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Spotlight Stories


  • The Kenney

    SEEKING STABILITY: The Kenney’s new status

  • Blue Angels

    BLUE ANGELS: Practicing today

  • Concert

    ADMIRAL MUSIC IN PARKS: Final concert tonight

Seattle snowstorm aftermath: Next round of city reports
February 20, 2009 6:03 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle online | West Seattle weather

After a series of briefings and hearings focusing on how the city dealt with the challenges of Snowstorm ’08, this morning we will hear about the “after-action reports” that key departments were ordered to prepare. Three Seattle City Council committees are meeting jointly at 9 am to get the lowdown from three department heads: Barb Graff, Director of the Office of Emergency Management; Grace Crunican, Director of the Department of Transportation; and Ray Hoffman, Acting Director of Seattle Public Utilities (previous director Chuck Clarke has moved on to his new job with Cascade Water Alliance). Here’s the agenda; you can watch live online at seattlechannel.org or on cable Channel 21. 10:01 AM UPDATE: This discussion is just starting now, after the meeting’s first hour was spent on the Mercer Corridor project.

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West Seattle Whale Watch: Keep an eye out in the morning
February 19, 2009 9:30 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Whale Watch: Keep an eye out in the morning
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(December 2008 photo by Jeff Hogan)
This afternoon, Jeff Hogan from West Seattle-based Killer Whale Tales called to say a sizable group of orcas was reported off Point No Point on the Kitsap Peninsula (map) and possibly heading this way. No sightings reported by sundown but Jeff – who provided us with photos and info about West Seattle’s last major orca sighting in December (photo above) – e-mailed this update tonight:

Turns out up to 20 plus killer whales were at the Edmonds/Kingston Ferry and still heading our way. It’s quite possible that they will be off WS in the morning. My scientific colleagues are very interested in getting out on the water to collect both photos and scat samples, especially if the new baby is with them. If any WSB’ers see them, please contact Orca Network at 1.866.ORCANET or they can call me at 206.660.0835. I will let WSB know what is going on as soon as I know something.

Two babies have been sighted/photographed with Puget Sound orcas recently, in fact – photos are on this page at the Orca Network’s website. (9:50 pm note – we just received the Orca Network’s nightly “sightings” newsletter – you can subscribe here – and it includes several sightings of this group, with the last one reported at 5:10 pm, passing Carkeek Park.)

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Fauntleroy/Dawson murder suspect not charged in that case yet
February 19, 2009 8:05 pm
|    Comments Off on Fauntleroy/Dawson murder suspect not charged in that case yet
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

If you are arrested and jailed, there’s usually a three-day window for you to be charged or released. gavel.jpgWith the weekend/holiday, today was the deadline for charges against 21-year-old Dion Fillmore, arrested in connection with the murder of his 70-year-old grandmother Lavon Barrette in her Fauntleroy/Dawson apartment building last weekend. We checked with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and spokesperson Dan Donohoe tells us that while Fillmore has not yet been charged in the killing, he remains jailed because he is charged in a separate case, punching a man in the face so hard a cheekbone was broken, last December 15th. Court documents say the attack happened when Fillmore was walking that night along Fauntleroy Way, not far from his grandmother’s apartment, and encountered the victim walking with Fillmore’s uncle. Fillmore’s bail is set at $100,000 and he is due in court March 5th to answer a charge of second-degree assault. Regarding the murder of Ms. Barrette (detailed in court documents Monday), Donohoe says, “A decision regarding homicide charges will be made at a later date.”

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SHARE shelter moving from West Seattle church to Ballard
February 19, 2009 6:16 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

According to our fellow neighborhood-news-site operators at MyBallard.com, when the Church of the Nazarene (42nd/Juneau) agreement with SHARE expires at the end of this month, the group’s small shelter for homeless men will move from that West Seattle church to a building in Ballard. See the My Ballard story here. As we noted in original coverage of the shelter’s arrival a year ago, the church has hosted other shelters, so we’ll be checking to see if another one is taking this one’s place.

