It’s your $: Parks Levy overseers; Matching Fund recipients
KEEPING WATCH ON THE PARKS LEVY MONEY: The committee that’ll keep an eye on what’s being done with money from the $145 million Parks Levy approved by voters last fall includes three West Seattleites — Neal Adams, Cindi Barker, and Pete Spalding. Their appointments were approved by the council’s Parks Committee today; the committee’s first meeting is 7 pm March 30th at Parks HQ downtown.
MATCHING $: A city event tonight honored groups from all around the city that are getting money from the latest round of Neighborhood Matching Fund Small and Simple Awards — including, from West Seattle, $14,850 for Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle< to put on an Edible Garden Fair and Tour; $14,935 for Sustainable West Seattle‘s second annual SWS Festival; $14,700 for the Youth Media Institute to put on workshops to help young people “counter negative coverage of the High Point community” by telling their own, positive stories; $15,000 for Friends of the Duwamish and the Duwamish Tribe to produce “The Duwamish Diaries,” historical exhibits and multimedia presentations to be shown in Delridge and Greater Duwamish areas. These grants require applicants to get commitments of volunteer time and donated money matching at least the full sum of what they’re seeking from the NMF, which limits ‘Small and Simple’ sums to $15,000.
Fauntleroy Community Association’s once-a-year event
The Fauntleroy Community Association‘s annual meeting and membership drive is famous for treats from local food businesses – and tonight was no different. The 100-plus attendees got the chance to sample food from Endolyne Joe’s shredded beef to The Original Bakery‘s carrot cake. Some political heavyweights in the crowd, too, including City Council President Richard Conlin. Also at tonight’s event, FCA officers were re-elected, including president Bruce Butterfield, who talked about one of the group’s most recent achievements:
Some smaller changes may yet be in store for the dock, such as a covered passenger walkway, but the Legislature has not yet signed off on a plan for the ferry system’s future; while WSF has proposed Plans A and B, a citizens’ group based in Kitsap County has been advocating for a “Plan C” (read about it here).
Update: Motorcyclist hit in The Junction, taken to hospital
(photos by WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli, added at 5:28 pm)
ORIGINAL REPORT: We’ve just arrived at California/Alaska in The Junction — a motorcycle has crashed outside Cupcake Royale — the bike is up on the sidewalk; paramedics are taking care of one person and it looks like they’re about to transport him/her to the hospital. Stay away from the intersection, including Alaska just east of the intersection — it’s blocked at 42nd SW. 4:55 PM UPDATE: Still awaiting official word from police; in comments, Mary from nearby Twilight Artist Collective writes:
A motorcyclist got taken out in the Junction. Apparently the car that hit him was taking an illegal left and hit him hard sending him up into the air for a brutal fall on the pavement several feet away from his bike which ended up in front of Cupcake Royale on the sidewalk.
5:13 PM UPDATE: Police have confirmed the reported illegal left turn that is blamed for the crash – they say a Prius hit the motorcyclist, who has been taken to the hospital; police say the rider is male but won’t elaborate on his injuries. Alaska is still blocked just east of California, and the northbound lane of California is blocked, but tow crews are there and it should clear up before too long.
5:28 PM UPDATE: Added photos by WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli – two above, and this one:
We’ll check back with authorities later in hopes of getting an update on the motorcyclist’s condition.
5:47 PM UPDATE: The intersection is now clear.
8:15 PM UPDATE: While no official information on the motorcyclist’s condition is available, Westcrest Park Off-Leash Area steward Stevo has just provided firsthand info in the comment section:
I’m good friends with the rider who was hit. He’s at Harborview with a broken femur. I spoke with his girlfriend as he’s all doped up. He lives right near the Junction, and is a very good, cautious rider.
We did hear a snippet of scanner traffic about someone with that exact injury, minutes after this happened, but couldn’t confirm till now that it was the same case.
Alki Homestead’s post-fire future: Two follow-ups
(WSB photo from January 16)
Two follow-ups this afternoon, the day after our Monday report about the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s announcement of concern regarding the fate of the Alki Homestead restaurant, an official city landmark, closed since fire heavily damaged its interior two months ago. We just talked with inspector Michael Griffin in the city Department of Planning and Development regarding the complaint filed last week about the building’s condition (noted online here). He tells WSB he has inspected the site and its only potential violations are that its roof and some windows are open to the elements, so building owner Tom Lin will be given a warning notice to take care of those problems. If he doesn’t, then a citation would follow. Aside from the roof/window openness, Griffin says, the property is “neat and tidy.” Meantime, we checked with the Historic Preservation division of the city Neighborhoods Department, to find out what role they might play, if any, in this situation. Landmarks coordinator Beth Chave tells WSB that she talked with Lin “about a month ago” to go over the review process required for repairs/changes on a landmarked property like this but hasn’t seen an application yet, so doesn’t have an “active file” about the Homestead site. (Meantime, owner Lin has not yet answered our requests for comment.)
9 West Seattle students win Mayor’s Scholars Awards
9 students from West Seattle middle schools are among 26 middle-schoolers citywide just announced as Mayor’s Scholars Awards recipients of $500 awards (to use for education or charity) – read on to see the news release with the entire list:Read More
Groundbreaking set for ARK Park in Arbor Heights
(WSB photo from August 2008)
Last August, we brought you first word of the plan for ARK Park in Arbor Heights, on the site shown above, which is owned by neighboring Arbor Heights Community Church. Now the date for groundbreaking is set, as well as for another fundraiser – here’s an update from project leaders Loretta Kimball and Jan Seidel:
1. Our February 9th Benefit provided an enjoyable evening of music to those who attended and helped us establish a solid Development Fund for ARK Memorial Park. We appreciate Chad Kimball and cast members of Memphis for their part in making our first fundraiser a success as well as the generosity of our donors!
2. A Groundbreaking Ceremony will be held at the site (102nd and 42nd Ave SW [map]) on Saturday, March 28th at 3:00 p.m. in memory of baby Allexandra Ramona Kimball on her 1 Year Birthdate Anniversary. Refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall of Arbor Heights Community Church following the groundbreaking ceremony.
3. We are planning to hold our second fundraiser, a Spaghetti Dinner, on Saturday evening, April 18th in the Fellowship Hall at Arbor Heights Community Church. Dinner will be served between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. There will be family friendly activities such as a bouncy house, face painting, etc. Cost of the dinner is $5.00 for singles, $10.00 for couples and $15.00 for families.
You can read more about the park plan – which is a private/community-funded project, not a city park site – at this website.
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