West Seattle, Washington
29 Monday
Earlier today, we reported that West Seattle-based Southwest Youth and Family Services (headquartered just southeast of the Delridge Community Center) is tabbed for a big role in the new youth-violence-prevention initiative announced by the mayor. SWYFS director Steve Daschle was among the West Seattleites at today’s announcement (others included Southwest Community Center coordinator “Junior” Kitiona); we talked with him this afternoon in search of details about what this new role means to his agency:Read More
THRILLS: Not too late to get in on Thrill the World-West Seattle, the group that’s going to dance as part of the world-record attempt (different locations, don’t worry, you won’t have to fly or drive somewhere distant) – tonight’s the second practice, 8 pm, Ginomai (42nd/Genesee), more on the official WS website.
DESIGNS: Right after that, Ginomai’s also the spot to join the weekly crowd cheering Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) barista Blayne in “Project Runway” — show’s at 9 pm on the big screen (bring dessert to share!).
DEMS: Less than two months till The Election – and that means West Seattle’s biggest political group has only two more monthly meetings till then – more potential endorsements are on the agenda tonight for the 34th District Democrats, among other things, 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy.
From WSDOT: “The on-ramp from Spokane Street to southbound I-5 is closed due to an oil spill from an earlier collision that involving a semi truck. The ramp will be closed while crews apply absorbent material to the roadway. WSDOT maintenance and incident response are on-scene.” We’ll let you know when we get word it’s reopened. 2:30 PM UPDATE: Open again.
That’s the scene from the first half of last night’s transportation forum presented by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce — the first hour was open-house format, so attendees could get information on virtually every major transportation project that’s about to affect West Seattleites; the second was Q/A moderated by CR Douglas. WSB contributor Evan Baumgardner covered the Q/A session — we thought that you might like to know exactly what was asked, and exactly how it was answered — Evan’s transcription follows:Read More
As promised when this was previewed yesterday, we’re sharing the info issued by the mayor’s office at his Garfield High School appearance this morning to announce a “youth-violence-prevention initiative.” Here’s a document with the overview – which includes “southwest Seattle” as an area of emphasis and lists West Seattle-based Southwest Youth and Family Services as one of the agencies that will help develop plans for this part of the program:
We will establish three youth-focused neighborhood networks in central, southeast and southwest Seattle to identify the children at-risk for violence, and surround them with services tailored to their specific needs.
Read on for the full text of the city news release with toplines:Read More
Another update on the first-ever West Seattle Junction Car Show coming up September 21st (one week from Sunday!), co-sponsored by WSB — Michael Hoffman of Liberty Bell Printing says more than 140 cars are now registered, and they’re expecting about 300 (preregistration is closed so you’ll need to show up on show day, first-come first-served – call June @ 206/334-6606 with questions); as previously mentioned, California SW will be closed in The Junction for the car show, Edmunds to Alaska, Alaska to Oregon, Oregon to the post office. What you see at left is the cool design for T-shirts that will be sold (first-ever show! collector’s item?) – price starts at $10 (XL and up will be a bit more; sizes run to 6XL). The day’s highlights also will include a pancake breakfast at the West Seattle Eagles, starting at 7 am; Puerto Vallarta will open at 7 am with a special breakfast menu; the West Seattle Farmers’ Market‘s annual Zucchini 500 races (kids get to make zucchini vehicles!) will be happening 10 am-1 pm. Now, about those cars – all are pre-1975, no 4x4s, says Michael – and at least one dates back to 1920! There also will be a raffle and 50/50 drawing to raise money for the Maple Valley Street Rats Scholarship Fund – available to students studying to work in the automotive field – the MVSR is organizing the show along with the West Seattle Junction Association.
A city celebration last night honored groups citywide who successfully sought “Small and Simple” grants from the Neighborhood Matching Fund; among them, four in West Seattle. Three, we’ve mentioned before — the play-area projects in North Delridge (Cottage Grove “tot lot”) and Admiral (California Place) got $15,000 each; the Pigeon Point neighborhood celebration (coming up 9/20) got $2,100. The fourth is $15,000 for the ongoing restoration of the West Duwamish Greenbelt, this time going to the “Genesee Ravine Action Committee.” All of these projects involve matching funds – the city doesn’t just hand out $ without the groups showing a commitment of their own, money and volunteer labor. Here’s the full list of 24 “Small and Simple” recipients citywide; the city accepts applications four times a year, and the next deadline is October 6 – here’s more about the program. Meantime, the Neighborhood Matching Fund program itself is marking its 20th anniversary with events around the city, including an open house (free food!) this Saturday, 10 am-2 pm, at Youngstown Arts Center.
