West Seattle Blog…

South Seattle Community College now has a Peace Garden

(Photos by Ellen Cedergreen)
The South Seattle Community College Arboretum‘s Coenosium (“plant community”) Rock Garden is five years old – but it has a new designation as of this weekend. On Friday afternoon, garden volunteers and other supporters gathered for its dedication as a Garden of Peace. There to help lead the celebration, Dr. Laura Dorsey, founder of Atlanta-based Gardens for Peace, whose mission is “to identify and link gardens throughout the world, to foster respect for the environment and a climate of peace among all peoples” :

In our photo, Dr. Dorsey is dedicating the garden while its co-founders Bob and Dianne Fincham (who run a dwarf-conifer farm in Pierce County) and SSCC Arboretum Volunteer Coordinator Claire Hendrickson (seated, in black) look on. Applying to have the garden included in the international network was Hendrickson’s idea. The garden’s story is told here.

The garden runs heavily on volunteer power; Friday’s event was a chance for some of them to take a break and mingle. But more help is needed, Hendrickson says, every second Saturday at the garden between 9 am and noon. She can be reached at arboretum@sccd.ctc.edu or by calling 206-764-5323.

A West Seattle cornfield that’s also a research hotbed

The stereotypical cornfield might stretch for as far as the eye can see, under the flat blue sky of some Plains state. But a West Seattle cornfield – more like a cornpatch – is generating attention, information – and hope. Under a not-so-flat gray sky, a closely watched harvest began Wednesday morning at the SeaChar Carbon Garden site on the south side of the South Seattle Community College campus on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge. While it may look like an unremarkable plot of corn, the difference lies beneath- some of the corn was grown in soil amended with biochar, defined here as the result of “a 2,000 year-old practice that converts agricultural waste into a soil enhancer that can hold carbon, boost food security and discourage deforestation. The process creates a fine-grained, highly porous charcoal that helps soils retain nutrients and water.” The same site declares biochar is no less than “a powerfully simple tool to combat climate change.” But no one’s making those claims without research, here in West Seattle and at other test sites around the globe:

In our video, that’s Jim Grob talking between samples while working yesterday morning with daughter Olivia – getting quite the education on a day off her Pierce County school – and Steve Tracy. While another group started to harvest corn a few rows south, this trio was sampling soil that’s headed for a federal lab in Idaho. The corn was planted in early June. (It’s just yards away from the future Community Orchard of West Seattle, as mentioned yesterday in our story about the collection of donated cardboard at that site for future sheet mulching.) And the biochar story doesn’t just include the farming side – it also includes the creation side – people here and elsewhere are working to get clean-burning, biomass-producing stoves to people who otherwise are cooking over polluting, health-endangering open fires; read more about that here.

2 West Seattle projects advance in Parks Levy Opportunity Fund

Two West Seattle projects are moving ahead in the quest for the first round of money in the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund – created in the voter-approved 2008 levy so that community groups/members could propose projects, separate from city-initiated projects funded by the levy. Pigeon Point’s Pete Spalding, who is on the Levy Oversight Committee, tells WSB, “We met until about 10:30 pm (last night) putting together the draft list of projects that will move forward in the first round of the Opportunity Fund. Two projects from the SW sector made the list. The two projects from the SW are (1) Puget Ridge Edible Park and (2) Highland Park Spray Park.” Here’s a little more info about the Edible Park; the spray park (converting the wading pool at right) already is set for bare-bones city funding, but the Opportunity Fund proposal (as explained here) seeks money to upgrade the plan. Citywide, 95 Opportunity Fund applications were received; they are listed here. We are checking with Parks staff today to see if last night’s full citywide draft list is available for publication yet. This Parks webpage lists the next steps to determine which projects get funded (including a public hearing in about a month).

