West Seattle, Washington
26 Thursday
Three West Seattle biznotes tonight:
JUNCTION TAX-FREE DAY: Two weeks from today, the West Seattle Junction Association confirms, the day of sales dubbed Tax-Free Day will be back. That’s Saturday, April 18th, first Saturday after the federal filing deadline. Of course it’s not really tax-free – but participating merchants (see the list here – including WSB sponsors AAA West Seattle, Click! Design That Fits, Curious Kidstuff, Emerald Water Anglers, Hotwire Online Coffeehouse, VAIN, and Wallflower Custom Framing) will be offering you a discount by covering the sales-tax cost.
TONY’S MARKET: Worried fans of the seasonal produce store Tony’s Market at 35th and Barton have been messaging us with concerns that it’s already April and Tony’s hasn’t opened for the season yet. We’ve seen activity at the site off and on but hadn’t managed to catch up with anyone for formal comment yet – however, we’ve learned that he’s definitely gearing up to open for the season, possibly as soon as next week.
SPEAKING OF PRODUCE – CSA, ANYONE? Claire at The General Store – Seattle (WSB sponsor) wonders if you are interested in signing up for a CSA dropoff at her store (3400 Harbor SW). CSA stands for Community-Supported Agriculture, and Claire’s been working with Skylight Farms, which she says “showcases more than 100 varieties of produce” and has egg shares available too; the program runs for 20 weeks, June through October, with members having the option of choosing weekly or biweekly deliveries. Claire says only 10 subscriptions a week are needed for The General Store to become a dropoff spot. If you are – or might be – interested, please e-mail Claire at claire@thegeneralstoreseattle.com.
Interested in basketball camp this summer? We have two to tell you about this weekend. First, at West Seattle High School, 4th through 9th graders are invited to camp Monday-Thursday, July 6, 7, 8, and 9 at the WSHS gym, 9 am-4 pm each day. Signups are under way – here’s what it’s all about:
Our camp focuses on positive-attitude player development, individual skill development, and team work skills. We embrace all skill levels and experience, adjusting our coaching philosophies to pretain to each individual, but encourage all to work together to be successful. WSHS staff takes pride in working with our community to build positive relationships and better basketball players.
Head coach Keffrey Fazio is camp coordinator. You can contact him with questions at keffazio@gmail.com. Or, if you’re ready to sign up already, you can do it online here, and send camper info via this registration form.
A little over one year into major work at the site of the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project‘s million-gallon storage tank, another phase has begun, according to a notice from King County: The outer wall and floor of the tank are done, and crews are now building its inner walls. That’s what you see in the photo above, which we took this afternoon through the fence along Lincoln Park Way over the northeast side of the site. The inner-wall work will mean “small concrete pours every week” through June, says the county, and possibly some Saturday work. Then this summer, according to the update, “the contractor expects to begin work to connect to the tank to the existing sewer system. This work will affect traffic on Beach Drive SW. King County will provide more information to the community before work begins.”
The Morgan Community Association has had Murray project updates at its quarterly meetings for quite a while now, so you’ll probably see one on the agenda for the April 15th MoCA meeting (7 pm, The Kenney), in case you have questions, which you can also take to the 24-hour project hotline – 206-205-9186. The project is supposed to be finished by fall of next year.
The police search in the mid-Beach Drive area is because of a reported burglary attempt upslope in the 5900 block of Atlas Drive. Someone is reported to have tried to break into a house there by breaking a window. Only a partial description so far – white man, heavy set, in a blue and green Seahawks sweatshirt and dark shorts, who fled on foot, toward the water. Any information, call 911.
(Scene from 2013 WSCGSD. No, the boat was NOT part of the sale!)
Five weeks from today, neighborhoods around West Seattle will be abuzz with shopping, selling, and neighbor-to-neighbor chatting, during the 11th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on Saturday, May 9th (9 am-3 pm; check the forthcoming map for some sales starting earlier, some ending later), presented by WSB. Today is the third full day of registration, and we have 50 confirmed sales so far, from Arbor Heights to Alki to Admiral, Delridge to Gatewood, Seaview to Sunrise Heights, and beyond. You can register a sale in one of three classifications – individual, business/group/school, or block sale; the info’s all on the form, which you’ll find here.
As always, the WSCGSD map/list will be created in clickable online and printable PDF forms, and it’ll be available one week before sale day. Whether you’ll be selling or shopping, get May 9th on your calendar and invite your friends, relatives, co-workers to come for the sales and stay afterward to visit West Seattle restaurants, coffee shops, beaches … More updates to come!
