West Seattle, Washington
30 Tuesday
TIME CAPSULE: One more reminder before the big day arrives — tomorrow is the day that will be memorialized in a time capsule to be buried next year at the new Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza; the Southwest Seattle Historical Society/Log House Museum folks are inviting contributions from all over the city, with an emphasis on items that will represent what life was like in Seattle on November 13, 2008 (157th anniversary of the Denny Party landing), when it’s opened on November 13, 2058. See this WSB update for more details on what to save and how to submit it; we’ll be offering electronic and printed copies of all tomorrow’s posts so we’ll be out taking more pix than usual, literally for posterity’s sake.
VIADUCT: This one’s for the ages too — a media briefing’s just been called to announce more findings about the possible options for replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct‘s Central Waterfront section. The 2:30 pm briefing downtown will preview what the Viaduct Stakeholders Advisory Committee (which includes West Seattleites Vlad Oustimovitch and Pete Spalding) will review at its Town Hall meeting 2 hours later; we of course will be at the briefing to bring you the newest information as state, city, and county leaders get closer to figuring out the plan for what happens after the central section comes down in 2012.
ART WALK: Tomorrow night, the weather should improve in time for the monthly West Seattle Art Walk – more than 40 venues are participating now, all over West Seattle, 6-9 pm, and many have artists’ receptions (like WSB inaugural sponsor Hotwire Coffee, which is having a staffers’ art show, including Blayne of “Project Runway” fame) – see the full list of participants, and get the map, at the WSAW blog.
Just back from an errand break, during which we spotted two signs worth passing along, even though neither is a surprise – Delridge Arco has broken into the $2.10s (how long till $1.99?), and Zeeks Pizza has finally put up “coming spring 2009” signage at its future location, the ex-Corner Inn (Fauntleroy/California; we first reported their West Seattle plans back in September, thanks to a tip from Rick).
WSB welcomes another sponsor this morning: Tilden School, an independent K-5 school located north of The Junction, providing “a rich and rigorous program for the intellectual, artistic, social, and physical development of each student. Small classes and a low student/teacher ratio enable teachers to respond to the individual development needs—academic, social, and physical—of each student.” Tilden emphasizes cooperation and consideration of others.
Above, you see students from Tilden School‘s current 5th grade class, taught by Karin Beck; the school recently invited WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand to talk with the 5th grade students about evaluating sources of information when doing research. At the end of the talk, Patrick asked the class to tell him what they like about their school. Here are a few highlights:
SCIENCE: From Casey — The whole school does science, from K to 5th grade, beginner to advanced; starting in the earth, then sprouting up like a flower or a rocket shooting up, up, and out of the ground. Virgil, the science teacher, teaches it all.
MUSIC CLASS: From Owen — Tilden School has a very uplifting music class that is held every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. When I go to music, I always know that it will be a wonderful time.
K-BUDDIES: From Olivia — At Tilden School, the fifth graders and Kindergarteners get to have a special connection. Every year, fifth graders are paired up with Kindergarteners to do all sorts of activities throughout the school year, such as making Halloween bags, memorizing lines for poetry and plays, reading books, and much more.
To find out more about the school, its people, and its philosophy, you can explore its website at tildenschool.org. Tilden is currently scheduling visits for interested parents on Wednesday mornings; please contact the school to reserve a time, or for more information. Welcome to Tilden School; we thank Tilden for supporting WSB along with our other sponsors — the current list is on this page along with information about how to become part of it!