‘Salute to South’ celebration for new SSCC president Gary Oertli

He’s been on the job for more than a month, but today was the official celebration at South Seattle Community College on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge for new SSCC president Gary Oertli (you might recall, the announcement back in May drew big cheers on campus, as we reported that day). SSCC threw him a party called “Salute to South” this afternoon. Oertli took a moment out to talk with us on video – telling us about a smaller, but goofier celebration, earlier in the day, then discussing the biggest challenge ahead:

Taking the job as SSCC leader was a homecoming for Oertli, a West Seattle native and Chief Sealth alum. SSCC’s previous president, Dr. Jill Wakefield, is now chancellor of the entire citywide community-college system.

Seattle Chinese Garden party: Community welcomes artisans

Things really got rolling about 45 minutes into this afternoon’s community welcome party for the visiting artisans at the Seattle Chinese Garden, when lion dancers paraded around the grounds – our video shows a small part of the procession. At one point along the route, the artisans stood side by side to watch:

They and visitors heard from two presidents – Jon Geiger of the Seattle Chinese Garden Society (purple shirt) and new South Seattle Community College president Gary Oertli, both of whom kept their speeches short, saying they wanted visitors to spend their time touring the site instead:

Pulling back from that scene – the artisans were to the presidents’ left:

Their work has been focused on the Knowing the Spring Courtyard, the first major feature of the Seattle Chinese Garden to be built – you can see into it, looking over the dancers’ shoulders – that’s not a photo or painting, but instead a view into the future courtyard:

The project itself (explained here), in fact, is for the future as well as the present – a dream becoming reality, and a building of understanding across the miles, between the cultures –

If you missed this afternoon’s party, watch the Seattle Chinese Garden website for word of tours and other opportunities to visit. Garden volunteers also are keeping a blog-format website with stories of what’s happening at the site, which is on the far north end of the SSCC campus atop Puget Ridge.

Sunday: Go see the Seattle Chinese Garden’s courtyard-in-progress!

Those are some of the artisans who’ve been here for two weeks now, visiting from China to help make the Seattle Chinese Garden‘s first major feature as authentic as possible – and now it’s your chance to meet and welcome them. Tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon, 1-4 pm, you’re invited to the welcome party at the garden site – on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge, north end of South Seattle Community College – for a welcome party. We took these photos last Monday afternoon during a quick tour of their worksite, the Knowing the Spring Courtyard:

That’s a look at the expanse inside the courtyard walls – the work is going on inside and out:

Tomorrow’s not just a simple open house – special programs are planned as listed in the full party program here, from a flower-arranging demonstration to a lion dance to martial arts (and more).

South Seattle Community College’s new president now on the job

In his second week officially on the job as South Seattle Community College president, Gary Oertli got to take a quick field trip this afternoon. He visited the Seattle Chinese Garden‘s courtyard-construction project with a crew making a video about an upcoming multi-campus event in the Seattle Community Colleges system. We were there for the tour opportunity offered to media reps today – this is the project for which a contingent of Chinese artisans has come to Seattle:

The garden site is on the far northern edge of the SSCC campus; a followup on this afternoon’s whirlwind hard-hat tour is coming up later.

Seattle Chinese Garden’s visiting artisans tour West Seattle

The Seattle Chinese Garden Society – working to complete the garden here in West Seattle, the only one like it that’s not in China itself – are thrilled about the arrival of master Chinese artisans who will be working on its Knowing the Spring Courtyard. But it can’t be all work and no play if you’ve traveled thousands of miles to West Seattle – so, Sandy Marvinney of the SCGS explains (while also sharing two photos) how the artisans’ visit began:

The eighteen master Chinese artisans who arrived in town this past weekend didn’t expect to chat with a fisherman in their native language on their first sightseeing adventure, but that encounter got their Sunday tour off to a great start. At Jack Block Park, West Seattle resident Kin Kau Cheung caught a dogfish just as the group arrived, and after an animated exchange about his fishing skill, let them pose with his catch [top photo]. On their later stroll of the Alki boardwalk, the group met a Chinese family who spoke their regional Chinese dialect. They feel right at home in West Seattle!

