With the recent bursts of sunshine and warmth, thoughts turn to spring cleaning, among other things, and what better way, than to have a garage sale … and to invite the entire region to come buy your stuff. Nine days left to sign up to be part of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day — one peninsula, many sales (almost 150 last year) — on Saturday, May 9th. More than 80 sales are registered so far – we didn’t have that many last year till four days before the close of registration (admittedly, we stretched out the registration period this year, so we had more time to get the word out). Plenty of room on the map for more. And as promised, the map will be out earlier, so you have more time to plot your shopping strategy if you’re NOT having a sale – we’ll have it available starting Sunday 5/3 at our table at the Sustainable West Seattle Festival (WSB sponsor) – and more time to send it around to everyone you know if you ARE having a sale. If you don’t have enough room for one of your own, check with Lora at Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) or Cameron at C & P Coffee, both of whom are offering courtyard space, first-come first-served and they’ve already been making reservations … also be thinking about the contests, “Most Creative Sign,” “Most Unusual Item Bought” and “Most Unusual Item Sold” (here’s the report on last year’s winners). Registration deadline is 11:59 pm Saturday 4/25 – sign up online here, or go here to print out a mail-in form, or pick up a preprinted form at Hotwire, Illusions Hair Design, Stor-More Self Storage, Brunette Mix (all four are WSB sponsors), Delridge and Southwest Library branches, or the Senior Center of West Seattle. So far, we have school sales, church sales, block sales, estate sales, individual sales – add yours to the mix, and watch the official site at westseattlegaragesale.com for updates!
It’s 8:00 Thursday night — do you know where your roller skates are?
If you do, and you’re a female over the age of 21, with current health insurance and a “badass” attitude — you may be a prime candidate for the Rat City Rollergirls.
RCRG was founded in 2004, based back then at the Southgate rink in White Center. Though Southgate has since closed and RCRG skaters now practice at rinks in Lynnwood and Bellevue, they maintain their ties to the White Center/West Seattle communities. For starters, at least eight skaters live in the area, including Bird on a Wire coffee shop owner Heidi Herr (skate name: “Skate Trooper”). Also — community outreach is a core value for RCRG, and they participate in local activities including helping clean up Longfellow Creek, and a stretch of road they’ve “adopted” in White Center (where their next cleanup is scheduled for April 25).
West Seattle Rollergirl and “Derby Liberation Front” team co-captain “Deadly Aim” (aka Aimee Ettel) took some time off the track to provide some insight into the world of RCRG and to talk about their upcoming home game at RCRG’s big new home “rink,” KeyArena, this Saturday.
We’re at Alki Community Center for the third and final “design workshop” in this stage of the process that could result in additions to little California Place Park next to Admiral Church (WSB sponsor) at California/Hill. Park-change opponents are here with bright lime-green mini-signs that say NO CHANGE TO PARK on one side, echoing the large sign held by Jan Bailey, greeting meeting attendees outside (then at the back of the room once the meeting began, per photo added above at 7:16 pm), while landscape architect Karen Kiest and members of Friends and Neighbors of North Admiral get ready to lead the meeting inside. About 35 people are here as the meeting starts; Steven Gray from FANNA just announced there will be a May 24 gathering, location TBA (probably at the park), to celebrate the time and energy everyone’s put into this – on both sides. Kiest will be presenting final design options for the park; we’ll add a note or two along the way as the meeting proceeds, before a separate, full writeup afterward. 8:41 PM UPDATE: The meeting just wrapped up; next steps, Kiest will write up a report within the next month and a half or so, and FANNA will decide what if anything they might pursue funding for – cost estimates presented here went all the way from less than $100,000 for one component of the “draft plan” to almost $400,000 for everything that could be done (including extending the park boundaries to green up a currently paved section of land on the north side that belongs to the park but is currently used as road). ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: While we’re working on the in-depth followup, here’s the design artwork shown at the meeting.
