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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

Reminders for today/tonight: County furlough; I-5 work closures
February 13, 2009 6:03 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | Transportation

COUNTY FURLOUGH: This is one of the 10 days this year that most of King County government is shutting down to save money. Metro service is normal, and a few essential services are open, all listed here.

I-5 WORK CLOSURES: State road crews, meantime, will be working around the clock this weekend on parts of the I-5 pavement repair project. Major lane closures start tonight and continue through early Monday morning; they’re listed here.

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WSB site note: Better way to share stories (Facebook, e-mail, etc.)
February 12, 2009 10:47 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle online

For more than a year, we’ve had a “Share This” link beneath each WSB story; clicking it would open a new page giving you some options for e-mailing that story to others or sharing it via “social” sites. A note from a WSBer this week reminded us that those options were limited – Facebook, now hugely popular (more than 1,000 people have “friended” us as WS Blog there, where we share selected links and quick updates, and are glad to get messages from you when you have something to say/share), wasn’t available, for one. So we just upgraded “Share This.” Look for it with the little green icon (like the one shown at left) at the end of each WSB report. Clicking it will open a small window with three tabs:

POST: You can post the link to your Facebook profile, Twitter account, Blogger or WordPress.com site, among others

SEND/E-MAIL: E-mail the link, or use the drop-down menu here to choose messaging such as AIM or MySpace

SOCIAL WEB: Share the link through various services from Facebook (behaves the same way as “posting” to FB) to Google Bookmarks to Delicious and Digg, with more options along the way

Hope this is useful. If it’s missing something you use to share links, please let us know!

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Out with the grasses, in with the food: A hunger-fighting garden
February 12, 2009 9:39 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | How to help | West Seattle news | White Center

We’ve also posted this at partner site White Center Now, but thought you might be interested too, as the White Center Food Bank also serves part of West Seattle. From Aviva at Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle:

Community Harvest of SW Seattle in partnership with the White Center Food Bank will be removing some grasses and other ornamentals to make room for a food garden. This demonstration garden, designed by a SSCC horticulture student, will have sections for traditional Asian greens, square foot gardening, northwest berries, and containers. The intention of this garden is to inspire and educate on the possibilities for growing food, even in limited spaces.

Seattleworks volunteers will be digging up existing landscaping on February 21st, and we would like to offer some of these lovely grasses and bushes in exchange for compost (or $$ to buy compost!) All donations of time or money will be happily accepted and will go toward this project and other projects which encourage food growing amongst low-income residents of West Seattle and White Center.

Contact: info@gleanit.org

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Happening now: West Seattle Art Walk goes to the dogs!
February 12, 2009 6:40 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Art Walk

We’ve already got a photographer checking out some of the West Seattle Art Walk venues – and just got this note we wanted to share, from Amy Lee Derenthal at The Kenney:

We have a lobby full of dogs, artists and wonderful food along with wine tasting by South Seattle Community College… and did I mention the champagne? The artists are pet photographers and a pet portrait artist. Come on down! It’s fun!

Photos to come. P.S. We’re told you’re welcome to bring YOUR dog to The Kenney. ADDED 7:24 PM: Back with a few photos – first, Leon the Australian cattle dog, who was there with Jen Flynn from Four Legs Photography:

Second, part of the lavish layout of treats at The Kenney (not shown – chocolate-dipped strawberries, sparkling cider, and champagne):

We also checked out Art Walk stops on the other side of West Seattle – those photos shortly – event continues till 9; here’s the map. ADDED 7:51 PM: Without really plotting our stops this way, we ended up with something of a creature theme – this squid creation was on display at the Senior Center of West Seattle:

At Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) in the Admiral District, this sculpin by Megan Bailey:

If you drop by Click! with a donation for the West Seattle Food Bank, you can get 10 percent off any one item in the store. Last but by no means least (more than 40 venues and we just got to a few), from Twilight in The Junction, custom metalwork by Lisa Geertsen and Andy Blakney, seen here mugging with one of their creations:

And at Brunette Mix (WSB sponsor), oil paintings by Akiko Masker, including this:

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West Seattle open house announced for Viaduct tunnel plan
February 12, 2009 5:51 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle open house announced for Viaduct tunnel plan
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

Just in from WSDOT, 2 open houses announced, including one at Madison Middle School on Feb. 24:Read More

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West Seattle red-light camera update: First signs are up
February 12, 2009 5:17 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

When we first reported eight days ago that SDOT crews had finally put up the two red-light cameras announced 13 months earlier, the city told us that warning signs would follow, “one to two weeks before the cameras begin to operate.” So – here’s your “one- to two-week warning” – the signs you see above are on eastbound Thistle, west of 35th, and they match two signs on westbound Thistle, east of 35th. What we didn’t see this afternoon are: signs on 35th itself (where the 35th/Thistle red-light camera is supposed to be catching southbound red-light runners), nor did we see signs around the other camera, on westbound Avalon east of 35th, but we’ll be watching; let us know if you see them first (editor@westseattleblog.com)!

