West Seattle, Washington
26 Friday
Strong Kids Strong Teams, Mondays & Thursdays 6-7:30 pm. Teaching children, teens and families to take charge of healthy eating and being active. An 18 week program that combines nutrition guidance and physical activity to help overweight youth develop healthy lifestyles. More information contact Becca Gray at 206.935.6400 ext. 173 or rgray@seattleymca.org. Program fees are supported by the YMCA Partners With Youth Campaign.
Creative Movement, March 1-22, Mondays, 3:30-4:15 pm @ West Seattle . Music, creativity and fun for children ages 3-5. Members: $32, Program Members: $56. Register
Tumbletots (formerly Parent/Tot Kids Gym) @ West Seattle, March 3-24, Wednesdays 10:30-11:15 am, Kids ages walking-3 plus a parent interact with colorful climbing equipment, hoops, balls & parachutes. $20 Members, Program Members: $35. Register
Friday ,March 5, Family Night, 6:30-8:30 pm @ West Seattle location. Play together as a family in the Kids Gym and Swim in the pool. Members: Free non-members bring canned food for the West Seattle food bank or Diapers for West Side Baby
Saturday, March 13, Parents Night Out, 5:30-10 pm @ West Seattle location, 4515 36th SW. Kids ages 3 months – 12 years have a safe and fun evening at the Y while parents go out or relax at home. $22.50-$30 depending upon child’s age/membership status. Space is limited. Registration required.
Friday, March 26, Family Social, 6:30-8:30 pm @ West Seattle location. Dance Party! Register. Donations to Food Bank.
A little investment can have a big payoff – and that goes for time, not just for money. Reps from the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council are hopeful their extra investment of several hours at a retreat last weekend will pay off in more progress for their group and their neighborhoods. Among those who participated, Pete Spalding, who shares this recap (as well as the photo above):
The Delridge Neighborhoods District Council (DNDC) invited various leaders from the neighborhood communities, people of color communities and social service providers to learn about their interests and participate in 1) developing a vision for Delridge, discussing how to build the vision 2) capacity challenges for leaders and volunteers; 3) ensure equitable participation in the DNDC; and 4) strengthen its voice in government forums.
The results of the retreat will inform the development of the DNDC strategic plan with short- and long-term goals.
The participants in the retreat dealt with the these topics:
1) Envision what a vibrant Delridge Neighborhoods community would look like
2) Discuss how to build strong leadership capacity with groups in Delridge
3) Discuss how to build strong volunteer bases for projects such as Delridge Day and Gathering of Neighbors
4) Discuss how to promote fair and equitable participation in the DNDC
5) Discuss how to make the DNDC a stronger voice in the community and with City governmentThe focus areas for ongoing discussions by the DNDC will involve:
1) Strengthen the TRUST relationship with local government and its many layers and agencies
2) Create and promote a Delridge neighborhood and community identity
3) Develop business associations to spur economic development
4) Create or maximize places and events where diverse groups can come together to build trust and reciprocity
5) Promote a green Delridge
6) Conduct outreach and serve populations that cross class, ethnicity and cultural lines and communities
7) Strengthen the schools
8) Create a boulevard feelOver the course of the next few DNDC meetings, this disucssion will continue in different forms. Anyone that is interested in participating in this ongoing discussion is always welcome at the DNDC meetings. The DNDC meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month, 7 – 9 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
… not to leave anything in your car:
Around 3:00 today, I bought some cookies and other things from Metropolitan Market. I took in my own cloth bag to carry them. When I came out, I tossed them on the floor of the car by the rest of my bags. I went to the library and browsed for books. When I got home around 3:30, I reached for the bag of groceries. It was no longer in the car.
I’m going to miss that cloth bag.
KatherineL
We asked her two followups. Answers: She was parked in the library spaces, not the market’s lot, and yes, she left the car unlocked.
