Some clouds have been moving in after an almost-truly-summery afternoon and evening – the temperature FINALLY broke 75, by far the latest date ever! – but the clouds enhanced the beautiful moon view above, by Christopher Boffoli, taken from The Junction. Just a bit earlier, over at Alki, Chas Redmond caught this scene:
Diane Skwiercz of Street Treats says her “entire family” lives in West Seattle – so it’ll be a homecoming when she brings her dessert truck to Alki tomorrow night. She says she just recently launched Street Treats, baking cookies, brownies and bars every morning, and carrying “homemade ice cream and handheld pies from two local businesses.” She’s not sure where they’ll park but they’re hoping to be at the beach for a few hours starting around 6 pm tomorrow (Thursday). We asked for a photo, so you’d know what to look for; you can also check Twitter to see if she tweets where they wind up – @StreetTreatsWa.
Just before the school year ended, Madison Middle School reading teacher Stacia Bell e-mailed to say she was so proud of the 6th-grade reading students who had been writing and performing monologues for novels they’ve been reading as “a challenge project” for her class, she had been videotaping them and wanted to share – with families’ permission, of course. So she put together the video with a sampling of some of the monologues – a slice of life from a special project at a local school. We look forward to sharing more stories about what’s happening in West Seattle’s schools when they are back in session this fall – here’s how to reach us.
(2008 Alki Car Show photo by David Hutchinson)
We’ve gotten some questions about whether the Alki Car Show is on as usual this year – and tonight, we know the answer is yes. Just got word from Marcie, who wanted to share the announcement:
19th Annual West Seattle Classic & Hot Rod Car Show on Alki
Saturday July 17th, 2010
Alki Beach Promenade, 63rd & Alki
8:00 AM ~ 4:00 PM – Awards at 3:00 PM
Great Prizes, Awesome Music & a FUN Day in the Sun!!
Entry Fee $20.00 in advance $25.00 day of show
All proceeds from The Classic and Hot Rod Show on Alki benefit The Donald W. Hammer Scholarship at South Seattle Community College
Please e-mail thealkicarshow@yahoo.com or call Dawn Hammer at 206-767-4929 with any questions or to get involved!!
And two months after that, it’s the West Seattle Junction Car Show on September 19th, in case this announcement sparks THAT question. We’ve put all the key event dates on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar page (but if you see something missing, please let us know!).
In addition to the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure on Saturday because of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon – 4 am to 4 pm northbound, 4 am to 1 pm southbound, Saturday only, according to WSDOT – the First Avenue South Bridge has closures this weekend too: It’ll be closed northbound from 5 am to 11 am both Saturday and Sunday for maintenance work.
(Photo by, and used with permission of, Paul Gordon)
Side note to our ongoing coverage of today’s announcement adding to the funding rounded up so far for a new South Park Bridge (see the latest details here): With one week to go till the old one is closed permanently: South Park residents have been planning a “wake” for shutdown night next Wednesday, and just sent the announcement with full details of what you’ll see if you head east to be part of the event:
The South Park community has organized a wake on Wednesday, June 30th from 6-10 pm to mark the closing of the South Park Bridge, the main thoroughfare over the Duwamish River into the South Park neighborhood. Unable to secure the necessary funding for replacement, King County deemed the severely deteriorated South Park Bridge as unsafe for the 20,000 vehicles that cross it daily.
Although the principal focus of the wake is to bemoan the loss of the bridge, South Park residents, including business owners, artists and musicians are stepping up to showcase the community’s diversity. The Duwamish Tribal drummers will cross the bridge in the minutes before its closure at 7 pm. Muralists from South Park Arts will be painting the bridge, “transforming the structure from defunct infrastructure into artistic force.” (South Park Arts website, www.southparkarts.org) Bagpipers will play during the final raising of the leaves, followed by music from a New Orleans Funeral Band, a Latino Roots/Folk band, and a Blues Band. South Park restaurants, like the popular Muy Macho, will be offering food specials, and local organizations will be tabling to showcase the variety of activities and services in the neighborhood.
(Tuesday night photo, shared today by Lars)
As promised in our coverage of last night’s police response on Alki – we checked with the Southwest Precinct today for followup. Lt. Norm James confirms one arrest and answers a few of our other questions:
We in the precinct always staff extra heavy for the last day of school. Alki has been a gathering place for teens from all over the city on the last day of school for many years. We had at least two marked patrol cars at the high schools, along with Traffic units prior to school dismissal. Once school was out, those same units were tasked to Alki along with our ACT and CPT teams. We call additional units as needed after that. The Gang Unit provides an additional presence during these times also. There was one arrest for obstructing an officer, and at this point only one additional incident report for property damage was written.