The artisans will be here till late November to complete construction of the Seattle Chinese Garden’s first major courtyard. A free community welcome party is scheduled for Sunday, August 22, 1–4 pm at the Garden, with lion dance, entertainment, family activities, and site tours. The public also can watch the artisans at work and keep tabs on construction progress on docent-led tours. The Seattle Chinese Garden is at the north end of the South Seattle Community College campus.

For more information on events and courtyard construction, visit: www.seattlechinesegarden.org and the Garden blog at: blog.seattlechinesegarden.org

The garden is on the South Seattle Community College campus on Puget Ridge.

9:04 AM UPDATE: One more photo from the artisans’ first West Seattle tour on Saturday – Patrick Dunn from the West Seattle Tool Library says they stopped there too (it’s also on the SSCC campus), and shares this photo:

He says they’ll be using tools from the Sustainable West Seattle-launched library as part of the project. (You can rent tools from the library too – check here for hours and details.)

West Seattle Crime Watch, overnight edition: Car flips, 2 flee

If you’re on Puget Ridge and wondering what all the police action is about, officers are responding to a report of a flipped car in the 5600 block of 21st SW (map), empty after two females were reportedly seen running from the scene.

Seattle Race Conference coming to SSCC, needs volunteers

Ron Angeles, Delridge Neighborhood District Coordinator for the city Department of Neighborhoods, just put out the call for volunteers for a big event coming here later this month: The 2010 Seattle Race Conference will be held at South Seattle Community College, 8 am-4:30 pm on August 28th. The theme: “Racism and Health Inequities: Eliminating Barriers and Healing Our Communities.” Registration is open at seattleraceconference.org, and since the event is “100 percent volunteer-powered,” they’re looking for help – if you can pitch in, contact Joyce at Tseng_joyce@hotmail.com or 206-579-5330. Read on for the list of volunteer opportunities: Click to read the rest of Seattle Race Conference coming to SSCC, needs volunteers…

West Seattle people: South Seattle CC sendoff for Mike Munson

Another notable farewell: Co-workers and other well-wishers gathered at South Seattle Community College this afternoon to say farewell to Mike Munson (photographed with wife Marsha), the longtime SSCC public-information director who’s about to retire. He’s not only worked to get the message out about West Seattle’s only college, but has also been SSCC’s rep on local groups such as district councils. His going-away gift: An autographed apron:

Co-workers say the apron is appropriate, because cooking is one thing he’s hoping to do more of!

Happening now: ‘Field Day’ at South Seattle Community College

Thanks to Ron Zuber, one of the amateur-radio operators participating in Field Day at South Seattle Community College (who also happens to be a preparedness pro), for sharing photos from Day 1 of the annual event. (This page explains the GOTA in the photo above.) This morning, Ron says, operators were working to make contact with stations in other states including Idaho and California. He explains, “Field Day is a chance for non-hams to participate with experienced hams and make contact all over the world.”

Among many other activities in which they participate, hams also are involved in emergency preparedness in a big way – if and when regular channels of communication go down, they are ready to get involved and facilitate communication in a nimble, portable way. Field Day participants usually welcome visitors, and you can find them in the field on the southeast side of the SSCC campus, just past Olympic Hall (just look for tents and equipment) – Field Day is really more like “Field Day and a Half,” considering they’ll be there till noon tomorrow.