Scenes from two of this morning’s outdoor egg hunts in West Seattle – first, at Hiawatha:
(WSB photos unless otherwise credited)
This was one of four local city-run community centers with egg hunts this morning. The littlest hunters, and their grownup chaperones, got to throng the tennis courts:
The east side of the park was where eggs were scattered for one of the older groups:
(Photo courtesy Jason Grotelueschen)
Another park that drew hundreds of hunters – Lincoln Park, where Eastridge Church brought thousands of eggs for its annual community celebration:
Eastridge also set up bouncy houses and other kids’ activities, but egg-hunting was at centerstage:
Several other local churches are having egg hunts in conjunction with Easter Sunday services – you can check the schedules for more than 20 local churches, plus two outdoor services, from our WSB Easter & More page.
(Photo courtesy Lisa)
Stock your bookshelves, stock your nearest Little Free Library, get someone a gift, find something new to read in your away-from-the-screen quiet time … lots of books for all ages are on sale right now at Sanislo Elementary‘s annual Book Sale, raising money for the 4th-grade camping trip. Treats too:
(WSB photo)
Head over to the forested grounds at 1812 SW Myrtle (map) before 2 pm!
(WSB photos/video by Patrick Sand)
A big weekend of fun has begun, starting with the Easter Bunny and friends presiding at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), home of our area’s biggest indoor egg hunt:
As our one-minute video shows, families brought the littlest ones in first:
Waiting is tough – but the bunny’s helpers offered a distraction: Bacon samples!
West Seattle Thriftway has photos on its Facebook page, too.
Two reader reports involving stolen/tampered mail. From RP: “Found my neighbor’s mail on the ground around 10 o’clock (Thursday night) while I went to retrieve something from my car. About 10 pieces of mail . I live near Holy Family School on Roxbury. This is the second time this happened.” Also from Thursday night, Scott reports, “Someone opened mailboxes and scattered/took the contents on Glenridge SW in the Gatewood neighborhood.” You can report mail theft online, if it’s not happening right now (anything immediate should be called in to 911) – via SPD’s system, and via USPS’s system.
Did you get up, or stay up, to see the eclipse? “Diver Laura” James shares the photo; we can confirm that it was visible on and off until the clouds completely took over the western sky, a short time before it went total. But now – on with the rest of our Saturday. First, from the WSB Easter & More page:
WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY EGG HUNT: 9 am, the popular kickoff to Easter weekend fills the aisles of WS Thriftway (WSB sponsor) with fun! Always a line, so don’t be late. For ages 1-10. (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan)
COMMUNITY CENTER EGG HUNTS: 10 am, four local community centers have egg hunts (usually broken into subgroups by age – ask when you arrive): Alki, Delridge, Hiawatha, High Point (if you need addresses, go here).
EASTRIDGE CHURCH EGG HUNT AT LINCOLN PARK: 11 am in the meadow of upper Lincoln Park. (Fauntleroy/Rose)
Non-egg-hunt highlights for today/tonight:
TAI CHI ON THE BEACH IS BACK: 9 am Saturdays, starting today, the 2015 series of free Tai Chi sessions at Alki Beach, led by Lao-Shi Caylen Storm. (60th/Alki)
‘206 BANG OUT’ BASKETBALL: 9 am-3 pm, the West Seattle High School Junior Class‘s benefit tournament is happening in the school gym. (3000 California SW)
SANISLO BOOK SALE: 10 am-2 pm, browse/buy books and support Sanislo Elementary‘s 4th-grade camping trip – treats for sale, too. (1812 SW Myrtle)
BAMBOO WORKSHOP AND GARDEN TOUR: 10 am-3 pm at the Seattle Chinese Garden – details here. North end of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. (6000 16th SW)
PRINCESS ANGELINE FILM MARATHON: At the Duwamish Longhouse in West Seattle – 11 am, 12:20 pm, 2 pm showings of this hour-long film telling the story of Chief Seattle‘s daughter. Free admission/parking. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
SW SEATTLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION: 11 am at the SWSHS’s Log House Museum, come hang out to find out how you can help out – first, go here to see the big list of what’s needed! Side note: The museum’s open today, noon-4 pm, as always, but will be CLOSED on Easter Sunday. (61st/Stevens)
PINE LAKE CELLARS TASTING ROOM: Noon-5 pm, try the award-winning wines of Pine Lake Cellars (WSB sponsor) right here in West Seattle. (3400 Harbor SW)
WEST SEATTLE MEANINGFUL MOVIES: 6:30 pm, doors open at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center for WS Meaningful Movies‘ screening of “White Like Me: Race, Racism, and White Privilege in America.” Sunday’s Encouragement March to Terminal 5 will be discussed, too. (6400 Sylvan Way)
TEAM SURVIVOR NW BENEFIT: 7 pm, come to Kenyon Hall for music and more, celebrating Team Survivor Northwest‘s 20 years of defying cancer. (7904 35th SW)
‘PAJAMA GAME’ AT WSHS: 7:30 pm curtain time for the West Seattle High School Drama Club presentation of this Tony Award-winning musical.
