West Seattle, Washington

06 Sunday

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month : 06/2009 442 results

Why Fire Station 37 construction hasn’t started yet: It’s rebidding
June 22, 2009 5:27 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Sunrise Heights | West Seattle news

That was the scene six weeks ago at 35th/Holden (map) as Mayor Nickels, Fire Chief Gregory Dean, City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, local firefighters and many others gathered May 12th to break ground for West Seattle’s new Fire Station 37. At the time, we were told that bids were being reviewed, and we even got a list of the top three bidders (see the 8 pm addition). However, work hasn’t started yet, and we just noticed that the project is being re-advertised (see the call for bids here). So we asked the Fire Department what happened. Christina Faine, communications officer for the Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Levy program (passed by voters in 2003) that’s funding the project, explains:

The city discovered a material defect in our specifications and rejected all of the bids. There was a problem with the original specification that resulted in project construction risk. After careful discussions with other departments, we found the only way to avoid this risk was to rebid the project. It is not unusual to rebid a project. Construction is anticipated to begin in September 2009 and last a little over a year.

Here’s the new station’s design, from Miller Hayashi Architects:

Once the new Station 37 is built and occupied, the old one (35th/Othello) is to be sold – although, since it’s an official city landmark, there will be restrictions on what can be done with it. The re-advertisement for bids says the architects think the project will cost about $3.6 million; in the most recent financial report, the Station 37 budget is listed at $6.6 million. Faine says any savings will go to help revive fire-levy projects that have been delayed because of city budget woes.

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Westwood Village Street Fair update: Another addition
June 22, 2009 3:51 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news | Westwood

The next festival in West Seattle is the Westwood Village Street Fair, coming up this Saturday. Here’s the latest official flyer; we also got word from Stuart Crandall in WV management about an addition to the lineup: “We just added CHIPS (Child Identification Program) to come in with 500 free child-identity kits, which will include video, audio, DNA, and dental records of your child just in case kidnapping or other such incident occurs.” The festival is scheduled to run 11 am-7 pm; as with this summer’s other big events in West Seattle, we’ll be reporting “live,” so hope to see you there!

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Want to learn beach volleyball from the stars? Your Alki chance
June 22, 2009 2:43 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

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(2008 photo by Brian Todd, Aus der Traum Photography)
Just in from Seattle Volleyball Association – a clinic this Saturday with your chance to “learn from the best”:

By popular demand, the best players in the Northwest will be taking a day off from playing a tournament and running a beach volleyball clinic to allow anyone a chance to learn from the best. All levels are welcome, whether you’re just starting to play or wanting to brush up your skills. The Northwest’s professional and semi-pro players will help players with passing, setting, hitting and serving, then have the nets open for all players to practice their skills against other players of their same skill level. The event goes 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with open net play for all participants who want to practice their skills with instructors from 2 to 4 p.m. The cost for each participant is $25 per person.

For full details of the event plus contact info, read on:Read More

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1 more reminder about 2 major West Seattle meetings tonight
June 22, 2009 1:55 pm
|    Comments Off on 1 more reminder about 2 major West Seattle meetings tonight
 |   Delridge | Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Both previewed here in recent days: 6:30 pm @ Youngstown, the third/final Delridge Skatepark design meeting (WSB preview); 7 pm @ Highland Park Improvement Club, Highland Park Action Committee‘s Westcrest Park “mini-summit” (WSB preview), with guests including City Council president Richard Conlin. Be heard – be there!

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Traffic alert: Fauntleroy/California paving plan change
June 22, 2009 1:23 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

The gas-line work that’s been under way at Fauntleroy/California/Morgan already had things a little dicey at that busy intersection, during the day. But now we have a heads-up from SDOT that the plan for the forthcoming repaving work in that area – part of the big Fauntleroy Way repaving/”rechannelizing” project – will also mean major restrictions on traffic flow. Here’s today’s update from SDOT’s Marybeth Turner:

The configuration required to pave the intersection of California Ave SW and Fauntleroy Way SW is now one lane in each direction – without dedicated left-turn lanes. The change is necessary to allow for the turning radii of larger vehicles. As noted in a June 16th announcement, the work is expected to take five days in each direction, starting with work on the north side. A uniformed police officer will be present during peak hours to assist in keeping traffic moving. Crews will work to complete this segment as quickly as possible.

