What do you want Seattle Parks to be like in the future – and how do you want to pay for it? Those key questions brought dozens to Dakota Place Park last night to discuss the department’s draft Legacy Plan. As Parks’ Susanne Rockwell explained during the opening presentation, there’s much at stake:

The opening presentation was followed by 2 rounds of small-table discussions after a short presentation, each table focused on a different component of Parks’ operations/accountabilities, and that resulted in butcher-paper sheets full of ideas and suggestions:

Tonight there’s one more meeting about the draft Legacy Plan, focused on issues affecting immigrant/refugee communities, not in West Seattle but all welcome – 7 pm at South Shore K-8 School, 4800 South Henderson.

Next month, a revised draft will be circulated, and a final proposal is expected to go to elected officials before year’s end. Something to say, but couldn’t get to last night’s meeting and haven’t said it already? Say it fast – parkslegacy@seattle.gov

The photo is courtesy of Patty, featuring some of the more than 50 Our Lady of Guadalupe School students who visited Fauntleroy Creek earlier this week to release school-raised salmon fry. Creek stewards and volunteers led by Judy Pickens are wrapping up the spring salmon-release schedule today. Here’s some of what else is happening around West Seattle and vicinity:

CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE DISCUSSES NICKELSVILLE, ENCAMPMENT RULES: The council’s Housing, Human Services, Health, and Culture Committee meets at 2 pm at City Hall, with two proposed ordinances that are likely to affect the future of the West Seattle encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville” – one expanding where in the city encampments would be allowed, one specifically calling for a study costing up to $150,000 as a step toward making the current site semi-permanent, both linked in the agenda. Public comments will be taken at the start of the meeting. (City Hall is on 5th between Cherry and James downtown)

NICKELSVILLE ON HPAC AGENDA: Then at 7 pm tonight, during its regular monthly meeting, Highland Park Action Committee will follow up on the afternoon’s meeting and discuss the claim it has filed as a possible precursor to suing to get the city to take action. The meeting’s at Highland Park Improvement Club. (12th/Holden)

Two school events tonight:

POETRY SLAM AT DENNY: Student poets and their work are in the spotlight during the annual 8th-grade poetry slam at the Denny International Middle School Galleria, 5:30 pm. (2601 SW Kenyon)

‘FINAL AND MOST IMPORTANT’ WSHS PTSA MEETING OF THE YEAR: That’s how the announcement of tonight’s meeting is headlined in the latest Westside Weekly newsletter, edited by Bev Corey, who reminds us this is happening tonight:

Please come to the last PTSA meeting of the year … at 7:00 pm in the school library. Come to recognize the wonderful volunteers and educators who’ve won Golden Acorn awards. And, we’ll be adopting next year’s budget and voting for officers. We’ll have important updates on the West Seattle 5K and auction. And some other good stuff too.

(3000 California SW)

Exploring your career future? One event tonight:

CAREER NIGHT AT PRUDENTIAL: 6 pm at the Jefferson Square offices of Prudential Northwest Realty (WSB sponsor), find out if a real-estate career is for you. Details in the calendar listing. (4700 42nd SW, Suite 600)

To find all tonight’s nightlife listings, check the calendar. Here’s an event that happens just once a month:

POEMS AND STORIES: The fourth-Wednesday poetry/storytelling showcase at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) is tonight, 7-9 pm – details in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Since many schools are taking a four-day Memorial Day weekend this year – Friday through Monday – today will be the second-to-last “regular” commute of the week. So we should also start making note of Monday schedule changes:

*Metro will be on a SUNDAY schedule for Memorial Day
*West Seattle Water Taxi also will be on a SUNDAY schedule for Memorial Day

It’s the American Cancer Society‘s 100th birthday, which is why “Walking On Logs” is decked out in purple. Local ACS supporters are encouraging everyone to do the same, to ‘Paint the Town Purple’ today. And it’s a chance for a reminder about next month’s ACS fundraiser, the annual Relay for Life of West Seattle – this time around, running from 2 pm Saturday, June 29th, until 8 am Sunday, June 30th, at West Seattle Stadium. And besides the always inspiring milestones along the way – organizer Kate Flanagan tells WSB that Relay for Life will include a free concert by popular kid-music band Recess Monkey at 6:30 pm that Saturday. Find out more about R4L at westseattlerelay.com or on Facebook.

