West Seattle, Washington
06 Monday
(WSB photo by Ellen Cedergreen)
Just five days after SDOT invited the media to come see its winter-weather equipment and listen to the readiness plan … there seems to be a slight chance of its deployment within a week. Late today, the National Weather Service issued a “special weather statement” for much of Western Washington, including our area, raising the possibility — however small — of cold weather that could even bring a bit of snow. From the advisory (yes, it’s published in all-caps):
…A CHANGE TO MUCH COLDER CONDITIONS IS POSSIBLE FRIDAY INTO NEXT WEEKEND…
COLD AIR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER WESTERN CANADA DURING THE UPCOMING WEEK. THERE ARE STRONG INDICATIONS THAT CHANGES IN THE WIND FLOW ALOFT TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK WILL ALLOW SOME OF THIS COLDER AIR OVER WESTERN CANADA TO FILTER INTO WESTERN WASHINGTON FRIDAY OR SATURDAY.
WEATHER GUIDANCE ALSO SUGGESTS THAT THERE IS A RISK OF SNOW…OR MIXED RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS OVER PORTIONS OF THE AREA FRIDAY OR SATURDAY. THE HIGHEST RISK WILL BE WHERE THE AIR IS COLDER…OVER THE NORTH INTERIOR.
WHILE WEATHER GUIDANCE HAS BEEN CONSISTENT IN SHOWING A CHANGE TO A COLDER WEATHER PATTERN…THEY HAVE BEEN UNEVEN IN SHOWING HOW COLD IT WILL GET AND HOW MUCH…IF ANY…SNOW WILL FALL.
NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU COULD PREPARE FOR THE FIRST POSSIBILITY OF WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE LOWLANDS.
SDOT’s snow/ice-route maps are online here; here’s the direct link to the West Seattle segment. P.S. No word from famous forecaster Cliff Mass yet, at least as of 5:30 pm; we’ll keep checking.
Tomorrow morning, a judge’s announcement is scheduled to be the next step toward the future of The Hole – the excavation (behind the green-screened fence in our photo) for the stalled West Seattle project originally known as Fauntleroy Place, once slated for a new Whole Foods (they’ve since pulled out) and Hancock Fabrics (they haven’t answered requests for comment), plus apartments. The decision is in the first major trial in the tangle of lawsuits over what went awry; what’s scheduled to be decided is who has “lien priority” – the entity that holds the site’s note, 3922 SW Alaska LLC, is arguing against the claims of Ledcor Construction, among other components of the complicated case. If you’re interested in the fine print, here are documents summing up the points made in closing statements (which we covered a week and a half ago) – one from 3922 SW Alaska here, one from Ledcor here.
But The Hole’s future isn’t entirely a matter for a judge and development company to decide.
Among the great places to be, indoors, this drippy, foggy afternoon – Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor; 6451 California SW) in Morgan Junction, where Holiday Bazaar II continues till 6 pm. In our top photo, Ivette Johnson (L) and Bradi Jones (R) from the Feedback team are with Mary Clymer (C) of Happy Delusions. While we were there, Feedback’s Jeff Gilbert told us last night’s live performance by Fiasco was a huge hit and brought in lots of food-bank donations, and since their annual allotment of live shows isn’t maxed out yet, they might have the band back before year’s end. (Speaking of comebacks, the Feedback’s famous Sunday ribs return at 5 pm today.)
Meantime, to the east, at Our Lady of Guadalupe School:
Jonathan French shares the photo from the free Sunday dinner for people 65+ that he e-mailed about last night – with OLG students serving the visitors! If you or someone you know fit the criteria, you can still head over till 5 pm and get in on dinner (34th/Myrtle).
Out of the WSB inbox: Jo Bader updates us on Girls On The Run of Puget Sound, “a non-profit organization whose mission is to use the power of running to educate and prepare girls in 3rd through 5th grade for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.” Their after-school program has worked with girls at West Seattle sites including, in recent years, Hiawatha – where Jo coached last year – plus Pathfinder and Alki, and a big regional event is coming up in three weeks, Jo says:
On December 4, 2010, Girls on the Run of Puget Sound will host the New Balance Girls on the Run 5K <> at Seward Park in Seattle. This super-fun race is the culmination of the Girls on the Run fall training program and is an opportunity for girls to demonstrate their new “girl power!” This event is open to the public and one-hundred percent of proceeds will benefit Girls on the Run of Puget Sound programs.