We’ve got a few followup questions out, including when this is likely to start (if it’s not already overlapping with what’s been happening in that area), and will add the answers when we get them. ADDED 2:15 PM: Here are those answers, also from Marybeth Turner @ SDOT:

Work around the California Ave SW / Fauntleroy Way SW intersection begins today. SDOT’s contractor is trying to work quickly to minimize traffic disruption, and they are currently ahead of schedule.

The crews will head west working on the north side of the intersection, wrapping up by June 26, weather permitting. The concrete work on the south side begins July 6, expected to be completed by July 10.

A uniformed police officer will be on site during peak periods to offer assistance with temporary lane configuration changes and to keep traffic moving.

I believe a flyer was distributed in the area last week, but what has changed since then is that we are not able to provide a turn lane during this work.

ADDED MONDAY EVENING: A construction clip from this afternoon, as the old pavement got jackhammered:



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Got a Seattle Public Schools question? Ask your school board rep
June 22, 2009 11:57 am
|    Comments Off on Got a Seattle Public Schools question? Ask your school board rep
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Though school’s out for Seattle Public Schools, hot issues take no break – like the Student Assignment Plan (which passed one vote last week but still has many details to work out, such as boundaries for schools’ attendance zones). If you’ve got concerns, questions, ideas – West Seattle’s School Board rep Steve Sundquist is having another public coffee hour, 9 am this Wednesday, Uptown Espresso in The Junction. (Hours after that gathering, by the way, the full board has a “workshop” to discuss the assignment-plan boundary-drawing along with “capacity” issues – public’s invited to sit in, albeit without a comment period, 4-8 pm Wednesday at district HQ.)

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Update: Crash slows traffic on Harbor Avenue
June 22, 2009 11:25 am
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

Thanks to Vlad for sending that pic a short time ago from the scene of a crash on Harbor Ave, right by the home of West Bay Espresso, Pinup Salon and a few other businesses (here’s a map). The fire call is closed and no medic unit was involved, which means no major injuries; we’ll be checking to see if traffic is back to normal. (By the way, we’ve just added a bit of new info to the end of last night’s story about the 49th/Admiral flipped-car crash.) 11:34 AM UPDATE: We’re at the crash scene and traffic is still slow going – down to one lane right now – so avoid the area for a while.

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Attention, White Center and South Delridge youth – need a summer project?
June 22, 2009 11:15 am
|    Comments Off on Attention, White Center and South Delridge youth – need a summer project?
 |   Announcements

Seattle Neighborhood Group says the deadline’s been extended for youth-project proposals – July 11th – meeting this goal:

White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition’s Youth Project goals are to equip, mobilize and support youth in our community to be agents of change. The youth-led community projects must address the priorities from the March 14 BOOM! youth summit. Each youth project will be assigned to work with one Community Safety Coalition member or a responsible community member, in addition to the youth project coordinator.

Find out more by checking out the application – download it here.

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Park operating hours, more on Park Board’s agenda this week
June 22, 2009 10:04 am
|    Comments Off on Park operating hours, more on Park Board’s agenda this week
 |   Announcements

A reminder from the Parks Department that its Board of Park Commissioners – chaired by Alki’s Jackie Ramels – meets this Thursday (June 25):

The Seattle Board of Park Commissioners will hold its next regularly
scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 25 in the Park Board Room at
the Parks Administration Building, 100 Dexter Ave. N (the corner of
Dexter and Denny).

The agenda includes:

· Park Operating Hours * Board discussion and recommendation.As
established by City Council ordinance, most Seattle parks are open from
4 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.; however, the Parks Superintendent has the
authority to make exceptions. Many exceptions have been made over the
years in response to problems in some parks that include noise,
graffiti, and alcohol and drug use. As a result, Parks has a variety of
park operating hours. The Board, which heard a briefing on the issue on
February 26, 2009 and held a public hearing on May 14, 2009, will
discuss and make a recommendation on how best to create consistency in
park operating hours and to address actual and perceived neighborhood
safety issues. A briefing paper on park operating hours is at
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkboard/default.asp.

· Use of Synthetic Turf Policy * Board discussion and
recommendation.After a staff briefing on April 23, 2009, and a public
hearing on May 28, 2009, the Board will make a recommendation to the
Superintendent on a proposed policy on the safe use of synthetic turf at
Seattle Parks and Recreation ballfields. A briefing paper and the
proposed Use of Synthetic Turf Policy are available for review at
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkboard/default.asp.