Video: South Seattle Community College’s 2010 graduation

(Photos and video by Randall G. Hauk)
The ceremony last night at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) honored what was by far the largest graduating class in West Seattle – 721 students earning degrees and certificates! SSCC’s breakdown says that included 318 in academic transfer, 272 in professional/technical studies, 26 students in the college’s 4-year bachelor of applied science Hospitality Management degree program, 105 students earning high-school diplomas or GEDs. The school is of course well-known for its culinary programs, among others – listen to the list of degrees being read for this group of graduates:

Once the diplomas were presented, with so many graduates, it was quite the sight – and south – as they turned their tassels:

A few more scenes from a night of smiles:

And more smiles:

Other highlights of this year’s graduating class: the Hospitality bachelor’s degree recipients were the second graduating class; and SSCC also graduated the first recipient of its new associate of arts in Elementary Education (AEE) degree, “which prepares students to enter a four-year university to pursue bachelor’s degrees in elementary education,” according to the school’s graduation-preview news release. Dianne Dizon is that degree’s recipient. Congratulations to all! ADDED 8:20 AM: One more graduation photo – West Seattleite Stacey Fuda and sister Jamie Malek are “extra super proud” of their mom Kathy Malek, who graduated last night with a certificate in accounting. From left, Jamie, Kathy and Stacey:

(Stacey had mentioned on the WSB Facebook page that her mom would be among the grads, so we asked if she’d share a photo!)

Burning for learning, at South Seattle CC’s ‘College Night’

South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) has gained fame for a variety of academic and vocational programs – and they were all on display to prospective students tonight during “College Night.” The most visual, of course, were from the Culinary programs – flambé above, spun sugar below:

Also showcased, a variety of programs including options for transferring to four-year schools, and options for completing a four-year degree at SSCC. If you’re thinking of enrolling at SSCC, enrollment just opened yesterday for the summer and fall quarters – here’s the calendar, and links to more info. P.S. Earlier today, we interviewed SSCC’s newly announced (2 weeks ago) president Gary Oertli, who’ll be on the job by fall – look for that story tomorrow.

Update: “Mac ‘n’ cheese throwdown” at SSCC

ORIGINAL “HAPPENING NOW” 10:11 AM REPORT: It’s not quite Iron Chef but it’s happening this morning in West Seattle, and Candace Oehler from South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) sent the pic -

Right now, in the South Seattle Community College teaching kitchen, Eric Foster, Executive Chef of Morton’s Restaurant (pictured front), is in a heated Mac ‘n Cheese throwdown with Culinary students Paul Polis (above background) and Nick Anderson. Chef Foster is recreating the dish he demonstrated on KCTS Channel 9. Results of the blind taste testing to follow!

Unfortunately, they’re not offering a public tasting. But there IS a reason to go to SSCC today – 11 am-3 pm, the Garden Center’s open on the north side of campus – not too early to think about spring planting – here’s the season schedule. 11:57 AM UPDATE: As promised by Candace, here are the results:

While the final products were all delicious, Chef Foster’s Blue Softshell Crab and Sambal Garlic Chile Sauce dish nosed out both Polis’ Truffle Salt, Dungeness Crab and Macadamia Nut creation, and Anderson’s colorful Ground Beef and Tortilla Chip effort. Guest judges included potential students and their parents who were visiting the campus, lucky staff members, and South Culinary chef instructors.

(From left, Chef Instructor Vicky McAffre, Nick Anderson, Chef Eric Foster, Paul Polis, Chef Instructor Robert Houot) Don’t know if any recipes will be available, but we’re going to ask!

23rd/22nd SW road-closure effects: Official city update on changes

As noted here yesterday, Metro and SDOT worked together to make some changes lessening the Pigeon Point effects of the up-to-six-weeks closure of 23rd/22nd. Today, SDOT has sent an official news release summarizing the changes – read on: Click to read the rest of 23rd/22nd SW road-closure effects: Official city update on changes…

