By Randall G. Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Lots of updates at Tuesday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting – and some new business too – including the plan for a crime-prevention event:

CRIME PREVENTION: ANA is working with Seattle Police to present a crime-prevention seminar on Tuesday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m. at Hiawatha Community Center. Discussion at the seminar will center on ideas to curb crime in the area, as well as tips on creation and improvement of “Block Watch” programs.

CONCERT SERIES UPDATE: Plans for the Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series continue in earnest. Since WSB published ANA’s call for interested musicians, more than 40 acts have stepped up to express interest. Sponsors are signing up too; PCC (also a WSB sponsor) has again signed on as a primary sponsor of the live-music series.

PARK ACQUISITION: The group discussed potentially drafting a letter of support to add to an application for Parks and Green Spaces Levy money to buy property at 1521 Sunset Avenue to be preserved as open space (Dennis Ross had briefed ANA on the application at the previous meeting).

LAFAYETTE PLAYGROUND UPDATE: Janine Bostock, who chairs the steering committee working on improvements to the Lafayette Elementary School playground, introduced herself to the association. Renovations on the playground are currently targeted to begin next summer. They intend to replace the playground “big toy” in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act; as it stands, there are kids who are unable to play on the current, old equipment. Additionally, there are plans to add greenery to the space, particularly in the area from the basketball courts south to the fences.

The group is holding a ski-and-sports equipment swap to help raise funds for the projects. On Sunday, April 25, there will be an all-day sale of collected equipment in the Lafayette school cafeteria. There are also plans to hold an outdoor movie night and barbecue at the playground to bring the community together at the site. Mid-to-late August is being targeted, with no firm plans yet in place.

WESTSIDE BABY AND WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK: Reps from these two nonprofits talked about some of their upcoming plans. WestSide Baby executive director Nancy Woodland said planning is under way for this year’s Stuff the Bus diaper drive; WS Food Bank past board president Pete Spalding said one simple way to help the food bank is to save your receipts from grocery shopping at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) and West Seattle Thriftway, both of which donate 1% of the pre-tax total on collected receipts back to the food bank.

Admiral Neighborhood Association meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month, 7 pm, at Admiral Congregational Church.