West Seattle, Washington

24 Wednesday

48℉

day : 10/09/2009 16 results

High Point Neighborhood Association: New leaders, new projects
September 10, 2009 11:58 pm
|    Comments Off on High Point Neighborhood Association: New leaders, new projects
 |   High Point | West Seattle news

Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The High Point Neighborhood Association (HNPA) held its quarterly meeting tonight at the High Point Commons Park Amphitheater under clear skies and with a higher-than-usual turnout – including young attendee Elena, who rode her new bike to the meeting, with dad Jeff (above photo).

Andrew Mead (left), immediate past president of the HNPA (who will be stepping into the role of Vice President) introduced new Board Trustees and the new executive members of the Board. New Trustees are: Eleanor Hall, Chris Smithco and Ayan Jama. The new executive committee is: Jennifer Cobb, President; Andrew Mead, Vice President; Miranda Taylor, Secretary; and Chris Smithco, Treasurer. Trustees are representatives elected by their neighbors in one of four “voting groups” that High Point is divided into. These Trustees serve two-year terms.

Read More

Share This

West Seattle Art Walk, report #1: Scenes from a clear night
September 10, 2009 11:12 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

First of two reports from the September West Seattle Art Walk, which – unlike last month’s thundering, torrential-downpour night — was graced with clear skies: We walked into a full house at Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor), where artists included Bayou and Kelly showing off their bag creations (online at Rat City Rags). Moving north to The Junction, the featured artist at Brunette Mix (WSB sponsor) was Gatewood’s Pam Mandel:

We know Pam best for her travel writing at Nerd’s Eye View, but she revealed she was creating art, including the collages she showed tonight, long before she wandered into technology and writing. More collage was on display at Twilight Artist Collective, where there’s always a party on Art Walk night – here’s work from Shaw Osha, part of Twilight’s featured The Ontology of the Image show, curated by Chris Crites:

And the night’s boldest show involved art that hadn’t even been created yet when tonight’s Art Walk began: Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) hosted the Paint Ball, giving four artists each a blank canvas and the mandate to transform it. We dropped in around two-thirds of the way through the evening:

That’s Chani Murac – here’s Jeremy DeCory:

Also participating, Steve Klinkel and V. Blast (who did the Feedback’s ornate metalwork); the pieces were to be silent-auctioned – we’ll check on their status tomorrow. For October’s Art Walk, Feedback proprietor Jeff Gilbert tells us, it’ll be another demonstration of art in the making – punk-rock pumpkins – stand by for more on that! And we’ve got a second report on tonight’s event; the Art Walk is way too big for just one news-gathering duo to cover, so we asked WSB contributing reporter Mary Sheely to hit the street too – her coverage, still to come.

Share This

Thursday night notes: Eat Local Now; Swinery; Junction Halloween
September 10, 2009 10:32 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Holidays | Sustainable West Seattle | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

EAT LOCAL NOW: This event celebrating locally grown food, with sponsors including Sustainable West Seattle and CoolMom.org, is now just a month away, and tickets are on sale: 5 pm October 11th at the Alki Masonic Hall in The Junction. Read more about it here; buy tickets here.

SPEAKING OF FOOD: Just this morning, we noted The Swinery (taking over 3207 California SW) was chronicling its push toward an expected opening next week. Tonight WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli has learned from Swinery proprietor Gabriel Claycamp that last-minute renovation challenges have pushed that date back to September 21st.

JUNCTION TRICK-OR-TREATING: Jennifer e-mailed tonight to ask whether this megapopular annual event will be on Halloween itself, since it’s a Saturday this year, or the week before. The West Seattle Junction Association has scheduled it for 1-3 pm Saturday, October 31st, so go ahead and mark your calendars. We’re also asking Admiral merchants what they’re planning to do and will share that information when we get it.

Share This

Got the perfect place for this (free!) landscaping project?
September 10, 2009 9:11 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | West Seattle news

From the Camp Long mailing list:

We’re still looking for an appropriate site in West Seattle to do pruning. Do you know of a church, institution or yard that could use some major pruning that would be done for free? The only thing is, it has to fit the qualifications below.

