day : 10/08/2011 12 results

The formerly-76, once-to-be-converted-to-Arco gas station on the east side of Fauntleroy/Alaska is finally tidier tonight. We’d been looking into the site’s status for three weeks, as WSB’ers continued sending notes asking what we knew about it, as trash and junk continued to accumulate following its sudden closure months ago. We took this photo (and others showing trash/junk around the site) three weeks ago:

That was shortly after a complaint had been filed with the city. The city’s log shows that in the meantime, the site was inspected, found to be in violation, and a warning was issued – clean up by August 14th. Looks so far like they have met that deadline. But what about the station itself?

We had reported back in February that it was being converted to an Arco station. Then the work stalled – the station stopped pumping gas – and the store closed. When we inquired with Arco, a spokesperson told us that “for reasons we don’t know” the conversion never moved forward, and Arco doesn’t “anticipate it ever being converted.” However, the spokesperson made it clear that the site is not owned by Arco, but instead by an area entrepreneur, and even gave us his name and number. Took us a while to reach owner Brandon Kim, but WSB contributor Katie Meyer talked with him by phone yesterday. Asked if the station would reopen, he replied, “Not really,” and told her that he believed a bank would be taking it over. That’s all the comment he had; online records do not indicate any sort of a sale or foreclosure at this point, but we’ll keep an eye out.

SIDE NOTE: The gas station on the west side of the intersection is no longer on the market – we had reported the listing in February, and while the listing was active less than two weeks ago (here’s a cached version). So far, we can’t tell if it was sold, or just de-listed.

Share This

Big night for stand-up paddleboarding, including a premiere!

August 10, 2011 8:17 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

That’s a preview of “Explore: Catalina,” a stand-up paddleboarding “adventure film” that’ll have its Seattle premiere next Tuesday (August 16th) as part of a big night at Seacrest. Greg Whittaker from Alki Kayak Tours says it’ll be shown outdoor at the Alki Crab and Fish lounge right next to his business, at the end of an evening that starts with SUP demos at 6 pm (first 40 people free), continues with the weekly SUP race at 7, and then the movie – free – at 8. Raffles too. (Co-sponsors for the evening include WSB sponsor Mountain to Sound Outfitters, which is celebrating the launch of its online store – discount code here; the full sponsor list is on the official flyer, which includes even more details.)

Share This

Village Green foreclosure fight updates: MSNBC interview; benefit date change

August 10, 2011 4:16 pm

| 42 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people | White Center

Two quick updates in the ongoing saga of Village Green Perennial Nursery owner Vera Johnson‘s fight against foreclosure, after what she says has been months of getting the runaround from Bank of America: First, WSB commenters had suggested this story deserves national attention – and it looks like some is on the way: Vera tells WSB she has been asked to do a national cable-network interview, tomorrow morning around 8 am with MSNBC, from a downtown Seattle studio. We don’t have an exact time yet when this is likely to air, but we’re working to find out. Second, the date for a community benefit/rally on Vera’s behalf has just changed to August 31st, still at 5 pm at Big Al Brewing in White Center. (If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s our Tuesday story about her trip downtown to get a face-to-face meeting with B of A.)

Share This

Two days, three bands: West Seattle outdoor music ahead

August 10, 2011 4:00 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

A WSB commenter broke the news, and Safeway’s Sara Osborne confirms it: Steel-drum band The Toucans will play at tomorrow’s opening celebration for the new Admiral Safeway, likely outdoors, 4-7 pm. As reported previously, the store opens at noon, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony around 11:30 am (here’s our most recent report).

Tomorrow is also the next Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show – but it’s actually on Alki this time:

Yogoman Burning Band plays at 6:30 pm tomorrow (Thursday) – as with the regular location, bring your own blanket/chair to Alki for the concert. Same goes on Friday at Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor), when the second of four Friday night concerts brings Danny Vernon with his Illusion of Elvis:

That’s our video of his show there last year. This Friday, it’s music at 6, dinner/beer/wine available for sale at 5:30 pm, free popcorn/snow cones, south side of The Mount (4831 35th SW). ADDED 4:41 PM: Susan Clark at The Mount sends details of something extra this Friday night – a classic-car show:

We’re having around 20 cars! Here’s a brief listing:
* Ford Model A
* 1957 Chevy
* 1965 Corvair
* 1965 Corvette Sting Ray
* Austin Healy
* Other Chevrolets and Mustangs

It’s an informal car show-no judging. The show starts at 3:30 pm and ends at 7:30 pm. It’s just something we wanted to do for our residents and concertgoers.