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Welcome, new WSB sponsor: C.S.S. (Computer Service Solutions)
February 19, 2009 5:09 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle online

(CSS team members, from left: Doug, Justin, Carmela, Tiziana, Carlos)
We’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor today: C.S.S. (Computer Service Solutions). Here’s what they’d like you to know about what they can do for you: C.S.S. (Computer Service Solutions LLC) has been serving our local community’s Computer and IT needs for the last eight years, growing at a steady pace. The foundation of C.S.S. success is built into the motto: “Better Technology to Serve You Better.” They recognize the importance of remaining nimble enough to hear what their customers are saying, as well as strong enough to provide the level of support and expertise their customers deserve. Serving both home users and the business community, C.S.S. provides a variety of computer services and IT solutions, including: Computer repairs, general system optimization, point-of-sale customized systems & support, data recovery/backup, upgrades, networking (Virtual Private Network), digital surveillance systems, anti-virus sales & installation, and software configuration. C.S.S. welcomes the opportunity to help you find a solution to your personal or business computer or IT project or problem. The team at C.S.S. is a dedicated group striving to perform their own personal best everyday and to achieve excellence, with the best customer-service possible, and the latest hardware and software technology. C.S.S. is also proud to be part of our community’s effort to recycle unused computers. It’s a free drop-off point for InterConnection, which refurbishes computers for reuse at a low cost while keeping hazardous materials out of our landfills. C.S.S. is located at 6030 California Ave SW, just 2 blocks north of Morgan Junction (map), 206-935-5808, with ample parking in front. We’re glad to have C.S.S. (Computer Service Solutions) join the WSB sponsorship lineup, which you can see in its entirely here (with information on how to become part of it).

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Followup: Maps showing WS-to-downtown access if tunnel’s built
February 19, 2009 3:46 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

These maps were mentioned in the WSB report on last night’s Delridge District Council meeting – and now we’ve obtained an electronic copy of the maps so you can take a closer look: Pages 8-10 of this WSDOT map package show how West Seattleites will be able to access downtown, and points beyond, if the current plan to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct‘s Central Waterfront section with a tunnel is approved. (Got questions? Remember next Tuesday’s “scoping meeting,” WSDOT reps galore, at Madison Middle School, 5:30 pm, which – disclosure – is being advertised on WSB this week to get the word out.)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Lottery-ticket robber in WC too?
February 19, 2009 2:14 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Triangle | West Seattle news | White Center

Remember the strong-arm robbery at the Fauntleroy/Alaska 76 station weekend before last – in which the robber got away with cash and lottery tickets? (Here’s our followup with full details from the police report.) The King County Sheriff’s Office put out a call today for help in identifying a robber with a similar M.O. who’s struck twice in White Center (late January and early February); we posted that announcement on White Center Now but then realized it sounds a lot like the Fauntleroy/Alaska bandit, so we’re mentioning it here too. Checking with investigators to see if that’s the Seattle robbery alluded to in the King County news release; also seeking any available images to post. ADDED 2:26 PM: Image at left is one of several we’ve obtained from KCSO – none is crystal clear but they still may lead to an arrest. This shows the robber hopping the counter in one of the White Center heists. And Sgt. John Urquhart from KCSO confirms it may be the same robber as in the Fauntleroy/Alaska case. Here’s one more – again, small and blurry, but we’re sharing:

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Be a star at Alki! Bands sought for summer concerts
February 19, 2009 1:38 pm
|    Comments Off on Be a star at Alki! Bands sought for summer concerts
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | WS culture/arts

band1.jpg

That’s Blue 55 playing the Alki Boardwalk last August, one of two Alki summer concerts presented by the Parks Department, and it looks like they’re doing more this year – this announcement just in:

Alki Community Center in West Seattle is planning a series of Music in the Park events for the summer of 2009, and is looking for bands who are interested in playing on dates in July, August, and September 2009.

Bands should play music that families will enjoy. Interested bands should call MaryPat Byington at 206-684-7430 or e-mail her at marypat.byington@seattle.gov by Monday, March 16, 2009.