Here’s the updated site requirements info for the Oct. 1st workshop.

Site Requirements for PlantAmnesty’s Spanish Language Pruning and Renovation Workshop
Thursday, October 1st, 2009, 8 am – 4 pm

This workshop is a classroom and hands-on all-day event for Spanish-speaking landscape professionals. Pruning and creative solutions to an overgrown landscape will be taught as a landscape is renovated during the workshop. In the morning George Ortiz of Signature Landscape Services will give a lecture at Camp Long. Then in the afternoon everyone moves to a location where professionals work in small groups with the workshop students, practicing pruning methods. For the afternoon portion of the workshop we are looking for a site that meets the requirements below.

Site Requirements
– A private home, church, library, commercial landscape, school or park located in West Seattle.
– Large enough so that it is maneuverable by a group of 20-30 people.
– It is preferable for us to work on different groupings of overgrown, neglected shrubs and small trees that are as old as 15 years. And a diversity of types of shrubs (i.e. not just a landscape of mostly Rhodys).
– Nearby parking for as many as 20-30 vehicles.
– A place to leave pruning debris.
– A bathroom for use by potentially muddy workers.
– A representative of site should be present during the workshop.
– A small monetary donation to PlantAmnesty is required, unless it is a public property.
– This type of work will NOT be done: hedge shearing, a lot of blackberry and weed removal, and work on steep slopes. Only one large tree can be pruned by a certified arborist. Several smaller or younger trees are preferable for this class situation.

Benefits to the Site Owner
– A pre-workshop consultation with author-expert Cass Turnbull, and the benefit of several professionals’ insights into possible solutions to existing landscape problems.
– Pruning and renovation work done by approximately 8 landscape professionals and 15-20 students.
– Opportunity to attend the workshop (taught in Spanish) and receive all workshop materials (a pruning DVD and handouts on pruning topics, in Spanish or English).
– A beautiful landscape at the end of the workshop!

If you are interested in having the workshop held at your residence, business, church, library, school, or park, contact PlantAmnesty, 206.783.9813 or info@plantamnesty.org

Share This

Update: Fire call – smoke damage displaces Alki residents
September 10, 2009 8:08 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

(photo added 8:55 pm, courtesy Cami)
ORIGINAL 8:08 NOTE: Near Whale Tail. We just arrived. No obvious sign of fire. 2600 block Marine, north of Whale Tail [map]. 8:12 PM UPDATE: No fire – “food on stove.” Fire crews now airing the place out. 10:35 PM UPDATE: New information in comments from KH, who says there was damage, and the people living in the house were displaced because of the smoke.

Share This

Delridge double-shooting case: One more sweep for evidence
September 10, 2009 6:14 pm
|    Comments Off on Delridge double-shooting case: One more sweep for evidence
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

That’s the top of a flyer that law enforcers are about to start distributing around Delridge – asking for help from anyone who saw anything the night of a double shooting in May of last year, in which a woman and her 10-year-old son were hit by bullets fired from outside their home. Here’s the flyer – the back of which includes part of a WSB report about the crime. Washington State Patrol Detective Donovan Daly says they’re making one last sweep to make sure they’ve got as much evidence as possible, for the strongest case possible. It’s been eight months since an indictment was announced, as originally reported by KING5 (our followup includes a link to the indictment paperwork) – the suspect, DeVaughn “Buster” Dorsey, was accused of a variety of charges that also related to an alleged “chop shop” in West Seattle; the shooting was allegedly intended to intimidate a witness. According to the new flyer, any little thing you recall from the night of May 18, 2008, could be helpful:

ANY information relating to the events of that night, however insignificant they may seem: loud voices, people running, rumors you have heard on the street, suspicious cars, barking dogs are all important information to the Washington State Patrol.

This is the number to call if you have anything that might help in the case: 425.401.7743.

