day : 27/06/2010 7 results

(Photo by Gilbert, taken at Hamilton Viewpoint on July 4, 2009)
The annual WSB 4th of July events/info page will be up tomorrow morning for easy reference throughout the coming week. But while it’s still in progress, a few notes if you’re looking ahead to the holiday: The Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade is happening once again, with every kid in West Seattle invited to join in (families too) – followed by fun activities at Hamilton Viewpoint – details in our previous preview. Fireworks-wise, it’s the second consecutive year with no Elliott Bay display, but much of the Lake Union Family 4th show can be seen from northernmost West Seattle, particularly spots like Hamilton Viewpoint – this is the one saved by donations around the city, mostly from businesses (we chipped in, as did WSB sponsors Ventana Construction and Merrill Gardens). Some in southwesternmost West Seattle (Arbor Heights, the Arroyos) will have a view of the Three Tree Point fireworks, which are also donation-supported (more info here). And in case this is your first 4th of July here, a reminder about fireworks laws: They are illegal in Seattle, but not in unincorporated King County, where legal fireworks stands are allowed to open starting at noon tomorrow (the northernmost one we spotted setting up tonight is in the bowling alley parking lot across from Roxbury Safeway). However, even though sales start tomorrow, fireworks use in the unincorporated area (which is smaller since the North Highline South/North Burien annexation took effect this spring) is only legal 9 am-midnight on the 4th. (Leaving the area for the holiday? Here’s the full list of fireworks displays around the state.)

If you have a 4th of July event in West Seattle or White Center that’s open to the public, please let us know ASAP so we can include it in our calendar and on the forthcoming holiday page!

Share This

West Seattle Helpline/Clothesline: How to help this summer

June 27, 2010 6:30 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle Helpline/Clothesline: How to help this summer

| How to help | West Seattle news

Though summer vacation has barely begun, the nonprofits that heIp make sure kids get what they need for the new school year are already working hard to gather donations and support. One of them, West Seattle Helpline, wants to get out the word that it’s starting to collect kids’ and teens’ clothes for its Clothesline clothing bank, looking ahead to the August backpack/school supplies drive; Tatum from Helpline explains, “We try to allow folks coming in to do back to school shopping on the days we give out backpacks.” She also suggests that if you are having a yard/garage sale, you consider donating any “gently used” clothing that’s left over – and if you’re shopping this summer for kids’ socks/underwear, “grab an extra pack for the Clothesline” – items they always need more of, year-round. Here’s more info on what they do and how to help.

Share This

School news: Explorer West to take space Westside’s leaving

June 27, 2010 3:55 pm

| Comments Off on School news: Explorer West to take space Westside’s leaving

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(WSB photo from last April)
With Westside School leasing the vacant EC Hughes building in Sunrise Heights from Seattle Public Schools (here’s our March report), that empties out space in the building Westside has shared with Explorer West Middle School. Now Explorer West has announced that it’s reached an agreement to sub-lease that space from Westside, pending approvals from entities including Highline Public Schools, which owns the building. Read more here.

Share This

Updates: First-ever Highland Park Sunday Market

June 27, 2010 10:02 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| Highland Park | West Seattle news

FIRST UPDATE, 10:02 AM: The sun is starting to triumph over the clouds at 12th/Holden (map), where the first-ever Highland Park Sunday Market is under way. Good turnout for something that’s brand-new and bound to grow – and some names you’ll likely recognize: Freshy’s Coffee is selling homemade soup, local belly-dancing Troupe Hipnotica is selling unique apparel (and no, it’s not dancing gear, though we’re sure you could dance in it; Kelly from Alki Cab Company is here selling jewelry and wind chimes.

Tiffany Silver-Brace (above), who hatched the market idea, is selling fresh bread (top photo), eggs from her chickens, sourdough starter, and herbs. Photos shortly. If you’ve never been to Highland Park, come out and have a look – this is all unfolding in the lot outside the historic Highland Park Improvement Club (just a couple blocks east of Zippy’s Giant Burgers, if that happens to be your Highland Park . We’re tabling too to cover the kickoff event “live” – come show your support for local vendors and to see the concept grow; the market continues till 1 pm. Dogs and kids welcome – this is pretty laid-back. More photos to come.

