Future Blue Thunder drummers? Maybe! We recorded those student musicians and others in the recital that ended the mid-winter-break music camp at Denny International Middle School– and now, the spring break version of that same camp is days away, with Donna sending word there’s still room:
Band students, 4th through 8th grade: Come make music with friends from schools all over West Seattle during spring break!
All-Star Spring Break Music Camp
Mon., Mar. 29 – Fri., Apr. 2, 2010 – 9 AM to 3 PM
Grades 4 thru 8
Suggested donation for tuition: $100 (or pay what you can) – Lunch provided
More info as the announcement continues after the jump:Read More
More developments today as the South Park Bridge – a lifeline not just for its namesake community, but also for many people in south West Seattle and White Center who use it – nears the county’s planned June 30th shutdown date:
For one, more than two dozen representatives of government agencies gathered this morning in South Park for the first of at least two sessions to strategize the closure plan. Also, we’ve gathered some updates on the quest for money to build a new bridge.
Those first: After the closure meeting this morning, county rep Andrew Glass Hastings spoke with WSB about what’s being done to find money for a new bridge. He said a “stakeholders’ meeting” is being assembled for mid-April and said the project will certainly require a “different level of partnership” from entities including the city of Seattle – in other words, some monetary contribution.
But will the cash-strapped city even consider chipping in money toward the project’s $100 million-plus cost, money the county has been unable to find for years? Shortly after the South Park meeting, we put the question to Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, as he hosted media reps in his conference room for one of his periodic roundtable chats:
(If you can’t take two minutes to watch the clip – or are unable to – his answer boiled down to: The city doesn’t HAVE money to chip in, but maybe we should all look at our regional priorities, considering, for example, the Port of Seattle is getting ready to raise $300 million to chip in on the “proposed bored tunnel.”)
Given what the mayor said – will the port consider a contribution? Port commissioner Gael Tarleton was visible and vocal at both South Park Bridge community meetings two weeks ago (WSB coverage here and here). We’ll be checking with her. Meantime, read on for toplines — and maps — from the multi-agency closure-plan meeting this morning:Read More
Last night, David and Lisa held a fundraiser at Talarico’s in The Junction, to help reach David’s goal of raising $5,000 by June for the summertime climb.
A few things you might not mind being reminded of before it’s too late:
ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT CLOSED SATURDAY AND SUNDAY: It’s the regular semiannual maintenance closure, scheduled for 6 am-6 pm each day. Sunday, they often wrap up earlier, but don’t take it for granted until and unless it happens.
FIREWORKS SATURDAY NIGHT: After the Elliott Bay fireworks show that caught so many people off-guard a few weeks ago, we found and published advance word of another one that’s now just days away: General Construction (which has a location in West Seattle, on the Duwamish) is celebrating its centennial with fireworks off Pier 66 downtown this Saturday night. The company sent word today that 8:30 pm is the planned showtime.
EARTH HOUR: That, by the way, is right at the start of Earth Hour, when you’re invited to turn everything off for an hour to save power and make a statement. 8:30-9:30 pm Saturday. The Space Needle‘s supposed to go dark again this time around.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON HIKE: Just got word that the Nature Consortium‘s regular monthly hike through the West Duwamish Greenbelt is a little later than usual this month – Friday afternoon, 1 pm, meet at 14th/Holly, RSVP to lisa@naturec.org or 206-923-0853.
FREE CONCERT FRIDAY NIGHT: Also just got a note about West Seattle Jazz Night, 7 pm Friday at Madison Middle School, with performances by musicians from Madison, Denny and Chief Sealth, plus the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra. Free!
Sorry, Trader Joe’s fans, NOT the sign you’re looking for. But thanks to John S for the sighting tip – perfect timing; we were a block away when we got his note. That sign, “Pike Place Produce Co./Coming Soon” has appeared on the small building in the middle of the ex-Huling/Gee lot south of the Fauntleroy/Alaska Shell station. We called Pike Place Produce, which is headquartered right across from the famous market downtown, and while they confirmed something is in the works in West Seattle, they directed us to the owner, who won’t be reachable till later today. Retail? Offices? Both? We don’t know yet – we’ll add an update when we find out more, but just wanted to let you know, if you saw the sign, we’re working on it. (This is one of the sites that’s been vacant 2 1/2 years, since Gee Automotive, which relatively briefly took over the longtime Huling dealerships, closed.) 6:13 PM UPDATE: Looks now like the owner may not be reachable till tomorrow – so it’ll be a separate story when we get the chance to get details.
