West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
(Video and photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Twice a year, hundreds of volunteers join forces across multiple sites along the Duwamish River and its watershed for Duwamish Alive!, a day devoted to caring for the vital waterway used by wildlife as well as industry and recreation, as well as the area that feeds into it. Today was the fall edition, with work parties at five sites; WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams went to the West Duwamish Greenbelt on Pigeon Point, to T-107 Park on the river, and to the Brandon Street Natural Area on Longfellow Creek; some of the sights are in the video above, and some in photos like these:
That’s Masha Sukneva working with an orange honeysuckle, while others worked on mulch:
More ahead:Read More
(County Assessor’s Office photo of Schmitz Park Elementary, undated)
On November 7th, the School Board is expected to approve the final wording for the BEX IV Levy to go to voters next February – and its current draft calls for building a new Schmitz Park Elementary on the old Genesee Hill School site, to open in 2015. District staffers have not presented a plan for what would subsequently happen to the current crowded Schmitz Park school, but last week, West Seattle’s board rep Marty McLaren said the namesake family had told her they were against closure of the school, which is on land donated by the family. Today, we received a copy of the letter that Schmitz family members have just sent to the board; you can see it here, and we have transcribed it below:
October 19, 2012
Seattle School Board
(mailing address)Subject: Schmitz Park Elementary School Proposed Closure
*The Schmitz Family of West Seattle strongly opposes the proposed closure of Schmitz Park School, for reasons detailed below.
*The Schmitz Family of West Seattle strongly supports the “One Voice” recommendations developed by the coalition of West Seattle PTA leaders.
For the sum of one dollar ($1.00) and over 50 years ago, Dietrich Schmitz, Emma Schmitz Hartmann, Dr. Henry Schmitz and Ferdinand Schmitz II deeded to the Seattle School District seven-plus acres of land adjacent to Schmitz Park for a new Schmitz Park Elementary School. The intent of this generous “gift” was for there to be a public elementary school on that land in perpetuity – and the Schmitz family requests that this “gift” be honored and respected by you as today’s elected School Board members.
The letter continues after the jump:Read More
Actor Josh Lucas shopped at Fleurt in The Junction this afternoon, reports starry-eyed proprietor Sam Crowley, who shared the photo with this report:
Dreams come true. My favorite celebrity crush – Josh Lucas – stopped into Fleurt this morning for his grandma’s birthday flowers. Picked out some candles too. … His wife was in Fleurt a few weeks ago and told Josh how much she loved it, and told him to get the flowers from me.
Lucas’s career is detailed on this iMDB page; he has Puget Sound roots, including relatives in the region and Gig Harbor High School as his alma mater (1989).
Thanks to West Seattle walkers/writers Jake and Cathy Jaramillo for sharing photos from this afternoon’s “Alki From Above” stairway walk, the third in a three-walk series presented by Feet First and West Seattle InMotion. They report about 20 people joined them; above, the group walked along Alki Avenue below the Bonair stairs; uphill, here they are on the 53rd SW stairway:
And on 51st SW past College Ravine:
The Jaramillos publish the Seattle Stairway Walks website, and have written the Seattle Stairway Walks book, due out in February.
Even in the mid-afternoon rain, the historic California Avenue substation building – part of Dakota Place Park, which itself was dedicated three years ago – drew a crowd to its open house today. And it wasn’t just the free barbecue –
– though that was a hit too! Hiawatha Community Center is organizing some classes here through Seattle Parks, but it’s also available to rent for parties and meetings. As Hiawatha’s Tiffani Melake showed us, the big room has two screens, and the smaller room had a wall-mounted flat screen – there’s sound equipment too.
With the 1930 building – capacity up to 215 – all spruced up, the park is now complete. Here’s how to find out about renting it: For banquet rentals Fridays-Sundays, call Seattle Parks at 206-684-7254; for weekday rentals, Hiawatha CC is handling them at 206-684-7441.
Last weekend, we reported on a North Delridge case involving a woman bitten in the face by a neighborhood dog – injured so badly, she had to go to the hospital. The Seattle Animal Shelter had not cited the dog’s owner at the time, pending more investigation; we just talked again with SAS’s enforcement supervisor Ann Graves, who says they determined the animal met the criteria to be deemed a “dangerous dog” and cannot be allowed to stay in city limits. She says her agent just went out this morning to check back, and verified with the owner that the dog is no longer in the residence or in the city. If it comes back, Graves says, the owner will be charged with a criminal misdemeanor (here’s the full text of the city law) – so if neighbors see it back in the neighborhood, they should report it. (She added that the 10-day in-house quarantine of the dog, to check for rabies, “ended without incident.”)
