools and musical instruments are on the highlights list (see it here); photos are here, the full list here (Excel doc). The auctioneers’ site says it’s open for preview an hour ahead of time.
“TASTE OF WEST SEATTLE” DATE CHANGE: Anna Fern from West Seattle Helpline says the fundraising event offering food from multiple local restaurants has been moved back a week, to May 20, so it doesn’t conflict with that month’s West Seattle Art Walk. And they’re still signing up restaurants interested in participating – call Anna at 206-932-2746.
2 OTHER BENEFIT REMINDERS: Among other benefits coming up are two for which WSB is among the event sponsors, so we’re taking the opportunity to remind you if you haven’t checked them out already: The benefit brunch for the Nature Consortium, which focuses on restoring the West Duwamish Greenbelt – Seattle’s longest remaining contiguous forest – is March 14 (RSVP info here); West Seattle Food Bank‘s Instruments of Change gala is April 30 (event/ticket info here).
(photo added 6:26 am)
Firefighters are at the scene of a house fire in the 8800 block of 18th SW (map). According to the scanner, they say it’s tapped. We’ll have info from the scene shortly. 6:28 AM UPDATE: Some of the fire crew is already pulling out. They think a ceiling fan started the fire. No injuries but “a lot of mess, a lot of smoke” and they’re ventilating the house right now. Five people were in the house, and they all got out OK. 7:04 AM: Adding video from the mop-up … within less than an hour, as some fire crews left and others mopped up, the only sign of the fire visible from outside was the light smoke still coming from the roof:
That’s the Seattle All-City Band, performing at the first-ever Band Jam at Southwest Athletic Complex in West Seattle last summer. The student musicians are from all over the city, but they’re led by Marcus Pimpleton, the renowned music man from Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth High School. Last night, band members rehearsed at Denny to get ready for a road trip today: They’re headed to Portland to try out for the “America’s Got Talent” TV show. We got the tip from Carrie Hewitt, who says someone from the show saw an online video of the ACB and invited them to come try out – this is the second day of a two-day round of tryouts in Portland. Good luck!
(February 2009 photo by Christopher Boffoli)
That photo’s from WSB coverage a year ago, when a group of local “Rosie the Riveters” appeared at The Mount with stories and songs about their World War II-era exploits. Just got word from one of them, Georgie Bright Kunkel, that a group of Rosies – plus a WAVE – will be at Daystar Retirement Village in Westwood this Thursday, 11:30 am. They’re planning a sing-along of WWII-era songs, according to Georgie, who adds, “The host is the First Thursday Democrats, who meet there every month.”
Just wanted to drop a quick note about a coyote sighting (my first): I was driving south on 44th Ave SW (between 43rd Place SW and SW 100th [map]) shortly after 10 pm tonight, and saw a coyote dart across the street into some bushes.
Not West Seattle, but taken by a West Seattleite, and some WS riders had to have been in the crowd – that’s a ferry full of bicycles, headed from Bainbridge Island to downtown Seattle after the Chilly Hilly, photographed by John LaSpina, who caught this view too:
One day after our first report that public-safety advocates were pleading for support to keep EHB 1679, the “Jason McKissack Act” – whose namesake suffered brain damage in an attack while on the job as a police officer in West Seattle – here’s where things stand: Tomorrow remains the deadline for bills to get out of the Ways and Means Committee, or be dead for the year. Law-enforcement lobbyist and police widow Renee Maher, who sounded the alarm last night, is among those working around the clock – she tells WSB, “The idea of losing this bill breaks my heart in more ways than words can describe.” She testified at public hearings before both houses’ Ways and Means Committees (we went to Olympia to cover both – here’s our report from last Monday). Maher reiterates that keeping up the pressure is vital – Senator Margarita Prentice, Ways and Means chair, will make the decision on whether there’s a vote; she also recommends contacting Sen. Lisa Brown, Senate Majority Leader, because “it’s important that she knows how much this issue means to the community.” West Seattle’s State Senator Joe McDermott is on the committee as well, and commented following yesterday’s story, ” I have spoken to Senator Prentice … and Senator Brown … reminding them again of the compelling testimony we heard at the hearing and underscoring the need to move the bill out of committee. … Continued positive encouragement is always welcome in a legislative environment.”
