West Seattle, Washington
14 Thursday
(photo by Kurt Ricketts, added 12:15 am)
… it’s a publicity stunt for the new Microsoft search engine Bing. The Space Needle‘s supposedly lit up orange right now, along with the Pacific Science Center arches – but what you can see from almost anywhere, looking north (we just saw it while out on a walk here in Upper Fauntleroy), is a beam of light straight up into the sky alongside the Needle. Check out this webcam to see for yourself. 1:24 AM NOTE: Adding a second photo taken from West Seattle, this one courtesy of David Rosen from SlickPix Photography:
More than 170 teachers in West Seattle and the rest of the district have been told their jobs will be cut after this school year ends. Tomorrow night, community members concerned about the teacher layoffs plan to rally before the school board’s scheduled 6 pm meeting at district HQ in Sodo (agenda here). We received a West Seattle-specific note about it today – read on:Read More
RACE RESULTS: If you were among the 1,000-plus participants in Sunday’s first-ever West Seattle 5K (WSB coverage, with video of the entire start and the top finisher, here), you can now see the results (and photos) online.
HOOD VS. HOOD: Beth points out that West Seattle is so far “winning” the Hood-to-Hood challenge in the KEXP public-radio pledge drive: “The winning neighborhood will get them delivering some of their shows at a local neighborhood venue for the day as well as bringing in some bands to play at local neighbor hood music venues. Right now West Seattle is in the lead.” Yes, we are beating BALLARD, in fact, with Capitol Hill in third (!?). Check it out here.
GARDEN PARTY: Transitional Resources sends a reminder that its annual Garden Party is coming up this Saturday. It’s a chance to help out in our area’s smallest certified organic garden and also check out noted chef Christine Keff‘s cooking demo, among other fun aspects – full details here.
That’s how Roz refers to what she says has happened at her house – read on:Read More
The latest information from the SWAC Cougars:
One more pre-registration date for SWAC Football and Cheer – June 13, 11 am-2 pm, at Westwood Village Big 5. Registration fee for football is $150 and $100 for cheer. Practices start August 3rd, at Southwest Athletic Complex (east of Southwest Community Center). More info online:
swaccougars.org
Sustainable West Seattle‘s got a movie coming up – here’s the announcement:
Mad City Chickens
a documentary filmMonday, June 15
Doors open @ 6:30 pm (Q&A)
Movie starts @ 7:00 pmYoungstown Arts Center
4408 Delridge Way SWCost: $3 donation requested
Mad City Chickens is a sometimes serious, sometimes whimsical look at the people who keep urban chickens in their backyards.
From chicken experts and authors to a rescued landfill hen or an inexperienced family that decides to take the poultry plunge—and even a mad scientist and giant hen taking to the streets—it’s a humorous and heartfelt trip through the world of backyard chickendom.
Highlights:
* Mother Earth News Editor-in-Chief, Cheryl Long
* Leading bird flu expert, Dr. Michael Greger
* Rare behind-the-scenes at Murray McMurray Hatchery
* Backyard Poultry editor, Elaine Belanger
* Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities, Christine Heinrichs
* Stunning results from nutritional study on pastured eggs
* Follow an urban family for an entire year as they take the poultry plunge
* A factory farm hen that refused to die even after being gassed and dumped at a landfillPLUS…coops, birds, eggs, art, images from Seattle Tilth, founding members of the Mad City Chickens group, a California musical hen, a Texas life-saving flock…and yes…even a mad professor and a giant chicken find their way into the mix.