Share This

Thursday afternoon notes: More on QFC; Shoremont; Westwood
September 10, 2009 5:06 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | Westwood

YET MORE ON THE JUNCTION QFC: Checking in with regional spokesperson Kristin Maas this afternoon, she reconfirmed next Wednesday’s opening date for the store in Capco Plaza (42nd/Alaska), and noted it’ll kick off with a 7 am ribbon-cutting ceremony that day (so if you ever wanted to be among the first to shop a brand-new grocery store, be there!). Store hours: Round the clock. We’re expecting a fact sheet a bit later and will add it here, in case you have any other questions about what the store will offer.

SHOREMONT ON ALKI: There’s an update on this vacant building (2464 Alki SW), slated for eventual demolition, which had been the subject of an emergency city order because it was open to the elements (and potentially transients) – AlkiNews.com reports it’s boarded up. The city’s online records say the site failed an inspection in late August after the emergency order was “served.”

WESTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: This community group has scheduled its first meeting in months, and you’re invited – 7 pm September 24th, Southwest Community Center (2801 SW Thistle), bring a dessert to share. Here’s the flyer outlining some of what’ll be discussed.

Share This

What should be in the next school levy? Have your say, here
September 10, 2009 3:24 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Seattle Public Schools just announced 3 community meetings, including one in West Seattle – 6:30 pm September 24th at Madison Middle School – to talk about what should be on the 2010 ballot. Here’s the announcement (including how to comment if you CAN’T go):Read More

Share This

Fauntleroy Schoolhouse deal updates: Close to closing; more land
September 10, 2009 3:20 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

schoolhouse.jpg

(2008 WSB photo of Fauntleroy Schoolhouse)
The future of one of West Seattle’s long-closed schools is not a done deal yet but it’s very close. The Fauntleroy Community Service Agency‘s purchase of the old Fauntleroy Schoolhouse has been more than a year in the making, and FCSA’s Kevin Wooley tells WSB today that the deal should finally close within a month or two – the legal challenge that had posed a problem earlier in the year has ended, and some of the public financing that’s helping with the deal is close to finalization. The schoolhouse is used right now for a mix of community and business activities, from Fauntleroy Children’s Center to Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering, and while its usage is not expected to change post-purchase, Wooley says they are still planning to explore the possibility of a capital campaign to raise what’s needed for repairs and upgrades, adding that FCSA is currenly “modifying the organization to run the building … It’s pretty exciting that we’re finally getting close to the finish.” They’ll soon be recruiting members for a “building advisory board,” too, and Wooley promises there’ll be a celebration once the purchase officially closes. FCSA and Seattle Public Schools reached agreement on terms of the $1.8 million deal last October.

4:45 PM UPDATE: And in fact there’s more news about the schoolhouse deal today – Kim Sheridan called with word that $1.1 million in additional state funding has been “set aside for purchase of additional playground space,” according to a community e-mail update she just said, adding, “This means that we can purchase all of the climber area on the lower playground, as well as the hill and a bit more!” That’s part of the rear section of the site that had not originally been in the deal.

Share This

West Seattle business news: Westside Pharmacy closing, sort of
September 10, 2009 12:30 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Story and photo by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The free-standing Westside Pharmacy, which has been at the corner of California SW and Brandon Street for 20 years, is closing, but its longtime owner isn’t leaving the business – he is partnering with QFC to provide pharmacy services in their about-to-open Junction store.

Michael Ng, pharmacist and 32-year owner of Westside Pharmacy, tells WSB he is very excited about this partnership with QFC for a number of reasons, including the expanded hours and parking availability for his clients.

Read More

Share This

More politics: Mayoral debate, Port on KUOW, bag-fee breakdown
September 10, 2009 11:23 am
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Free TV : Ustream

MAYORAL DEBATE: In case you’re not going to the big showdown between Joe Mallahan and Mike McGinn at the Cinerama downtown today, sponsors say they’ll stream it here (look for that stream around noon – 12:15 pm update – it’s started, with an intro from moderator Steve Scher – 12:25 pm – added the embedded version above, click to watch – 1:57 pm, it’s over but you can click to see the archived video).