(April photo of SPD surveillance camera installed at Admiral Way Viewpoint)
When last we checked with Mayor McGinn‘s office regarding the status of his decisionmaking on whether to give Seattle Police approval to activate the surveillance cameras installed from Fauntleroy to Alki to Admiral and beyond, they told us the ball was in SPD’s court, expecting the department to schedule “additional public meetings” (that quote’s in our March 31st update). Tonight, SPD has finally announced one more meeting: This Friday night, 7 pm, in Ballard. The announcement was made via SPD Blotter just after 8 pm tonight:

Got questions about the Port Security Grant? Missed our meetings in West Seattle and Belltown? Planning a staycation this Memorial Day weekend?

Well then, this opportunity is for you!

Tell us in person. We’ll be at the Golden Gardens Bathhouse, 8498 Seaview Pl. NW, Friday, May 24th at 7 p.m.

Can’t make it? Not a problem. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, you can send your thoughts to us electronically. Drop us an email at cameraquestions@seattle.gov

The first two meetings were March 12 on Alki (WSB coverage here) and March 19 in Belltown. Missed the backstory? The “port-security grant” refers to a communication system including dozens of Seattle Police-managed surveillance cameras, funded by a federal grant originally described as being for port security, but since framed in a broader public-safety context. WSB readers were first to notice cameras being installed unannounced, which led to the news being broken here, if you go all the way back to the first story (January 29) in our archive.

Walk with us! This Friday [May 24], 8:00 am, meet at south goalpost at Hiawatha soccer field. Walk for 20 minutes with us and bring your dog, friends – anyone welcome! Walk longer with some of us, or less …. it is all fine!

Questions? Call Carol at 206-938-4204. No RSVP needed, though – just show up. Hiawatha is at 2700 California SW.

Tonight, another followup on the recent discussions of “low-flow” – 500 gallons per minute – fire hydrants that remain in parts of West Seattle and whether people living by those hydrants – particularly a few concentrations in Arbor Heights – are at higher risk. Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Kyle Moore asked us to share this:

For the past few years, the Seattle Fire Department has been working in partnership with Seattle Public Utilities to achieve greater fire protection in Arbor Heights. Since 2011, SPU has updated the water mains, added fire hydrants, and has installed red rings to clearly identify low-flow hydrants. These additional measures assist the Seattle Fire Department with our fire-suppression tactics and also provide an increased level of safety and fire protection to the residents in Arbor Heights.

Each Seattle Fire Engine carries 500 gallons of water, enough to extinguish an entire room fire. Also every fire engine is equipped with 1000 feet of hose line. This is enough hose to reach the 1000 gallons-per-minute (gpm) hydrants which SPU has placed within 1000 feet of all residences in the city.

Concern surfaced after SPU announced it’s working this month to place reflective red rings on the remaining “low-flow” hydrants; we first published the map above on Monday showing their locations – click the image to get a larger PDF of the full citywide map.

Our Massage Envy staff is amazing. We have 15 talented massage therapists, each trained in multiple modalities. In addition to being licensed health-care professionals in Washington, each passed a 3-part interview which included a practical massage with myself and my experienced Clinic Administrator, Amanda. They were evaluated on 6 criteria and had to score well in all six categories to come aboard. We had to turn away several applicants and get a lot of massage to select these wonderful, gifted people. It was tough. My neck and shoulder have never felt so relaxed.

I’ve worked in health care for the last 15 years, in a variety of settings. I’ve never seen therapy apply to such a variety of issues. It was a natural fit to open a business designed to make people feel good right away. The more you have massage, the better you feel. It’s as healthy as working out, but instead of sweating, you lie down. Our American lifestyle is pretty stressful. Americans don’t have any pause rituals like afternoon tea or siestas. Pausing is essential to a healthy balanced life.

Massage Envy invented the concept of a gym-type membership for massage. The response has been huge because people always leave feeling great and want to have more of that well-being feeling. Regular massage is addictive and we have a great program that makes it affordable and convenient. Parking and public transport are plentiful; we’re open 7 days a week, 8 am-10 pm Mondays-Fridays, 8 am-6 pm Saturdays, 10 am-6 pm Sundays. It’s pretty easy to fit it into a busy schedule. As the local owner, I spent a year vetting the Massage Envy brand to gain a comfort level with the brand for professionalism, convenience, and value. I visited over 50 Massage Envys around the US in several states. I talked to a lot of therapists about what made their job rewarding (or not) and took note. The consistency and quality of massage is strikingly good. I found a manager talented in delivering on customer service and systems that work for our staff. She has several years’ experience in the wellness industry. Because of my history as a health-care provider, spending long hours in the operating room, it’s important to me that my employees have state of the art equipment that preserves their bodies. We take care of our clients, we take care of ourselves and we take care of each other. It’s hugely rewarding to all of us to make people feel so good, run a better race, wake up less stiff, move with ease and less pain, go to sleep soundly, recover from surgery — I could go on and on and usually do if you give me half a chance. I believe in massage. If you are the type of person who likes massage, please come and give us a try – 2513 SW Trenton, on the north side of Westwood Village, 206-456-3400.

