West Seattle, Washington
03 Thursday
First of 2 road-work updates we have for you this afternoon: During Sustainable West Seattle‘s Bike-A-Palooza meeting in April (WSB coverage here), city rep Gina Coffman mentioned one of the next WS road stretches to get sharrows would be California SW between Fauntleroy and Thistle, and indeed, the prep work has begun: They’ve been roughed out this week along part of that stretch in Gatewood; we took the photo on the northbound side at Holden (map). “Sharrows” (full explanation here) indicate road stretches which bicyclists and drivers are supposed to share and have already been painted on several West Seattle arterials; to see where else they’re scheduled to go in the future, check the city’s Bicycle Master Plan – specifically, this map section (zoomable) shows what’s planned/proposed for West Seattle streets.
(photo added 2:20 pm – note, they’re still early in the set-up phase)
Two quick notes re: e-mail we just received – First, Steve wrote to ask why video-game machines are being moved into the space that’s been open since Capers consolidated. Answer: West Seattle Summer Fest! Blinky’s Time Warp Video Arcade will occupy that space during the festival (Friday-Saturday-Sunday – read about it here). Second, a coyote alert – Michael just saw one on Genesee Hill near the now-closed school: “Bold as brass, trotting slowly up our driveway … sorry I was too slow to get a pic. Small pet warning!!” (All WSB coyote reports – some with pix and/or video – are archived here, newest to oldest.) ADDED EARLY THURSDAY: Going through e-mail from the incredibly busy holiday weekend, we realize that last Friday night we failed to add this (suspected) coyote report:
At 3:00 AM on July 3, a probable coyote (according to Animal Control, who said it was definitely not a raccoon) killed an orange cat between Walker and Hill on 48th AVE SW.
Per the Kitsap Sun, the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis will return to Bremerton early Friday – due in around 7 am – after a six-month deployment, so that likely means West Seattle waterfront views for early risers. It’s headed this way from a stop in San Diego. (The carrier has an extensively updated website, including feature stories like this one about a father and son both currently on board.)
Even before we received that striking photo last weekend from Craig, who took it over the Kingston-Edmonds ferry route and shared it after seeing the WSB report about “gross” greenish water off Alki during the hot weather at the end of last week, we promised to follow up and see what we could find out. We finally found our way to an expert at the state Ecology Department, courtesy of its media liaison Larry Altose: Dr. Christopher Krembs is Ecology’s Senior Oceanographer in the Marine Monitoring Unit of the Environmental Assessment Program. While on the phone with us, he took a look at the photo shown above – and listened to our relayed description of reader reports about the beach-level Alki sightings. Dr. Krembs said it’s tough for them to solve the mystery without actual samples. They had flown over areas of the Sound a few days earlier to look at blooms, he explained (read about the marine flight program here), but what they saw didn’t exactly match this photo. Most interesting outcome of our conversation: They pointed us, and anyone else interested, to this page full of information about marine algae blooms. As you’ll see on the bottom of the page – they want to hear from you if you spot something like this – they didn’t receive a report of the Alki sighting – but next time, here’s what to do:
Bloom Sightings
Ecology has been conducting monthly monitoring of Puget Sound and Washington’s coastal estuaries for phytoplankton abundance and nutrients (as well as other parameters) for decades through our marine flight program. We are very interested to hear reports of bloom sightings so that we can direct our oceanographers to those locations to collect and analyze samples, and keep statistical information on their occurrence. Please note the date, time, location, and color of the bloom, and contact Dr. Christopher Krembs ckre461@ecy.wa.gov with this information
One other important question we asked: Is it safe to go in the water during an algae bloom? According to Dr. Krembs, without a specific sample/identification, you can’t say for certain, but they’re “generally” not harmful. Regarding other water quality/health concerns, there’s an Alki monitoring station in the bacteria-watching BEACH program – here’s its page (current status: “good”).