Jo says GOTR is looking for “about 40 more volunteers to help out on race day” – and West Seattle help would be welcomed!
To register, volunteers should go to
www.volunteerspot.com/login/entry/111234563257211405 and follow the instructions to access the volunteer sign up site. Once in, navigate to December 4th and sign up for a job.
The headline comes from the subject line of the e-mail in which Shelley shared the photo. As we had tweeted from the West Seattle Farmers’ Market earlier, violinist Pasquale was serenading shoppers today – and Shelley caught this scene of young fans who decided to savor the concert. (We last saw him in The Junction in June, when he played at the dedication of Junction Plaza Park – which by the way will be the site of this year’s West Seattle Junction Christmas Tree Lighting on December 4th, first time since 2006 that the official tree’s been on that site.)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“Hard to believe it’s really me, whose name will be on high … to challenge those walking by …”
That line is from a poem by Pigeon Point-residing community activist Vivian McLean (above). It refers to the Delridge building carrying her name, Vivian McLean Place, home to the Delridge Library as well as apartments, and adjacent to offices. One of those offices belongs to the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, whose former executive director Paul Fischburg read the poem aloud last night at a party to celebrate Vivian’s 90th birthday:
Vivian is a founderof DNDA. Her birthday party filled the Highland Park Improvement Club with laughter and love, as well as for respect for Vivian’s many accomplishments, which themselves filled a scrapbook placed on a table for all to view:
The scrapbook went back decades; its first page told of an honor she had won in Michigan in 1940, years before moving here in 1948.
Even if you weren’t familiar with the impact she has had, you would have realized it with a look around the room last night. City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen stopped by. Community activists and organization leaders from around West Seattle abounded. Among them, her fellow Pigeon Point’er Pete Spalding, who wore this tribute in lights:
Pete has been involved with much of what Vivian’s work has turned from dream to reality. She lobbied the city to create the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council (which he has chaired), and organized community councils to comprise its membership (including the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council, which he also has chaired). And as a co-founder of DNDA, not only was she involved with its work to build the aforementioned building bearing her name – the library was a longtime dream – but also with three major projects that were part of a subsequent capital campaign. They include the West Seattle Community Resource Center that is home to the West Seattle Food Bank (whose board Pete has led), as well as Youngstown Cultural Arts Center at the original Cooper School.
Last night, though, his main role was that of making sure Vivian was in attendance. And, of course, to help celebrate. “She likes to be with people,” her son Bruce had explained in his remarks; and last night, she certainly was.
11 months after the drunk-driving crash on Beacon Hill that seriously injured the operator of West Seattle’s Jade West Café and his son, there’s finally, and sadly, a sign of the little restaurant’s fate. Sometime in the past few days, a “FOR LEASE” sign appeared in the closed-since-the-crash café’s window at 6032 California SW. We have not yet reached anyone at the number on the sign; other various inquiries over recent months, by us and others, had gone unanswered, so this is the first verification of what many had feared, that the café would never reopen. The driver who hit Wah Wong and son Jason Wong, who lost a leg as a result, pleaded guilty weeks later and is at Cedar Creek Correctional Center in Littlerock, serving a 2-year sentence (here’s our report from last February’s sentencing hearing).
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: The “Country Store” is open at Admiral Congregational UCC (4320 SW Hill) for gift shopping, noon-1 pm, with handmade gifts including jam/jelly baskets and baby blankets … 2 big occasions at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) today – their second annual Holiday Bazaar, 2-6 pm, and for dinner, their legendary Sunday ribs return … Curious Kidstuff (WSB sponsor) is having its big pre-holiday sale today, 25 percent off purchases $50+, 4740 California SW in The Junction, 9 am-5 pm … The Junction is also where you’ll find the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 44th/Alaska, 10 am-2 pm; organizers promise pre-Thanksgiving cranberries today, among other things … 2nd and final performance for Seattle Lutheran High School‘s fall drama “The Odd Couple,” 2:30 pm in the SLHS gym (41st/Genesee), $5 adults, $2 children 7-14, under 7 free. … Giving opportunities today include the ongoing Java Bean Coffee House 20th Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive; bring nonperishable food – proteins especially appreciated – to 2920 Avalon Way; also, a toy drive for Restoration Worship Center, at High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW), noon-2 pm (details and contact info here). … And a reminder about the free dinner for 65+ at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 3 pm, noted here last night.
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