Fun and fundraising on the menu: ARK Park, Chief Sealth dinners
That’s the team we found in the kitchen at Arbor Heights Community Church for the ARK Park Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser tonight (the park-plan ringleaders we first introduced you to last summer were in the group – Jan Seidel with the salad, at left, Loretta Kimball with the spaghetti, second from right). We showed you the ceremonial groundbreaking last month; the church is raising money to turn a nearby parcel into a playground-centered park. Play figured into tonight’s event, too, with activities for kids in separate rooms after dinner:
By the time we arrived at the spaghetti dinner, 2 hours into the 3-hour event, they estimated they’d already fed more than 200 people! From there, we headed northeast to Delridge, where the Chief Sealth High School cafeteria was also full of good times and good food – plus good music, at the 7th annual Honor Choir and Mariachi Tamale Dinner. In addition to enjoying the talent of CSHS student musicians, diners also heard from guest groups such as Mariachi Quinto Sol, featuring University of Washington students and alumni – here’s one of the songs they performed:
While at Chief Sealth, we bumped into a former TV co-worker, Lowell Deo, who was there to work on a Seattle Channel TV feature about CSHS that will air in his ongoing CityStream series later this spring – he promised to let us know when it’s scheduled, so we can let you know to watch for it. (Lowell profiled us halfway through this CityStream episode six months ago [15 minutes into the program].)
Another opening day announced: Coffee at the Heights
Coffee at the Heights in Sunrise Heights is the third West Seattle business this week to announce its opening date (after Zeeks, 5/1, and Feedback Lounge, 4/25). That banner went up this afternoon, and the coffee shop at 7349 35th SW (map) will be open starting Monday, according to co-proprietor Paul Binder, who with David Robertson also operates PB&J Textiles on Fauntleroy Way as well as the laundromat next to Coffee at the Heights. It’ll be what Paul calls a “super-soft opening” – then on Tuesday, they’ll have full service with pastries, etc., and their grand-opening celebration (with prizes, as noted here) will kick off on Saturday, May 2nd (we’re expecting a little more info on that tomorrow, and we’ll add it here).
ADDED SUNDAY MORNING: That extra info: Hours 5:30 am-8 pm Monday-Friday, 6:30 am-8 pm Saturday/Sunday. Coffee from Caffe d’Arte, baked goods from Macrina. Sandwiches, soup of the day, bagels, and beverages. Plus, starting May 2, the “month of grand opening” will have specials and giveaways- here’s the list:Read More
Author in West Seattle to honor Al Skaret, other Bunker Hill heroes
By Ron Richardson
Special to West Seattle Blog
Maxwell Taylor Kennedy came to West Seattle to pay tribute to Al Skaret and other heroes of the 1945 USS Bunker Hill attack.
(From left, John McNeil, Al Skaret, Lou Tice, Maxwell Kennedy, Art Shipe, Wilton ‘Hoot’ Hutt, Lou Biotano. Al, Art, ‘Hoot’ and Lou were all Bunker Hill crew members)
Over the past four years our neighbor Al Skaret has been interviewed and ultimately featured in Maxwell Taylor Kennedy’s 2008 book ‘Danger’s Hour: The Story of the USS Bunker Hill and the Kamikaze Pilot Who Crippled Her’ (you can see video clips on this page of the book’s promotional website).
This past Wednesday, Mr. Kennedy, son of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, came to the Pacific Institute 
in West Seattle to honor Al and crew members of the USS Bunker Hill. He gave an inspiring talk, like a good college lecturer, about the war in the Pacific, its origins, the struggle, the sacrifice and the final victory. Mr. Kennedy showed a collection of photos from the National Archives that illustrated episodes he discovered as he researched his book.
Maxwell Kennedy showed a photo of a handwritten note prepared by pilot Al Turnbull which said “Keep chute on in case wing comes off.”
Read More
They don’t just enforce, they encourage: Police Activity League
Football’s back on the field tonight at Southwest Athletic Complex (across from the permanent Chief Sealth High School campus), as local officers and deputies from Seattle Police Department and King County Sheriff’s Office coach a flag-football jamboree with players from all over the metro area — our video captured a few lively plays. Both agencies sponsored the tournament through the Greater King County Police Activity League, with grant assistance from NFL Youth Football; according to the original announcement, tonight’s jamboree marks “the beginning of an eight-week long series of games which will include elementary, middle, and high schools kids from the inner city as well as five tribal communities.” The PAL has previously sponsored youth boxing, too. Big day for local law enforcers in the many community activities they are involved with in their “off-hours” – today was also “Tip A Cop” day at local Red Robin restaurants, per this item on SPDBlotter, the department’s blog-style site (which just launched a new look, by the way).