10:53 AM: Since the sun isn’t quite all the way through the clouds yet, the four flavors of soup brought by Amber from Freshy’s sound like a particularly good idea. Here’s the menu:

We just took a closer look at some of the arts and crafts – eklectopia is selling custom mugs and glasses, too:

And the table across from ours, with art plus the Troupe Hipnotica apparel (a flyer advertising their tribal-belly-dance instruction too):

11:34 AM: Steady stream of browsers/shoppers, people chatting … Fun to see folks we know and those we hadn’t met yet – like Colleen, who manages the rentals for HPIC (it’s available for events and parties beyond those the club itself and Highland Park Action Committee already own there) and admitted she doesn’t own a computer – but thinks about it from time to time! P.S. We mentioned Kelly from Alki Cab Company earlier – we have her photo, too:

If you haven’t heard of Alki Cab before – that’s cab as in pedicab – as seen on her stickers (a fast-rising classic to add to iconic West Seattle stickers like Easy Street Records, Luna Park Café and the Alki seagull):

You’ve still got more than an hour to get here and check it out; if you miss it, take note, the market will NOT be held next Sunday (the 4th of July) but edition #2 is planned for Sunday, July 11th.

12:45 PM: Very busy this past hour or so – including visitors from other neighborhoods – Justin from White Center-headquartered Full Tilt Ice Cream just came by. We’ve heard from some of the vendors that they’ve done well – again, considering it was the start. Here’s a photo we took within the past hour as noontime browsers shopped and mingled:

We’ll be talking with organizer Tiffany shortly for her thoughts on how it went. Keep an eye on the Highland Park Sunday Market’s Facebook page for updates on future installments.

Share This

1 week till 4th of July, and ‘This Place Matters’ @ Alki Homestead

June 27, 2010 9:47 am

| 11 COMMENTS

| Alki Homestead | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

To preview next Sunday’s 4th of July “This Place Matters” group photo on the street/sidewalk in front of the Alki Homestead – the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s plan to show community concern about its future – Paul Dorpat‘s “Seattle Now and Then” in today’s Seattle Times (WSB partner) looks at the Homestead and its history, while previewing the event. Dorpat published even more Homestead history on his own website the yesterday, recalling it as “A Soap Manufacturer’s Log Mansion on Alki Point.” (His site also republishes the Times piece with a few “Web extra” photos.) Here’s our original June 8th story about the photo plan; here’s our June 20th story about where the Homestead stands from its owner’s perspective.

Share This

Happening today: Highland Park Sunday Market debuts, and more

June 27, 2010 8:23 am

| Comments Off on Happening today: Highland Park Sunday Market debuts, and more

| Highland Park | West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news

(Photo by Jillian Lenox)
9 am-1 pm in the parking lot at Highland Park Improvement Club today, the Highland Park Sunday Market debuts, with arts, crafts, and fresh food. To see who’s confirmed to sell there, check out its Facebook page. (We’ll be there tabling too, to cover it “live.”) 1116 SW Holden; here’s a map … For the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm as always in The Junction, here’s the online Ripe ‘n’ Ready list … Something bugging you? Also in The Junction, you can drop by Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy (WSB sponsor) at 11 am and learn how to ‘Make Your Own All-Natural Bug Sprays’ … And this afternoon, 2-5 pm at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), it’s “Vinyl Countdown 2: A Live Rock ‘n’ Roll Auction,” to benefit Animals First Foundation – auction items include vintage vinyl, posters, books and music memorabilia.

Share This

City councilmember at Hope Academy graduation in High Point

June 27, 2010 1:32 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| High Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

We thought we’d covered our last graduation for this school year. Then an invitation arrived – as a media advisory sent on behalf of a school we hadn’t heard of – Hope Academy. The advisory from the local Council on American Islamic Relations invited us, a newspaper, three TV stations, and three radio stations to cover its ceremony and banquet Saturday night in High Point, explaining:

Hope Academy will celebrate the achievements of its students during with its fourth annual banquet, themed “American Muslims: Defining Ourselves.” The event will be held at the West Seattle Elementary School from 4:45 pm to 6 pm. … The event will include award presentations to graduating students as well as other students. Muslim community leaders and activists from the area will join in the celebration.

As far as we could tell, we were the only media that showed up. However – as you can see in our photos – those on hand included Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell. We asked for more information about the school; Abdul Kadir Jama explained that Hope Academy is “a full-time community-based school that serves K-8.” He added, “We aim at educating the American Muslim children by providing them an opportunity to grow in a conducive environment where they can maintain their faith, culture and at the same time become good citizens.” Saturday night’s celebration included awards to two groups of students, in the photos above and below:

The ceremony included singing of the Somalia anthem, in tribute to the land Seattle’s Somali immigrants – including parents of the students honored Saturday night — left amid civil war that has raged on now for almost 20 years:

Councilmember Harrell spoke, with a message for the students’ parents:

Hope Academy’s classes are held at locations including the High Point Neighborhood Center, according to CAIR’s S. Arsalan Bukhari, who sent the graduation announcement. Looking for more information online about Hope Academy, we happened onto some YouTube clips on this channel, including a student discussing world geography.

Share This