From Leslie Thomson at Dream Dinners (longtime WSB sponsor):
YOU ARE INVITED TO
TASTE OF DREAM DINNERS OPEN HOUSE
Join us Tuesday, March 2nd at
5:30 PM, 6:00 PM or, 6:30 PM
for a taste of our wonderful March menu. Start Spring 2010 by saving time and money while serving delicious and nutritious Dream Dinners to your family and friends.
Want to attend? It is easy.
Just click here and select “View Sessions for March Menu.” Next click on March 2nd at 5:30, 6:00 or 6:30–which ever time works best for you. The party password is dinner.
Our Taste of Dream Dinners Open House is a great opportunity to invite friends to check out Dream Dinners.
Attend as an observer–sample some yummy dinners from our March menu and watch a Dream Dinners assembly demonstration. Still better, register to assemble a dinner that you take home to serve to your family and friends.
More questions, please click here to send us an email or call 206 938 5999.
The new Student Assignment Plan for Seattle Public Schools means that starting next school year, thousands of students get default assignments to what the district has designated as their “neighborhood schools.” However, you can still request a different school – and the official period for doing that starts tomorrow. Here’s the info on the SPS site. ADDED 9:58 PM: The district is having several outreach events at which you can get help with the application process; in West Seattle, there’s a session planned 5:30-7 pm March 8 at Delridge Library.
We’ve been tracking work on the new King County Water Taxi dock at Seacrest – next step, the gangway. Its components arrived at the end of the week, after the concrete dock was towed in (see our previous story/photos here) and secured. And you may soon see the new vessel on the West Seattle-downtown run, the Rachel Marie, because King County Transportation Marine Division communications manager Susan Whitmore says it’s being brought into Puget Sound this week, after leaving the Ballard shipyard where it’s been getting ready for its new role (see our “sneak peek inside tour” story here). Whitmore says the crew – county employees, now that the service is no longer operated by Argosy – starts work two weeks from tomorrow and will be training until the new season begins on April 5. 6:48 PM UPDATE: Seems the Rachel Marie didn’t wait till next week – we’re told it was seen out and about today, and Zack sent this photo of the RM docked at Pier 50 this evening, now sporting the KCWT branding, next to its counterpart Melissa Ann, which makes the Vashon-downtown run:
9:31 PM UPDATE: The explanation comes in comment and on our Facebook (WS Blog) page – the Rachel Marie will fill in on the Vashon-downtown run because of mechanical trouble that took the Melissa Ann out of service.
Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
You’ve seen the stairways that emerge from dense foliage on our steep West Seattle hillsides. Perhaps you’ve wondered where they lead or descend to; perhaps you’ve even climbed some of them. Our staircases can be at once daunting and convenient. It’s a steep slope from California Avenue to 44th Avenue SW near Hamilton Viewpoint, but those stairs, all 78 of them, provide you with easy pedestrian access from one road to the other and eliminate the need to wander blocks out of your way.
Bob Estep knows those steps, and many more. He is a walker — up to 6 miles per day. Inspired by a recent article in the Seattle Times (WSB citywide-news partner) about an architect who mapped the staircases on Queen Anne Hill, Bob thought, “Why don’t I do that for West Seattle?”
From soup to nuts – apples to stinging nettles – it’s a long list of freshness at West Seattle Farmers’ Market (10 am-2 pm, 44th/Alaska) – check out the Ripe ‘n’ Ready rundown here!
Twelfth Night Productions (TNP) is proud to open its spring production, The Miss Firecracker Contest, by Beth Henley on Friday April 9 at the Youngstown Cultural Center in West Seattle.
The Miss Firecracker Contest is set in the small town of Brookhaven, Mississippi and centers around its annual beauty pageant, the titular Miss Firecracker Contest. Young and attractive Carnelle is trying out for the pageant as a way to elevate her somewhat tarnished reputation. Together with her recently returning cousins, Elain and Delmount, she is determined to leave her small town life behind her in a blaze of glory. Meanwhile, Popeye, her seamstress, has fallen in love with the deeply intense Delmount, but hides her feelings behind stories of her eccentric life. Once they all make it to the contest, they meet up with Mac Sam and Tessy, two characters who have an intimate knowledge of two of our protagonists. It all comes to a head with the crowning of the one and only Miss Firecracker and the yearly fireworks display.