Maybe you heard about Seattle Public Library‘s “Summer Reading Program” and thought it was for kids only. Not so! SPL’s Liz Kaune shares this info, with some updated stats:
It’s July! This can mean only one thing: The Seattle Public Library is well into its annual Summer Reading Program.
We know West Seattle loves its libraries and here’s an easy way to get involved: Visit any of our five local branches to sign up for the Summer Reading Program!
You probably know that all the libraries sponsor fun free programs, but did you know we also have goals that we’re trying to meet? Each branch determines the number of kids, teens and adults it expects to sign up, and the number of books it expects them to read. The combined goal for West Seattle is 1,510 readers of all ages and 17,280 books read by Aug. 30. Right now they’re at about 50 percent overall.
Percentage-wise, teens are leading the pack, which certainly counters stereotypes that teens don’t read. Adult sign-ups have reached about 65 percent and kids are at 35 percent.
So we need more people to head over to their local branch and sign up! The five Library branches in West Seattle and vicinity are listed below.
* Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way S.W., 206-733-9125
* High Point Branch, 3411 S.W. Raymond St., 206-684-7454
* South Park Branch, 8604 Eighth Ave. S., 206-615-1688
* Southwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. S.W., 206-684-7455
* West Seattle Branch, 2306 42nd Ave. S.W., 206-684-7444Every book and all readers count! It doesn’t matter how old you are or what books you read. And you don’t have to read Library books – you can read books you already own, or you can listen to audiobooks.
Please help us reach our local reading goal, and the goal for the entire Library system, which is 125,000 books. Check out www.spl.org or visit a Library location for more information.
Siam Pura, the Thai restaurant over Casa Feliz, between Pepperdock and Homefront, is listed on CL for $130,000. Other West Seattle restaurant spaces still listed for sale (the links point to their listings): Angelina’s, Beato, Garlic Jim’s and Yoshio’s Teriyaki.
When we first reported in May about the city’s plan for wading pools this summer – with mandatory safety upgrades causing some pools to open late and a few (like Highland Park) to not open at all – Delridge WAS set to open today. Just doublechecked the city site, and it’s now scheduled to open next Monday (7/13). Not that wading pool weather is expected today anyway, but just in case you were planning for the weekend, now you know. Lincoln Park opened a couple weeks ago (but like all wading pools only operates on sunny, warm days); per the wading-pool website, Hiawatha is still scheduled to open July 20th, E.C. Hughes on July 27th. (Lincoln Park pool photo courtesy of Tamsen)
The official announcement from Twelfth Night Productions:
Twelfth Night Productions (TNP) is pleased to announce it’s next offering Meredith Willson’s ode to Americana, The Music Man. An affectionate tribute to small town USA of a bygone era, The Music Man follows a fast talking traveling sales man, Harold Hill, as he cons the people of River City Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band he vows to organize. This despite the fact that he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain’s fall.
TNP is excited to partner with the All City Band for this cherished musical. Expect surprises, laughter, fun and an old fashioned good time this summer as Twelfth Night Productions presents The Music Man. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the All City Band.
TNP is a non-profit performing arts organization located at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. This production features several artists from the West Seattle community as well as the greater Seattle area.
The Music Man runs in a special limited engagement at the West Seattle High School, 3000 CALIFORNIA AV SW. Seattle, WA 98116. Show times are: August 7-8, 14-15 and 21-22 at 7:30PM, with matinees at 3 PM on August 9, 16 and 23. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students & seniors, and are available through Brown Paper Tickets (www.brownpapertickets.com), and at West Seattle High School two hours before each performance.