· Associated Recreation Council (ARC) * Update briefing.Bill
Keller, ARC*s Executive Director, will present to the Board a
semi-annual report on the relationship between Seattle Parks and ARC, a
nonprofit partner that since 1974 has provided programming in Parks
facilities and advice on programs, services, facilities, and operations.
For more information on ARC, please see
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/arc

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West Seattle sports: D-Rays in championship game tonight
June 22, 2009 9:41 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

From West Seattle Little League, John MacKenzie just e-mailed to share this news:

The D-Rays, winners of the West Seattle Little League Majors Division, advanced to the District 7 Championship Game with a 1-0 extra inning game against the Rainier Little League champions yesterday afternoon. The D-Rays beat the South Highline American Little League champs 10-0 on Friday night to get to the semi-final game against Rainier. The championship game will be held tonight at 6 PM at Normandy Park City Hall Fields, located at 801 SW 174th St., Normandy Park.

Here’s a map. Good luck, D-Rays!

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Raise puppies to help people: West Seattle event on Tuesday
June 22, 2009 6:03 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | Pets | West Seattle news

When you meet a blind person with a Guide Dog – there’s someone in the picture who you don’t see, even if you are fully sighted: The volunteer who trained that dog from puppyhood for its life of service and companionship. In West Seattle tomorrow afternoon, at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor), you have the chance to meet some of those volunteers, and their puppies in training. Ruth Oldham sent the invitation to share with you, plus the photo at left, and full details – read on:Read More

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Looking ahead: Final Delridge Skatepark design meeting Monday
June 21, 2009 11:50 pm
|    Comments Off on Looking ahead: Final Delridge Skatepark design meeting Monday
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

We got that sneak peek at the Delridge Skatepark‘s schematic design by going downtown for a Seattle Design Commission presentation last month (that’s designer Micah Shapiro from Grindline). Tomorrow (Monday) night, you can see it, and offer comments, and ask questions, right here in West Seattle, by going to the third and final “design meeting” at Youngstown Arts Center, 6:30 pm. The skatepark (planned for the northeast corner of the parkland at Delridge Community Center/Playfield/Wading Pool) is much closer to reality than it was during the first two design meetings, now that the Parks Department has mustered about three-quarters of a million dollars to replace the funding cut from the city budget — about half a million from the Hiawatha Playfield project – where work is just starting – since its bids came in under budget, and a quarter-million that’s being moved (pending final approval) from a Parks and Green Spaces Levy allotment for a “skate spot” at the future Myrtle Reservoir park site.

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Video: Admiral reopened; one rescued from overturned car
June 21, 2009 9:41 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(see bottom of story for next-day updates)

ORIGINAL 9:41 PM REPORT: There’s an overturned car near Admiral and 48th. It appears to be a single vehicle, overturned in the eastbound lane of Admiral. One person has been taken out of the car and moved to the medic unit. Admiral still blocked in both directions.

9:55 PM UPDATE: The street is being hosed down. So far it appears that the one person removed from the car and taken to the hospital was the only person in the car.

10:06 PM UPDATE: Admiral now open to traffic. The car is off to the side and traffic is moving slowly in both directions.

10:31 PM UPDATE: Just left the scene a few minutes ago; the wrecked car was still there, in the outside eastbound lane just west of 49th. We talked to people at the scene; nobody saw what happened – thanks to the people in the house right over the crash scene for allowing us to share their landing to shoot video of the rescue efforts, which we will add shortly. No word yet exactly why the car crashed, nor do we know the driver’s condition.

ADDED 10:57 PM: That video clip shows the rescue scene just before the man was pulled out of the car and taken to the medic unit by gurney. We’ll add one more showing the car from the other side of the street (11:25 – here’s that clip, from after the man was pulled out:)

And one side note – we’ve noticed at recent crash/crime scenes that red battery-operated lights are used instead of flares – in this case we were close enough to get a little video of them:

MONDAY MORNING UPDATE: Fire Department spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen tells WSB the crash survivor is a 60-year-old man who was taken to the hospital with “non-life-threatening injuries.” We’re about to check with police to see if they have anything more on the investigation. 4:38 PM UPDATE: Detective Jeff Kappel with the SPD media unit says the preliminary – and we stress, preliminary – finding of investigators is that the driver apparently fell asleep at the wheel.

