day : 30/08/2009 11 results

It wasn’t in West Seattle, but the invitation to participate was circulated citywide, so we asked WSB contributing photojournalist Matt Durham to cover Sunday’s March for Youth – the second year in a row this event’s been organized to demonstrate concern about Seattle youth violence. He says about 60 people marched. The March for Youth coordinator is Denise Gloster (whose son died young, according to this Seattle Times [WSB partner] report on the event):

Among the signs marchers carried, one remembering Mychael Alexander, killed five years ago at age 20:

One mayoral candidate showed up – Michael McGinn, seen with supporters including West Seattle’s Christi Stapleton (left, in visor):

There’s detailed coverage of the March for Youth, as it happened, at our fellow independent neighborhood-based news site Central District News – see it here.

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Hiawatha Community Center class registration open now

August 30, 2009 11:56 pm

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| Announcements

From Lakema Bell at Hiawatha Community Center, word of registration under way now:

Register now for Girls Volleyball at Hiawatha Community Center!

Volleyball is available to athletes ages 10-17 in three different divisions. Players learn basic skills, team work, and sportsmanship skills needed to participate in league play. Practices will begin in September and conclude in mid to late November. For more information please center at (206) 684-7441.

Register for Fall Classes at Hiawatha Community Center!
Adults
Zumba Aerobics (New)
Hip Hop Fit (New)
Yoga
Middle Eastern (Belly Dance)
Tae Kwon Do
Teens
Pumpkin Carve
Costume Contest
Flashlight Pumpkin Hunt
Bowling
Youth
World Drumming (New)
High School Musical (New)
Drumming Methods (New)
Junior Brazilian Jam
Instrumental Music Tutoring (New)
Pre-Ballet 1
Preschool
Tiny Tappers
Messy Manifestations
Creative Movement/Pre-ballet
Kicking Kids
UK Petite Soccer
Kidz Love Soccer Ages 2-12
Family Special Events
6-8pm
Family Play Day 9/25 Free
Halloween Carnival 10/30 Free
Science Night 11/20 $5
Holiday Giving Feast 12/18 $8

To register or for more information, contact the center @ 206-684-7441.

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West Seattle weekend scenes: Mural; car wash; film crew

August 30, 2009 10:23 pm

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| Delridge | Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Saturday afternoon, we showed you the young artists preparing the south wall of Super 24 (Delridge/Findlay) for a mural – now, here’s the finished artwork. Here’s what Philippia Goldsmith from DNDA added tonight in a comment on our Saturday afternoon update:

This project is part of a larger initiative to transform the local corner stores into destinations where local residents have an ‘option’ to purchase affordable, delicious, and healthy food for their families. We will be having more projects like this in the coming months. If you’d like to volunteer or contribute to this effort. Send me an e-mail: phillippiag@dnda.org

Now to Alki:

Abby Suplizio tipped us to the “Save the Tata’s” Breast Cancer 3Day fundraising car wash at Alki Auto Repair this morning/afternoon. The 3Day route skips West Seattle again this year (it went through here in 2007 – WSB pix here) but more than a few West Seattleites are participating; breast-cancer survivor Diana McCasey organized this fundraiser. (If you missed it, you can donate through her page at the 3Day site.) East from Alki, to Schmitz Park:

That’s about the closest Shauna Causey got to the crew filming the online series “Star Trek: Phoenix” again this weekend in Schmitz Park, which had limited public access as a result (Friday night preview here). Shauna reports:

Entering the park from Admiral (Way), there is a sign that says “no admittance” and explains the filming. We came from the Alki Elementary entrance so we did not see this, or any signs that the film crew was still there until we got to the stream and could clearly hear a generator running not too far away in the park. Walking down the trails, we came upon the filming and saw some alien costumes laying on the trail (black helmets covering the head) and looked over to see a man with moss, sticks and brush covering his entire body. The only thing showing was his face, otherwise he looked like a giant pile of moss. I snapped a photo from fairly far away and they wouldn’t let me take any photos closer up.

More about “Star Trek: Phoenix” – which bills itself as “a not-for-profit Internet series and the largest, all volunteer, consistent film production in the Pacific Northwest” – at stphoenix.com. Posted notices said the crew’s work was to be done by 10 pm tonight, so tomorrow Schmitz should be back to normal.