If you haven’t been to The Junction within the past week or so, you’ll notice something new when you go for West Seattle Summer Fest this Friday-Saturday-Sunday: More of the free-parking spaces converted to diagonal spaces. (Photo at left, the stripers in action last week.) That means more parking spots. One more transportation-related note – remember the streets close on Thursday night for setup in the general Summer Fest zone, Oregon to Edmunds on California, 44th to 42nd on Alaska. Also note that the music lineup – first announced here way back in May — is now in chronological order on the revamped Summer Fest website. … On the WSB Facebook page, Dawn notes that the Alki Wildlife Habitat Project (whose big celebration we covered last month) will be at Summer Fest, in a booth she says will be the place for “lots of info and to see how YOU can help out!” … Business/vendor notes: Clementine has a sidewalk sale during Summer Fest and is previewing it on Thursday (p.s. you can become a fan of Clementine on Facebook) … Donna Ryan Photography (booth 17 – you can use the zoomable Summer Fest map to find vendors and organizations) e-mailed to share the news that they’ll be selling “kitschy cool photostrip” style photos, custom-processed and sent to you, $15 for 2 (here’s the flyer). Donna adds, “Everyone who participates in this promotion will automatically be entered into a raffle for a portrait session and package with me – valued at $300.” … Speaking of raffles, when you come see us in the central tent at Alaska/California, take a minute to take a quick survey on one of two laptops that’ll be in our area, and get an entry in the West Seattle Junction Association‘s raffle for a $100 shopping spree … One more merchant note: Kathy from Authentic Home says, “We are offering our Buy 2 Get 1 Free Promotion for any gallon of Authentic Home COLOR Paint. We will also have 3 color-coordinated samples of COLOR Cups on sale for $10 plus tax. 3 COLOR Cups normally sell for $13.50 plus tax. 
Authentic Home COLOR Cups are 2 oz of paint in our Buffed or Eggshell finish.” … And another note on the Junction Plaza Park fundraising beer garden we re-mentioned this morning — in its newest e-newsletter, Elliott Bay Brewery notes that it’s brewing a special beer for the event! … Also heard from Troupe Hipnotica, which is one of the groups listed on the “Other Entertainment” rundown (2008 photo at right courtesy Donnelly Images) – check out the page for some surprises (like the video arcade)! … Are YOU selling, performing, informing, or ??? at Summer Fest? Please let us know so we can mention it ahead of time AND stop by for pix while we’re covering it live, wall to wall – see you there!
They’ve already endorsed King County Council Chair Dow Constantine for County Executive, but otherwise, the 34th District Democrats have a lot of deciding to do tomorrow night – this area’s biggest political event of the primary season. Their website runs down the order in which they will vote on who to endorse, and notes that most of the voting will be done on written ballots. If you’re a member, be there – 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy. As for the actual election: August 18 is the official date, but the voting begins as soon as the ballots arrive, and the county starts mailing them July 29.
Till 10 pm, you can drop by West 5 in The Junction and have “A Drink for the Kids“ – with proceeds from certain cocktails/beer going to The Vera Project, the all-ages arts center based at Seattle Center. This is the third night for the weeklong traveling fundraiser, which is stopping in a different Seattle venue each night till a closing concert Saturday – West 5 is its only West Seattle stop. At left, Megan Jasper of Sub Pop Records (a West Seattleite) is tonight’s host, stopping to pose with West 5’s “DJ Deanzig” when we visited in the early going.
If you click each marker on that map, you’ll see information about the state’s plans to drill there as part of the geotechnical work in the Viaduct/Tunnel/etc. project (which put together the map). Starting next Monday, the pedestrian/bicycle “multi-use trail” along Alaskan Way will be closed for some of that drilling, as per this notice from the Viaduct project, forwarded by local pedestrian advocate Chas Redmond:
Drilling work will close the multi-use trail along Alaskan Way S. between S. Royal Brougham Way and S. Dearborn Street during the week of July 13.
Starting on Monday, July 13, crews will drill three holes in the multi-use path (see map above) that runs adjacent to the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
What you can expect during this work:
* The section of the multi-use path between S. Royal Brougham Way and S. Dearborn Street will be closed approximately Monday through Friday (July 13-17).
* Detour routes will be clearly identified; bicycle traffic will be diverted to Alaskan Way S., and pedestrian traffic will be diverted across the street to the sidewalk on the west side of Alaskan Way S.
* Signage will be placed near the path one day in advance to notify cyclists and pedestrians about the closure and detour.