The Miss Firecracker Contest runs in a special limited engagement at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in West Seattle. Show times are: April 9, 10, 16 and 17 at 7:30 PM and April 11 and 18 at 3 PM. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors and are available online at brown paper tickets (www.brownpapertickets.com), at Square One Books at Jefferson Square (4724 42nd Avenue SW) and at the Youngstown Theater (4408 Delridge Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106) on performance days.
South Seattle Community College is partnering with the U.S. Census Brueau to help achieve a complete and accurate count of the nation’s growing population. By supporting the 2010 Census, the college hopes to raise awareness of this important initiative and work to increase the overall response rate of historically hard-to-count college and university students.
The partnership will involve sharing information about the census on the college website, www.southseattle.edu, and encouraging students to complete and return their 2010 Census forms. Off-campus sites NewHolly and Georgetown will also participate in outreach activities.
In addition, a Question Assistance Center (QAC) will be established on the main campus in Cascade Court room 123 (former site of Bernie’s Bakery), where staff will answer questions from students and members of the community. The QAC will be staffed from 11 am to 7 pm on the following dates:
Tuesday, March 16
Wednesday, March 17
Tuesday, April 6
Wednesday, April 7
Tuesday, April 13
Wednesday, April 14
No word so far if either of these has been confirmed as “shots fired” – sometimes it turns out to be fireworks – but we’ve heard reports in the past few hours of suspected gunshots in two West Seattle neighborhoods: Alki and Pigeon Point. In the latter case, it just happened – we got a text, and have heard on the scanner that 911 is getting multiple reports; Alki was a few hours ago, according to commenters both here and on our Facebook page. SUNDAY AFTERNOON NOTE: We checked with the Southwest Precinct; Lt. Norm James, who would normally be notified of major incidents, said no confirmed case of “shots fired” had come to his attention so far.
We’ve got photos from unique events involving two West Seattle elementary schools: First, Saturday night was Prom Night at Kenyon Hall, for Alki Elementary parents (and friends) who wanted to party like it was the ’80s all over again. Thanks to Kristina for the tip; she explained it’s an Alki fundraiser, with tickets sold at the recent benefit auction. We went over for a couple photos, intrigued by the promise of “big hair, some crazy ’80s music … satin, tuxes with shiny cummerbunds, and the like … a great time with a lot of laughter, and it’s all in the name of helping our kids!” Four promgoers paused to pose – from left, Laurie, Susan, Doreen and Linda:
Also this morning, photos from a special assembly at Lafayette Elementary on Friday – courtesy of Luckie:
She says Boxtales Theatre Company from Santa Barbara, California, enchanted the students (and others!) with stories from afar, including Mexico, Puerto Rico and Cuba. The photo above is from the Mexican story “La Calavera” (Lady Death). The performers also showed some of their masks to Lafayette students:
Luckie adds, “The Lafayette PTA budgets each year for arts assemblies, and this is the first one of the 2009-10 school year. Next, we will have the Grail Theatre of Britain, in June. Yay PTA!”
One day after 
You’ve seen the stairways that emerge from dense foliage on our steep West Seattle hillsides. Perhaps you’ve wondered where they lead or descend to; perhaps you’ve even climbed some of them. Our staircases can be at once daunting and convenient. It’s a steep slope from California Avenue to 44th Avenue SW near Hamilton Viewpoint, but those stairs, all 78 of them, provide you with easy pedestrian access from one road to the other and eliminate the need to wander blocks out of your way.
No word so far if either of these has been confirmed as “shots fired” – sometimes it turns out to be fireworks – but we’ve heard reports in the past few hours of suspected gunshots in two West Seattle neighborhoods: Alki and Pigeon Point. In the latter case, it just happened – we got a text, and have heard on the scanner that 911 is getting multiple reports; Alki was a few hours ago, according to commenters both 
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