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Morgan Junction Park name campaign: Time for you to help
February 19, 2009 12:35 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(photo taken today, added 4:50 pm)
Local neighborhood leaders have been working for months (9/08 WSB report here) to get Morgan Junction’s new park – under construction now and scheduled for dedication at the Morgan Community Festival June 13th – named for the late longtime West Seattle Herald reporter Tim St. Clair, who lost his cancer fight a year ago. The campaign has run into some roadblocks, including Parks Department policy stipulating at least 3 years between a person’s death and a naming honor like this. But supporters aren’t giving up, and now they are asking for your help: Pete Spalding just sent word that he and several other of the aforementioned leaders, including Morgan Community Association‘s Cindi Barker, Steve Sindiong, and Chas Redmond, are starting a petition drive, hoping to gather signatures to present to West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the Parks Committee, and Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher, who has the final say on park names. Download a copy of the petition here, gather some signatures ASAP, and send them to Pete, whose address is on the form. (Also look for the petition at upcoming community meetings – Pete says signature-gathering began at meetings last night including the Delridge District Council.)

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Duwamish “vision” released: Water taxi? Aerial gondolas? Or …
February 19, 2009 11:58 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

Just back from a media-geared boat tour along the South Park stretch of the Duwamish River with BJ Cummings of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, immediately after her group released its report on a year-in-the-making community-created vision of the Duwamish’s future. The “vision” – she was careful to caution, it’s a vision, not yet a plan – covers the West Seattle side of the Duwamish Valley as well, and we have maps, drawings, and video to show you; we’ll be adding them to this report over the next hour-plus (the map is available online now, as a 29MB zip file or as a smaller, zoomable image). This is all coming out now as the EPA works on the next stage of the cleanup of the waterway that’s so polluted, it’s a Superfund site. But there’s hope for its future, and in fact, perhaps this was a good omen for the tour: A California sea lion surfaced alongside the boat; Cummings said recent sea lion sightings on that section of the river are the first in a long time, though no one’s sure why they’ve come back. A water-taxi route along the river, from the foot of the West Seattle Bridge southward, and aerial gondolas (like the relatively new tram in Portland), are part of the plan, which you can inspect firsthand during an event at the Duwamish Tribe‘s new Longhouse this afternoon, 4-6 pm. 1:47 PM UPDATE: Maybe a water taxi like this? Here’s the one used for this morning’s tour, with Captain Howie Dickerman at the helm:

He does his biggest business in dive charters. And here’s the clip from our second pass under the South Park Bridge (which needs to be replaced, and now federal stimulus money is the best hope) – listen to the eerie sound of traffic going over, as we pass under:

Click ahead to see Cummings explain what the report is for, and describe its toplines (as we continue to add to this story):Read More

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One fewer vitamin/supplement store in The Junction
February 19, 2009 11:45 am
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Thanks to Keith for e-mailing to share the news that the Natureway vitamin/supplement shop cleared out of its Junction storefront over the past few days – we subsequently found the above-shown sign on its door on California north of Oregon. We had noted when Fresh Vitamins opened last August in Westwood Village that it was owned by the same company, and this sign indeed directs customers to visit that shop instead; if you want to stay in The Junction, of course, Super Supplements is at California/Alaska (though that building is to make way in the future for the Conner Homes development, which as first reported here earlier this week has its next Design Review meeting March 12), and as pointed out in comments, GNC has a branch in Jefferson Square. 9:55 PM UPDATE: Following up on a comment posted below this story, we’ve received confirmation tonight that Funky Jane’s Consignment will be the new tenant in the space vacated by Natureway. We tried to contact the store’s owner today but were unsuccessful; we’ll try again tomorrow, to get more details on their plan. (Their current space, like Super Supplements as mentioned above, is in one of the buildings that will be torn down when the Conner project at California/Alaska/42nd is bulit.)

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Fauntleroy neighborhood meeting: Message – “organize”
February 19, 2009 9:55 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

That long scroll of paper was a prop for SDOT reps to explain the forthcoming Fauntleroy Way “rechannelization” (approved last month) to anyone with questions at last night’s Fauntleroy Community Association-presented “neighborhood meeting” last night at Fauntleroy Church. SDOT was just there for questions – no formal presentation – but updates were presented on three other topics, and the theme for two could be described as “organize” – read on:Read More

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Happening today/tonight: Jail, cleanup, movie, produce
February 19, 2009 6:07 am
|    Comments Off on Happening today/tonight: Jail, cleanup, movie, produce
 |   Environment | West Seattle jail sites | West Seattle news

INITIATIVE 100 LAUNCH: The signature-gathering effort for a city initiative seeking a vote on whether to build a jail — which could ratchet back the process that already has potential sites identified, including one in West Seattle — starts with a 7:30 am event at Town Hall downtown.