* Excavation will take between three and five business days to complete; all work will occur between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
* When drilling is complete, the surface of the multi-use path will be restored and detour signage removed.More drilling work throughout the summer
The drillings on the multi-use path are part of a series of drillings that will be completed throughout the summer. A map and schedule for this work are available on our Web site at www.alaskanwayviaduct.com/Current_Work.htm
Questions or concerns about this work can be directed to our hotline at 1-888-AWV-LINE or program e-mail at viaduct@wsdot.wa.gov.
We appreciate your patience and understanding, and apologize in advance for any inconvenience this work may cause. We will continue to inform you of upcoming work that may affect pedestrian routes.
As incredibly fabulous as West Seattle is, once in a while you might just want to head out of town. With that in mind, comes one of our newest WSB sponsors: Vacations by the Sea. They’re in Westport – on the south side of the entrance to Grays Harbor (here’s a map). 
Proprietor Brook says, “Jarl (my husband) and I know what it’s like to live the rat race – we both had consulting jobs before we moved out here where we were traveling 24-7. So we understand how important it is to get your family or your sweetheart and get away, and how important that time is for folks and we try to make the process as enjoyable as a lodging provider can make it. That means easy reservations, simple check ins and check outs, and a super special facility. Each of our units are individually owned, but we live full-time on property and treat each unit as though we were managing it for our favorite neighbors. People who normally go to Ocean Shores or Cannon Beach are always surprised when they get here, because Westport is typically identified as a place to go fishing. And although we do have great fishing, we also have 18 miles of sandy beach that stretch out right in front of our condos. We’re also a 5-minute walk from Washington’s tallest lighthouse, and we can arrange surf lessons in the waves right in front of our units as well. We have added value, because everyone who stays at Vacations by the Sea gets discounts to the Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill (which is owned and operated by our extended family) and also gets a complimentary wine, chocolate, and cheese tasting at the Westport Winery and Vineyards by the Sea, which is Washington’s only coastal winery.” They’ve set up a special West Seattle-geared page — with a WS-exclusive promo code — on the Vacations by the Sea website – see it here (and if you need to find it again, click to it from the ad in our right sidebar). You can also call 877-332-0090. Thanks to Vacations by the Sea for joining the WSB sponsor team, listed in full here, with info on how to join!
News release just received regarding a meeting tomorrow morning. (By the way, the Seattle City Council’s Parks Committee, chaired by West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, takes this up next Tuesday):
Regional waterways proposed for federal designation as National Maritime Heritage Area
Council to consider support for effort to celebrate working waterfronts and maritime history
An effort to have Congress designate the waterways of Lake Union and the shores of Puget Sound and Washington’s Pacific Coast as a National Maritime Heritage Area will come before the Metropolitan King County Council’s Committee of the Whole tomorrow for a briefing. The proposed designation would celebrate Washington’s working waterfronts and maritime history from its lighthouses and locks to its historic vessels and forts.
Wednesday, July 8
9:30 a.m.
Council Chambers
10th floor, King County CourthouseThe briefing on the proposed designation is not expected to begin before 10:15 a.m.
“Our region was built on our waterways,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson, Chair of the Committee of the Whole. “Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean have shaped our history, our culture, and our economy in immeasurable ways. That impact should be recognized through this national designation.”
Ferguson introduced a motion this week, which if adopted by the Council, would strongly support the proposal to designate Washington’s coastline and Puget Sound a National Maritime Heritage Area. The proposed boundaries would include Washington’s saltwater coastline from Grays Harbor to the Canadian border, and extend through the Lake Washington Ship Canal to include Lake Union.
If granted, the National Maritime Heritage Area in Washington State would become the first such designation on the west coast, joining 49 other National Heritage Areas throughout the U.S. The federal designation would be an economic development tool, promoting tourism and supporting the region’s working waterfronts. It would also bolster the efforts of heritage organizations to preserve the area’s maritime history and protect this natural resource.