Checking the WSB archives, it was one year ago today that we broke the story of Seattle City Light‘s massive burned-out-streetlight backup: 3,500. We went looking for that story because City Light has asked us (and others) to share an update on the streetlight situation from Superintendent Jorge Carrasco and City Councilmember Bruce Harrell. It’s published on SCL’s Power Lines site; their update says the situation a year ago was even more dire than we’d been told at the time (they mention 8,000 burnouts and a six-month wait in “early 2009”), but they are now committed to a 10-day turnaround. They’re also embarking on a federally funded project to replace 5,000 of the city’s 80,000 streetlights with LEDs; they hope to eventually replace them all. In the meantime, if you’ve got streetlight trouble, they point you to this online form; you also can call 206-684-7056. (WSB photo taken today during streetlight work spotted at 42nd/Dakota)
That’s according to Peter T, who added the update in the comment section of our Monday story. It’s been almost six weeks since the slide that narrowed the road (here’s our original report); the Department of Planning and Development says it’s working with an uphill property owner on a permanent solution.
Today we welcome our newest WSB sponsor, Authentic Home, and as is customary for new sponsors, they have the opportunity to tell you about their business: West Seattle is fortunate to have its own paint and interior design specialty store. Authentic Home was created by Kathy Banak, an interior design and colorist, to make the selection of paint colors an easy and fun process and not overwhelming and frustrating. The unique COLOR Bar provides a welcoming environment to discuss all your COLOR, interior design and home décor needs with trained colorists. Customers feel like a weight has been lifted once they finalize their color palette with assistance from the Authentic Home team. The color palette sets the foundation for not only paint colors but for all other home projects. We encourage you to bring in pictures of your project or items such as a cabinet door, countertop material, or fabrics so that we can better assist you. Join Kathy at their Open House next Saturday, February 27th, from 10 am – 2 pm and receive 20% off all Paint Sales! View our New Look and New Fabric Line at www.authentic-home.com – the showroom’s at 4151 California SW (map). Enjoy!
We thank Authentic Home for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.
For almost two weeks now, we’ve been covering the saga of the 23rd/22nd SW construction-related road closure between North Delridge and Pigeon Point/Puget Ridge. The ripple effects included a bus re-route leading in turn to dozens of lost parking spaces for blocks around. While the homebuilder who has to close 23rd/22nd 
for sewer-line work had been working with the city for months on a “traffic plan,” and followed all the notification rules, it still all came down without advance neighborhood consultation, and that led to a flurry of action last weekend, including two visits from City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, one including an SDOT entourage. Some changes were made but now there’s word of a BIG change: Metro’s Linda Thielke tells WSB that as of the start of service tomorrow morning, Route 125 will “only use 20th SW southbound between Charlestown and Genesee; it will use 21st when northbound between Genesee and Andover.” That means “more than 50 percent of the parking on the east side of 20th will be restored.” Thielke says this wouldn’t be possible without SDOT agreeing to put in a temporary stop sign on 21st at Andover (photo above; here’s a map). She also says no bus stops wll be affected. We’re checking with SDOT to see if they have taken any other steps. Again, this is supposed to take effect tomorrow (Wednesday) morning.
Five months after we first reported that Wing Dome was in talks to lease a portion of what used to be part of CAPERS in The Junction, we just got the word from Colleen O’Leary at Consolidated Restaurants, Wing Dome’s parent company: “It’s official!” We have checked in with her often enough that she promised we’d be among the first to known when they signed the lease, and she just made good on that promise. As for when they’re likely to be open, she says they’ll have a better idea “as soon as we have a construction calendar.” This will be the fourth Wing Dome – joining Greenwood, Kirkland and Kent. (Their menus are linked here.)
A high-school gym looking more like a carnival? In the middle of a weekday? That was the scene we found at Seattle Lutheran High School north of The Junction late this morning – as the students romped during CHAD (Crazy, Happy, Awesome Day). Always a surprise – they didn’t know they wouldn’t have classes today until it was announced over the P/A system in the 9 o’clock hour. From there, it was off to the gym for inflatable games including an obstacle course and surfboard ride; Bil Hood tells us Wii and XBOX rooms were planned too. Red Star Pizza was delivered for lunch, and once the inflatables came down, the gym was turning into a movie theater.