Less than two weeks ago, we got a tour of the Spokane Street construction zone alongside the east edge of the West Seattle Bridge, and an update that work on the new 4th Avenue offramp (aka the future Costco route; rendering above) is ahead of schedule. Today, we have another update from SDOT, including the latest on the ramp and also word of a westbound surface shutdown of Spokane St. later this week – read on:Read More
They haven’t yet announced whether they are going to proceed with fundraising for any additions to California Place Park, but Friends and Neighbors of North Admiral have set the date for the community celebration marking the end of the design process for which they obtained a $15,000 grant: 3:30 pm Saturday, June 20. Musician/entertainer Eric Ode will perform. While the future of the main park site is still a question mark, money for a P-Patch community garden on the “southern triangle” across the street is proceeding through the Parks and Green Spaces Levy allocation process (as reported here last week). It’s been almost exactly a year since first word that a group of neighbors was proposing changes to the tiny park in North Admiral; our archived coverage, newest to oldest, is here.
That’s the trailer for “Princess Bride,” which has just been announced as the first movie in this year’s West Seattle Summer Outdoor Movies on the Wall series – it’ll be shown in the courtyard between Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) and Dr. Wolff on Saturday night, July 18th. Hundreds of suggestions came in and Hotwire’s Lora Lewis is announcing the first and last movies today – two more tomorrow – and the other two on Thursday, and since WSB is a proud co-sponsor of the Movies on the Wall series, we’re bringing the news to you here first. Now, today’s second announcement – the movie that will end the series:
“Cars” will be the final Movies on the Wall showing August 22nd. So which four movies will be shown inbetween? Check back here tomorrow and Thursday for the announcements, and mark your calendar for every Saturday night July 18-August 22; the movies start at dusk, so the time varies week to week. (Wondering what the events are like? Admission’s free – there are charity raffles with cool prizes – and fundraiser concessions. Here’s one of our stories, with photos, from last year.)
Fire units are just arriving now so we don’t have details but we do know some roads are being blocked — so avoid the area around the 9900 block of 33rd SW in Arbor Heights for now. Stand by for details. They’re also calling for a medic unit. 11:16 AM UPDATE: The incident commander at the scene tells us that a “gallon of suspicious liquid” has been found but they’re not sure what it is. The medic unit is standing by just as a precaution. But roads remain closed for a few blocks around. 11:35 AM UPDATE: The container of liquid is just sitting out on the sidewalk in front of a house while fire crews decide how to handle it. Adding a photo from about as close as media’s allowed:
11:43 AM UPDATE: Just got the word, it’s NOT a hazardous material, so this is all about to clear out. Dana Vander Houwen with Seattle Fire Department tells us the original call was from someone who called 911 because they found the gallon container and it was “making their eyes water” – so in order to take no chances, they sent out hazmat. The roads should be reopening momentarily too. Co-publisher Patrick was told at the scene, the liquid turned out to be windshield-washer fluid and motor oil. ADDED 12:33 PM: The pic’s somewhat fuzzy but that blue stuff you see one firefighter bending over is the container that caused the scare:
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The word heard at Monday night’s King County Executive candidates’ forum at Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor) more often than you would expect to hear at a meeting of rivals for a big, open job: Agree.
As in:
“I agree with Dow.”
“I agree with Fred.”
“I agree with Larry.”
“I agree with Ross.”
Of course, consider the fact that all four are Democrats, though they can’t run under that label since King County Executive is a nonpartisan job, made so by the voters last year; also, all four are current or former state legislators. The one major candidate who doesn’t fall under either of those umbrellas, former TV anchor Susan Hutchison, didn’t even respond to repeated invitations to participate tonight, according to organizers from InSPIRe (Seattle Progressives Inspiring Reform), which presented the forum.