Unlike a National Park, the National Maritime Heritage Area would be managed by a non-profit organization. It would be governed by a steering committee comprised of local maritime stakeholders and with input from tribes, local governments, ports, and other agencies.
National Heritage Areas are not regulatory, and inclusion within a Heritage Area has no regulatory effect on land use or other property rights. Rather, it would provide a mechanism for local stakeholders to coordinate and share resources, develop a regional identity and brand to improve tourism, develop interpretive areas to enhance knowledge of the area, and provide grants for local heritage projects. Some limited federal funds may also be available to support activities in the area in the future.
The Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation is now conducting a feasibility study to determine whether there is sufficient local support to maintain a National Heritage Area. If so, the next step would be a review by the National Park Service.
The Committee of the Whole is the only standing committee on which all nine members serve. It considers legislation and policy issues of interest to the entire Council.
All three of these came in today. First two are short: Christina writes to say, “Our neighborhood had had several burglaries”; she says it’s the 6000 block of 17th SW (map), and she is looking to get involved with Block Watch. (This is the best place to start, to find out whether there’s one in your area OR whether you can start a new one; we also recommend checking out your neighborhood council if there is one – see the Neighborhood Groups list in the WSB sidebar.) Second report: “Our truck was broken into in the 4400 block of 51st Avenue on July 4th [map], and our neighbor’s house was broken into yesterday.” Third one is the longest – from Zane in the 7700 block of 16th SW (map):
Last night, before 12:33 my vehicle was broken into. A long list of items was taken. Including some very important work documents. I was complacent, I agree. But nevertheless some very important work documents were taken along with other items. They were in a blue plastic box along with a maroon “Safari Club International” bag. I am a general contractor, so the documents will relate to that. I am sure that I will never see the items stolen, but if anyone finds any of the documents please let me know.
No blame-the-victim comments, please; as you see above, they’re generally very well aware it was a mistake to leave anything in the car. Take it as a “don’t think it can’t happen to you,” or maybe you even live in one of those areas and in retrospect saw or heard something out of the ordinary (in which case, police remind us, call 911 – even if you’re not sure it’s 911-worthy, they say, if it’s happening NOW, call them NOW).
Seattle Public Schools has just announced a principal change at West Seattle’s Madison Middle School. Dr. Jill Hudson is moving to Nathan Hale High School; assistant principal Henterson Carlisle will become its interim principal. Read on for the full news release, which begins with separate news of a districtwide Executive Director of Special Education:Read More
Thanks to Tim McMonigle from the West Seattle Soccer Club for spotting news of a big new event headed to West Seattle – Seattle’s wildly popular Sounders FC pro-soccer organization is presenting the first-ever Sounders FC Soccer Beach Blast Tournament on Alki, set for August 23rd. Signups are under way now; here’s where to register and to find out more (note that co-sponsor Super Supplements, which has a West Seattle Junction store, is offering a coupon for discount registration). 2:58 PM NOTE: The fine print says this is for ages 18 and up.