Today, we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor: Westside Yoga and Doga. Longtime West Seattle residents Kelly Page and Brenda Bryan have joined forces to bring a new locally owned Yoga and Doga studio to Morgan Junction. Brenda is internationally known as the author and creator of Barking Buddha Doga, and Kelly trained with 5 of the 30 certified Ashtanga teachers in the world. Her primary teacher was David Garrigues, and she has traveled to Mysore, India, to study with Sharath Ragaswamy and Shri K. Pattabhi Jois to learn the classical Ashtanga yoga style. Together they have opened up the first Doga and Ashtanga Yoga studio in the United States. Westside Yoga and Doga opened its doors to Yogis and Dogis on February 22. Ashtanga Yoga, made popular by celebrities such as Madonna, Christy Turlington, Adam Yauch and Sting, is a physically challenging and traditional yoga style dating back to 2000+ years and Doga is a new and nontraditional Yoga practice with dogs. Although different in approach, Kelly and Brenda realized their goals for creating a community and an awareness of well being for people and animals were very similar. Kelly and Brenda met as Yoga instructors at a popular Seattle Yoga studio, but it was their love of dogs and their involvement in the dog-rescue community that brought them together as friends and business partners. In addition to teaching, writing and running Westside Yoga and Doga, Brenda will continue her work withThe Seattle Humane Society. Aside from running the Yoga and Doga studio, and being mom to a three year old, Kelly will continue her work as Washington State representative forDogs Deserve Better, a nonprofit organization that rescues dogs off chains and passes legislation for the betterment of dogs continually chained. Westside Yoga and Doga will also advocate out of their studio with a rescued “Dog of the Week,” as well as fundraising and education for the betterment of our canine companions and their people. Westside Yoga and Doga will be open daily with a variety of classes, including Ashtanga Yoga with live music every Monday morning by classical Indian musician Brandan McIntosh on sarod, Doga classes, family yoga, prenatal, workshops and Barking Buddha Doga teacher training. Memberships include the “just people” classes and also the dog and people classes. All levels of Yogis and Dogis are welcome! Westside Yoga and Doga is online at westsideyogadoga.com; 206-501-4474.
We thank Westside Yoga and Doga for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.
That’s the newest WSDOT video simulation taking you underground along the route of the “proposed bored tunnel.” Why do official documents – even the opening slate of the video – still call it “proposed”? That was one of the questions asked at Tuesday’s meeting of the South Portal Working Group, which meets periodically to receive and review new information about all the changes in the works for the transportation network feeding into this side of The Viaduct. Read on for the answer, as well as the toplines from the main focus of the meeting – how construction will be “staged” over the next five-plus years:Read More
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS QUESTION/ISSUE? Take it to School Board rep Steve Sundquist during his next community-conversation meeting, High Point Library at 11 am.
MEET YOUR CANDIDATES: So far, five people are in the running for the 34th District State House Position 2 seat that’ll be on the ballot this August/November. They’ve all been invited to a candidates’ forum that is part of the agenda for tonight’s Highland Park Action Committee meeting at Highland Park Improvement Club, 7 pm.
POEMS AND STORIES: Tonight’s the next Set Apart poetry & storytelling event at C & P Coffee, 7-9 pm. It’s free, all ages, with an open mike in addition to a featured reader. At another coffeehouse tonight:
FINE FILMS AT FRESHY’S: The movie series continues tonight with the film whose trailer you see above – Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rope,” screening at Freshy’s Coffee, 7 pm (see the Facebook event page here)
Story and photos by Christopher Boffoli
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
A small but passionate group of West Seattle citizens met at the High Point LibraryTuesday night to discuss ongoing issues with the maintenance and upkeep of what has become an icon at the gateway of West Seattle, the Walking on Logs sculptures.
The meeting was organized by Nancy Driver (2nd from right), who helped to orchestrate a community cleanup at (and beyond) the sculptures’ site two years ago. Driver is seeking to establish a plan for ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the site and to relieve the burden on 89-year-old Earl Cruzen (2nd from left), who has been a steward of the site and its sculptures since before their creation.
As of this fall, Madison Middle School no longer will be the only Seattle Public Schoolsmiddle school without the Spectrum program for academically gifted students. That’s of great interest to Spectrum-qualified West Seattle students, many of which attend nearby Lafayette Elementary, where a meeting was held Tuesday night to try to answer families’ questions. Photojournalist Matt Durhamwas there and says about 100 parents heard from West Seattle’s school board rep Steve Sundquist (above) as well as Madison principal Henterson Carlisle (below).
Also at the meeting, the man who runs the district’s Advanced Learning programs, Dr. Robert Vaughan (seated in the background). Matt reports that parents were reminded that if they are interested in having their children attend Madison’s Spectrum program this fall, they must file enrollment paperwork making that choice, even if the students are currently in Spectrum at Lafayette or elsewhere. (That’s explained at the bottom of this page.) P.S. If you have an education topic to take up with Steve Sundquist, his next community-chat gathering is this morning (Wednesday), 11 am, at High Point Library.
Back in January, we 
Brenda is internationally known as the author and creator of 
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