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West Seattleites in the Fremont Solstice Parade
June 21, 2009 8:49 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattleites in the Fremont Solstice Parade
 |   West Seattle people

If you haven’t been to the Fremont Solstice Parade, you might not realize, given the turn the major coverage has taken in recent years, that it includes much more than naked, body-painted bicycle riders. For example: In the photo above, that’s The Center School‘s dragon in Saturday’s parade. (The Center School is a high school based at Seattle Center, “with a focus on the arts and community engagement” per its website, part of the Seattle Public Schools system.) It was a creation of West Seattleite Andy Bell‘s “Global Arts and Cultural Expressions” class at The Center School – here’s Andy and son Adam Bell in the parade:

The 25-foot dragon was accompanied by artists from the school expressing a variety of genres; they got other youth involved along the parade route, decorating the dragon as it went:

Thanks to Paul Dieter, a West Seattleite and Center School parent, for sharing the photos (and for his WSB Forums note that the parade isn’t just about the two-wheel, no-clothes crowd – although note there WAS well-rounded coverage on one of our fellow independent neighborhood-news sites, FremontUniverse.com, which is affiliated with nearby Ballard’s #1 online news source, MyBallard.com). We’re less than a month away now, by the way, from West Seattle’s own summertime parade, the American Legion Grand Parade (that’s its official name; though you may know it as the “Hi-Yu Parade,” it’s presented by Legion Post 160, not by the Hi-Yu Festival). It’s coming up on Saturday, July 18th.

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West Seattle 4th of July: Your invitation to a picnic
June 21, 2009 4:00 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle 4th of July: Your invitation to a picnic
 |   Alki Statue of Liberty | Holidays | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

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Celebrate Liberty on the Fourth of July – by visiting the old Alki Statue of Liberty (and then if you want, later, the nearby plaza’s new one) at the Log House Museum‘s gift shop. But that would be just one side attraction at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s annual membership picnic. Even if you’re not a member yet, you’re invited to come join at the picnic, which will offer free hamburgers, hot dogs, coffee, tea and lemonade – just bring a side dish to share – and help launch “Telling Our Westside Stories,” which the Historical Society explains as: We’ll collect your memories of the land, water, beaches, and hills of the Duwamish peninsula.” (The LHM is at 61st/Stevens in Alki; here’s a map.)

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Recycling changes bring wildlife woes: WSB’er seeks advice
June 21, 2009 1:12 pm
|      61 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | Wildlife

Out of the WSB inbox, from LJ, who’s seeking suggestions about a problem she’s noticing three months after the big recycling changes:

I am wondering if any other residents are experiencing an increase in rodent and wildlife issues that appear to be related to food scraps now being placed in yard debris recycling containers. In the past I would see the occasional rat at night and crows will be crows, but as I feared, I have had a huge increase in rat sightings at night in my yard and a huge increase in crow issues. I am convinced this is related to the food scraps in the recycling. I am constantly finding food scraps dropped in my yard by the crows which in turn attracts the rats if it is not picked up immediately. I even had a crow fight to the death in my front yard over food scraps. The crow that was killed died in a large fountain in my front yard, when I tried to remove it I was attacked by the other crows and had to call Animal Control to remove it. I am sorry but this creeps me out. I am all for more recycling but not at risk of disease and pestilence because the containers are not crow-proof and people are uneducated about how to maybe guard against this with the containers that we are issued. Thoughts, suggestions????

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First day of summer: High Point “Solar Panel Challenge” launch
June 21, 2009 10:30 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | High Point | How to help | West Seattle news

That sign went up, on building-side space donated by Nucor, a month ago – and now the accompanying donation drive has begun: Today, Neighborhood House launches the Solar Panel Challenge to bring in $100,000 for a “second array of solar panels” atop its under-construction (here’s our recent hard-hat-tour story) Neighborhood Center in High Point, which will be both a community gathering place and a headquarters for social services as well as environmental education. The second array will make the building “energy-neutral” and will pay for itself within a few years, saving up to $30,000 a year. Read on for the official news release about the Solar Panel Challenge:Read More

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Swinery Deli in West Seattle: Change in location plan
June 21, 2009 6:07 am
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