That’s the back of Jane Taylor‘s car this past Sunday, after the summer’s first collection for Lettuce Pray, which so far has 10 area congregations participating in collection/distribution of nonperishable food and fresh produce. Jane reports, “Between the eight of the ten member churches who had food to collect, we collected 176 pounds of canned goods and 26 pounds of fresh produce. As the summer and the harvest season moves forward, we anticipate that that percentage will shift and we’ll be gathering more fresh produce than canned goods.” Here’s just one of the participating groups – at Grace Church, from left, Jane (who’s coordinating Lettuce Pray area-wide) with Grace’s LP coordinator Ali Kerr and donor Martha Heuschele:
Jane adds, “Our goal for the 12 week collection period is 2000 pounds of fresh produce and an equal amount of canned goods. We are well on our way!!” So far, participants are:
Alki UCC and Congregation Kol HaNeshamah (shared location)
St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church
Tibbetts United Methodist Church
First Lutheran Church of West Seattle
Holy Rosary Parish
Eastside Christian Assembly
Westside Unitarian Universalists
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
Grace Church
St. Bernadette’s Parish
Jane says that if you would like to donate produce from your garden, “you can take it to any of (those locations) on Sunday morning and we will pick it up between 10:45 and 12:30 and deliver it into cold storage at the West Seattle Food Bank and White Center Food Bank. If other churches would like to be on the collection list and mobilize their congregations to donate their spare homegrown produce, they can e-mail (me) at janeatay@msn.com.” Jane also added a special thanks “to Kristen Parsons-Rosen for helping with collections and documenting our great day in these photographs” – this last one’s from Our Lady of Guadalupe, as Lisa Keith shared a tomato plant with home gardener Flora Cantos, for future Lettuce Pray collections:
From our fellow online-neighborhood-news providers at Central District News: One of the suspects jailed in a skirmish with police in the Central Area yesterday (SPD report here) — in which a fleeing car almost ran over an officer — has a West Seattle address, and a lengthy criminal history. Here’s the centraldistrictnews.com report today (including a link to their extensive coverage from yesterday).
Groundbreaking this year for Junction Plaza Park (NW corner of 42nd/Alaska) looks more likely than ever, now that the money amassed for the long-in-the-works project has passed $300K: 
$303,554, to be precise, as announced at last night’s Friends of Junction Plaza Park meeting. “We’re really close,” said Junction Neighborhood Organization president Erica Karlovits. The total so far includes the $98,000 city matching-funds grant announced recently; Karlovits and West Seattle Junction Association director Susan Melrose said last night they’re still waiting for word on a few more grants. One big boost for the park will come this Friday-Saturday-Sunday, from West Seattle Summer Fest, with 25% of the proceeds from a beer garden by the park site going to the project, plus donation boxes for you to make a contribution. You’ll be able to find out more about the park by stopping at the central (California/Alaska) tent at Summer Fest – Friends of Junction Plaza Park will be next to our spot, on the west side of the tent, facing KeyBank (we’ll be across from Easy Street, next in turn to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce-staffed Information area facing Cupcake Royale on the north/east side). The park project also will be on the agenda for the Junction Neighborhood Organization‘s next meeting, 6:30 pm July 14 at Ginomai (SW corner of 42nd/Genesee) – it’ll be an abbreviated meeting so everyone can adjourn to the free West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival Concert in the Park with the West Seattle Big Band at Hiawatha Community Center at 7:30 that night.
(Photo courtesy Robin Lindsey)
It’s that time of year again: The local volunteer group Seal Sitters is ready to train new volunteers to help keep watch when seal pups come out of the water and start turning up on local shores. The Seal Sitters’ first volunteer training session is one week from tonight at Alki UCC – read on for the full official announcement:Read More
A DRINK FOR THE KIDS: This annual weeklong citywide benefit for the all-ages arts center The Vera Project makes its West Seattle stop tonight, with West 5 again the venue, with Sub Pop Records‘ Megan Jasper hosting. 6-10 pm. The benefit involves certain drinks on the menu — more details here.
BIKE SMART SEATTLE: Its debut West Seattle event happens at Southwest Community Center (map), 6:30 pm, a “basic bike maintenance” clinic.
From Laura, who lives along Othello in Gatewood (vicinity map):
Wanted to let you know that my car (2008 RAV4) was victimized for the second time in two weeks. Sometime between 10 p.m. (Sunday) night and (Monday) at noon, the rear windshield was shattered. It wasn’t broken out, so the thieves/vandals didn’t get anything — this time.
Last week, several cars on our street were tossed. My navigation system was stolen. I unintentionally left the car unlocked and they got the GPS. This time, nothing was stolen but the damage is far greater. In hindsight, I wish I had left it unlocked. Other neighbors had their car entered and rummaged….
As we’ve reported here before, police say GPS’s are particularly prized by car prowlers, who will even be drawn to a hint of a GPS, like a suction cup on a windshield.
| 8 COMMENTS