The mayor had a media event in the Rainier Valley this morning to call attention to the dramatic rise in food-bank usage citywide, and his proposal to spend a bit more city $ to help (here’s the official news release). You don’t have to wait for city government to do something: Two food banks serve West Seattle (each has a distinct service area), and both are dealing with a HUGE increase in clientele: You can donate $ online to West Seattle Food Bank by going right here right now; donate $ online to White Center Food Bank by going right here right now. Money helps the most, because the food banks can use it to buy in bulk. We also just got an announcement from Shorewood Church and School that it’s launching a food drive for WCFB tomorrow – read on for those details:Read More
Tomorrow night’s meeting of the Seattle Board of Park Commissioners is on our radar because of the proposal to seek a private operator for West Seattle Stadium — but it turns out that’s not the only item of interest on the agenda. The Parks Board will be briefed about a new proposed policy on nudity, and details have just been released. The topline goes like this:
The proposed rule of conduct would prohibit nudity in any public park or park facility open to the public. Violation of the rule may lead to the withdrawal of permission to remain in the park or park facility for a period of twenty-four hours or exclusion from parks, depending on the circumstances. There would be exceptions for children under the age of five, nursing mothers, and in restrooms, locker rooms and indoor showers.
But reading further into the briefing paper – which you can see in its entirety here – the proposal also would end the reported use of some public beaches as “informal clothing-optional beaches” and also would end the practice of granting permits for events such as the World Naked Bike Ride (which stopped by several West Seattle parks this past summer):
Event permits – The two most frequent requests for event permits are related to the beginning and stopover locations for the World Naked Bike Ride and for picnics at Magnuson Park. Recent World Naked Bike Ride events have resulted in complaints from citizens to the Seattle Police Department. These permits have been issued as the Superintendent does not now have a basis in law or regulation for denying an event permit as long as the permittee agrees to abide by applicable laws, rules and regulations, as is currently required by the permit. The proposed Rule will prohibit nude, or clothing optional events even under special permit. The Superintendent will no longer authorize permits for events where it is clear public nudity is planned.
After the briefing at tomorrow night’s park board meeting – 7 pm Thursday, Parks HQ in Denny Park downtown – a public hearing is planned for the Jan. 8 meeting, and a final vote on Jan. 22. Meantime, we’re reviewing the board agenda documents for tomorrow night’s West Seattle Stadium item and will post about that separately later. We’ll also be seeking comment on the nudity policy from the local WNBR organizer who participated extensively in the comments on our September report (and had in the past requested to rent Colman Pool for a nude swimming event).
From the WSB Events calendar, three highlights from what’s happening tonight: The 34th District Democrats meet for the first time since last week’s election; 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy — which is in the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, which in turn happens to be on the Seattle School Board agenda at 6 pm tonight (district HQ in Sodo), as they vote on approving the $1.8 million deal to sell the building and part of its site to the Fauntleroy Community Services Agency. One other meeting that’s not in West Seattle but affects our area – a draft habitat-restoration plan for the Duwamish River will be discussed at South Seattle Community College‘s Georgetown campus (here’s a map), 5:30 pm.
Just in case you were wondering, no major problems reported anywhere in West Seattle that we’ve found as a result of the rain and wind. The forecast still calls for everything to ebb by evening.
Not only is West Seattle home to the city’s new Poet Populist, WS also is home to CityDog Magazine‘s Cover Dog Search winner. We told you October 25th about Cohen making it into the Final 5; last night Cohen’s proud person Ray e-mailed WSB to say the results are in: Cohen’s the winner – read about it on the CityDog blog (which also is hawking a 2009 calendar that features this West Seattle doggie duo).