The fact three of the candidates even showed up is proof nobody’s writing off West Seattle just because this area’s largest political group, the 34th District Democrats, has already taken a vote supporting hometown guy Constantine. But just because you’re speaking in West Seattle, doesn’t mean you’ll only be read about and heard about in WS, so off we go with coverage of what was and wasn’t said — read on:Read More
We’ve reported this repeatedly but wanted to share the city’s announcement as well:
PARKS TO HOST MORGAN JUNCTION PARK OFFICIAL OPENING AND COMMUNITY
FESTIVALSeattle Parks and Recreation, the Morgan Community Association (MOCA),
and neighbors invite the community to the official grand opening and
ribbon cutting of the new Morgan Junction Park at 10 a.m. on Saturday,
June 13, 2009.This park opening kicks-off the 4th Annual Morgan Junction Community
Festival (from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), which includes music, children’s
activities and,new this year:the “Bite of Morgan.” The new park is
located at 6401 California Ave. SW in West Seattle and is designed with
both plaza and green space elements, andfeatures an interactive sidewalk
chalk gallery with low profile gallery style frames stamped into the
concrete. A chalk art contest for all ages begins at 11:30 a.m.The creation of this park was a collaboration among Seattle Parks and
Recreation, Seattle Department of Transportation, the Mayor’s Office of
Arts & Cultural Affairs, MOCA, and the West Seattle neighborhood.“This beautiful new park, originally planned in the Morgan Junction
Neighborhood Plan, provides a gathering space for all ages, and is a
showpiece for the heart of our community,” said Steve Sindiong, former
president of MOCA.The Pro Parks Levy and a matching grant from the King County
Conservation Futures Tax provided $747,000 for acquisition of this
.2-acre property. Additionally, the Levy provided $480,000 for
planning, design and construction for the development of this new
neighborhood gathering space.Approved by Seattle voters in 2000, the $198.2 million Pro Parks Levy
funded more than 100 projects throughout the city over the past eight
years. Projects include improvements to athletic fields, playgrounds,
trails and community centers and parks. Funding also increased green
spaces, supported Zoo programs and enhanced park maintenance.For more information please visit:
www.cityofseattle.net/parks/proparks/projects/morgan.htm
We’re counting down to the Friday night party that WSB is co-promoting with the Admiral Theater to celebrate the Seattle International Film Festival‘s first-ever West Seattle run — 25 screenings, June 5-11. As you see on the marquee, the party starts at 5:30; it’s informal, open-house style, so just drop by before about 6:45, when filmgoers will start taking their seats for “The Admiral.” This morning, we have word of more party participants, from Admiral entertainment director Dinah Brein-McClellan, who invited local businesses to be part of the bash: Metropolitan Market is bringing appetizers; Sharon’s Westwood Florist is contributing flowers and balloons. Add that to a creation by Vertu Cakes (based in The Junction) and appearances by the Seafair Pirates and SIFF director Carl Spence. Come help celebrate yet another feather in West Seattle’s increasingly stylish cultural cap, this Friday.
(photo from Cathy Woo, added 6:59 am)
Big callout for “fire in single-family residence” at 59th/Charlestown (map). En route to see what’s happening. 6:46 AM UPDATE: Nothing on the scanner; we’re close to the area and not seeing smoke. Should know shortly what the call is/was about. 6:50 AM UPDATE: At the scene, we’ve learned it was a “small deck fire” — out now. When a fire’s reported at a residence, big or small, there’s always a big initial callout just in case, but almost all of it’s been called off here. Thanks to the many people who e-mailed/texted/called with word of/questions about all the sirens.
Tonight at City Hall downtown (Google Street View above), the city’s gang-related crime is in the spotlight at a free forum, with speakers to include Seattle Police Lt. Ron Wilson, who leads the department’s Gang Unit. It comes one month after what police and prosecutors have declared to be a gang-related shooting at Alki, with the 19-year-old victim described as a known gang member along with the 17-year-old suspect, Anthony Verzola, who is due back in court next Monday at 1 pm and remains jailed in lieu of $250,000 bail. Tonight’s forum is at the Bertha Landes Room on City Hall’s main level, starting at 7 pm; see the full list of speakers here.