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Crime Watch from not so far away: Burien bank robber
February 12, 2009 4:52 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway

Though it didn’t happen in West Seattle, it wasn’t that far away, and the photo’s pretty clear, so on the offhand chance you recognize this bank robber, we’re sharing the photo provided by the FBI. He held up a Key Bank on SW 152nd in Burien around 10:45 this morning, using a “demand note.” White man, late 20s, medium height, slim build, brown hair, and goatee. Call 911 if you have a clue about his identity and/or whereabouts.

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Another West Seattle restaurant listed for sale: Yoshio’s Teriyaki
February 12, 2009 3:01 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Just found this on our periodic check of listings: Yoshio’s Teriyaki (photo above) in North Delridge is listed for sale, $130,000. Other West Seattle restaurants still listed: Garlic Jim’s ($199,000), Angelina’s ($235,000), Beato (closed, $195,000) and Blackbird (closed, $250,000).

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“Darwin at Alki” coming up on KUOW at 2:50 pm
February 12, 2009 2:24 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle people | Wildlife

Just spotted this while searching Google News: Coming up at 2:50 pm – on the air at 94.9 FM or online at kuow.org – Darwin’s 200th “birthday” is commemorated in a chat with West Seattle author and birder Lyanda Lynn Haupt (mentioned here last year because of an honor for her book “Crow Planet“).

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WestSide Baby makes history with Valentine Tea sellout
February 12, 2009 1:53 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

The final tally’s in for the WestSide Baby fundraising tea last weekend – a sellout crowd for the first time ever – and executive director Nancy Woodland sends along the official announcement:

WestSide Baby’s Annual Tea fundraiser generated a sell-out crowd of more than 460 attendees and raised nearly $70,000 to help South King County families in need.

The Annual Tea was held on Sunday, February 8, at the Brockey Center on South Seattle’s Community College campus. Each year, table captains provide their own tea service so their guests can enjoy afternoon refreshments and socializing. The event focused on the impact WestSide Baby has in supporting more than 12,000 local children in 2008 and guests made financial contributions to support programs. “The guests who gathered for the Tea recognized the obviously increasing importance of supporting children in need our community. This response is critical to our mission because 96% of our financial support comes from individuals and small businesses,” said Nancy Woodland, Executive Director.

This year, twenty-one local business Sponsors covered the costs of the event while an additional nine offered gifts for give-aways. “The generous spirit of local small businesses is astounding during economic times like these. Business support like this is critical to pulling off an event of this magnitude without directing other funds away from immediate community needs for items such as diapers and clothing.” Woodland said. Since opening in 2001, WestSide Baby has distributed over $6 million worth of clothing, toys, baby gear, and other items.

The sponsors are listed on this page of the WestSide Baby website; meantime, you can help WestSide Baby too – its website will show you how.

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Welcoming a new WSB sponsor: Real-estate agent Roger Steiner
February 12, 2009 12:54 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle people

Today we’re welcoming the latest WSB sponsor, Roger Steiner. As always, we ask sponsors to share information you might like to know, and here’s more from Roger: He is a residential real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Danforth, and is dedicated to helping buyers in West Seattle have a great real estate experience. “We moved to West Seattle from the Central District in 2004, and I immediately fell in love. I grew up in Ketchum, Idaho, and I feel like West Seattle has this wonderful energy much like a little resort town. We’re surrounded by so much natural beauty, there’s a strong sense of community, and neighbors who truly care about one another- there’s so much to see and experience right here – and yet, if you want to do the big city thing, it’s literally right over there.” Prior to joining Coldwell Banker in 2008, Roger was an agent in the Belltown office of Windermere Wall Street. Although he has helped buyers and sellers all over Seattle, and does most of his business through friends and referrals, he hopes to expand his business by reaching out to folks who are considering buying in West Seattle. “I love working with buyers, especially first-time buyers, because it’s like solving a puzzle together- talking people through the process, helping them figure out what their priorities are, what is realistic for them, and then going on the big Treasure Hunt. And right now it’s great, because buyers get to be choosy, take their time, and negotiate. Combined with historically low interest rates, the market being tilted way in the buyer’s favor for a change, and the fact that the government is continuing to offer tax credit incentives to many buyers, for many folks it’s a perfect storm for buying, if you’re in a place to be considering it.” Contact Roger Steiner today if you’re considering a move, and let him know you saw his ad on WSB! (All our sponsors are listed here, where you can also find information on how to join them.)