From tonight’s Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting: Updates from Harbor Properties, which has three Junction/Triangle mixed-use projects in various stages of development — Mural (rendering above) across 42nd from Jefferson Square, Link along 38th from Alaska northward (Huling garage/West Seattle Montessori site), and the as-yet-unnamed future project for the ex-Travelodge/current Seattle West Suites motel property two blocks east of Link. For starters, Harbor’s Emi Baldowin says the remaining two retail spaces in Mural are now leased – read on for details on that, and what else was discussed at tonight’s JuNO meeting at Ginomai:Read More
This one from Jesse – second time this week we’ve heard about solicitors at fairly late hours:Read More
Quick updates from tonight’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting: ROADS — New 12-foot-wide “traffic humps” are on the way to 47th at Roxbury (Google Street View/map above), at two spots, 9600 block and just south of the 9800 block — this is meant to slow speeders who often approach 60 mph heading downhill. RACCOONS — Following up on previous “raccoon latrine” discussions (WSB coverage here), the county Health Department‘s sending out a mailer later this month, with information on how to keep raccoons out of your yard. REDEVELOPMENT — The location is now set for the Dec. 4 joint FCA/Morgan Community Association meeting about the big project proposed by The Kenney; meeting will be at Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor), time not yet finalized. MoCA‘s Cindi Barker was at tonight’s FCA meeting for further planning discussion and how best to utilize the participation of a city planner. ALSO — A review of last month’s Fauntleroy Fall Festival, which Martha Callard says had the biggest turnout ever; the community bus-shelter-painting project during the festival “exceeded expectations,” she added. … Local historian Ron Richardson talked about Thursday’s time-capsule project — which is open to anyone who wants to participate, in West Seattle and all over the city. FCA plans to offer contributions including a copy of the documentary “The Fauntleroy Story: 100 Years of Community.” (For more info on the Fauntleroy Community Association, explore its website at fauntleroy.net.)
So says the latest “forecast discussion” from the National Weather Service – meaning we’re not likely to see/hear much blowing around till the wee hours. Quiet out there right now but the next bout of rain is still on the way too. 12:25 AM UPDATE: The wind arrived around 11:30 pm. Not that bad so far, though. 3:25 AM UPDATE: Still not too bad. 32 mph gust at the top of the hour at Alki Point. Newest “forecast discussion” says things are definitely calming down by tonight.
OK, who could resist a face like that? We told you earlier this year about the new local group raising guide-dog puppies to help blind people, and Sue Bonney e-mailed WSB tonight to say they are “looking for people in the community that may be interested in raising or puppy sitting these special puppies.” (She also provided the photo you see above.) More details: “Adult and youth volunteers train future guide dogs who enhance the mobility of people who are visually impaired. These adorable Labrador puppies and their volunteer raisers can be seen all over the county. The rewards of volunteering are enormous. Join our Puppy Raising Program. No prior experience is necessary.” For more info, you can call Sue at 206/330-7999 or e-mail her: seedogs@mail.com
One day after the Southwest Precinct announced arrests in the “BB Gun Burglaries” — in which BB-type guns were used to shoot out windows to enable burglars to enter — we have more information, and half a dozen photos police want you to see. Detective Ed Garcia, lead investigator in this burglary series (and others), shared six photos of recovered items that police hope to match with their rightful owners. Read on to see the other photos and the list of recovered property, and to get more information about who was arrested in the burglary spree, how, and who else is still being sought:Read More
Just found this on the National Weather Service’s Seattle website – they’ve put up the PowerPoint presentation from the official “hazardous weather briefing” delivered a bit earlier today. See it here. (Still awaiting updated forecasts — should be out any time now — but that “briefing” indicates the rain won’t be quite so bad here in the metro area, half-inch to an inch by tomorrow afternoon.) 3:48 PM UPDATE: The updated forecasts and advisories are coming online now – a wind advisory is in effect starting at 10 pm (read about it here), for starters, and it says 45 mph gusts are possible.
Seems like a distant memory, but the sun WAS out for a while Monday morning – and these photos sent by Alki’s Bob Bollen (thank you!) are proof. He spotted the Endurance and Quandary out fishing Monday morning off Alki Point. According to this state bulletin, it’s chum-salmon time. (But we will completely confess to being fishing-expertise-deficient, despite having extensively trawled the state and tribal websites, so if you think/know these vessels were doing something else, please advise!)