One of our newest sponsors is throwing a party this weekend, and as we welcome them to WSB sponsorship, they’re welcoming you to a party: Sunday marks the grand-opening celebration for Bridge Park, the new retirement community offering “gracious retirement living” in High Point, at 3204 SW Morgan (map). Here’s what Bridge Park‘s management wants you to know: Bridge Park is a new 156-unit independent living retirement community managed by Holiday Retirement of Salem, OR, the nation’s leading provider of independent senior housing. “We are very excited about providing outstanding senior housing in West Seattle’s newly redeveloped High Point community,” says Ray Harris; he and wife Kathy make up one of two on-site management teams. “Bridge Park will be a major part of the senior community by providing a vast array of social events and activities for all seniors to enjoy.” One of Bridge Park‘s special features is that it’s pet-friendly — pets are very much welcome, and NO deposits are required for residents who have pets. We talked on video with one of Bridge Park‘s first residents, Claudia Enlow, who has two dogs and a cat:
Bridge Park says its other community amenities — besides pet-friendliness — include live-in management teams, three meals chef-prepared for scratch daily, weekly housecleaning and linen service, scheduled local transportation and diverse activities, special events, and volunteer opportunities. One more note: Suites are available on a month-to-month rental basis, with no long-term leases involved. You can get an up-close look during the grand-opening event on Sunday — guided tours will be offered, along with door-prize drawings, refreshments, and live entertainment; festivities are scheduled to run from 11 am to 5 pm Sunday, with the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1:30 pm. Bridge Park‘s phone number is 206/938-6394. You can see the full lineup of current WSB sponsors here, along with information on how to join them!
As mentioned in our report on the last Highland Park Action Committee meeting, the West Seattle fight against two proposed WS city-jail sites is in a bit of a lull now, awaiting the next official stage of the city’s process. However, those closely watching what’s happening in the areas around all of the “final four” sites might be interested to know, there’s a public meeting tomorrow night in Magnolia, focused on the proposed Interbay site, with at least one city councilmember expected to attend.
No massive topic on tonight’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting agenda, but some things you should know about: The time’s set for the Fauntleroy Fall Festival, 2-6 pm October 19 at Fauntleroy Church, Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, and Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) – “better than ever,” promises FCA; some volunteer help is still needed – the FF page explains who to contact. Next week, the church will host a state meeting about the Alaskan Way Viaduct (updated from our original post – FCA’s Phil Sweetland says after further discussions, the meeting WILL be at the church, 5:30-7:30 pm). The following week, Fauntleroy Church WILL be the venue for a screening of the “final cut” of “The Fauntleroy Story: 100 Years of Community,” the 35-minute documentary produced in part with city $ (we attended a preview earlier this summer), 7 pm 9/24 (DVDs will be available for a suggested donation of $10). We recently mentioned the Fauntleroy Art Show is in the works for early November at the church – Judy Pickens sent word a few days ago that artists from outside West Seattle are now welcome as well as WS artists (read more here about what they’re looking for; Oct. 1 is the deadline to apply). Also in the works: Calling the salmon home at the Fauntleroy fish ladder, set for 5-6 pm Sunday 10/26, BOYD (bring your own drum). And right before then, scheduling will begin for volunteer shifts between 10/27 and 11/27 to document coho coming into the creek to spawn — more info available on the FCA website.
As Bil Hood puts it, “The building may not look finished, but school began tonight for Hope Lutheran School. Parents and students met with teachers tonight for a back-to-school BBQ.” Bil sent the photo above, plus this one from tonight’s event:
He adds: “Most classrooms are finished and ready to go. A few classes will be in alternate accomodations until next month. Regular classes begin tomorrow.” Project progress is being chronicled on the Hope Lutheran website: HopeSeattle.org. (We reported on the groundbreaking for the church/school project that’s under way – along with 2 others nearby – see that report here.)