In a way, Seattle Logo Pro in The Junction is a new business – in a way it’s not.
David Groves has taken over the former Sports Junction space at the west end of the breezeway that’s next to the liquor store (across from Many Moons), after working upstairs for a few years.
And while he and his staff are screenprinting shirts, uniforms and other apparel, as well as making plaques, trophies and signs – as well as other promotional items (keychains, mouse pads, etc.) – there’s one part of the business that really piqued our interest: They’re setting up a retail space toward the front, where they’ll sell some of the only-in-West-Seattle shirts and other apparel they’re printing.
Groves, a fourth-generation West Seattleite, says that’ll be great for those who “miss the days when you could go to Shafrans and buy the West Seattle shirts.” Of course, the imagery’s updated now – if you’re familiar with the WEST SIDE “knuckles” T-shirt (see the image on artist Jason Olcott‘s MySpace page), that’s the kind of thing you’ll find, or maybe something branded with your favorite West Seattle establishment’s logo (West 5 proprietor Dave Montoure was in talking to Groves when we stopped by for a short interview, for example).
Not just the establishments you know and love now – Groves says he found a treasure trove of old printable images for long-gone places like Herfy’s and Snubby’s. The synergy makes sense, since he worked in restaurant and clothing businesses before starting Seattle Logo Pro. He says you’ll be able to count on him for higher-quality materials: “If you get a good shirt, people will actually wear them.”
Seattle Logo Pro is open for business now but the retail spot isn’t up and running yet – look for it by April.
PICK UP PRODUCE AT SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Candace Oehler from SSCC (WSB sponsor) sends word that the school’s been chosen as the latest CSA Neighborhood Pickup Site for West Seattle. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and in this case a system in which you sign up with local growers to buy shares of what they grow. SSCC has signed up with Local Choice Food Box, which has its main farm in Redmond. While the program is at its heart for SSCC staff and students, we’re told it’s open to EVERYONE in West Seattle who wants to take part. You can sign up here. And if you sign up by March 1 – next Monday – put “early signup” in the coupon-code box at checkout, and there’s a 5% discount. Questions? erik@growingwashington.org
WEST SEATTLE GARDEN TOUR UPDATES: The South Seattle Community College Arboretum is among the WSGT’s beneficiaries this year. Also on the list of beneficiaries, just announced, are Highland Park Elementary School, the Duwamish Longhouse Rain Garden, Seattle Tilth, and the ArtsWest Theater Education Program. And there’s still time to sign up to be a Garden Tour sponsor – find out how, here.
(Saturday photo from Alki, by Darren Pilon)
FREE MAMMOGRAMS: These health screenings in West Seattle at South Seattle Community College (6000 16th SW), announced by YWCA, 9 am-3 pm – call to make an appointment and see if you qualify (and if there’s drop-in time) (details here)
LITTLE LEAGUE, LAST CALL: One last in-person registration event for West Seattle Little League, 6-9 pm tonight at the library of West Seattle High School (3000 California SW). Registration forms and information can be found at www.westseattlelittleleague.com – and if you choose to mail in the form, you have to have it postmarked by today.
CALLING ALL HIGH POINT FAMILIES: : Parent-School Advocacy Night at High Point Neighborhood Center (6400 Sylvan Way), 6:30 pm, following up on previous sessions (including this one) with families putting some tough questions to Seattle Public Schools leaders.
SCHOOL TOUR: Open-house season is winding down, but school tours are ramping up. Today: Highland Park Elementary (1032 SW Trenton), 10 am. Full districtwide tour list here.
PAJAMA STORY TIME: It’s back, at Delridge Branch Library (5423 Delridge Way), 7 pm (details here)
EVEN MORE … like the weekly open turntables at Skylark Café and Club (6 pm) and rock ‘n’ roll trivia at Feedback Lounge (8 pm), both WSB sponsors – here, on the WSB Events calendar page.