After more than two years, the “Auto Buff Is Moving” banner is finally about to come down at 42nd/Admiral – because the building’s getting a facelift, with someone new moving in: Eric Renn talked to WSB today about his new “athletic gym,” taking over the long-vacant former Auto Buff space. Our discussion also reveals a bit about the future of the corner in general – previously slated for a mixed-use development with a “grocery store” once rumored to be the ever-elusive Trader Joe’s – read on to find out more:Read More
Even though the State Legislature‘s session isn’t over yet, Democratic legislative staffers have voted on this award – and given it to Rep. Sharon Nelson, serving her first full term representing the 34th District, which includes West Seattle. She’s shown above with the plaque and her legislative assistant Joe Fitzgibbon; we heard about it last night and asked him for more details – read on for the official announcement we’ve received in reply:Read More
Tomorrow morning, Mayor Nickels will brief the media on more of the budget-cut plans to bring city spending in line with the dramatically reduced revenue forecast revealed last week. Though council votes aren’t required for him to implement cuts, councilmembers say they want to hear what you think – so they’ve just announced another public hearing, this one for next Tuesday night – read on for the official announcement from the office of Councilmember Jean Godden, who chairs the council’s budget committee:Read More
More than a few WSBers have asked what we know about the city crew that’s been clearing part of the slope this week along the west side of Admiral Way, about halfway uphill from the West Seattle Bridge. We checked with Parks Department spokesperson Dewey Potter, who explains:
At this site there’s a little bit of park property and mostly Seattle Department of Transportation property. Under the Green Seattle Partnership, it’s the first piece of work to be done on non-park property, and the largest piece of non-park property identified as a Green Seattle Partnership site. Here’s the partnership web site: greenseattle.org and a recent Mayor’s news release
Parks is clearing the invasive blackberries. A banner will go up soon at the site inviting volunteers to come and help, if they’d like to, on the east side (the west side is too dangerous for volunteers because of its proximity to traffic and the steepness of the slope).
(recent WSB photo peeking inside the Zeeks construction site)
As we first reported last night, the new Zeeks Pizza coming to the ex-Corner Inn spot at California/Fauntleroy has finalized its grand opening date and time: 11 am on Friday, May 1st. After we published word here and on Facebook following Zeeks executive Dan Black‘s announcement at last night’s Morgan Community Association meeting, some WSBers asked if they had firmed up their delivery boundaries yet (always a hot topic when it comes to West Seattle and pizza). We followed up with Black this morning, and here’s his reply:
North – Water
West – Water
South – 116th St SW [map]
East – Highway 509
Plus one pocket outside those boundaries, which he described as “the Shorewood neighborhood.” He also told us after last night’s meeting that Zeeks is thinking about asking customers, once they’re open, to co-create a West Seattle-exclusive pizza that would only be on the menu at this location. Meantime, he adds that they are still hiring, and in the midst of an intensive final two weeks of work renovating and rehabilitating the space; the building’s owner was at last night’s meeting too, and recalled that it was a market and hardware store when he took it over more than 40 years ago.
One day after Tax Deadline Day, the merchants of the West Seattle Junction Association have just announced a plan to free you from (sales) taxes for a day – the “Junction Rebellion.” Tax-free shopping – in other words, the store pays the tax, not you – with other discounts and promotions, are planned for participating merchants (see the poster) on Saturday, April 25th.
3:46 PM UPDATE: After some commenters asked whether this was tied to yesterday’s “tea party” protests around the country, WSJA’s Susan Melrose asked us to share this message:
The purpose of this promotion was to generate shopping in The Junction for the benefit of our retail members in this trying economy. It was in no way intended to be construed as a political statement, and the timing was inadvertent and unfortunate for our intention (we planned this 2 weeks ago). One of the Junction Association’s core values is to support community and the true intention behind this promotion is nothing more than to have a fun shopping day in The Junction, enjoy living local, and have merchants pick up the tab on sales tax. Sorry for overcomplicating a simple neighborhood sale! To contact me directly: susan@wsjunction.org
One last round of reminders about these events, from the WSB Events calendar (where even more events for tonight, and way beyond, are listed):
LAST CALIFORNIA PLACE PARK DESIGN WORKSHOP: 7 pm, Alki Community Center. The first workshop was tumultuous; the second one, at which potential designs for park additions were unveiled, was deemed productive; tonight, something closer to a final proposal is presented for discussion and feedback. After that, an entirely different process would ensue if Friends and Neighbors of North Admiral decides to pursue park additions — the search for funding.
SUNRISE HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: If we were to casually define this area, we’d say, between High Point and Gatewood, mostly east of 35th SW. If you live there, you’ve probably received a flyer about this; if not, check out the group’s website, which includes the agenda (plus word of their Poker Tournament this Saturday). Meeting’s at 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (map).