We’re at the Westwood Neighborhood Council meeting, where a school-district rep has just announced that the Design Team process to figure out what’ll happen to the current Denny Middle School site will start with two meetings at Denny to “listen to stakeholders,” with the first one tentatively scheduled for 9/22, more or less “the same meeting held twice” at different times of day for school staff/student and community-member convenience. (The second date will likely be in early October but may change – WNC is working to set up its own community meeting around that time.) You still have time to sign up to be on the Design Team; here’s the form on the district’s website. The district also confirms that Denny is scheduled to move midyear 2010-2011 – during winter break – from its current location, to the new building to be built on the Sealth campus. More from this meeting, as well as tonight’s transportation forum and the Fauntleroy Community Association meeting, coming up later.
Just announced by the Parks Department — an event next Wednesday afternoon, with former West Seattleite and current Portland Trail Blazer Brandon Roy dedicating a “refurbished community basketball court” at Delridge Community Center. Here’s the full announcement:Read More
When we broke the news last week about Zeeks Pizza moving into the ex-Corner Inn, somebody asked about the ex-Beveridge Place Pub next door (vacated when BPP moved a few steps north to the ex-Video Vault); we published this blurb about that three months ago, but we didn’t include anywhere near the amount of info about co-proprietor Jeff Gilbert that you’ll find in the P-I profile published this afternoon. (Not too much in there about the Feedback Lounge, though, save Gilbert’s description of it as a “rock ‘n’ roll bar.”
Five days after demolition began at 6053 California, the building’s distinctive facade (along Graham as well as California) finally came down today (the top “before” photo is from last year). We once wrote we’d be sad to see it go, but as we acknowledged last week, neighbors tell WSB they’re glad, because the teardown will take away what had become a hotbed of trouble.
Since some WSB commenters have pointed out that the mayor has been focusing on bags and trees lately but hasn’t made any major announcements about crime/violence, we feel duty-bound to pass along word of the media advisory we just received – he’s planning an announcement at Garfield HS tomorrow morning about a “new initiative geared to decrease youth violence.” We’ve got WSB commitments closer to home so we won’t be there, but we’ll link city-provided details and citywide coverage when it’s announced.
Raccoons have sparked more than a few conversations here on WSB – including the comments on the original post last month with that photo Jenny Simonds took in her neighborhood near Lincoln Park — and here’s word of an alert that the Fauntleroy Community Association is issuing: FCA is getting reports of “raccoon latrines” in Fauntleroy — communal spots the critters single out for elimination. They’re a concern not just for the obvious reasons but because what FCA notes is “a parasite called raccoon roundworm … Raccoons excrete roundworm eggs and larvae, and if ingested, the resulting infection can cause severe disease and even death. There is no known cure. Particularly at risk are young children and pets.” Please note, however, this is not cause for hysteria – we looked up the incidence of this disease, and online references say there’ve been 25 cases of “serious roundworm disease” in the U.S. in the past five years. Meantime — FCA leaders say they’ve asked the City Council to “take appropriate action regarding this serious public health issue” but have learned, “As it stands now, there is no department that will offer assistance.” FCA says it’s received the following advice that everyone can follow:
• Don’t feed wildlife because they become dependent on it
• Don’t feed feral cats, which provides a food source for raccoons
• Don’t feed your pets outside except when supervised, then remove bowls and spills
• Prevent raccoons from entering your home through pet doors by securing them
• Feed birds by planting bird-friendly vegetation since bird seed attracts raccoons, and
• Compost wisely because food waste attracts raccoons.
How to tell if there’s a raccoon latrine on your property, and what to do about it? Here’s some info from the King County website. Also note, this topic is likely to come up again at FCA’s monthly meeting tonight — 7 pm, Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, public welcome.
Just announced by the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council: Special guest at its next meeting (next Tuesday 8/16, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct meeting room) will be Sgt. Dyment of the Seattle Police Gang Unit. The WSCPC staff liaison from Seattle Neighborhood Group, Jennifer Duong, is inviting those who plan to attend to send questions in advance, to help make sure the sergeant can pre-research specific West Seattle gang-related issues. Anything in particular you’d like to know about? E-mail jennifer@sngi.org – and be there one week from tonight.