Share This

Update: Small deck fire at Beach Drive/SW Genesee

August 10, 2011 2:57 pm

| Comments Off on Update: Small deck fire at Beach Drive/SW Genesee

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

2:57 PM: SFD sent a full house-fire response to the 5900 block of SW Genesee (map). WSB’s Christopher Boffoli is there and says no smoke or flames are visible. This is actually just east of Beach Drive. More as we get it.

(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
3:10 PM: Christopher says it was a small fire on a deck; no injuries or major damage reported so far.

Share This

Russian sailing ship Pallada docked downtown, with tours!

August 10, 2011 12:50 pm

| 20 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

After getting a question about the tall ship docked downtown at Pier 66 – our friends at KING 5 mentioned it last night – we checked with the Port of Seattle to see how long it’ll be around, and they said they’ve just gotten a schedule for public tours. It’s the Russian ship Pallada, said to have at least at one time held a record as the “fastest sailing ship” in the world, owned by the Far Eastern State Technical Fishing University. It’s on a goodwill tour, carrying what this report from Russia describes as “an exhibition featuring the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s space flight and the 270th anniversary of the discovery of Russian America by Russian seafarers.” According to port spokesperson Charla Skaggs, the Pallada is open for tours till 6 pm today, 10:30 am-4 pm tomorrow, and 10:30 am-3 pm on Friday. She says it’s scheduled to leave later Friday – no exact time yet; the Russian report says it’ll be bound for Japan, after having stopped here, in B.C., and in Alaska. Via the WSB Facebook page, Rob pointed out his photos of the Pallada visiting Puget Sound in 2005 for the Tall Ships Tacoma festival.

More Web research yielded another bit of local history with this ship: It was stuck in Seattle for a while almost exactly 20 years ago because of money troubles. Here’s a story from August 1991.

Share This

Help! Reward offered for ‘Inadvertently Missing Punchbowl’

August 10, 2011 11:55 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news

This arrived in the WSB inbox under the heading, “The Case of the Inadvertently Missing Punchbowl.” Admiral UCC Church hopes you can help solve the “case”:

Here are the facts as we know them:

1. A glass punchbowl set with punch cups and a glass ladle was loaned to the Admiral Congregational United Church of Christ for use during receptions a month or so ago.

2. At some point it was inadvertently placed in a stack of items to be sold at the annual yard sale.

3. On July 30th, at the annual yard sale, it was sold to a lady from West Seattle whom the cashier did not know.

4. There are a number of red faces around our church because this happened, and shouldn’t have.

5. The punchbowl set was sold in a box with the name “Verle Kramer” written on it.

6. While the owner admits that the set has no great monetary value, it belonged to his mother, and therefore has sentimental value.

7. If anyone has any knowledge of the whereabouts of the set, please contact the church at 206 932-2928.

8. The purchase price will be refunded, and there is a reward being offered.

Share This

Sign-up time for West Seattle community centers, Southwest Pool

August 10, 2011 11:43 am

| Comments Off on Sign-up time for West Seattle community centers, Southwest Pool

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

If you haven’t already checked out the brochure for fall classes, programs, and events at West Seattle’s city-run community centers – it’s now available online, and registration is now available for the offerings that require it. The same brochure includes the fall schedule for Southwest Pool, from lessons to public swims.

Share This

North Delridge Neighborhood Council: DESC, Stockbox, new logo

August 10, 2011 10:49 am

| 13 COMMENTS

| Delridge | DESC Delridge project | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Highlights from this week’s North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting included a push for another community forum about the proposed Downtown Emergency Service Center 75-unit apartment building to house homeless people living with mental illness. NDNC leaders said that DESC was suggesting smaller gatherings, but discussion at the meeting solidified a sentiment that a big-group forum was important, as there hadn’t been one yet – given the June 27th meeting (WSB coverage here, with video) from which dozens were turned away given the small size of the venue. No meeting date yet. As reported here two weeks ago, the proposal is now in the city permit system.

NDNC attendees, meeting Monday night outdoors in the Delridge/Genesee park area, also heard a presentation about a new business headed to Delridge:

Stockbox Grocers‘ founders were in attendance to announce they plan to open its first West Seattle prototype on September 1st, in a parking lot at the Westhaven Apartments (24th/Holden).

Presenting the plan to NDNC, Stockbox’s Carrie Ferrence explained it’s a “miniature grocery,” meant to be permanently housed in a recycled cargo container, though the two-month West Seattle experiment will be in a 20 x 8 “portable office” structure. Stockbox is a for-profit startup that hopes to grow to multiple locations with mini-corner-store type operations, but for now, they’re planning to start in the Delridge and Skyway areas. They’re also trying to raise $15,000 more capital via a Kickstarter campaign. They’ll start by being open 3-8 pm (to catch people heading home) weekdays, 8 am-8 pm weekends.