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34th District Democrats: Constantine’s promise, and more
February 12, 2009 11:40 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

West Seattle is already home to the city’s mayor – will it be home to the King County Executive too? Depends on whether County Council Chair Dow Constantine runs, and then wins. Last night in Fauntleroy, he made the 34th District Democrats a promise … read on for details (plus, State Sen. Joe McDermott reveals who recently booed him):Read More

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Happening today/tonight: Plant sale; West Seattle Art Walk; more
February 12, 2009 10:34 am
|    Comments Off on Happening today/tonight: Plant sale; West Seattle Art Walk; more
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle Art Walk

PLANT SALE TODAY AT SSCC: 11 am-3 pm at the nursery (north lot – map), promising “blowout prices on winter blooming plants and other evergreen shrubs and ferns.”

ART WALK NIGHT! 6-9 tonight, more than 40 venues all over West Seattle, many with treats as well as great local art. Get the map here; find out more about the featured artists here.

DELRIDGE PRODUCE CO-OP: First meeting of those who’d like to make this dream come true. 6:30 pm, Delridge Library.

“WILLY WONKA” ON STAGE: Another student production you can go cheer for: West Seattle Montessori (WSB sponsor) presents the second and final night of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” 7 pm, West Seattle High School Theater, admission $6.

There’s more – including Arbor Heights Elementary‘s open house and the city Parks Board (downtown) briefing about the Golf Course master plan – all on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.

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Elliott Bay Water Taxi start date set: April 5
February 12, 2009 8:21 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Elliott Bay Water Taxi | West Seattle news

wttuesday.jpgKing County Council Chair Dow Constantine told yesterday’s West Seattle Chamber of Commerce lunch that the Elliott Bay Water Taxi would start its season about a month earlier this year than last year; he didn’t mention a date but when we caught up with him at last night’s 34th District Democrats meeting, we followed up, and now have the date to share with you: Sunday, April 5th. (Last year, it kicked off on April 27th; the EBWT’s future year-round operation is scheduled to start next year.)

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Badges & businesspeople: West Seattle Chamber @ SW Precinct
February 12, 2009 1:17 am
|    Comments Off on Badges & businesspeople: West Seattle Chamber @ SW Precinct
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

At right, that’s Southwest Precinct commander, Captain Joe Kessler, talking to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly luncheon meeting – which transformed the precinct’s community room into an informal banquet room for the occasion. Capt. Kessler is coming up on his first anniversary since taking over precinct leadership; he was joined in speaking to the chamber by Lt. Steve Paulsen, whose role as operations lieutenant is basically “assistant precinct commander,” he explained, and he also introduced Lt. Norm James, one of the precinct’s “watch commanders.” They didn’t discuss crime specifics — though Capt. Kessler said he’s “confident” about progress in the Steve Bushaw shooting investigation — as much as voice hopes about working more closely with the business community, inviting them to be represented on the Precinct Advisory Council (whose chair Pete Spalding was in attendance). Mentioning the reports that the city’s likely in the market for a new police chief, Capt. Kessler mentioned that “at the internal service level, nothing will change” even if the department’s top leadership changes. As for his position, he said he’s hoping to stay put at this precinct a while, praising his team and also the level of community involvement he’s found in West Seattle. Other notes from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce lunch: There’s still time for you to nominate people for the WSCC’s Business of the Year and Community Service awards, which will be presented at the annual Awards Breakfast on April 8; the forms are linked from this page. Next Chamber lunch meeting is March 11; the theme: “speed networking.” (Disclosure: WSB is one of the many, many West Seattle businesses that belong to the Chamber of Commerce, so we attend the monthly luncheons as member-participants as well as to be there in case news is made!)