Two flags flew high Sunday afternoon over West Seattle’s Vietnamese Cultural Center (next to Tug Inn): The U.S. Stars and Stripes, and the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag. Until April 1975, it was the flag of South Vietnam, and while it is banned in modern-day Vietnam, it is cherished by those who left in search of freedom. Earlier this month, the 34th District Democrats passed a resolution recognizing the flag and urging the City of Seattle to do so; that resolution was read and applauded as part of Sunday’s New Year’s celebration at the center. Representing the 34th DDs, state committeewoman Marcee Stone, who also is now running for State House of Representatives:
The event also commemorated the Lunar New Year – with the GDPT Van Hanh Lion Dance Team and hundreds of firecrackers (which you will see and hear about halfway through this minute-and-a-half clip):
The crowd of about 100 also paid tribute to historic heroes:
That artwork commemorating one of the great battles against Chinese invaders was placed at the outdoor altar:
This group of women in traditional costume waited to place flowers at the altar:
Memories of more-recent battles remained fresh, as high-ranking veterans of the South Vietnam military were there, in uniform, as they have been at other events we have covered here:
The VIetnamese Cultural Center is the second-largest such center in our state – after its counterpart in Tacoma. As the 34th DDs’ resolution noted, about 50,000 people of Vietnamese descent live in King County. (We took a closer look at the center in this July 2008 story.) Its distinctive statue – visible to passersby along SW Orchard – pays tribute to the 13th-century hero, General Tran Hung Dao.
Or so we think, anyway. Here’s the latest – Chris D snapped it near Me-Kwa-Mooks this afternoon.
Nancy in Fairmount checked on a solicitor who came to her door last night – and the organization he mentioned says they’re not doing any soliciting. He was in the 4700 block of 38th SW (map), carrying brochures for the Department of Early Learning – which is a state agency, and therefore can’t and doesn’t solicit donations. The description from Nancy: “He was a black male who looked to be in his early 20’s and had a dark blue knitted cap on his head – he mentioned something to me about having his braids tucked under his cap.” She says he claimed to be affiliated with the UW; she checked directly with Early Learning today, and was told flat-out they don’t seek money that way.
Tonight’s e-mail update from the Orca Network confirms another baby for Puget Sound’s resident orcas: If you go here, you’ll see a photo of L114, seen with L77 in B.C. waters yesterday. That brings the resident population – J, K, L pods – up to 89. (That page also has photos of half a dozen other babies born to the local orcas since the start of 2009; and you can see yet more here.)
(Photo added 5:20 pm – those here for previous bills have left, public safety folks now seated for 1679)
3:47 PM, ORIGINAL NOTE: We are in Olympia for the State Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing that will include EHB 1679, to remedy the situation that has left former SPD Officer Jason McKissack and his family losing health coverage because a 2008 attack in West Seattle left him unable to work. Public testimony is expected. The state House already passed the bill, but the Senate is where it stalled last year.
4:43 PM: 1679 hasn’t come up yet – 6851, the Clean Water bill, was up first … 39 witnesses. (Added 5:25 pm – among them, speaking in the photo above, West Seattle resident Martha Kongsgaard, on behalf of the Puget Sound Partnership, one of the supporters.) It was preceded by testimony on a few others including one that Sen. Joe McDermott (who is on this committee and here at the hearing) tells us can affect financing for the Fauntleroy Community Services Agency and Fauntleroy Schoolhouse’s future.
5:27 PM: 1679 is up. Looks like they are running out of time and may not have any public testimony – Sen. McDermott tells us a Senate floor session is coming up at 5:45 to take up amendments to the bill that suspends I-960, a hot topic at the Town Hall in West Seattle last Saturday. The legislative staffer who is speaking about 1679 now says it would cost the state about $800,000.
5:48 PM: The committee meeting is adjourned. They did wind up hearing very quickly from six people – including Jason McKissack’s wife Kim McKissack, and two Seattle Police Guild leaders, Sgts. Rich O’Neill and Ty Elster. Sgt. Elster read a statement from Jason, who did not feel well enough to be here. Next up – this committee will decide whether to advance the bill to the full Senate.