(Photo courtesy Laura Martin)
Ticket info here. (3000 California SW)
LIVE MUSIC @ WEST SEATTLE EAGLES: Rhapsody Duo performs tonight, 8-11 pm. Members and guests welcome; $5 cover. (4426 California SW)
EVEN MORE … on the calendar.
Three scenes and scores from Southwest Athletic Complex in Westwood, where three local varsity teams played ball in the Friday afternoon sunshine:
Pica Border Grill on the north edge of The Junction has been closed for a few days, and tonight, after a tip from customer Franklin, we caught up with owner Miguel Govela, who says Pica is closed permanently after he lost what he says was originally a 6-year lease. He posted this sign in the window:
We reported last year on two houses torn down behind the restaurant at 4151 California SW, with a townhouse and live-work unit replacing them, but the one-story restaurant building was listed as staying. We just re-checked the city’s permit files and still don’t see anything proposed for it yet, and the county assessor’s files do not show a recent ownership change – last one on record was in fall 2013. That was more than a year after Govela bought the restaurant that had been Jonny Bostons; we subsequently reported on his transformation of the space into Pica, with a menu from both sides of the US-Mexico border.
(January 29th photo of Delridge/Holden stairway, after student was robbed)
Back in February, Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Officer Erin Nicholson told the Highland Park Action Committee that the city might bring in goats to clear vegetation along local stairways and make them safer, in the wake of crimes targeting students using them. Now, we have confirmation: SDOT is bringing goats to clear the slopes alongside the SW Holden stairway between Delridge and 20th. Here’s the flyer the city has distributed to nearby residents:
This will be the first time SDOT has used goats in West Seattle, according to SDOT’s David Allen, who says they are from Rent-A-Ruminant.
P.S. While it’s a first for SDOT, it’s certainly not a first for WS; last decade, it was almost common – oldest goat photos in WSB archives are from 2007: Marine View Drive, Admiral, Gatewood …
The King County Department of Transportation is circulating the reminder tonight: Monday is the first day of the West Seattle Water Taxi‘s extended spring/summer schedule – not only 7 days a week, but also middays on weekdays, not just the am/pm commute runs covered in the winter schedule. Just in time, since Monday is opening day for the Mariners, with a 1:10 pm game. You can see the new schedule here.
SW Barton is blocked between 25th and 26th on the southeast side of Westwood Village after a car and Metro bus collided. Our crew says the car’s driver is going to the hospital; no injuries on the bus, which had no passengers as it was en route back to the terminal. A tow truck is expected in half an hour or so to clear the scene.
ADDED: Thanks to Heath for this photo:
ORIGINAL REPORT, 4:18 PM: In the most recent “Skies Over West Seattle“ written by Alice Enevoldsen for WSB, she called tomorrow morning’s lunar eclipse the most exciting upcoming event. The excitement’s been dampened a bit by the weather – but we have some blue sky right now, so we have hope for tonight/early tomorrow, and we’re publishing a reminder. It peaks with totality at 5 am; here’s the rest of the timeline. (Photo by David Hutchinson – 2011 lunar eclipse, seen from Alki)
SATURDAY UPDATE, 4:42 AM: We’ve been working all night and caught a few glimpses – around the half-eclipsed and 3/4-eclipsed marks – just looked again, seems the clouds are winning as totality approaches in about 15 minutes.