And this Saturday (May 25th), it’s the grand opening, with a ribbon-cutting at 11 am, followed by complimentary chair massages, healthy treats, and a water bar until 1 pm.

We thank Massage Envy-West Seattle for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

(April 2011 photo by Long Bach Nguyen, over Alki Lighthouse)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Every year, you get just a few chances for a close-up look at one of West Seattle’s true gems – the Alki Point Lighthouse.

This year, those chances start June 1st, when weekend afternoon tours resume. But that first day comes with something extra – a celebration of the lighthouse’s centennial.

US Coast Guard Auxiliary member and area resident Will Winter talked about it at last Thursday’s Alki Community Council meeting. (He’s at right in the photo below, taken by Liesbet T. and published here as the tour season wrapped up in 2011:)

The USCG Auxiliary volunteers staff the lighthouse for tours, and that’s why Winter joined.

He presented an overview of its history, as well as mentioning the low-key celebration that’s ahead, planned in conjunction with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, which has a “complementary celebration” on deck that day:

(October 2012 photo by Gary Jones, watching passing orcas with the lighthouse in the foreground)
Checking our archives, we’re reminded that last summer, lighthouse volunteers put out a call for reminiscences, as part of preparations for the centennial celebration of the current tower being placed into service as its light was turned on.

The lighthouse’s origins go back so far, nobody’s left to reminisce about the earliest days in person – as Winter told the ACC last week, the first light was put up on the site in 1868! Other milestone dates include:

*US Lighthouse Service bought the land and took over light operation in 1910

*Lighthouse Service became part of the US Coast Guard in 1939

*Alki’s last lighthouse keeper (second-to-last one in the entire U.S.) retired 1970

The grounds, as you may know, are home to the commander of the Coast Guard‘s 13th District.

But the history – which you can read in its entirety here – is more than dates – it’s also the tale of the lantern that held 9 days of kerosene, and the 10-foot-tall Fresnel lens now on display, “a rather impressive piece of glass,” as Winter described it.

The light is automated, so the lighthouse is “more like a museum than anything (else),” he acknowledged. Even the foghorn’s been out of service since 2005, since ships now have high-tech features like GPS and don’t need audible alerts during times of low visibility.

It’s in an interesting spot, though – Winter also showed navigation charts, noting that Puget Sound is 700 feet deep right off Alki Point.

You can see for yourself on Saturdays and Sundays again this summer, starting on the centennial-celebration day, June 1st, 1-4 pm. That’s provided there are enough volunteers available – Winter said the corps might be a little thin – it takes four people to staff the grounds during tour days!

During Winter’s presentation at the ACC meeting, Log House Museum manager Sarah Baylinson mentioned they were firming up plans for their part of the centennial celebration. And we received some details in time to include with this story:

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is planning a complementary celebration of the Alki Lighthouse Centennial on Saturday, June 1. That afternoon, during its open hours of noon to 4 pm, the organization’s Log House Museum — just a half mile east of the lighthouse — will host an expanded lighthouse exhibit. The exhibit will feature artifacts, rare photos, memorabilia and artwork, all focused on telling the story of the lighthouse, including the decades prior to its construction when a single lantern provided the same function of aiding the navigation of sailing ships and steering them away from danger.

A brief program on Saturday, June 1, will begin at 2 pm, with presentations by area residents with connections to the lighthouse. A highlight of the afternoon is an emphasis on children’s activities, including an opportunity for each child to color his or her own version of the Alki Lighthouse. Each child who completes the coloring exercise will receive a handmade, hand-decorated cookie that is a replica of the lighthouse.

“We are hoping that everyone who visits the Alki Lighthouse on its first touring day of the summer will also stop in just a few blocks away at our Log House Museum,” says Clay Eals, executive director of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. “By the end of the afternoon, we hope that at least 100 children will have visited us so that we can display 100 colored versions of the lighthouse in honor of the 100th birthday.”

The expanded lighthouse exhibit will run through early September, with new items added in coming weeks. “We are calling it a centennial summer,” Eals says. More details will be available later this week.

The museum is at 61st and Stevens, while the lighthouse is accessible from the spot where Alki Avenue and Beach Drive meet on Alki Point.

That’s 23% more than last year. We want to give a big thanks to the many establishments who participated and to the ticket purchasers who made this event a success. The West Seattle Helpline looks forward to helping many families get back on their feet after facing an emergency in West Seattle with these funds.

You of course don’t have to wait for the next special event to help the Helpline … you can donate online any time.

(Photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
The alert we received on Monday warned us not to tip off Sanislo Elementary librarian Craig Seasholes (right) that CenturyLink rep Sue Anderson (left) would be visiting the school with a surprise for him – a big $5,000 check as part of the CL/Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Teachers & Technology grant program. He’s one of 22 teachers to get one of the grants this year, and we’re told it’ll go toward iPads with educational apps and e-books. (Big spring for Mr. Seasholes and the Sanislo Library – you’ll recall they hosted Caroline Kennedy last month.)

(WSB photo of proposed rowhouse site, April 2013)
“Rowhouses” are a hot development trend right now, under construction and/or on the drawing boards for at least half a dozen West Seattle sites. Three weeks ago, we reported on a petition drive launched by neighbors of a proposal for four three-story rowhouses at 2414 55th SW in Alki. They had learned that, although the project did not hit the threshold for a mandatory public meeting of any kind (such as Design Review), if they gathered at least 50 signatures requesting one, the city would consider it. Neighbor Marie McKinsey says she heard back from the city Monday afternoon:

This is from Tami Garrett, the DPD planner in charge of this project: “DPD will facilitate a public meeting. The purpose of this meeting will be for Staff to provide an overview of the proposed project and for the public to provide comments about the proposal in person. The meeting date, location and time hasn’t been confirmed yet. It’s my understanding that the parties of record will be sent written notice of the date, time and location. Neighbors within close proximity of the proposal site, petition signers, and public commenters are considered part of this group.

McKinsey says Garrett also indicated it could take a month or more to schedule that meeting. (The neighbors’ reasons for requesting one were detailed in our previous story.)

(Ducklings at Lincoln Park; photo by Patrick McCaffrey)
Even if you’re not much for meetings, there are two tonight that might give you reason to reconsider. They’re on our list of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

BLOOD DRIVE: Puget Sound Blood Center‘s Bloodmobile is at Chief Sealth International High School till 2 pm (closed 10:30-11:30 am) – walk-ins usually welcome if you are interested in donating. (2600 SW Thistle)

BABY STORY TIME: 10:30 am at West Seattle (Admiral) Library – parents/caregivers, bring your 4-to-12-month-old(s)! (2306 42nd SW)

BENEFIT DINNER @ SENIOR CENTER: “Pay what you can” turkey dinner tonight at 5:30 at the Senior Center of West Seattle, to help raise money to repair the front door. (California and Oregon)

MEMORIAL WALK: Just got word while writing this; there’s a 5:30 pm walk in memory of Surinderpaul Basra, hit and killed last week at 1st and Findlay in Georgetown:

A family and community were torn apart by a horrific collision on Tuesday, May 14 as Surinderpaul Basra crossed at the intersection of First Avenue South and South Findlay Street right after she left after work at Essential Bakery. It’s the sort of tragedy we hear about all too often.

Please join us Tuesday, May 21st at 5:30 p.m. in front of Essential Bakery, 5601 1st Avenue South in Georgetown. We will walk where Surinderpaul Basra walked to pay our respects to her family and friends, and we will walk to send the message that we want safer streets for everyone in Seattle. These tragedies don’t need to keep happening.

More information here and here.

SEATTLE PARKS’ FUTURE – YOUR TURN TO SPEAK UP: 7 pm tonight in the renovated historic building at Dakota Place Park, it’s the biggest West Seattle meeting about the roadmap for Seattle Parks‘ future, the Legacy Plan. Have a favorite park? Something you’d like to see fixed up or changed? Or added to the system? That’s just some of what you’re welcome to talk about. (California and Dakota)

BURGLARY DETECTIVE @ CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct meeting room, SPD burglary Det. Jill Vanskike talks with the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council. You’ll also hear about area crime trends, and get a chance to bring up neighborhood concerns. (SW Webster, just west of Delridge Way)

BELLY DANCING: The monthly Alauda freeform-belly-dancing showcase at Skylark Café and Club is tonight, 7:30 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
7:19 AM: After a rainy night, the most recent alert for this morning is no surprise – KING 5 traffic reporter Tracy Taylor tweets that there’s “one lane blocked each direction on Highway 99 near Battery Street Tunnel due to standing water.”

8:16 AM: Thanks to the person who texted that all lanes are back open by the tunnel.

8:41 AM: Thanks to Mary for e-mailing to report a tree blocking 18th SW just south of Holden, causing some abrupt braking on Holden. She says a tree service has arrived but looks like cleanup might take a while.

9:18 AM: At Morgan Junction, the bus sightings usually involve Metro. But this morning, there’s a head-turner, photographed by Ben:

So far, the only information we’ve tracked down is that Thai Me Up is here all the way from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and seems to be on tour for American Craft Beer Week.