DUWAMISH CLEANUP REPORT AND OPEN HOUSE: What’s ahead for the waterway along easternmost West Seattle? A new report comes out this morning (we’ll be at the official announcement), and then you’re invited to come find out even more firsthand at the Duwamish Longhouse on West Marginal Way, 4-6 pm, followed by another in the series of cultural events at the Longhouse: films by Sandy and Yasu Osawa focusing on the Longhouse at Evergreen State College, 7 pm.

ANOTHER MOVIE: It’s Environmental Film Night at Camp Long Lodge, showing “Broken Limbs” — the clip above is a 3-plus-minute intro to the movie — focusing on the much-changed apple industry in the Wenatchee area, 7 pm.

ORGANIC PRODUCE FOR DELRIDGE? Tonight’s the next Delridge Produce Co-op organizing meeting, Pearls on Delridge, 6:30 pm.

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Delridge District Council: Viaduct to Camp Long, and beyond
February 19, 2009 3:23 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Delridge | Delridge District Council | Environment | West Seattle news

By David Whelan
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

A state/city briefing on the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement/tunnel plan highlighted Wednesday night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting.

Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin was scheduled to speak but didn’t make it to the meeting.

The Viaduct/Tunnel briefing came from Ron Paananen, who’s been a project lead for WSDOT, and Hannah McIntosh from SDOT.

Read More

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West Seattle YMCA fundraising drive: Halfway home
February 18, 2009 10:52 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle YMCA fundraising drive: Halfway home
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

(Photo provided by West Seattle YMCA: Campaign volunteer Benita Buchanan records the
total raised to date at last night’s report meeting)
Right now, the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor) is in the middle of its annual push to draw donations to make sure their programs are accessible to all – They did a check-in last night, and Samantha Bowes sends this report:

Last night, West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA Partners With Youth campaign volunteers gathered at the Fauntleroy YMCA to report on their progress toward their fundraising goal. They’ve raised over $96,000 on a goal of $205,000 in donations to keep YMCA programs accessible to kids, teens, and families in West Seattle, South Park, and Vashon

This is half of the overall campaign goal of $410,000 – our Board of Managers is raising the other half, and is at more than $115,000 to date, for a total of $211,000 raised on that $410,000 goal.

175+ volunteers make this effort a success every year – our thanks to them and to the hundreds of local residents who contribute to the campaign.

To learn more about the campaign, volunteer to help, or make a donation, contact Samantha Bowes at sbowes@seattleymca.org or 206-935-6000.

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Next steps set for Elliott Bay Water Taxi dock-upgrade approval
February 18, 2009 8:49 pm
|    Comments Off on Next steps set for Elliott Bay Water Taxi dock-upgrade approval
 |   Elliott Bay Water Taxi | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

The next steps are set for the Parks Department to sign off on upgrading the Elliott Bay Water Taxi‘s dock at Seacrest (as discussed at the Alki Community Center meeting a month ago) , to prepare for year-round operation to start early next year: First, the city Parks Board (chaired by Alki’s Jackie Ramels) will be briefed at its next meeting, Feb. 26. Then the board plans a public hearing on March 12th – and it will meet in West Seattle for the occasion; that meeting’s set for the WS Golf Course. Two weeks after that, March 26th, the Parks Board will make its recommendation, and the final say goes to Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher. If you don’t expect to be able to make it to the March 12th meeting, by the way, the department offers other ways to have a say:

E-mail: send to Sandy Brooks at sandy.brooks@seattle.gov. E-mails are forwarded as soon as possible after receipt. Deadline is 5:00 pm, Tuesday, March 24.

Fax: send “Attention: Sandy Brooks” at 206-233-7023

U.S. mail/hand-delivered: send to Sandy Brooks at 100 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109-5199, or drop off at the front desk at 100 Dexter Ave N. Deadline is Thursday, March 19, to allow time for copying and mailing.

As first reported here last week, the Water Taxi’s start date this year is planned for April 5.