9:31 PM: Adding video — first, Kim McKissack and Renee Maher, the law-enforcement advocate who is also the widow of Federal Way Officer Patrick Maher, killed in the line of duty in 2003:
And the Seattle Police Guild leaders who spoke before them – Sgt. O’Neill is first, with the “help the officer” message he also gave the House Ways and Means Committee; Sgt. Elster, second.
No one signed up to testify against 1679. If you want to contact Ways and Means members about the bill, their names and contact info can be found here.
Some days, the inbox overflows with news releases that we pass on so you can read for yourself … some days, it’s quiet. Today’s one of the overflowing days. Latest one of potential interest, the Seattle City Council announces its 2010 priorities – read on to see if they dovetail with yours:Read More
When we stopped by the Fauntleroy Church electronics/appliances recycling event at midday Sunday, the crew from Issaquah-based 1 Green Planet already had filled one truck with recyclables. We checked with Judy Pickens to see if they had received a grand-total report; here it is – four truckloads (24-foot, two 16-footers, and a 14-footer), totaling between 15 and 20 TONS of recyclables. Judy says they’re talking about doing it again this fall; in the meantime, you can use E-Cycle Washington to find out how to recycle these types of items.
From the inbox:
On Saturday, 3-6-10 from 9am to noon, the Friends of Lincoln Park will meet to continue our work restoring the forests of this West Seattle treasure. Join us! Meet at 9am in the north parking lot at the kiosk across from Rose St. Dress for weather and wear sturdy shoes. Bring sturdy gardening gloves and hand clippers, if you have them, or we have extras. Contact Sharon at sbaker@uw.edu or (206) 464-1068.
Tonight’s the first of five public meetings (all listed here) the city’s holding to discuss the new Youth and Families Initiative. The fourth one is in West Seattle, 7 pm March 15 at Denny International Middle School, but in the meantime, Mayor Mike McGinn‘s staff has taken the unusual step of sending code for an embeddable form you can use RIGHT NOW to let them know what you think:
The information you submit, by the way, does NOT go to us – while we’re embedding the form, it’s hosted on another website, and everything goes straight to them (we just tested it to make sure it works).
Good crowds for the first two public meetings to help plan the new park at West Seattle (Westcrest) Reservoir; today’s there’s word from the city that the date’s been set for the next meeting, 10 am Saturday, April 24, again at Southwest Community Center. (Our reports on the first two: December meeting here; Feb. 6 meeting here.)
From SDOT: Crews are working today in the 6000 block of Beach Drive SW, where a slide last month has left the road restricted to one lane. SDOT’s Marybeth Turner tells us, “They are clearing away slide material and will set ecology blocks along the side of the street. The goal is to reopen the street to two lanes (one lane in each direction).” We are checking on the other questions that remained unanswered regarding the slide situation – including plans for permanent stabilization. 2:57 PM UPDATE: Bryan Stevens from DPD has some information on the latter issue. He says they’re working with a property owner in the 6000 block of Atlas Place, over the slide:
The city is working with Mr. Saladino to quickly review an option that stabilizes the slope and protects the public.
At this point, we have not received a permit application from Mr. Saladino to stabilize the property. Mr. Saladino has not yet provided the city with a geotechnical report that provides sufficient information to evaluate the options and the appropriate design. Our engineers need this information for their review to assess whether the proposed options do indeed stabilize the slope and protect the public.
At this time, we are waiting for Mr. Saladino to respond to our request for additional information.
SDOT is taking advantage of the unseasonably dry weather to remove slope debris from the Beach Drive right-of-way and place a temporary ecology block catchment wall in the parking lane on Beach Drive. This work is underway and should take one to two days. Upon completion, SDOT will reopen Beach Drive to two-way traffic at this location.
5:56 PM UPDATE: SDOT now says the work will continue tomorrow (Tuesday) instead of taking a break till Wednesday.
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