Pigeon Point parking problem relief: Metro revises 125 re-route

For almost two weeks now, we’ve been covering the saga of the 23rd/22nd SW construction-related road closure between North Delridge and Pigeon Point/Puget Ridge. The ripple effects included a bus re-route leading in turn to dozens of lost parking spaces for blocks around. While the homebuilder who has to close 23rd/22nd for sewer-line work had been working with the city for months on a “traffic plan,” and followed all the notification rules, it still all came down without advance neighborhood consultation, and that led to a flurry of action last weekend, including two visits from City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, one including an SDOT entourage. Some changes were made but now there’s word of a BIG change: Metro’s Linda Thielke tells WSB that as of the start of service tomorrow morning, Route 125 will “only use 20th SW southbound between Charlestown and Genesee; it will use 21st when northbound between Genesee and Andover.” That means “more than 50 percent of the parking on the east side of 20th will be restored.” Thielke says this wouldn’t be possible without SDOT agreeing to put in a temporary stop sign on 21st at Andover (photo above; here’s a map). She also says no bus stops wll be affected. We’re checking with SDOT to see if they have taken any other steps. Again, this is supposed to take effect tomorrow (Wednesday) morning.

23rd/22nd SW road closure/no-parking update: Monday is Day 1

Many who live on Pigeon Point have had this top-of-mind all weekend, but for those who live elsewhere and drive 23rd/22nd SW between Pigeon Point/Puget Ridge/elsewhere and North Delridge – remember that tomorrow’s the day the road closes, along the route shown above (as first reported here February 10th), for up to six weeks. A few new developments today, according to Pigeon Point’s Pete Spalding, one of the neighborhood leaders who’s been in close contact with the city and the developer whose project’s closing the road for sewer-line work: He says the no-parking zones have been reduced somewhat, but they’re hopeful of getting even more parking back by convincing Metro to run the Route 125 bus down 21st SW instead of the currently planned reroute. Any decision on that isn’t expected before tomorrow. Spalding says Councilmember Tom Rasmussen – who chairs the Transportation Committee – returned to the neighborhood for the second afternoon in a row, this time with five SDOT reps, who thought the revised bus re-route would make sense, and promised to request it. Spalding also met with developer Jon Riser this morning, and reports he’s “totally concerned” about the neighborhood impacts. As Riser told us in a conversation last night (last element in this story), he’s been working with the city since November on the “traffic plan” for the project – but city rules don’t require early notification, nor do they require community consultation, which is why no one knew about this until the signs went up a week and a half ago. Many hope this might lead to a change in the rules so that neighborhoods would get earlier warning, in order to participate in the planning process and avoid frantic last-minute maneuvering like this. NOTE: Channel 13 did a story on the situation last night – first TV story that we know of:

City councilmember in Pigeon Point to hear road-closure concerns

(Updated at 6:10 pm after a conversation with the developer whose project’s at the heart of this)

ORIGINAL 4:37 PM REPORT: In the bright jacket, that’s West Seattle-dwelling City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the council’s Transportation Committee. Rasmussen bicycled up to Pigeon Point this afternoon to listen to neighbors’ concerns about effects of the 6-week road closure that starts on Monday so that a developer can run a sewer line to new-home sites on 23rd SW. First reported here 10 days ago, the closure not only will close a major route between North Delridge and Pigeon Point/Puget Ridge, it also will reroute Metro’s 125 bus (details here), which in turn means parking restrictions on nearby streets that are not in the construction zone. Most galling to neighbors – as noted here last night, when the signs went up yesterday, they covered an even longer stretch of nearby streets than had been announced by SDOT – and that’s what has neighbors most concerned. Jim S wrote in a WSB comment last night:

It’s frustrating to say the least. It feels very much as if the city has sold out Pigeon Point for a developer’s utility upgrade to the arterial. I understand that Riser Homes are paying the full ride on the sewer and storm drains on 23rd and that cost is considerable, but this has affected a far wider swath of neighborhoods than the average street closure. Closing virtually all parking on two of the three major streets in the Pigeon Point neighborhood without consulting the neighborhood is very unfair. It is a thoughtless, cookie cutter fix to a problem that required a more measured equitable solution.

This afternoon, Rasmussen met with about a dozen residents, coordinated on short notice by Pete Spalding (at right, below, with Rasmussen at left – note the “no parking” signs lining the road in the background).