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Money woes in the spotlight at Steve Sundquist’s “coffee hour”
February 18, 2009 5:45 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle school closure | West Seattle schools

By Charla Mustard-Foote
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Seven people with a vital interest in West Seattle public schools got together with West Seattle’s Seattle School Board rep Steve Sundquist at Coffee to a Tea in The Junction this morning, to discuss issues ranging from proposed new staggered school start times (to accommodate a dual busing schedule) to a redefinition of the statewide definition of Basic Education.

It was Sundquist’s first “coffee hour” since the board’s controversial vote on school closures/changes, but that wasn’t the top issue on the mind of attendees — who had ties to Center School, Pathfinder, Garfield, and Washington Middle School — all were passionately concerned about the effects of state and local budget deficits on the content and quality of Seattle educational programs.

Read More

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2 development notes: TOD bill update, Conner meeting site
February 18, 2009 3:19 pm
|    Comments Off on 2 development notes: TOD bill update, Conner meeting site
 |   Development | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

UPDATE ON “TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT” BILL: We have been keeping an eye on this one as it’s come up in some of the neighborhood-council meetings we cover, though so far its potential effect on West Seattle is unclear: If you’re tracking the “transit-oriented development” bill sponsored by 34th District State Rep. Sharon Nelson, the Daily Weekly reports it failed a committee vote today, though that’s not the final say. It’s also up for discussion tonight at a workshop sponsored by City Councilmember Sally Clark at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center.

LOCATION SET FOR CONNER PROJECT DESIGN-REVIEW MEETING: We mentioned yesterday that March 12 was tentatively set for the next – and possibly final – Southwest Design Review Board meeting on the Conner Homes Junction project (two mixed-use buildings at California/Alaska/42nd). The word “tentative” is now off the listing, and a location’s been set – that meeting will be 6:30 pm 3/12 at High Point Library. This project’s been of high interest, so we wanted to let you know the update rather than just sneaking it into the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.

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Congratulations! Big trip ahead for two Chief Sealth students
February 18, 2009 2:36 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle schools

An announcement from the Seattle Public Schools communications team says two Chief Sealth High School students, Michelle Tran and Mohamed Mohamed, are heading for New York City to attend the National Academy Foundation‘s annual gala, along with four other students from the district. Read on to see what it’s all about:Read More

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West Seattle’s CoolMoms share their “Letters to Michelle”
February 18, 2009 12:45 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle video

We told you recently about West Seattle’s CoolMom.org group assembling and sending letters to First Lady Michelle Obama, expressing their concerns about, and hopes for, the future of our planet. This morning, members of the group got together to show us the finished product, 50 letters which they are binding into a book and are getting ready to send. (Left to right – on slide Sydney, then mom Terri Glaberson, center Deborah Kapoor w/ son Asim in front of her – CoolMom.org director and co-founder Kirsten McCaa – Laura Elfline with Sydney and Vivian, then Abby Suplizio with Gabe & Soleil.) Here’s Gabe, explaining what he wrote:

The book will be on its way to the White House shortly.

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Gathering of Neighbors: Have you signed up yet?
February 18, 2009 11:28 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

Less than 4 weeks left to sign up your business or organization to be part of the next Gathering of Neighbors — a West Seattle tradition, returning after more than a year and a half on hiatus. Here’s what you need to know if you haven’t already signed up:

Call for Participants:

Gathering of Neighbors is joining neighbors and businesses in 2009.
Saturday, April 4, 11:00 – 3:00 pm, Chief Sealth High School, 5959 Delridge Way SW

If you are a group which serves the West Seattle Community through community building, resource sharing or business services, you are invited to participate in the 2009 Gathering of Neighbors. The Delridge Neighborhood Development Association and the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce are co-sponsoring this high-visibility event where businesses and community organizations from across the West Seattle Peninsula come together, one day, one place, as “one community”.

Deadline for registration is Friday, March 13. Forms can be downloaded from www.dnda.org

Questions about the event? Contact Suzanne Nevan (206) 923-0917 x122, suzannen@dnda.org

Questions for the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce? Contact them at 206-932-5685, info@wschamber.com

Gathering Of Neighbors:
Date: Saturday, April 4th, 2009
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location Chief Sealth High School (at Boren),
5959 Delridge Way SW

The Gathering of Neighbors is one of two major annual events created by the now-defunct West Seattle group Megawatt. Now, a gratuitous plug: The other one is West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, which we at WSB took over after Megawatt disbanded, and we want to remind you that the 5th annual WSCGSD — the second one organized by WSB — is coming up just a month after Gathering of Neighbors: Saturday, May 9 … look for more details in the weeks ahead about how to sign up for that!