11:11 AM: Fun morning so far at “Reach Out” – the volunteer-organized preparedness event happening till 2 pm at Arbor Heights Elementary (3701 SW 104th). We and others who are tabling and talking are in the school cafeteria; next door in the gym, presentations are happening almost continuously – here’s what’s still ahead:
Now till noon – JoAnn Jordan with SNAP! (Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare)
Noon-12:30 pm – Lunch break (Bigfood has a truck outside, selling lunch)
12:30-1:15 pm – Seattle Red Cross
1:15 pm-1:35 pm – Seattle Animal Shelter
1:35 pm-2 pm – Seattle Fire Department
Many other organizations are here too – including the volunteers behind the West Seattle Be Prepared Emergency Communications Hubs:
Each of those locations is a “hub” where preparedness volunteers will set up in case of disaster – know your nearest one, so you can go there and find out if all other channels of communication are down. Again, this is on till 2 pm – and we’re told a fire truck just arrived (for visits, not crisis) – looking out the window, we see it’s Engine 37 from Sunrise Heights:
More to come!
11:57 AM: Just wrapping up, the SNAP demonstration with JoAnn Jordan:
SNAP is a city-sponsored program with workshops around the city all year – keep an eye on their calendar to see when one’s coming to West Seattle. Back outside, Engine 37 continues to be a hit:
12:50 PM NOTE: Still time to come visit – the event’s on till 2, and the “preparedness with pets” presentation from the animal shelter at 1:15 pm is up next.
(Friday photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
Will we see orcas again today off West Seattle shores? Impossible to say – until and unless somebody reports a sighting. Whales can’t be scheduled – but lots of other things can, and here are some of them, from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar (note, these are just highlights – follow the calendar link for MUCH more):
RESCUE THE ROSES! 9 am-3 pm, an event previewed here earlier this week – about 60 rose bushes remaining in what was a long-beloved rose garden at 61st and Beach Drive are offered for $10 each (raising money for a church group) – you dig.
EMERGENCY REACH OUT! Many reasons to come to this community-volunteer-organized West Seattle preparedness expo at Arbor Heights Elementary 10 am-2 pm today – demonstrations, life-saving info, and from 10 am-noon, a free espresso cart with treats. We’ll be there covering it “live” – preparedness is one of our favorite topics.
WESTSIDE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Interested in attending independent K-8 Westside School (WSB sponsor)? You’re welcome to visit 10 am-noon today. Details and map here.
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FAMILY SYMPOSIUM: Workshops, resource fair, and more, for families attending any schools, any grade. Free! 10 am-3 pm at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle) – details here.
DUWAMISH ALIVE! The twice-yearly mega-work party happens at five sites on and near the river today, 10 am-2 pm. If you want to show up as a last-minute volunteer – the sites are listed/mapped on the official website.
SKI AND SNOWBOARD SWAP: 10 am-6 pm at the VFW Hall in The Triangle, presented by Mountain to Sound Outfitters.
FAMILY FUN AT HIGH POINT COMMUNITY CENTER: Louie Foxx’s One-Man Side Show is the featured Family Fun entertainer at 10:30 am – $5/person at the door.
MUSICAL STORYTELLING – AND EDUCATORS’ DAY – AT BARNES & NOBLE: Two special events today at the Westwood Village bookstore – 11 am, musical storytelling with Katy Webber of Musikal Magik. Rhythm instruments are provided so you can dance and play along! … Also, Educators’ Appreciation Day, noon-4 pm: “Lots of freebies for the classroom, a raffle, the opportunity to learn about fundraising, and info about Nook!”
ALKI STAIRWAY WALK: Third of three guided West Seattle walks with Feet First, 1-3 pm, meet at the bus stop near 49th and Spokane – this one is guided by Cathy and Jake Jaramillo of Seattle Stairway Walks.
DAKOTA PLACE PARK OPEN HOUSE – INDOORS! The newly renovated historic substation building is ready for classes as an extension of Hiawatha Community Center, and ready for rentals too – come see its makeover! 2-5 pm open house today (and we’re told there’s a catered barbecue, too). California and Dakota.
NON-TOXIC HOUSE CLEANING: 2 pm workshop at Delridge Library (Delridge Way just south of Brandon).
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL: 4-8 pm in and around the school hall (34th and Myrtle), all welcome! Details on activities (from bingo to bouncy houses) here.
SCREAM AND SKATE! Pathfinder K-8 fundraiser skating session 5-7 pm at Southgate Roller Rink in White Center – prizes for the best costumes! More info here.
TURKEY DINNER: You’re invited to join in at the West Seattle Eagles‘ Hall tonight, 5:30 pm, $8, proceeds benefiting the Children’s Hospital Guild. More info here.
WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK HARVEST DINNER/AUCTION: Tonight’s the year’s biggest fundraiser for the WC Food Bank, whose service area includes part of West Seattle as well as WC and surrounding areas, at South Seattle Community College’s Brockey Center. Sold out! (But you can donate to WCFB any time by going here.)
ANGELS ON THE RADIO, AN EVENING OF WINE, WIT, AND SONG: Music and Siren Song Wines (WSB sponsor) at Mind Unwind in The Admiral District, 6 pm, featuring Seattle band Willow & The Embers and writer Nicole Hardy. Details here.
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