When we reported nine days ago that Seattle chef Gabriel Claycamp was planning to open his Swinery Deli and cured-meat business as part of the Seattle Fish Company storefront in The Junction, it was noted that the deal hadn’t been finalized yet. This morning, WSB has learned that Claycamp has just signed a lease for a different West Seattle space: WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli, who has covered Claycamp’s endeavors before, reports that the Swinery’s planned deli and preparation kitchen will both be housed in the 3207 California SW location (left) that Muttley Crew Cuts is leaving for its new Admiral/42nd digs; the lease, according to what Claycamp told Christopher, was signed yesterday – they’ll meet with architects Monday, and are aiming for a mid-August opening. According to Christopher, “Gabriel says this location is better because they can consolidate their entire operation under one roof and divest themselves of the commercial kitchen space they recently started renting. He is excited about the potential of the outdoor courtyard too, as it will offer the opportunity for a ‘walk-up BBQ window’.” (For more details of what Claycamp is planning, see our June 12th report.)

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Happy Father’s Day! Low tide, car show, brunch, WSFM, fundraiser
June 21, 2009 5:31 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle restaurants

(Photo from last month, shared by Gregory Wright)
FATHER’S DAY TIDEWALK, ANYONE? 10 am-1 pm, beach naturalists will be out south of Alki Point and (south of Colman Pool) on the Lincoln Park shore, as a very low tide – minus 3.0 – bottoms out just after 10:30 this morning. (And even lower tomorrow!)

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FATHER’S DAY CAR SHOW: It’s an annual tradition. Classic/antique cars on display at Providence Mount St. Vincent (here’s a map), 1-3:30 pm. Free. South side of the building.

FATHER’S DAY BRUNCH: Looking for brunch options? West Seattle restaurants where you’ll find brunch include our three restaurant sponsors — Cafe Revo (opening today at 10), Skylark Cafe and Club (open at 9 am), and Ama-Ama Oyster Bar and Grill (open at 10).

FATHER’S DAY AT THE WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm as always, 44th/Alaska. Here’s the “Ripe ‘n’ Ready” list; check the Neighborhood Farmers’ Market Alliance Twitter feed for last-minute alerts and on-site discoveries.

FUNDRAISER FOR A FATHERLESS FAMILY: We first told you about this last Monday – the Phares Phund event at Alki Bathhouse, 4-7 pm today.

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California Place Park: Sign on the way; “buffer plantings” proposed
June 20, 2009 11:44 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   California Place Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

One year ago – on June 11, 2008 – local preschool operator Manuela Slye stood before the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s monthly meeting and talked about a “dream” of a playground at little California Place Park, adjacent to Admiral Church. In that park today, she cuddled her six-week-old son while talking with us during the celebration organized by the group she co-founded, Friends and Neighbors of North Admiral, marking the end of the design process for which they procured a $15,000 city Neighborhood Matching Fund grant.

Moments before we spoke with Slye, we talked with FANNA’s Ann Limbaugh, after she announced to celebration attendees that there’s only one certain change in the park’s near future: An official sign, marking it as a park. “That’s something we wanted all along,” Slye told us, “something to let people know this is a park.” According to Limbaugh, the group then hopes to secure volunteer time and donations — “less than $2,000” — for one element of this design crafted by landscape architect Karen Kiest as her contract, funded by the city grant, ended:

Limbaugh says the design element that FANNA hopes to pursue involves “buffer plantings” in the parking strips along the sidewalk that borders the park’s east and north sides; the lack of a buffer between the park space and busy California Avenue SW was one concern that repeatedly surfaced during months of meetings about the park. But they’re not needed, according to the “No Change to Park” group:

Standing next to the easels displaying the park design proposals at the celebration, holding her often-seen “No Change to Park” sign, Jan Bailey told us she is opposed to those plantings because of the potential expense. She and ally Dennis Ross, a longtime community activist in the Admiral area — also displaying a “No Change to Park” sign — continue to advocate for the park to remain unchanged. As for whether FANNA might pursue any more components of Kiest’s design – which would require a new round of fundraising and grant-seeking – Limbaugh said they want to “take a break” so nothing is planned. No Parks Department rep was in sight at today’s event (not that one was expected, as it was a community gathering and not an official meeting), so we will be checking with them on Monday regarding their official view of the park’s status, and the timetable for the sign installation.

To catch up on the backstory regarding this park, you can read newest-to-oldest in our California Place Park coverage archive here.