Next time you check out the WSB Holiday Happenings page – with frequently updated listings for holiday bazaars, performances, and much more – you’ll see a new sponsor atop the page: Citilights Electric, residential specialists who want you to know this about their business: “Citilights Electric offers full-service electrical contracting. Our electricians are certified, trained professionals able to work in a high-pressure environment 
while utilizing their multi-tasking skills. This assures you that your electrical project is given the enthusiasm and expertise you deserve and expect. We strive daily to provide our customers the highest quality and greatest value. Superior workmanship, fast, dependable service, and complete customer satisfaction are what you will experience as a customer of Citilights Electric. We appreciate the opportunity to bid your next electrical project or troubleshoot your electrical problems.” For a list of some of the services Citilights Electric provides, check out this webpage. Citilights Electric invites customers in West Seattle and vicinity to call 206/937-8495; you can also send inquiries from the company’s website. WSB thanks Citilights Electric and our other sponsors for their support; for the current lineup and info on how to be part of it, just start here!
Another door-to-door alert, this time from Westwood, e-mailed by Pauli, who says, “I just want my neighbors to be aware” after he wound up calling the police about two solicitors:Read More
(October 2008 photo by WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli)
Driving by the Fauntleroy Place (Whole Foods) project daily, we started pondering a goofy little question once major excavation began: When you dig a big hole like that, what happens to the dirt? Since we (and other small news organizations around Puget Sound) work with the student journalists at the University of Washington News Lab, we offered them the assignment. Read on, to see how the answer turned out to be not as simple as you might think:Read More
Always best to be prepared anyway, but this morning’s “special weather statement” from the National Weather Service says the metro area will be in something of a “rain shadow” as this next big storm comes through, so we’re not likely to get the very heavy rain that the mountains (among other areas) are facing. The wind-gust potential is down a bit too (“locally to 25 mph” in the current forecast). We’ll be keeping an eye on the official outlooks through the day and will post any changes.
Before we get to the list of Veterans Day closures/changes/events (partly previewed Monday), first a few words about non-Veterans Day events: More chances to demonstrate that yes, you CAN get involved with your neighborhood — the Junction Neighborhood Organization (JuNO) meets at 6:30 pm at Ginomai (SW corner of 42nd/Genesee), with the agenda including a development update from Harbor Properties, which also is continuing to seek your opinion on what kind of retail should be in its buildings. And 2 meetings at 7 pm — Admiral Neighborhood Association @ Admiral Church, and Fauntleroy Community Association at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse. Now, as for Veterans Day-related events, closures, and changes — including two free offers for veterans — here’s our list:Read More
It’s been three months since our first report about the “reinvention” plan that would demolish that historic building and most of the other structures at The Kenney, in a $150 million plan that leadership of the retirement complex says is essential to its future success — at the project’s first Design Review Board meeting last month (WSB coverage here), CEO Kevin McFeely said, “… without this, we are not going to be able to survive financially.” At the end of that meeting, we reported that reps from Morgan Community Association and Fauntleroy Community Association were talking about co-sponsoring a community meeting before The Kenney’s next Design Review session. Now the date for that meeting is set: December 4th. Time and place are still being finalized, but MoCA’s Cindi Barker says the city planner assigned to the project, Michael Dorcy, “will be there the first 30-45 minutes to give a recap of all the process steps the Kenney must move through” and provide other information the community needs to know regarding . The date’s being driven in part by the possibility that The Kenney might return for that next DR meeting on December 18th. We expect to get more information at tomorrow night’s FCA meeting (7 pm, Fauntleroy Schoolhouse).
Listed for sale, either separately or all three for $1.9 million — three side-by-side Alki rentals (2 are duplexes, one single-family, according to county records) at 1752, 1756, 1758 Alki. If you can’t quite place them – you can see the area via Google Street View (which just launched in Seattle, if you hadn’t heard; WSB Forum members buzzed about it last week) – that’s what the image above is from – Google offers that embedding code if you have a website where you want to use it too (they hit all the arterials) – just click your cursor in the picture and you can move the picture around. By the way – the triplex that’s four parcels west of these three is for sale too.
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