In hopes of a little extra heads-up, we ran down tonight’s highlights as the week began (transportation forum, neighborhood-group meetings, Seal Sitters training, here’s the full preview for tonight). So now, a few words about Wednesday and Thursday highlights:
WEDNESDAY: Second rehearsal for “Thrill the World-West Seattle,” 8 pm, Ginomai (42nd/Genesee); the team has now chosen West Seattle Food Bank as its charity beneficiary – get updates at the official TWWS website. Right afterward, same place, 9 pm, next “Project Runway” viewing party, since Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) Blayne is still in the running. Also in The Junction: “The Vertical Hour” opens @ ArtsWest. And on a non-entertainment note – though their last meeting was lively in its own way! – the 34th District Democrats meet at 7 pm tomorrow, The Hall at Fauntleroy (agenda here).
THURSDAY: The monthly West Seattle Second Thursday Art Walk, 6-9 pm. Haven’t been lately? It’s not just The Junction any more — participants all over West Seattle; full lineup here. The High Point Neighborhood Association‘s having its quarterly meeting at 6 pm at the Commons Park Amphltheater (pedestrian-safety issues may come up, given what happened last week, but that would be after 7 pm – from 6-7, as noted in comments below, the meeting will include a program about Somali/East African culture). And the Design Review Board meeting for BlueStar‘s Spring Hill mixed-use building at 5020 California (new design previewed here) is at 6:30 pm at Hiawatha.
Friday and beyond – tons of stuff including the West Seattle Gateway Cleanup Saturday (latest preview here) and Share the Bounty (bring your surplus homegrown produce to the Farmers’ Market to share with those in need) on Sunday – more in the WSB Events calendar.
Even though Christmas decorations are on sale at Costco already (anywhere else? no, wait, we don’t want to know) – it’s not that we’re trying to rush you into holiday mode too soon – we just happened to notice King County is inviting businesses to sign up RIGHT NOW to be part of “Waste-Free Holidays” – here’s the link.
Have to confess we haven’t seen so much as a single entire episode of “Deadliest Catch,” so we’re not too sure how big a role this guy plays – but we did see the rock-star reception another DC star got in the Seafair Torchlight Parade, so we’re thinking fans might be interested to hear that “Captain Phil” will be at West Seattle Thriftway this Sunday, pitching his own brand of coffee — “Deadliest Brew” — and signing autographs. 11 am-1 pm. P.S. Our friends at MyBallard.com mentioned over the weekend that the Nordic Heritage Museum‘s auctioning (bid now!) a chance to hang out with the crew up in Dutch Harbor, Alaska (the blurb includes the “Deadliest Catch” boat’s current local whereabouts).
We mentioned this briefly earlier today, but wanted to give it a more prominent shoutout: West Seattle’s Seal Sitters, who keep watch to protect baby seals whose moms leave them on local beaches while off hunting, have another volunteer-training session tomorrow night; we noted a decent turnout for their first one last month, which happened on a weekend afternoon — this time, it’s at night, 7-9 pm tomorrow at Alki Community Center, all welcome. When Janette Wilson from the Seal Sitters called WSB this afternoon to remind us about this, we asked how seal-pup season was going so far, and she admitted they’re “a little worried” — they’ve only responded to one pup sighting, a dramatic difference from last year, when things started getting busy in August. But she also noted that the chum run is yet to arrive, and that may bring some pups, so they want to have a full volunteer corps ready. If you want to find out more before showing up for tomorrow’s session, there’s contact info on the Seal Sitters‘ site.
Five months to the day after we first told you about Coffee at the Heights, which Paul Binder and David Robertson plan to open at 7349 35th (map) in their former PB&J Textiles location (that shop’s now in Fairmount Springs), next to their Olympic Heights Laundry — Paul sends word that the building permit’s just been granted and work starts tomorrow. ADDED 9:40 PM: A few more notes – Paul says they’ll use Caffe D’arte coffee, Sunshine dairy products, pastry provider TBA, hours 5:30 am-8 pm daily (including holidays), compostable cups/sleeves, and will be selling coffee by the pound. They hope to be open within a month.
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