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About the OTHER new grocery store: QFC “ahead of schedule”
June 20, 2009 8:05 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

After our update Thursday on the stalled Whole Foods project, we got a note asking what’s new with The Junction area’s other new grocery store – the one where construction is almost done, the QFC at Capco Plaza along Alaska between 41st and 42nd. Just talked with Kristin Maas at QFC HQ, and she tells us that while there’s no exact grand-opening date set yet, it’s looking like “early fall” – which she describes as “ahead of schedule,” because they’d previously expected to open in “late fall.” This will be the second QFC in a mixed-use (commercial and residential) development, she notes, after the Uptown store at 5th/Mercer, which opened two-plus years ago; she says, “We’ve been learning ever since” and that the special features of the West Seattle store will include hot “bistro”-style food for takeout (though there will be some limited seating) – and pizza ovens. The other major retail tenant announced for the building was Office Depot; we’ll check with them next week. Meantime, we just noticed the website for the residential section of the building, Altamira Luxury Apartments, has been upgraded – the building features it lists include a “chic Internet cafe.” When they open later this year, it’ll be the second new set of apartments to open in The Junction this year – after Mural Apartments (WSB sponsor), now renting barely two blocks away.

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West Seattle Clean and Green, report #2: The results; the reason
June 20, 2009 7:01 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | West Seattle news | West Seattle video

That’s the site of the new Genesee P-Patch late this afternoon – just a few hours after the big city-supported Clean and Green work party (first report here) that mixed mountains of Cedar Grove-donated compost into the soil:

Among the dozens of volunteers was John Legge, among those who received certificates today in honor of the plots they’ve been awarded in the new community garden:

(If you noticed some lighter spots in the compost pile in that photo – that’s actually where steam rose as the volunteers dug in — pungent steam, at that.) Among the others – Rahn Lee and her 9-year-old daughter Mei Lee Vandervelde, who are with a Girl Scout troop that meets in South Delridge:

The new P-Patch is on a spot of land along Genesee just east of West Seattle Christian Church, which donated the site (and has also been donating food grown on another patch of church land). In this video clip, you’ll hear WSCC’s Pastor Dan Jacobs talking about how the gardening sideline came to be:

As we mentioned in our first report, Mayor Nickels and wife Sharon Nickels volunteered today too. In his kickoff speech, the mayor mentioned this was the city’s 99th Clean and Green event:

And a shoutout to the organizational efforts of two more people who helped make today happen — Stan Lock, one of the city’s two Neighborhood Service Coordinators on our peninsula – he works out of the office in The Junction, next to Rocksport:

Plus, Erica Karlovits, president of the Junction Neighborhood Organization, which held its quarterly Adopt-a-Street cleanup in connection with today’s Clean and Green:

And these events do require planning down to the last detail, like treat procurement – Erica told us these cupcakes, with icing-drawn carrots and radishes, were donated by Coffee to a Tea with Sugar in The Junction:

Side note: In our first story on today’s event, we mentioned the three other West Seattle sites proposed for funding under the Parks and Green Spaces Levy. One is the “southern triangle” near California Place Park, the subject of a story you’ll see later tonight (because of the celebration in the park today); the other is in High Point; and we just noticed this brand-new sign up at the third, in Westwood (34th and Barton):

The sign makes it clear that the proposed disposition of that site (which we originally wrote about here) is as a “community garden,” and says you’ve got till July 20 to send comments to the city (same person that’s listed here).

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Happening now, and NOT happening now: Wading pool; ice cream
June 20, 2009 1:35 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | White Center

First, the NOT HAPPENING NOW – this was tentatively scheduled as the first day for Lincoln Park‘s wading pool to be open, but since it’s not warm, sunny weather, that’ll have to wait at least another day. (We went down to check in person just to be sure, as we’ve seen the occasional digression from the “warm, sunny” requirement/s.) Remember – the wading-pool schedule citywide is different this year because of mandatory safety improvements (our coverage, with dates, is here). Now, as for what IS happening now —

That’s Full Tilt Ice Cream proprietor Justin Cline, photographed emerging from the prep room in the back, where he had been working on mint-chocolate-chip peletas. Full Tilt (9629 16th SW, White Center) opened at noon today and will be open late tonight because two bands are playing; the shop’s celebrating its first birthday by donating a cone or pint to the White Center Food Bank for every cone or print purchased today. (Another good reason to go to White Center tonight – the monthly White Center for the Arts open house, starting at 5 pm, enter from the 16th SW entrance to the old skate rink, a few doors south of Full Tilt.)

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