Twelfth Night Productions Celebrates Fifteen Years Producing Theater with How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying and a Partnership with FareStart
Twelfth Night Productions (TNP) is excited to celebrate our fifteenth year producing theater with How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying. In addition to producing high quality, community theater and providing an artistic outlet for residents of the Puget Sound, each summer TNP has partnered with a local charitable non-profit organization. Donating a portion of the proceeds from each summer show, TNP has helped such organizations as the Delridge Neighborhood Development Association, the All City Band and the White Center Food Bank among others. This year we are proud to partner with FareStart, a culinary job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals.
Both a Tony Award winning show and Pulitzer Prize winning book, How To Succeed In Business without Really Trying follows the rise of J. Pierrepont Finch as he uses a little handbook called “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” to climb the corporate ladder from lowly window washer to high-powered executive. Along the way he tackles such familiar but potent dangers as the aggressively compliant “company man,” the boss’ whiny nephew, the office party, backstabbing co-workers, a caffeine addiction and of course true love.
Show times are August. 6, 7, 14, 20, 21 at 7:30 p.m., with matinees at 3 p.m. on August. 8, 15 and 22 (PLEASE NOTE THERE IS NO SHOW ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 13th). The show is playing at West Seattle High School Theater, 3000 California Ave SW. Tickets are available online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/86033, in person at Square One Books in Jefferson Square, and at West Seattle High School on performance days (3000 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116). Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $12 for students & seniors.
(WSB video of last year’s Seafair Pirates Landing at Alki)
Our timbers were shivered when Shell forwarded us the latest e-mail newsletter from Duke’s Chowder House, saying the Seafair Pirates Landing at Alki (scheduled for July 10) was in jeopardy – at risk of cancellation, or of costing the pirates a pretty penny from their own coffers – because of a shortage of sponsors. Duke’s even set up an online donation link. We have just checked with the Pirates themselves – and while they say no, the landing event is NOT in danger of cancellation, they do need $ help – stand by for the rest of the briny tale as fast as we can type it.
ADDED 1:35 PM: Just got off the phone with Mark Jensen, to whom we’ll refer with his Seafair Pirates nickname, “Keelhaul.” He says the event had “two nice sponsors arranged and contracted” – and within the span of three days, they both canceled. The price tag for the Pirates Landing is about $20,000 – including thousands just for the permits – which may sound like a lot, but isn’t really, for an event drawing that many people. If they don’t get sponsorship money, “Keelhaul” says, the Pirates’ constitution requires the cost be split among them – that means up to $500 apiece for this, and anyone who can’t pay it can’t be a Pirate any more – that’s just the way their rules work. (The Pirates are an independent organization, not bankrolled by Seafair itself, and they make 240 appearances a year, often to assist charity fundraisers.) “We don’t want to lose any pirates over this,” he says – and canceling this Alki Landing is NOT an option: A central part of the event will be granting the wish of a 13-year-old Ellensburg boy, through Make-A-Wish Foundation. As the culmination of what Keelhaul explains is a three-part wish, young Joseph Johnson will become Captain Kidd, the morning of the landing – which means he’s in charge. So how did Duke get involved with all this? They were talking to him about a sponsorship, and while that didn’t work for this year, he came up with the idea of putting out a call to his massive mailing list, asking for people to chip in. So if you want to keep one (or more) Seafair Pirates from walking the plank, here’s how to help.
ORIGINAL 12:59 PM REPORT:Our partners at the Seattle Times say $20 million is the approximate amount that Governor Gregoire is getting ready to pledge to a new South Park Bridge, when she joins other local leaders, including King County Executive Dow Constantine, at the bridge at 3 pm. Other major contributions so far are $31 million from the county, $15 million from the Seattle City Council, and $5 million from the Port of Seattle – that still adds up to only a little more than half the replacement bridge’s cost. (The current, crumbling one shuts down for good one week from tonight.) We’ll report the official announcement as soon as it’s made. 2:58 PM: Confirmed, $20 million. Media event starting shortly. 4:48 PM: Added photo of KC Executive Constantine at the podium, with the regional team of bridge-funding partners behind him (plus South Park community leaders). No surprises at the media event. The state’s $20 million contribution brings the total funding now in hand to $70 million, more than half the $130 million projected cost of building a new bridge. One more number was thrown out – $337 million, an estimate of how much money will be lost in general, to the economy, local and regional, while the bridge is closed. We’ll be adding some video shortly; meanwhile, you can read the county news release in its entirety by going here.5:44 PM: The entirety of the governor’s announcement – if you have to fast forward, check out her economic comparison toward the end:
It was literally a traffic-stopping moment in White Center this morning as WestSide Baby‘s Nancy Woodland and friends guided in a truck bringing a giant donation – more than 200,000 diapers from Huggies. So many, that volunteer help of all ages was needed to move the boxes off the truck and into on-site storage:
Huge as this donation is, it still doesn’t cover all the needs of the local families served by WestSide Baby. We asked Nancy to explain why your help is still vital, for diaper donations any time, particularly this summer’s upcoming Stuff the Bus events:
WSB is proud to be a co-sponsor of the West Seattle “Stuff the Bus” event, which is coming up on Sunday, July 25.