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Head over wheels: Ride and Glide at West Seattle Christian

August 30, 2009 9:05 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle video | WS & Sports

On a perfect summer night in The Junction, the Ride and Glide bicycle-stunt team did head-over-wheels 360s last night at their West Seattle Christian parking-lot performance, as well as full upright turns – and more. We snapped them in mid-air; from the ground, Mike contributed video he uploaded to YouTube:

That’s the air show – here’s Mike’s video of the ground show:

And we got them to sit still for a moment for this closer look:

They of course spent some time urging young riders not to imitate their stunts – and to always wear helmets, among other healthy choices to be made in life. Ride and Glide is based here in the Puget Sound area; more info online at rideandglide.com.

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Memorial service next Sunday for rose gardener Lori White

August 30, 2009 6:43 pm

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| Gardening | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

A memorial service is planned next Sunday, Sept. 6, at Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden’s Celebration Garden for West Seattle rose gardener Lori White, who died this week at age 49. Rainy Rose Society president Sue Tiffany asked that we share that information along with Ms. White’s obituary; she says, “Lori White belonged to many rose societies including the Valley Rose Society, the Seattle Rose Society, the Heritage Rose Society, the Rainy Rose Society, and many more. Through her volunteer work Lori helped to fund the continuation of the Celebration Garden. Even when she was horribly ill, Lori would still go to the garden and volunteer her time.Her beautiful smile and valiant spirit will be sorely missed by so many, many who loved her. Lori had the ability to make each person that she spoke with feel like he/she was the most important person in the world. I called her ‘Precious’ and indeed she was.’ The photo above shows Ms. White with local gardening expert Ciscoe Morris and broadcaster Meeghan Black. Read on for her obituary:Read More

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Wine-tasting fundraiser in West Seattle, to help Bali kids learn

August 30, 2009 5:08 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news | WS beverages

We’ve been reporting on donation drives to help local kids in need get school supplies — through West Seattle Helpline and Pencil Me In For Kids – both of which are still collecting, so please donate if you haven’t already. But if you have already reached out locally – here’s a chance to help kids overseas, too: A wine-tasting event this Thursday at C&P Coffee in West Seattle, hosted by the nonprofit Scholastic Journey to help kids in Bali. SJ’s Krista Livingston shared the photo and this info about the event:

Scholastic Journey, a non-profit organization, will be hosting a wine-tasting fund raiser on Thursday, September 3, 2009 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. The wine tasting will be held in West Seattle at C&P Coffee Company, located at 5612 California Avenue SW and will feature a selection of five wines from Ward Johnson Winery, an urban family winery located at the foot of Queen Anne Hill in Seattle. Their 06 Merlot won a bronze medal at the 2009 Seattle Wine Awards, and their 06 Cabernet was rated “Outstanding” by Wine Press Northwest. Admission to the event is $15.

Scholastic Journey aims to fill the void in education left by extreme poverty. Scholastic Journey was founded in 2009 to provide an opportunity for children around the world to attend school. Many families are unable to provide their children with the supplies necessary to attend school; items like school uniforms, text books, backpacks, papers, pens and pencils are outside the means of many families in severely impoverished areas. The mission of Scholastic Journey is to enable children to attend school by providing them with these supplies. Provisions will be purchased in the children’s’ own community, in an effort to also help stimulate the local economy.

Scholastic Journey is committed to aid five elementary schools in Bunatan, Bali, Indonesia. Bali has a population of about 3.1 million people (recorded in 2005), 93% of whom adhere to Balinese Hinduism. Bali is renowned for its highly developed arts, including dance, sculpture, painting, leather, metalworking and music. Unfortunately, a series of natural disasters, political coups and terrorist attacks severely affected tourism, bringing much economic hardship to the island. The average annual income in Bunatan and surrounding areas is less than $500, not allowing most families to provide an education for their children.

To find out more about Scholastic Journey, e-mail Krista at admin@scholasticjourney.org – and/or be at the event at C&P Thursday, which includes appetizers and a silent auction.