It’s not just a matter of nowhere to park and driving a detour route, neighbors say, it’s also a safety issue – as hundreds of drivers detour, there’s concern they may go racing down streets where there’s not usually heavy traffic. And there’s a big-picture issue here: Notification. Everyone agrees that the homebuilder did what was required – notifying neighbors in the immediate area – but, as discussed at the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting last Wednesday, what’s required, may not be enough. In our video clip, you’ll hear Rasmussen wonder if there’s any way to hold off the project now, so that a meeting can be held with neighbors first:

There was no public word of the impending closure till signs went up on Delridge a week and a half ago; the signs seemed to suggest Delridge was closing for six weeks; a WSB’er named Pete (not Spalding) contacted us to ask what we knew. We checked with SDOT, which explained the developer’s plan – this Feb. 10th story resulted – and got him to add “23rd SW” lettering to the closure signs; the information about bus and parking restrictions followed, and Pigeon Point neighborhood leaders have been working round the clock to try to make sure residents are getting accurate information. They’re expecting SDOT reps to be in the area to monitor the situation on Monday morning, first commute period after the closure is scheduled to happen, if the plan doesn’t change in the meantime. (We also have e-mailed the developer to ask for comment.)

ADDED 6:10 PM: Got a fast response from Jon Riser, the aforementioned developer, who called after receiving our e-mail. He says, “This is a process that’s been going on for a long time. We submitted a traffic control plan back in November – it’s not a small, little, quick, throw-out-a-permit thing to close the road. It’s been a drawn-out (process) that’s involved Metro, city engineers, and my own traffic engineers. This is the plan they came up with that they felt was the safest.” He says he’s talked with Councilmember Rasmussen and that holding off construction isn’t an option – “I don’t see us not starting on Monday” — Riser says this phase of the project will be costing him $10,000 a day; “the contractor’s lined up and this all has been rolling for weeks.” But, he adds: “What I do want to do is, during the first initial closure, try to adjust some of this …” such as, seeing if buses can “turn directly onto 21st,” and adjusting some of the no-parking zone on 23rd for residents who face “some serious parking problems.” He adds, “Adding signs, removing signs … whatever we can do in the first day or so. … (And) we’re trying to get a couple police officers to be on site to help. … I’m trying to do what I can.”

2 updates on upcoming 23rd SW (etc.) closure

9:04 PM: Pigeon Point residents say the “no parking” warning signs are up but are stretching beyond the areas described in previous communication from SDOT. Neighborhood leaders are working to sort this out, and also hope to talk with city crew members expected to be in the area to check on the situation Monday morning.

EARLIER (ORIGINALLY POSTED 3:18 PM): We’ve been covering this for a week now, but in case you missed it, here’s the official reminder from SDOT of the North Delridge/Pigeon Point/Puget Ridge road closure/detour situation starting Monday – read on: Click to read the rest of 2 updates on upcoming 23rd SW (etc.) closure…

Upcoming 23rd SW closure: SDOT info on no-parking zones

People who live in, and travel through, North Delridge/Pigeon Point/Puget Ridge are still working to sort out how they’ll get around when a section of 23rd SW, just southeast of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, closes for up to six weeks starting next Monday, so a sewer line can be extended to new homes that are being built in the area. Yesterday, we published the Route 125 bus re-routing information from Metro; today, SDOT confirms the parking restrictions that will be put into place, with signs going up as soon as tomorrow. There’s a pedestrian advisory too. Read on for details: Click to read the rest of Upcoming 23rd SW closure: SDOT info on no-parking zones…

Also today: Garden Center opens at South Seattle Comm. College

And still another sign that what winter we had, appears to be in the rear-view mirror (knock wood): Thanks to Scott for the news that the Garden Center at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) is scheduled to open for the season today, 11 am-3 pm. It’s on the north side of the campus; here’s a map. (This is also where Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle will have its first annual Seed Swap and Sale a week from Saturday; more info here)

Believe it or not – one MORE car mishap in West Seattle

That photo’s just in from Aaron, who says it happened about an hour ago at 17th/Graham, which is a block west of where the bicycle crash happened this afternoon (one of the four crashes in this roundup). He says it’s believed that “(a) driver lost her brakes in a car, drove backwards down the street, and ended up on a utility pole support cable.” Instantly brought back memories of this one we covered (with photos and video) in Fauntleroy in December 2007. No word of injuries in tonight’s mishap – one engine was sent out, but the call’s already closed.