ADDED: Thanks to Jack Miller for this photo of the “blood moon” phase:
And “Diver Laura” James shared a time lapse:
Opponents of the plan for Shell’s Arctic fleet to use part of the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5 plan two events in West Seattle this weekend:
SUNDAY ‘ENCOURAGEMENT’ MARCH UPDATE: That’s the map for Sunday’s rally/march from The Junction to Terminal 5, dubbed by organizers as a Port Encouragement Rally – encouraging the Port of Seattle to cancel the T-5 lease for Shell vessels/equipment intended for Arctic drilling. We published the original announcement back on Monday. It starts at Walk-All-Ways (California/Alaska) at 1 pm Sunday; the march will be “using sidewalks and obeying pedestrian traffic laws,” says the update from Stu Hennessey, which also notes:
This March is sponsored by the Green Party of Seattle and is supported by Greenpeace, 350.org, Backbone, West Seattle Meaningful Movies and the citizens of West Seattle. Speakers from the Green Party, Sustainable West Seattle and 350.org will address the crowd as they gather at the entrance of West Seattle’s Terminal 5.
Also noted in the update – Sunday’s march will be discussed at the West Seattle Meaningful Movies gathering this Saturday night, 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center.
KAYAK ‘FLOTILLA’ – SATURDAY TRAINING: Opponents of the lease warned at the last Port Commission meeting March 24th (WSB coverage here) that the presence of Shell vessels/rigs here would result in a “long, hot summer” of demonstrations. In addition to Sunday’s rally/march, plans for a “flotilla” are taking shape, and the coalition organizing it is planning training sessions at Alki Kayak Tours in West Seattle. The first one is scheduled for 10 am-12:30 pm tomorrow.
WHEN DOES THE ‘FLEET” ARRIVE? No timeline has been announced for expected arrivals – the chair of Foss‘s parent company Saltchuk, Mark Tabbutt, told the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce yesterday morning (WSB coverage here) that the platform Polar Pioneer is indeed headed this way. (Here are its specs, including a 17-story-high derrick; not as high as the SBX radar platform that was here four years ago. It was built by Hitachi Zosen, also known in these parts for building the Highway 99 tunneling machine “Bertha.”) It’s on board a “deck cargo” ship called Blue Marlin, which is still out of MarineTraffic.com-tracking range but filed a plan with estimated arrival in the Port Angeles vicinity around April 12th. Greenpeace is following the Polar Pioneer/Blue Marlin across the Pacific with its boat Esperanza.
Northward bound, @Shell’s vessel just changed course https://t.co/lk8jjcWi7O #thecrossing #savethearctic pic.twitter.com/DzHQhyjjF9
— Greenpeace Esperanza (@gp_espy) March 31, 2015
That same Greenpeace boat was here in 2012 while part of Shell’s fleet was at Vigor.
Thanks to the reader who called this to our attention. Seattle Public Schools is setting up a “pathway” through local schools for students identified as “highly capable,” the first of its two tiers of advanced-learning programs, the one that was formerly known as APP, and it’s looking for interested people to be part of a focus group. As explained in this letter, the pathway would start with Fairmount Park Elementary, which offers “highly capable” placement now, and would continue with Madison Middle School and West Seattle High School:
The Office of Advanced Learning is collaborating with school and community members to develop a Highly Capable Cohort pathway for students in West Seattle. That is, when the pathway is established, students identified as Highly Capable could eventually be served from kindergarten through 12th grade in HC classrooms at schools located in West Seattle.
We are forming a Focus Group to provide an opportunity for school leaders and community members to collaborate on implementing new HC services at Madison Middle School and West Seattle High School. If you are interested in joining the Focus Group, application forms will be made available by mid-April on the Advanced Learning website www.seattleschools.org/advlearning.
The pathway will take time to develop and will not be fully in place by next school year, but we want to help families understand their options for this fall:
Highlights for the rest of today and tonight include a West Seattle couple known for walking and writing:
CATHY & JAKE JARAMILLO @ WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: The authors of “Seattle Stairway Walks” are in that clip, inviting you to tonight’s edition of WWWS, 5-7 pm at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village, presented by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. More info here. (2800 SW Barton)
SPEAKING OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY: Out of school early today? Take a trip to the Log House Museum, which is open noon-4 pm as usual. (61st/Stevens)
FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT THE MOVIES: 1 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, today’s movie is “Fargo.” (Oregon/California)
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Chief Sealth International High School varsity teams have home games at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) – baseball vs. Nathan Hale and softball vs. Rainier Beach, both at 4 pm. West Seattle High School‘s varsity baseball team has two on-peninsula games as well – 3:30 pm baseball at Hiawatha (2700 California SW) vs. Ballard, 3:30 pm softball at SWAC, also vs. Ballard.