Two of West Seattle’s green spaces are in better shape this week than they were last, thanks to work parties with extra volunteer help. First, the photo above from last Saturday was shared by Mike Arizona, volunteer steward for the Delridge Natural Area across from the Chief Sealth High School/Boren campus:
The event was attended by 13 volunteers, all from www.Onlineshoes.com. This was the second time in the past year the kind folks from Onlineshoes reached out to me and asked to set up an event with their employees. We cleared about 2300 square feet of the park of non-native plants (ivy, blackberry, holly), picked up trash and put down a layer of mulch on 1400 square feet. This area is now all ready to be planted with native trees and plants this fall.
The restoration of this site is part of the Green Seattle Partnership project (greenseattle.org) whose goal is to restore all 2500 acres of Seattle’s urban forest parkland. Another great website to get information is www.longfellowcreek.org. The next volunteer work party is June 27 from 10 am to 2 pm. For more information contact Mike Arizona at m_a1533@yahoo.com.
And last Friday, an even-bigger group of volunteers – workers from outdoor-industry businesses that belong to the Conservation Alliance — worked in Lincoln Park:
Krissy Moehl says almost 100 volunteers were there, with help from the Cascade Land Conservancy and Green Seattle, as a Backyard Collective project from the alliance’s ConservationNEXT. Look for a wrapup soon at conservationnext.com/blog.
The official news release from the campaign:
David Miller, who began his campaign for Seattle City Council in November
2008, officially filed for Council Position 8 this morning. “I’m excited by all the
support I’ve received. In early March, I said I was running for Position 8 and today
made that official,” said Miller.A 15+ year local business executive, environmental advocate, and neighborhood
representative, Miller entered the City Council race to bring balance to these
varying interests and a deliberate and thoughtful perspective to decisions affecting
the citizens of Seattle.“Seattle’s needs are complex and we can’t afford to hire single-issue candidates for
the job,” stated Miller. “Every week, every meeting, every event on the campaign
trail reinforces my goal of creating a diverse coalition of businesses,
environmentalists, and neighborhood leaders is the right approach to this campaign.
It doesn’t always translate easily to a sound bite, but Seattleites appreciate a
candidate who knows voters are smart enough to understand specific answers to
complex questions.”Miller has gathered strong endorsements during the campaign. Earth Day founder Denis
Hayes, habitat preservation leader Matt Mega, pedestrian advocate Lisa Quinn, green
economy guru Stacy Noland, tree advocates Cheryl Trivison and Rich Haag, and open
space advocate John Barber are among those in the environmental community endorsing
Miller.Biotech leader Bruce Montgomery; former head of the National Cancer Institute,
biotech venture capitalist, and Obama Administration advisor Dr. Richard Klausner;
green developers Bruce Blume and Linda Pruitt; business leader Anne Levinson; and
Seattle business icon Bill Grinstein are among Miller’s many supporters in the
business community.Georgetown community leader Kathy Nyland, Delridge leader Pete Spaulding, West
Seattle leader Ivan Weiss, Beacon/Jefferson leader Judith Edwards, community leaders
Bruce Bentley and Kiku Hayashi, low income housing executive Sharon H. Lee, and many
others from all parts of the city are among Miller’s community-based supporters.Miller is also endorsed by State Representative Scott White, King County
Councilmember Bob Ferguson, and former Seattle City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck.Council Position 8 is currently held by Councilmember Richard McIver, who has stated
his intention to retire. “In my work with City Council on various issues, I’ve come
to respect Councilmember McIver’s tough and direct questions and pledge to carry on
that tradition,” Miller said. “Seattle owes a large debt to Councilmember McIver,”
noted Miller, “and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank him publicly. Seattle
is a better place for his service.”Based upon input from hundreds of Seattle residents, David Miller’s campaign is
focused on four priorities: Grow Responsibly, Strengthen Neighborhoods, Prioritize
People, and Return to Basics. More detail on these themes and the campaign is
available on www.MillerForSeattle.org.Miller filed to run for City Council on November 18, 2008, the third non-incumbent
to file for the race. On March 9, 2009 he became the second candidate to announce an
intention to run for Position 8. Shortly after 9:00am today, Miller made his
official filing for Position 8 with King County Elections.David Miller lives with his wife in the Maple Leaf neighborhood of north Seattle
where he was president of the Community Council, works to preserve existing green
space, and advocates for responsible urban growth and density in our urban core
areas. David is founder and CEO of Biotech Stock Research and volunteers for the
UW-Bothell Center for Student Entrepreneurship where he helps aspiring business
owners launch their companies. A Council-appointed representative to the Parks and
Green Spaces Citizen’s Advisory Committee, David helped create the package for the
2008 Parks for All Levy and advocated for its successful passage. He is currently an
alternate serving on Seattle’s Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee.