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West Seattle scene: Fog on the water

August 30, 2009 3:36 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

If you missed the fog that blanketed the water this morning – here’s one view from West Seattle, courtesy of Mike Fiechtner. The forecast says you may see fog tomorrow morning, too. (Side note: The Seattle-Bainbridge state ferry Wenatchee made a hard landing downtown in the fog – though WSF isn’t saying yet whether conditions were to blame – and that run was down to 1 boat for hours; a replacement’s being moved over later today but that leaves Seattle-Bremerton with 1 boat for the rest of the night, which could mean more traffic on Fauntleroy-Southworth.)

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Followup: Police say West Seattle case was ‘acquaintance rape’

August 30, 2009 10:48 am

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| Crime | Delridge | Safety | West Seattle news

Followup to last night’s story on North Delridge neighbors mobilizing after reports of a woman being raped early Saturday in the Greg Davis Park area: We just talked with Lt. Von Levandowski of the Southwest Precinct. He says this is being investigated as a case of “acquaintance rape, which is still bad … but we don’t believe there is a predator out there.” He says the woman had gone to the area with the person who allegedly raped her; after she went to the nearby gas station/convenience store for help, she was taken to the hospital for the care and examination that is routine in reported rape cases. Lt. Levandowski says officers “processed the scene” and obtained evidence, and while no one has been arrested yet, he says they have “a lead on a suspect.”

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High Point Neighborhood Center grand opening date: Nov. 14

August 30, 2009 10:03 am

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| High Point | West Seattle news

(Photos by Christopher Boffoli)
We checked this week on the progress of the new High Point Neighborhood Center, the community facility that Neighborhood House is building at 34th/Morgan (our previous reports include the groundbreaking a year ago, the Nucor-side sign about its big solar array, and a construction tour in May). NH’s Ray Li tells WSB it’s “about 85% of the way there” and that the grand opening is currently scheduled for Saturday, November 14th – invitations are in the works now. Here’s a closer look at part of the roof, with the solar panels:

In addition to the solar component, the $13 million project has a multitude of other “green-built” components (detailed during the May construction tour), with a LEED Gold certification hoped for. In addition to community-gathering space, it also will be headquarters for social-service workers and Head Start education; here’s more info from the Neighborhood House website.

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Happening today: Benefit haircuts, Farmers’ Market, more …

August 30, 2009 7:33 am

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| Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news

BENEFIT HAIRCUTS: Starting at 9 am, proceeds from haircuts done today at Christopher’s Salon in Morgan Junction (7009 California SW) will go toward helping the owner with medical bills from a recent health crisis. Tickets also are being sold for a benefit raffle; the drawing is now set for September 7. (10:45 am note: We have gone to the salon twice since 9 am and no one is there – it’s closed – not sure what’s going on, but if you are interested in helping, call before you go to see if they’re open – 932-1760.)

“REINVENT YOURSELF” WORKSHOP: Seven local entrepreneurs are presenting this event (a WSB sponsor) starting at 8:45 today at Merrill Gardens (also a WSB sponsor; 4611 35th SW). If you didn’t register in advance, you can do so at the door – full details here.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm as always – here’s what’s on the Ripe and Ready list this week.

LAST DAY BEFORE LIBRARY SHUTDOWN: After today, Seattle Public Library branches are closed for a week because of city budget cuts, followed by the Labor Day holiday, so if you need to get something done, today’s your last chance till Tuesday, Sept. 8th. West Seattle has four library branches (Southwest, Delridge, High Point, West Seattle/Admiral); locations and hours can be found here.

“MARCH FOR YOUTH”: This isn’t happening in West Seattle but the invitation extends citywide – a march and rally by and for those concerned about youth violence. The march starts at 2 sites at 3 pm; full details here from the Rainier Valley Post.

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Rescued kayaker shares the story of buying a “home with history”

August 30, 2009 2:02 am

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| West Seattle history | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Last March, we covered the rescue of a kayaker who got into trouble off southern West Seattle shores. A few weeks later, that kayaker – Dr. Scott Redfern – sent us his own account of what happened; we published it here. Now he’s sent another story, about his home-buying adventure in West Seattle this summer:

Story and photos by Dr. Scott Redfern

On April 10th, I posted the story of my kayak trip gone wrong and my rescue by the Vashon ferry.

On July 8th, I bought a home in West Seattle. The history of the home and the house next door deserve to be shared. The property came with two homes on one lot. What sets these homes apart from all others in the neighborhood is the fact that these two structures have been an enormous eyesore for decades.