PORT COMMISSION CANDIDATES ON THE RADIO: Marcee Stone mentioned this at last night’s 34th District Democrats meeting (we’ve added more details to our report; see it here) – West Seattleite Max Vekich and incumbent Tom Albro are both scheduled to be on KUOW (94.9 FM or listen online) at noon.

WEST SEATTLE VOTERS HATED THE BAG FEE: May not surprise you. But if you’re interested in the breakdown, seattletimes.com (WSB partner) has made a map with the breakout on what parts of the city backed the bag fee in last month’s election and which parts didn’t. Doesn’t appear ANY part of West Seattle had a majority “yes.” 12:13 PM UPDATE: Via Twitter, @labradoodles points out that if you follow the link to a larger version of the map, you will see two small clumps where the fee was supported (here’s that link).

Share This

Food & drink followups: Swinery; Proletariat Pizza; new Starbucks
September 10, 2009 10:03 am
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | White Center | WS beverages

Three quick updates on food/drink places scheduled to open this month:

THE SWINERY: It’s the home stretch of work to convert the former Muttley Crew Cuts location (first reported here; meantime, MCC is now at 42nd/Admiral) for this new artisan meats/deli shop, and it’s being chronicled online. Check out theswinery.blogspot.com. They still expect to soft-open September 15 (next Tuesday). A few days after that —

(Photo provided by Proletariat’s owners as their sign went up recently)
PROLETARIAT PIZZA: White Center’s new pizza joint, in the northernmost block of the 16th SW business district across from Full Tilt Ice Cream, has pushed its opening day back a week – co-owner Stefanie says they’re now hoping to open September 18th. (12:39 pm note – Bayou points out on the White Center Now version of this item, they’ve got a blog-format website going at proletariatpizza.com.)

JUNCTION STARBUCKS FOLLOWUP: We mentioned when reporting the sighting inside Capco Plaza (42nd/Alaska) that we’d be checking with Starbucks whether this was company-owned or franchised. Finally got the official answer: Franchised (“licensed”). The QFC store in Capco Plaza is projected to soft-open September 16.

Share This

More back-to-school news: Chief Sealth dinner/auction planned
September 10, 2009 9:55 am
|    Comments Off on More back-to-school news: Chief Sealth dinner/auction planned
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

As the new school year continues, there’s word of another big school fundraiser: Chief Sealth High School‘s PTSA and Performing Arts department are presenting the first-ever Seahawk Spirit Dinner and Auction on November 12th. It’ll be held at The Hall at Fauntleroy on November 12th, with doors opening at 5:30 for a silent auction, buffet dinner at 7, and a live auction at 8. Auction-item donations are being accepted as well as ticket orders – Dick Lee at rjlee@seattleschools.org or 206-252-0476.

Share This

High-school sports: West Seattle HS volleyball starts with win
September 10, 2009 8:55 am
|    Comments Off on High-school sports: West Seattle HS volleyball starts with win
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Just in, from West Seattle High School assistant volleyball coach Jim Hardy:

Westside’s Volleyball team swept Cleveland HS 3-0 Wednesday night in their season opener at Cleveland.

Seniors Jess Harrison and Mariah Doll were the only returning lettermen on a young Wildcats squad that saw 7 players start in their first Varsity matches. Junior setter Taylor Magera had 23 assists in her Varsity debut, and sophomores Emmie Riley and Nicole Broten turned in solid performances in their first Varsity appearances.

Westside Coach Gail Mowrer was very pleased with her young team and relieved to come away with the win. “They are a very scrappy team that plays every ball to the whistle and always give us a lot of trouble.” Mowrer noted. “With so many young players, we felt that the keys for us would be to execute the fundamentals and try to serve and pass well.”

The Wildcats pulled away late in the first game to win 25-18. They controlled the second set, winning 25-14. In the third game, the Cats needed to come from behind to overcome a 7-point deficit midway through the set as Cleveland came out playing very well. In the preliminary match, the West Seattle Junior Varsity team won their match 3-0. The next match will be Monday night at Nathan Hale [map].