His official announcement:
Charlie Mas files for School Board Race
Charlie Mas, longtime Seattle school district activist, filed as a candidate for
Seattle Public Schools Board Director from southeast Seattle on Monday, June 1. The
Board seat is now held by Cheryl Chow, who has announced that she will not be
running for re-election.“I’m running for the Board because I want to do the work,” said Mr. Mas. “The
Board’s duties of making policy, overseeing the management of the District,
providing accountability and representing the public aren’t getting done. If the
voters let me, I’ll do the job.”A candidate for this position in 2001, Mr. Mas has remained active and involved. He
is a member of the Superintendent’s School-Family Partnerships Advisory Committee
and a Golden Acorn award winner. He is also an active contributor to the Seattle
Public Schools Community Blog. He is well-respected for his knowledge and analysis
of District issues and has, at times, been an outspoken critic of District
decisions.“I want the District to walk the talk. Standing up for accountability and community
engagement are positive and supportive of the direction the District is trying to
take” he said.Mr. Mas is father of two students in Seattle Public Schools. Married since 1982,
Charlie and Levecke Mas have lived in southeast Seattle on Beacon Hill for seventeen
years. Charlie works as an investment advisor.
If you’re going to talk about a playground on a warm almost-summer night, why not do it outside? So that’s exactly what Delridge Playground project organizers decided to do, setting up that table outside the Delridge Community Center tonight. The main task: Decide which of the three designs (all shown in this WSB report) to choose, before Delridge’s new playground gets “built in a day” next month by KaBOOM! – with volunteer help. Design #3 is way out in front:
(This link also shows you its full schematics.) Besides taking votes tonight, they were also accepted by e-mail and at the playground-fundraiser booth at Delridge Day (shown in this report), which by the way brought in enough money to put the community-contribution total over the top. Another vote tonight was for the swing setup; results – two regular swings, one bucket swing, one disability-accessible swing. Also tonight, the fate of the current playground’s popular merry-go-round was discussed; Parks Department rep Maureen A. O’Neill said it’ll be removed, but it can be stored, and maybe painted and fixed up – any time a playground has major changes like this, O’Neill explained, everything has to be brought up to safety code, and she says that means the merry-go-round would need a “textured wood structure” underneath, plus some drainage and concrete work, totaling about $15,000, which would require a lot more fundraising, and/or perhaps another city Small and Simple Grant. But she promised the merry-go-round would be removed and stored carefully. One more note: While the fundraising goal’s been met, LOTS of volunteer help is needed to make the playground happen on July 17 – more than 100 in all – e-mail helpdelridgeplay@gmail.com if you can help.
Long version later, short version now: Big crowd tonight at the Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor) Fellowship Hall as the West Seattle-rooted progressive political group InSPIRe presented the peninsula’s biggest candidates’ forum so far this primary season. Four of the five major King County Executive candidates participated: From left in the top photo, that’s Rep. Ross Hunter, King County Council Chair Dow Constantine, County Councilmember Larry Phillips, State Sen. Fred Jarrett. Hunter and Jarrett both live on the Eastside; Phillips is from Magnolia; and Constantine, of course, is a West Seattleite. (Susan Hutchison was invited but, the group says, did not even respond to repeated invitations.) No clashes, no fireworks, little disagreement, aside from one brief burst of “yes/no” questioning, when the question was “Should King County be in the ferry business?” — the two county councilmembers — who are also former state legislators — answered “yes,” Jarrett and Hunter said “no.” We “tweeted” highlights while taking notes – you can read those raw summaries at our @wsblive Twitter page – and stay tuned for the full story in a bit.