New location for WS Kiwanis Club’s free Seattle Symphony concert

It’s an annual tradition — the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is again hosting a free community concert with the Seattle Symphony, but this year, it’s in a new venue at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor). The concert is set for 8 pm January 15, featuring conductor Thomas Hong and violist Amber Archibald. On the program:

Mendelssohn: The Hebrides (“Fingal’s Cave”), Op. 26
Jones: Benediction
Stamitz: Viola Concerto in D major, Op. 1
Tchaikovsky: Selections from Symphony No. 2 in C minor, “Little Russian”

The orchestra’s free concert will be in SSCC’s Brockey Center.; here’s the official flyer. As Kiwanian Shari Sewell tells WSB, “It is a great opportunity to hear the symphony and introduce kids to this genre of music. The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is proud to host this annual concert!”

West Seattle door-to-door alert: Meat sellers refusing to show ID

Erin e-mailed to share word of “a very rude door to door meat seller” tonight at her house on Puget Ridge, saying, “After the incident, I searched (WSB) and found this thread referencing the same company. They may be legit, but they were beyond rude.” Read on for her report: Click to read the rest of West Seattle door-to-door alert: Meat sellers refusing to show ID…

Happening now: Wine sale at South Seattle Community College

To get any closer to the winemaking process than this, you’d have to go tour Chelan, Napa or Sonoma: Right at the award-winning Northwest Wine Academy in the center of the South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) campus, there’s a Pre-Thanksgiving Wine Tasting and Sale event under way right now (till 8 pm). Lots of visitors (and buyers) when we visited just before 6 – and along with bottles of student-made, award-winning wine, they’re selling gift baskets too:

By the way, if you’d rather relax in a quieter atmosphere, the brightly lit winemaking room in the top photo is only one of the rooms where the event’s happening – there are others, some with low lights and candles. (To find the Wine Academy, use this campus map – look for the building marked WWB; to find the campus itself, here’s a Google Map.)

Today/tonight: School maps, creek help, Delridge Council, more

SCHOOLS: 10 am, Steve Sundquist, West Seattle’s rep on the school board, is at Delridge Library for a community chat bound to be dominated by the proposed school-attendance maps the board will vote on tonight (6 pm, district HQ in SODO).

WATER: Could reclaimed wastewater mean a brighter future for West Seattle’s Puget Creek and other local natural areas? The project manager of the county’s Reclaimed Water Program will be at Sanislo Elementary‘s library at 7 pm to give an overview of the county’s plans to improve wastewater treatment, and what that could mean for the local ecology. (As noted on the Sustainable West Seattle website, neighbors at the meeting also will talk about a possible Puget Ridge pocket park.)

DELRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL: Come hear what community groups from around eastern West Seattle are up to, and see which neighborhood-traffic-related projects are being reviewed for a potential share of city funding – 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center.

THE BIRTHDAY THAT KEEPS ON GIVING: It’s the 10th “39th Birthday Party” and fundraiser for King County Executive-elect Dow Constantine, this time with another momentous occasion less than a week away (his swearing-in next Tuesday). 5:30 pm, Kell’s Irish Pub downtown.

NO NEED TO PLAY ALONE: Alki Community Center invites you to Family Game Night tonight – board, video and challenge games. 6:30-8:30 pm ($5 activity fee).

Even more on the WSB Events calendar!