But tea lovers, rejoice – something new is brewing. Aimee Pellegrini, a member of La Rustica‘s founding family, is bringing the Tuscan Tea Room to The Junction – along with her thriving business Romanza Floral. She’s getting ready to move into a space in The Junction.
(Thanks to Robin Lindsey for sharing this view of an osprey out fishing)
You may not be able to fly, but you can tidewalk for the next several days, as minus tides are back, though not as low as earlier this month (this morning at 9:31, it’s -1.7, lower tomorrow). Also ahead: Lots more fun for all ages on this first day of summer vacation – Brian Waite Band‘s “20,000 Volts Under the Sea” at 11:30 am at Southwest Library (free) … An afternoon dance at Delridge Community Center features the Bonnie Birch Band, 1-3 pm ($4/person) … The friendly folks at ALL your localSeattle Parks-run Community Centers (WSB sponsor) present Olympic Day activities tonight at West Seattle Stadium, 5-8 pm, activities for kids 3-12, including a chance to meet Olympic athlete Emily DeRiel and Paralympic athlete Mike Peters, and to rock out with Recess Monkey, free … At 7 tonight, the Ugandan Orphans’ Choir brings African music and dance to Fauntleroy Church – with a dessert bar included in your the ticket price … Also at 7, Highland Park Action Committee‘s monthly meeting with Walk/Bike/Ride, HP history and a freebie for the first 25 attendees (1116 SW Holden) … Bin 41 (WSB sponsor) has the first of 3 consecutive nights of wine tastings, with Coeur d’Alene Cellars featured 5:30-7 tonight … The 4th Wednesday Poetrybridge at C & P features Tito Titus – and potentially you! (open-mike signups at 6:30, program at 7) … Traffic note, paving is scheduled to start on SW Genesee, 47th-51st … More on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.
Along with Friday’s 3-location food drive as part of the West Seattle Community Car Wash events (latest update here), here are two other business-led food drives of note: C & P Coffee just announced a 1-day drive this Saturday, 7 am-4 pm, bring a donation for the West Seattle Food Bank, “receive a free coffee drink of choice.” And Many Moons Trading Company (in the breezeway at 4517 California SW) has an ongoing food drive for the White Center Food Bank – bring nonperishable food to donate, 11 am-6 pm Tuesdays-Saturdays – the WC Food Bank’s service area includes part of West Seattle, but it doesn’t get city funding, and as Many Moons’ Emily says, “School is out and they need food for kids!”
After a briefing at the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting last week, we wrote about the planned Night Market and other new Delridge opportunities to buy fresh, healthy food, starting next month. This morning we have the official flyer, courtesy of Philippia Goldsmith at DNDA – and word that the Night Market’s debut will be 4-8 pm Saturday, July 10th, at Super 24, already the pilot Delridge Fresh Food Spot location. And as also discussed last week, that’s just the start – Philippia explains what else is in the works starting in a few weeks:
Starting with the Night Market kickoff on 7/10, The Delridge Fresh Food Spot Team along with Clean Greens Farm and Market will operate on Fridays 9 am-5 pm and Saturdays 10 am to 6 pm to provide a weekly produce market. On Saturdays, the Delridge Fresh Food Spot Team (DNDA staff and volunteers) will be at the Super 24 from 10 am-2pm providing food samplings using Clean Greens produce as well as information on healthy food options, simple activities for the kids and more. For more information give us a call, (206) 935-2999, or e-mail Phillippia @ phillippiag@dnda.org
Time’s running out for initiatives to get enough signatures to make the statewide ballot. Those who support Initiative 1068 to decriminalize adult use of marijuana are trying one last big push to get more names: The new print edition of The Stranger, 80,000 copies, is supposed to have an I-1068 petition in each and every one. So organizers hope that each reader will sign, and gather some signatures, and drop off the petitions ASAP. They say 2 West Seattle and 2 White Center businesses have agreed to be dropoff spots for the petitions; click ahead for the locations and hours, as sent in organizers’ announcement:Read More
Diane Skwiercz of 
If you walk the streets of certain other neighborhoods – oh, say, Capitol Hill – you’ll notice almost as many teahouses as coffee shops.
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