Also at NDNC: A round of voting resulted in a choice for the organization’s new logo:

That was one of nine entries in the council’s open-to-the-public logo contest. Turns out, though, the artist isn’t from Delridge – but rather, from Edmonds, according to NDNC’s Patrick Baer, who spearheaded the contest.

NDNC also discussed plans for upcoming events including the Delridge Day festival, 11 am-3 pm on September 17th, which they’re organizing – vendor booths (still time to apply), food, and more, plus the centerpiece of the day, the skatepark dedication – the festival site will be in the adjacent park area. Asked if there will be live music, project lead Amanda Leonard said Parks is working on that. NDNC needs lots of volunteer help to make Delridge Day a success;

NDNC also reiterated the public invitation for this weekend’s Longfellow Creek walk: Meet at 26th/Brandon (Greg Davis Park) at 1 pm Sunday (August 14th) – kids and pets welcome.

You can find out more about the North Delridge Neighborhood Council at ndnc.org; meetings are first Mondays, 6:30 pm, Delridge Library unless otherwise announced – like this summer’s outdoor versions!

Share This

Community Acupuncture Project of West Sea: New WSB sponsor

August 10, 2011 9:00 am

| 14 COMMENTS

| Health | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Today we’re welcoming one of our newest WSB sponsors, and per WSB tradition, here’s what the Community Acupuncture Project of West Sea would like you to know about who they are and what they do:

West Seattle finally has our very own full-time community acupuncture clinic. The Community Acupuncture Project of West Sea is now open 7 days a week, in the heart of the Junction. Acupuncture is now affordable in our neighborhood, every day, with no need to cross the bridge! Sonja Sivesind, a licensed acupuncturist and owner of the Project, is a Westwood resident who opened this second location after two years of running the Community Acupuncture Project of Columbia City. Sonja is also an acupuncturist at a methadone clinic downtown and loves offering acupuncture to so many members of the community. She is thrilled to be providing acupuncture to her neighbors and fellow West Seattleites while also offering jobs to Seattle acupuncturists.

The Community Acupuncture Project of West Sea, which opened for business on June 12, joins the ranks of 9 other community acupuncture clinics in Seattle and more than 200 sliding-scale clinics nationwide. “Community acupuncture surprises people. It is powerful to be treated with others and feel healing energy radiating off one another. Because acupuncture is most effective as a series of treatments, our sliding scale ($15-40) allows people to come in often and really get better,” explains Sivesind. “Patients come in for everything from back pain and allergies to insomnia and anxiety,” says Sivesind. “Most people feel more relaxed when they leave our clinic and are pleased with the calmness they feel as they re-emerge into their daily lives.” The Community Acupuncture Project of West Sea is located at 4545 44th Ave SW @ Alaska. You can reach us at 206.933.7891. To learn more about community acupuncture, check out: acupunctureforall.org

We thank Community Acupuncture Project of West Sea for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

Share This

West Seattle Wednesday: Roxhill Park projects meeting; more

August 10, 2011 8:35 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

LOW TIDES: Another few days of minus tides begin (here’s the monthly chart), with this morning’s low tide just after 9 am, -1.1.

KIWANIS HOSTS COUNCILMEMBER: At Be’s in The Junction at noon ,the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle will hear from Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden. Lunch is $8; RSVP to Warren Lawless, ewl@westseattle.com or 206-938-8032.

HEALTH-CARE TALK: “Health Care Reform and Seniors” at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon St), 12:15 pm. Learn about Medicare changes, how health-care reform is closing the prescription drug “donut hole”, new long-term care and care transition initiatives, and free preventive visits for seniors. Drop-ins welcome.

FARM-STAND PRODUCE: The High Point Market Garden Farm Stand is open 4-7 pm, 32nd Ave SW and SW Juneau. You can buy produce that’s been just picked, yards away.

ROXHILL PARK PROJECTS: Community meeting about the Roxhill Park skatespot and playground renovation, 6 pm, Southwest Library (35th/Henderson); more details in our preview.

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: With six days to go till the primary election, our area’s largest political group has its monthly meeting, 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 9131 California SW. (agenda here)

Share This

Bushaw murder trial: Confessed killer’s testimony concludes

August 10, 2011 2:44 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

At the Steve Bushaw murder trial, the third day on the witness stand was the final one – unless he’s called back later – for John Sylve, one of two men who confessed to the deadly February 2009 shooting.

On trial are two other men, Bryce Huber and Brandon Chaney, who are charged with first-degree murder though there’s no indication they ever fired a shot. Tuesday’s witnesses also included a woman who was at Talarico’s with Huber the night of the shooting – Super Bowl Sunday 2009 – and a woman who just happened to be at the restaurant/bar when the shooting happened outside and found herself helping tend to Bushaw’s wounds till help arrived.

Share This