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Admiral Neighborhood Association: Tunnel talk; park process
February 11, 2009 11:57 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | California Place Park | West Seattle news

Highlights from last night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting: WSDOT reps made a guest appearance as part of their tour of neighborhood groups to share “what’s next” re: the tunnel proposed to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct‘s so-called “mile in the middle” Central Waterfront section. Also, a recap of last week’s California Place Park “design workshop” meeting featured a few tense moments, with both supporters and opponents of park change in the room. Details on both, and one other note, ahead:Read More

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Concord joins Denny as a new West Seattle “international school”
February 11, 2009 8:32 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

On Tuesday, we brought you Denny Middle School principal Jeff Clark‘s report that his school would be announced as an “international school” during tonight’s Seattle School Board meeting. He mentioned a “K-12 pathway” in West Seattle. Tonight, another piece of that pathway has become clear – a South Park school that is included in the West Seattle South cluster, Concord Elementary, has also won that designation. From the news release about tonight’s announcement:

Concord Elementary School and Denny Middle School will be designated as International Schools, beginning in September 2009. Forming the first phase of a K-12 international program pathway in West Seattle, the schools will offer major components of an international education such as language immersion, academic excellence in all content areas, world language proficiency and global perspectives incorporated into each class.

Read the full news release here. The district currently has three “international schools” – John Stanford and Beacon Hill elementaries and Hamilton Middle School.

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Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes’ challenge: Fill the box; get your own!
February 11, 2009 7:49 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Carol Madaio, operations manager of Fauntleroy-based Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering, wanted to let you know about the food drive happening at her company. She hopes it will result in overflow donations for the empty box above – and inspiration for other West Seattle companies too:

We start our week every Monday morning with an all-office meeting to go over the upcoming week. Rob Garner, our General Manager opens the meeting by reading from a book called “Every Monday Matters – 52 ways to make a difference” by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza. The book provides “52 creative but doable activities and gives 52 down to earth ways to make a difference”. Through this book, Rob, along with Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering owners David Haggerty and David Meckstroth have been challenging us all to make a difference separately and collectively.

Last week’s topic – “Ever been hungry for a week?” which included the fact that 35.1 million people have limited access to enough food and that 12.4 million of those are children hit us hard. You see, that is what we do, we feed people and in the process there is always food for us to eat too. We smell delicious food all day and enjoy a family meal at lunch every day. And while our Executive Chef frequently brings appropriate leftovers to neighborhood shelters we wanted to do more.

The idea came for us to have an office food drive where instead of the usual treats at our next Monday meeting we would all bring in cans of food which would be donated to the West Seattle Food Bank. Soon the idea grew to a company food drive. We would like to put this challenge out to the rest of the West Seattle businesses to do the same this week.

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Bulletin: Cafe Revo announces its official opening date
February 11, 2009 4:01 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Luna Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

revomural1.jpg

(Cafe Revo’s south-side mural, featuring “Zetta,” photographed last September)
More big West Seattle food news this afternoon: We just got word from co-owner Sofia Zadra Goff — Cafe Revo, the new Italian restaurant in the Luna Park business district on Avalon (map), has passed its inspections and set its opening date. From Sofia:

On Saturday Feb 21st we will be open to the public starting at 11 am and closing 11 pm, for lunch and dinner. We will then be open for our normal hours. Sunday 12-9, Mon-Thurs 11-10 and Fri and Sat 11-11.

We introduced you to Sofia and her husband, chef Sean “Chano” Goff, in this WSB report that took you inside the then-under-construction restaurant back in June, but much has changed since then – most of it documented on the Cafe Revo website (see this page with lots of interior photos), where you also can find menu information (and meet “Nonno“!). It’s been nine months since first word that this restaurant was taking over the ex-Murphy’s space; Sofia says they’ll be training staff next week with a private “soft opening” and by-invitation charity-benefit party before the first official opening date on Saturday 2/21.

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Tony’s Produce opens for 2009: “Doing our part for the economy”
February 11, 2009 3:06 pm
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | Westwood

First we got the tip from Paul of PB&J Textiles … then Bonnie posted it in the WSB Forums … and we ran over to get the scoop firsthand: Tony’s Produce (35th/Barton; here’s a map) has just opened for the year, after the traditional post-Christmas break. Tony and his team are still finishing the set-up inside, but they’re officially open, 8 am-7 pm seven days a week for starters, with what Tony says are “great deals” (this one caught our eye):

He added, “We’re doing our part to stimulate the economy by keeping prices low!” But he also wanted to show off the high quality, too, directing another team member to show off these strawberries:

We asked what’s new this year; “more organics” was the first thing mentioned by Tony, shown here with a couple signs for those offerings:

We’ve got some other West Seattle business updates coming up later today/tonight, but since we had been getting questions about “when are they opening again?” we thought we’d rush this one out first.