WESTSIDE BABY “SORTING FRENZY”: Hundreds of local families get clothing and other necessities through WestSide Baby, but before donated items can get to recipients, they have to be sorted, and WestSide Baby has monthly “sorting frenzy” parties with volunteer helpers. If you can lend a hand tonight, e-mail sarah@westsidebaby.org.
The Rotary Club of West Seattle sends word that it’s accepting applications right now for the Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship program. As Steve Fuller explains it, “The program provides several types of international scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students as well as for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies”; you can find more details and application information in this section of the Rotary International website, but applications go directly to the Rotary Club of West Seattle, due before May 15, with final interviews scheduled for June 20. Questions? wsrotary@gmail.com
Creative talent? 2 opportunities today, and your work could be seen by thousands!
WEST SEATTLE HI-YU SUMMER FESTIVAL NEEDS SOUVENIR BOOKLET HELP: From Deena Mahn:
West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival is looking for help doing the page design & layout for our Summer Festival Souvenir Book. We pass out thousands in West Seattle before our festival in July. The advertising-supported 32-page book contains a thank-you to our business members, events description & schedule, introductions of our Junior and Senior Courts, and information on our sponsoring service clubs. This could be a great way to serve your community while adding to your portfolio. Anyone who might be able to help can look at past years’ books at hiyu.com/booklets – contact us at info@hiyu.com.
DELRIDGE PRODUCE COOPERATIVE TOTE BAG CONTEST: Above, you see Pam, attendee at the recent Delridge Produce Cooperative Produce Partners Potluck, who won that bag full of goodies – now imagine Pam (among others) holding a bag with a design YOU created! Galena White says there’s one entry so far in the tote-bag design contest but they’d love to see more, and ALL AGES are encouraged to give it a try – the deadline’s less than two weeks away:
Just draw a black-and-white picture representing how you feel about having a produce cooperative on Delridge, and what it means to you. If you win first prize, you’ll see your artwork all around Delridge this summer. Delridge Produce Cooperative wants to give away hundreds of reusable, compactible nylon tote bags with artwork on them to help spread the message, “I want a produce cooperative on Delridge!” Reusable totes are environmentally sustainable, and are great for carrying home fresh produce.
1st prize is $48, 2nd prize is $32, and 3rd prize is $16. The design should be a foot square or a little less, and be submitted in a foldable format (on a piece of non-cardstock-weight paper) at the Delridge Neighborhood Development Association office (5411 Delridge Way SW). Put your submission in the “Delridge Produce Co-Op” envelope along with an attached sheet with your full name, address, phone number, and email address. Entry is FREE, and due by April 28th, 2009. The board members of Delridge Produce Cooperative will be the judges, and will inform the winners by May 12th, 2009. All ages are encouraged to participate!
Also from Wednesday night’s Morgan Community Association meeting (first report here) – officer elections: Pictured, from left, former president Steve Sindiong, who’s now secretary; public information officer Cindi Barker; new MoCA president Deb Barker; treasurer David Fansler; former secretary Eldon Olson; not pictured, vice president Chas Redmond, who was at the Delridge/Southwest District Councils’ joint meeting on the other side of the peninsula (WSB report here). MoCA usually meets quarterly, but has two special events coming up before the next meeting – May 4, co-sponsored with the Fauntleroy Community Association, the community meeting about The Kenney‘s new design proposals that save the cupola-topped Seaview building (here’s our Tuesday update), and June 13, the Morgan Junction Community Festival, which will start with the dedication of the new MJ park.
That’s the only Overton Berry Ensemble, and a taste of what’s in store at Admiral Church this Sunday. Admiral Church (California/Hill; here’s a map) joined the WSB sponsor team this week to get the word out about its annual Jazz Sunday, coming up this weekend; as you can see on the lineup here, it starts with “jazz-flavored worship” at the 10:30 am service, featuring the Admiral Choir, vocalist Grace Holden, flutist Bernie Jacobs, bassist Jeff Davies, all under the leadership of church music director Keith Terhune. Then at 7 pm, it’s a free concert (donations will be accepted) with the Overton Berry Ensemble (and Grace Holden sings again). To get your complimentary ticket(s), call the church at 932-2928.
and to invite the entire region to come buy your stuff. Nine days left to sign up to be part of 
LAST CALIFORNIA PLACE PARK DESIGN WORKSHOP: 7 pm, 
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