Court fight, in this case. At Delridge Day this past Saturday, our spot in the Youngstown Arts Center parking lot was a few tables over from the booth you see in the photo above – with the “Save Cooper” theme. You might wonder, as we did, what’s the “Save Cooper” theme now, since the Seattle School Board vote to close the Cooper Elementary School “program” and move Pathfinder K-8 into the Cooper building in Pigeon Point happened four months ago, and a Cooper closure event is scheduled for this Sunday. Turns out, they were raising money for a legal challenge that continues, with a potentially pivotal hearing scheduled next week, headed by Cooper parent and PTA member Joy Anderson, aided by longtime school-closure opponent Chris Jackins. We spoke with both Anderson and Jackins at the event; read on to see what the Cooper challenge is about, and what happens next:Read More
Seattle Police have gone public with the city’s crime stats for the first four months of this year. The overview is the same as what we’ve heard in West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meetings and other venues all year – violent crimes down, nonviolent crimes up, to summarize. Here’s the Southwest Precinct report; an excerpt from its intro:
… Southwest Precinct is posting an increase in Major Crimes for the first four months of 2009 when compared with the same period in 2008. Unlike the other precincts, however, the overall crime rise is being driven more by increases in Property Crimes than by Violent Crimes. Among Property Crimes, both burglaries and larceny/thefts are up, compared to a year ago. Southwest Precinct is also the only precinct posting an increase in vehicle thefts.
The burglary increase, compared to the same period of 2008, is dramatic – 231 in the Southwest Precinct area (which includes South Park as well as West Seattle) last year, jumping to 344 this year – up almost 50 percent. The vehicle-theft increase mentioned above is not as dramatic — 121 this year, 115 last. Here’s the page with links to all precincts’ reports, if you’re interested in comparing – the population and acreage of the precincts varies, of course, so you can’t really compare 1-to-1.
The area’s next big 5K takes over The Viaduct next Sunday morning: The annual Race for the Cure, raising money to fight breast cancer. Many West Seattleites are among the thousands of participants (including Team WSB, as we’ve written in the past). And this year, the Kids’ Run Grand Marshal is from West Seattle – read on for his story:
(WSB photo from 2008 Race for the Cure, heading northbound on The Viaduct)
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
In 2007, West Seattle resident Eddie Westerman walked in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for her friend Dottie, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. They called their team “Dottie’s Hotties.”
One year later, her participation was in a different light: In 2008, Eddie herself was diagnosed with breast cancer; they renamed the team “The Fast Eddies.” This year, yet another friend of Eddie’s has been diagnosed with breast cancer and because the list is getting so long, they’re using the first initials of the friends who have been diagnosed and renaming the team “Pledges for EDJS.”
Throughout her journey, Eddie has had a very special partner working with her — her 12-year-old son Adam Westerman. (Photo at left, family-provided, shows Adam and Eddie)
Last year, Eddie and Adam teamed up to raise funds for the 2008 Susan G. Komen race and much to their surprise discovered Adam was the #1 youth fundraiser. This information came to them through a phone call months later from the Susan G. Komen Foundation who called Adam to tell him the good news and said, “We have something for you” — a Nintendo Wii. Says Eddie, “He thought they were joking; that it was something we’d put them up to.”
Adam was then asked by the Komen Foundation to speak to a group of their volunteers. He did such a great job, the Foundation asked him to be the 2009 Kids Run Grand Marshal.
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