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Mayor announces “Jobs Forward” to “boost Seattle’s economy”
February 11, 2009 2:44 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

We’ll be checking for West Seattle specifics on this announcement made today – but for starters, we wanted to share the news release that just hit the inbox:Read More

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Open letter from Cooper parent: “Put pressure on the district”
February 11, 2009 2:35 pm
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle school closure | West Seattle schools

Two weeks after the Seattle School Board voted to close the Cooper Elementary program while moving Pathfinder K-8 into the Cooper building on Pigeon Point, the reality of looming transition is settling in for hundreds of families. Last night we reported a Pathfinder update, including the start of meetings for its design team. That process apparently has not started yet for Cooper, according to this open letter to the community from Molly Usry of the Cooper PTSA:

To Concerned Community Members –

Now that we have had nearly two weeks to digest the School Board’s vote to discontinue the Cooper Program we are all trying to figure out what is next. Lawsuit? Help with the transition? Stay in denial that the Seattle School Board could vote yes for such a blatantly racist and classist recommendation?

I am personally choosing to focus on putting pressure on the District to provide for the kids whose lives they are disrupting. We need to anticipate that these kids are going to be going through the grieving process of losing their school and being separated from their friends. With this in mind we need to demand from the District that they provide us with extra counseling support for our students. They have created this mess, now they better be ready to supply us with extra resources to be able to continue to teach, parent and have the kids learning to the best of their ability through these trying times.

During a meeting with (school board member) Harium Martin-Morris yesterday, Harium mentioned he wants all the kids being displaced by the School Board’s vote to be tracked closely for at least the next 2 years with quarterly reports brought fourth on each students academic performance. I not only think this is a brilliant idea but I also think the District has a responsibility to be paying very close attention to the effects of their recommendations and votes on our children. The district should be designing a system for tracking the thousand of kids that have just been displaced immediately.

I also want to bring to everyone’s attention that design teams need to be implemented at Arbor Heights, Gatewood and Highland Park, the schools where Cooper’s kids will be assigned. It was my understanding yesterday at the meeting that design teams have not been formed at those schools. This shows a complete lack of regard for our kids when I am well aware of the fact that design teams for other schools like Pathfinder have already been meeting and planning. Please don’t let our Cooper kids fall through the cracks.

Everyone please write to our district, board and representative members to put pressure on them to ensure success for our kids during this trying time.

Thank you.

Molly Gras-Usry, Cooper PTSA Vice President

Board contact info is here; West Seattle rep Steve Sundquist‘s next community gathering is at 9 am next Wednesday at Coffee to a Tea in The Junction. One more note: We received e-mail today from someone else saying there’s a meeting at Cooper for the school’s families at 5:30 tonight, but have not yet been able to officially confirm that. Tonight also is the next school board meeting; no closure-related items are on the official agenda, but they might come up in the regular update from Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson that always begins the meeting after about an hour of public comment. 3:15 PM UPDATE: The district has confirmed tonight’s meeting at Cooper but stresses it is ONLY for parents/guardians.

6:19 PM UPDATE: According to the “superintendent’s update” that is posted online as part of tonight’s School Board agenda, a Cooper design team has been formed and met today – here’s an excerpt from the presentation (see it here in its entirety) that is to be made at tonight’s board meeting:

Teams from the discontinuing programs or schools met this afternoon (Weds)
○ Cooper, Meany, TT Minor, Summit and AAA
□ These teams are working on addressing four needs:
1. Enrollment questions and issuesincluding an outreach plan to help affected families
understand their school and program options; and planning for and supporting visits
to primary receiving schools for affected families
2. Emotional support to the school community
3. End of year celebrationsto recognize that school community (these celebrations will
also be supported for Van Asselt, Genesee Hill, Mann and SBOC @ Old Hay as
requested).
4. Document and archiveschool and program artifacts and school records.

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Music, food, and fun, to benefit the Chief Sealth music program
February 11, 2009 2:04 pm
|    Comments Off on Music, food, and fun, to benefit the Chief Sealth music program
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle schools

We added this to the WSB West Seattle Events calendar a few days ago, but in case you haven’t seen it yet – this Valentine’s Eve event is just a couple nights away – the official announcement about an event 6-10 pm this Friday nigh, benefiting the Chief Sealth High School music program:

Come join us for a night of entertainment, big band music, performed by the Chief Sealth Jazz and Combo band and the West Seattle Big Band. The evening includes a spaghetti dinner, and a live auction. Adults $15; Student with ASB $10; Children $7 (ages 5-12). Location: Chief Sealth High School at the Boren Building, 5950 Delridge Way Southwest, Seattle. For more information or to order tickets please call (206) 321-9003

Fundraiser season is in full swing, so make sure we have info on yours – if it’s not in our Events calendar, please e-mail us the who/what/when/where/why so we can add it! editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

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