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A place to play: Come take a new look at Cottage Grove
February 18, 2009 9:31 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | How to help | West Seattle news

It’s an often-used quote attributed to the late music legend John Lennon: Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans. This manifests in ways large and small – just ask North Delridge resident Betsy Hoffmeister, who’s spent the past year spearheading an effort to create a place at Cottage Grove Park (above) for the littlest kids in her neighborhood to play (here’s our first report from 2/22/08). We reported two weeks ago that the plan was evolving, and now Betsy is inviting you to help:

Are you interested in building a play space appropriate for the youngest children in Delridge at 26th Ave SW and SW Brandon St? If so, please attend a site review meeting with the Department of Parks and the Department of Neighborhoods on Thursday, February 19 at 11 a.m. If the weather is really bad, we will meet at the Neighborhood Service Center next door to the library on Delridge Way. Some background:

It’s been exactly a year since a group of parents in the Delridge neighborhood of Cottage Grove brought up the idea of building a tot lot at the site of the Cottage Grove Park on 26th Ave SW and Brandon. The City recently put in a new playground there, and we neighbors find it really difficult to use. The equipment is intended for older children, but the kids in our neighborhood don’t seem to play on it. There is absolutely nothing for toddlers to do, so families with mixed groups of kids tend to go to the other playgrounds in other communities. We held a series of discussions and public meetings to come up with an idea and decided on building an additional playground on the site, to contain a double bay swingset for tots and older kids, a small climber, and some spring toys. Lots of neighbors and businesses chipped in, we brought this to the City, and were awarded a Small and Simple Grant to pursue the project but with lots of preconditions.

One of the preconditions was for a landscape architect to draw a site design. A lovely volunteer architect drew up a site plan and ushered it through the City’s multi-step review process.

The result of the review process was a bit of a shock. The Parks Department folks decided that with all the concrete retaining wall, building drainage, moving irrigation pipes, moving trees, and other hardware stuff, the project is likely to cost on the order of $200,000. Yeah, I know, that’s a little nuts, considering that the equipment itself is less than $20,000!

Their suggestion was to come back and ask the neighborhood – rather than building a new playground, what could we do with the playground we already have to improve it? In the very near future, we will have a big old public meeting to discuss this. I have finally met one single family who loves this playground and we want to hear what they love about it, but we also want to hear from folks who don’t love it, what they’d like to change.

In the meantime, we went ahead and applied for a Neighborhood Matching Fund grant to try to get the money we’d need to build out, but that is only up to $50,000 matching. The meeting on Thursday is to look at the site, discuss options, and talk about preparing the full proposal to the city. We need some warm bodies, with or without children, to come along and demonstrate the difficulties of using this play equipment and talk about what we would like to see done. Please come out and help. Contact me, Betsy, at betsy at hoffmeisters dot com for more information.

Cottage Grove Park is at 5206 26th SW; here’s a map.

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Happening today/tonight: Education, transportation, more
February 18, 2009 6:07 am
|    Comments Off on Happening today/tonight: Education, transportation, more
 |   Delridge | Delridge District Council | Fauntleroy | West Seattle politics | West Seattle schools

From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

TALK TO YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: For the first time since the Seattle School Board approved major changes and closures, West Seattle’s board rep Steve Sundquist will hold one of his regular coffee hours, to talk with, and listen to, anyone interested in education issues (and there are lots more on the horizon, like the start-time changes we mentioned last weekend). 9 am, Coffee to a Tea in The Junction.

HEAR FROM YOUR CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Richard Conlin is one of the guests scheduled for tonight’s meeting of the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council, 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center. The latest on the Alaskan Way Viaduct/Tunnel project also is on the agenda.

FAUNTLEROY NEIGHBORS UNITE: 6:30 pm at the Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall, it’s the all-neighborhood meeting organized by the Fauntleroy Community Association to share updates on issues including Washington State Ferries‘ future and the in-progress purchase of the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse.

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