GAME NIGHT AT CORNER BAR: It’s Game Night at this month’s edition of Corner Bar at Highland Park Improvement Club, 6 pm, full details here. (12th/Holden)
BIN 41 TURNS 5: 6-7:30 pm, the weekly wine tasting at Bin 41 celebrates the Junction wine shop’s fifth anniversary. Local winemaker Darby English is in the spotlight. (4707 California SW)
‘PAJAMA GAME’ AT WSHS: 7:30 pm curtain for the West Seattle High School Drama Club production at the WSHS Theater. (3000 California SW)
PASSOVER & GOOD FRIDAY: For Good Friday services, check local churches’ schedules, linked from our WSB Easter & More page. Meantime, Passover begins at sundown tonight. (You can always find sunset/sunrise times on the WSB West Seattle Weather page.) No public events that we know of.
From the WSB Easter & More page – one more reminder of what’s ahead this weekend:
(WSB photo: 2013 Thriftway egg hunt)
SATURDAY: Egg-hunt action starts at 9 am inside West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), continuing at 10 am at four city-run community centers; that’s just the start – see the page for the complete list.
SUNDAY: Several local churches promise egg hunts post-Easter service, including WSB sponsors Tibbetts United Methodist Church and All Souls. In the afternoon, Admiral UCC is having an Easter festival for families.
(More than 20 churches’ Easter/Holy Week schedules are linked, plus the Easter sunrise services at Forest Lawn [WSB sponsor] and on Alki Beach; last call to add anything we’re missing – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!)
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Not only is it a quiet commute in our area, it’s uneventful regionally, so far, per WSDOT’s traffic-watchers.
EARLY DISMISSAL: Watch for extra walking, bicycling, and school buses at midday today – local parochial schools are out at noon and off next week for Easter Break. (Seattle Public Schools‘ spring break is one week later.)
8 AM – REMINDER FOR NEXT WEEK: As reported in our 47th/Admiral project update Wednesday night, SW Waite on the north side of that intersection will be closed to through traffic next Monday-Friday. Here’s the newest reminder from SDOT.
7:05 AM: Police and fire are headed for the 8100 block of 9th SW. The call is “assault with weapons”; the initial reports are that someone has a gunshot wound, possibly self-inflicted. We’re headed over to find out.
7:08 AM: Per scanner, most of the SFD units are being canceled, but they’re calling for a chaplain.
7:32 AM: Police cars were visible at the scene, but the officers were in the house and unavailable to talk to. A reminder in the meantime … the local 24-hour hotline from the Crisis Clinic: 206-461-3222.
Now that April’s here, the Class of 2015 is just two months from graduating, and celebrating. At Chief Sealth International High School, a bit of a community boost will go a long way toward making sure the biggest party of the summer isn’t out of any grad’s reach:
The Chief Sealth Class of 2015 senior class parents are currently organizing a tremendous event for our graduating seniors. Grad Night is an all-night, alcohol and drug-free party with non-stop, action-packed and supervised fun aimed at keeping our seniors safe on this important night. Where they’re going is a total surprise…but it will be awesome! This special event sends a clear message to graduates that we want to honor their achievement and care about their safety.
Why do we do Grad Night? Statistically, graduation night is the most common night for tragedy among teens and young adults. Students have just been ceremoniously ushered into adulthood and feel invincible – what could go wrong when left to their own plans? For many teens and young adults, this night has ended in tragedy. Why leave it to chance? We want our graduates to celebrate their bright futures, not ruin them.
Did you know? At Chief Sealth, over half of our students qualify for free/ reduced lunch and there are reportedly at least 40 homeless students currently attending Chief Sealth. For many families in our community, senior year expenses are overwhelming. In previous years, the CSIHS community generosity has made this event possible and affordable for all students. Funds raised have provided valuable scholarships to students who cannot afford the ticket price, as well as prizes for the contests and games offered throughout the event and many other details that make this night a lasting memory for students. Your support of this worthwhile tradition is extremely important. We need your help to continue this event.
Seattle Public Schools and the CSIHS PTSA support Grad Night and they commend you for any contribution. Most of all, the graduating seniors are grateful to you for caring enough to help provide a safe alcohol and drug free party.
It’s so easy to help! Contributions can be made online at bit.ly/sealthgradnight. Or you may use the attached form and send in your contribution to the CSIHS Main Office at 2600 SW Thistle St, Seattle, WA 98126, ATTN: 2015 Grad Night. Contributions must be received by May 1, 2015.
Please consider forwarding this letter to the greater community or anyone you know who may support CSIHS Grad Night.
If you have any questions, please call me at 206-932-4760. Thank you for supporting the CSIHS Class of 2015!
Thank you!
Cathy Jimenez
Grad Night Committee Chair
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