West Seattle Crime Watch: Another burglary on 42nd SW
Just out of the WSB inbox:
This is Sean and Matthew from the 5200 block of 42nd Ave SW. [map] Our home was burglarized at about 11 AM on 4/16. The thieves kicked in the back door and stole a 52″ flat screen, laptop, Playstation, DVDs, games, and some jewelry.
That’s one day after Dan in the 4400 block of 42nd reported a break-in (part of this roundup). Reminder – if you’re concerned about crime in your neighborhood, this Tuesday night is your chance to talk with police leadership and community advocates at the next meeting of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (35th/Webster).
Summer on the way: Seafair Clowns at YMCA Healthy Kids Day
Before the sun went back behind the clouds, blue sky and a big crowd graced the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor) Healthy Kids Day fun at midday today – and WSB happened to be there as the Seafair Clowns rolled up. Great reminder that the heart of summer-fun season is just a few months away (the West Seattle American Legion Grand Parade is exactly three months from today – July 18 – and one week before that, on 7/11, the clowns’ “cousins” [?] the Seafair Pirates will storm Alki). Back to Healthy Kids’ Day – it’s an annual tradition, with indoor and outdoor activities:
The West Seattle Y was one of 10 around the metro area to celebrate Healthy Kids Day today.
Happening now: Duwamish Alive! work parties, report #1
With coordination from EarthCorps and the West Seattle-based Nature Consortium, hundreds of volunteers are working at 20+ sites in the West Duwamish Greenbelt section south and east of Pigeon Point’s Cooper School, just one of more than a dozen Duwamish Alive! events today in honor of Earth Day (which technically isn’t till Wednesday). In a clearing close to the school, numbers mark where each group’s supplies were gathered:
EarthCorps told us we were the first media visitors of the day; they were expecting a few high-profile political visitors too, including County Councilmember/Executive candidate Larry Phillips, who was there (at right in the photo below) during our stop (expected this afternoon, two West Seattleites: County Councilmember/Executive candidate Dow Constantine and Mayor Nickels):
The heart of the work: Tearing out, pulling out, pulling down the invasive plants that choke the life out of the forest and its native understory – this gentleman was doing battle with a thickly trunked Scotch broom:
Some invasive plants like Scotch broom and ivy are still sold for planting, but even if you think they’re great in your yard, birds can eat the seeds and distribute them far and wide, so think twice before using them in your landscaping. More on Duwamish Alive! after we go back for this afternoon’s community festival at Cooper, 2-5 pm (and you’re invited), and we’ll add some video later, including the musician serenading the volunteers in the meadow.
Happening now: Digging in, at Delridge’s Longfellow Creek Garden
We first told you last year about Longfellow Creek Garden, an “urban farm” in the Delridge area — with volunteers tending it and reaping the benefit. All day today, its first major work party of the year is under way – getting the rows ready, composting the herb-garden area, tackling a list of tasks that even includes “who brought the beer?” That part of the plan, of course, will be skipped by the youngest members of the team:
And alumni of Minnesota’s St. Olaf College are even pitching in for their day of service – here’s their official check-in station along the nearest road:
The tool table has a pair of guards, brought along by Shannon and Jason from the newly formed Longfellow Creek Garden Board of Stewards:
To get involved with Longfellow Creek Garden, e-mail lazylocavores@me.com – you too can help with this adventure in “urban farming” – LFCG is on Facebook, too. Today’s work party continues till 4 pm.
Morgan Junction’s Feedback Lounge announces its opening date
(note at left, Zeeks has put in its glass)
They promised they’d announce their opening day/time today, and indeed, here it is, announced online: 6 pm next Saturday, April 25, the doors open at Feedback Lounge (between the new Zeeks Pizza opening May 1st and the old Beveridge Place Pub location that opened exactly a year ago immediately south of the new one).
ADDED 9:45 AM: More details from the e-mail announcement that came in about 45 minutes after we originally published this item – if you’re not on the FL e-mail list and haven’t seen it, read on:Read More
So much to do, so little time: Happening in West Seattle today
That’s just a slice of the 400-strong crowd at the Duwamish Alive! Earth Day mega-work party southeast of Cooper School last year – and a similar crowd is expected today (with at least three political leaders – Mayor Nickels and County Councilmembers/Executive candidates Dow Constantine and Larry Phillips – visiting along the way). It’s part of a HUGE slate of not just Earth Day events, but also fun fundraisers, live music performances, 2 big rummage/garage sales, and a lot more happening today – we’ll just point you directly to the Saturday section of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup – click here.
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