Sports is part of the school news from all over West Seattle that we’re committed to reporting – advance word of events is welcome as well as timely reports afterward like this – here’s all the contact info – thanks!!!!

Share This

Today/tonight: West Seattle Art Walk; High Point neighbors; more
September 10, 2009 6:21 am
|    Comments Off on Today/tonight: West Seattle Art Walk; High Point neighbors; more
 |   High Point | West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle people

WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: Tonight, 6-9 pm, all around West Seattle. We previewed some of the featured venues/artists on Wednesday (like The Paint Ball at Feedback Lounge [WSB sponsor]); more to mention today – The Kenney is excited about belly dancer Nadira, resident photographer Phil Gelpi, guest artist Josh Miller, jewelry by Penguina Designs’ Johanna Lindsay, and food; at Capers in The Junction, Banana Blossom Press is donating proceeds from sales of its cards (more here) to 2 breast-cancer-related causes, including Northwest Hope and Healing (WSB sponsor) and its upcoming Alki Beach 5K Run/Walk (Sept. 27 – registered yet?). Get your Art Walk map and more previews at the official Art Walk site.

HIGH POINT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Come to Commons Park Amphitheater at 6 pm for HPNA’s quarterly meeting – topic, how to be a good neighbor, and a good neighborhood. Refreshments!

SOUTHWEST SEATTLE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN: They meet in Burien, but West Seattleites are part of the group and you’re invited to join them too. Tonight, 5:30 pm at Yo’s Bistro (205 SW 152nd; map), $10 cash/check at the door, RSVP to Jan at 206-244-7016 or Kay, kbk.bpw@hotmail.com

Share This

West Seattleites’ first day of school: More photos
September 10, 2009 1:54 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle schools

With hours to go till the start of what for many is the SECOND day of the new school year, we have collected the rest of the photos kindly shared with us from Day 1. First, that’s Kandie‘s daughter Cece, who started 2nd grade at Gatewood Elementary. We received a few family photos too – 5-year-old Cole is pictured below with mom Jennifer and dad Brian, on his first day of kindergarten at Arbor Heights Elementary:

By the way, Arbor Heights is the first West Seattle public school we know of that’s on Twitter – not surprising since thanks to teacher Mark Ahlness, who’s also involved with the Twitter account (@arborhts), it was also among the first schools ANYWHERE to have its own website, way back when. (They’re on Facebook too.) Now on to Gatewood Elementary – here’s Katie‘s son Emmett checking out his spot in circle in Mr. Skeffington‘s kindergarten class:

Next, Jen shared a photo of her daughters and this explanation – “Bella, off to Madison Middle School, go Bulldogs, and Lauren off to West Seattle High School, go Wildcats!”

We had a couple pix from Lafayette Elementary earlier today – here’s another one, courtesy of Carrie Ann, who photographed daughter Molly with teacher Mr. Bell. (Carrie Ann says her daughter is one of “five or six” Molly’s in kindergarten there!)

Krystal sent this photo showing the lineup outside Lafayette:

And here are her daughters (Sophia at center, 1st grader in Ms. Nyberg‘s class, and Eloise at right, who’s a year away from kindergarten) with neighbor Aine (at left, 1st grader in Ms. Longo‘s class):

Not far from Lafayette, quite the day at Schmitz Park Elementary. Erik’s 8-year-old daughters Hailey, Caitlin and Sophia started third grade in Mrs. Watson‘s class:

They and their schoolmates got to hear from a descendant of the couple who donated the nearby parkland – Alan Schmitz (grandson of Ferdinand and Emma Schmitz):

And second-year principal Gerrit Kischner was clearly energized as he urged his returning students to welcome the newcomers:

One more back-to-school photo – Daphne shares this snapshot of Chloé, 4, and Pascal, 6:

Thanks to everyone who shared back-to-school photos … pix of West Seattle people, places and events, both the good news and the not-so-good news, are an integral part of WSB, and just one way in which this is collaborative rather than a “we make it/you read it” type of creation. Here are all the ways to reach us, any time.

Share This