West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Long list of awesome holiday events for The Weekend Before Christmas – and here’s one where you can combine giving and receiving: The Holiday Giving Tree and Feast event 6-8 pm tomorrow (Friday) at Hiawatha Community Center (2700 California SW; map). Bring a toy to donate, and you get dinner for free. Rebecca from sister community center High Point CC found out the Hiawatha menu for us – she says it’s the work of a professional chef:
Roasted Turkey
Gourmet Macaroni & Cheese w/6 different cheeses
Sweet Potato and Red Potato Rosemary Olive Oil Dish
Corn
Rolls
Green Salad
Various Pies for Dessert
Hot Apple Cider & Cran-Raspberry Juice
Satsumas
Fruit Cocktail
That’s at Hiawatha, 6-8 pm tomorrow. Meantime Rebecca’s checking on progress for the HP toy drive we told you about yesterday. She also says ALL community centers have been collecting toys – the next few days are the time to make sure all toy bins and giving trees are taken care of!
For the first time since the horrifying attack in South Park that killed 39-year-old Teresa Butz five months ago, the murder victim’s 37-year-old partner – who survived despite serious wounds – has broken her silence. She spoke, anonymously, with Seattle Times (WSB partner) reporter Jennifer Sullivan, not commenting on the attack itself, but about how she is getting on with her life, telling the Times, “Survival is about being part of the world, not getting lost in the fear …” She also has moved away from South Park, to Capitol Hill. The story was published tonight; you can read it here, including how she is about to help launch a new self-defense program for women.
Just back from the two-part Southwest Design Review Board meeting at Youngstown Arts Center. The easy part is the report on the Transitional Resources residential expansion on Avalon: It was approved to move along out of the DR process, with just a few concerns, such as a suggestion that the upper floor plan from the alternative option – including a different alignment for the elevator tower – be incorporated into the recommended plan. Not much controversy, no public opposition, the meeting didn’t even take the full potential hour-and-a-half timeslot. The second part – the fourth Design Review meeting on the Admiral Safeway project – was more contentious and complicated. Bottom line, the project is not done with Design Review yet – it will have to come back for a fifth meeting – but just specifically for another look at the west side of the store along California SW – the biggest concern, board members want to see more entrances on that side; it originally had none between the store’s main entrance and a door at California/Lander, then one was added for the Starbucks stand midway down California, but board members say that’s not enough. Full details, including other concerns they want the final design to address, in our second report, later Friday.
We featured this display last year – who could forget the distinctive Christmas cocktail on the roof? Now, its proud creators have shared a few new photos, with a change or two, so they’re back for an encore: It’s the Radas’ home in Westwood. Michael Rada says, “We moved the martini glass a little farther up the roof” for this year:
They’re at 8615 32nd SW — here’s a map. For the archive of other light displays we’ve featured so far this season, go here – and please let us know about the best and the brightest you’ve seen (or maybe you’ve put them up yourself!) addresses, with or without photos, are welcome – editor@westseattleblog.com.
From the just-concluded last 2009 meeting of the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement project’s South Portal Working Group – with three West Seattle members on hand – the big news is the new proposed alignment for the tunnel. (Click the graphic above to see it full-size on the Viaduct project website.) The south end of this one runs further west than the original proposal, which is good news for the Pioneer Square area in particular, where some historic buildings might have needed reinforcement work, among other impacts. There are a few other changes of interest to West Seattleites – we’ll add those shortly (in the meantime, all the documents and graphics shown at the meeting are now available online – find the links here). The working group is expected to meet again next month, though the date has not yet been announced. FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE: More toplines from the meeting:Read More
More updates on how West Seattleites are reaching out to help their neighbors: The nearly 300 employees of Nucor have just sent two tons of food to the West Seattle Food Bank. Thanks to Tricia at Nucor for sharing the news:
Each year Nucor Steel Seattle holds a food drive to support the West Seattle Food Bank. We ask our employees to donate food or cash to help others in our community. This year we were facing a down economy and employees whose hours and pay were cut by 33% or more – but they still came through.
Donations from employees totaled $3,083 in cash plus 4,400lbs of food! Nucor matched $2 per $1 donated and $2 per pound of food donated, totaling $14,966. The total donation to the West Seattle Food Bank was $18,049 in cash plus 4,400lbs of food!
On top of the donations to the Food Bank, some staff also collected jackets, coats, and sweaters to donate to West Seattle Helpline‘s Clothesline. These coats will be given away to West Seattle residents to help keep warm over the holiday season and into 2010. We think this is a testament to everyone’s generous spirit even in a down economy.
Happy Holidays from everyone at Nucor Steel Seattle.
We have updates coming up about both Helpline and our area’s other food bank, White Center FB. P.S. WS Food Bank president Pete Spalding told WSB a little while earlier – we’re both at the Alaskan Way Viaduct South Portal Working Group meeting downtown – that the agency is SO grateful for EVERYONE who’s reached out to help.
While the West Seattle-resident mayor and deputy mayor will soon be leaving City Hall, an announcement today means there’ll be at least one high-ranking West Seattleite in the office soon: Mark Matassa, a veteran journalist who most recently had worked as deputy editor for Crosscut, has just been announced as Mayor-elect Mike McGinn‘s communications director. Here’s a report from Seattle Weekly. 4:50 PM UPDATE: The appointment is now posted on the transition website at new.seattle.gov, along with some other McGinn staff announcements.
We told you yesterday about the urgent need for toy donations at High Point Community Center, to fulfill the holiday wishes of families who were left empty-handed when a toy-drive delivery for distribution this past Monday didn’t come through. Among those who have stepped up to the plate, students from Westside School – Rebecca Hall from HPCC sent that photo with this update:
Westside School hosted a toy drive and brought all of the toys and dropped them off at High Point CC this morning.
We’re awaiting a progress report on how far donations have gotten toward the request for 400 toys, for kids 3-18; HPCC says you can drop off donations through Saturday afternoon – their hours and location are here. Meantime, word of other local kids doing good deeds:
From Jeanne Merritt at Madison Middle School, that photo and report on results of a recent food drive:
Madison Middle School’s students showed a great spirit of generosity with their recent food drive. Science teachers arranged a competition between all the science classes. Alisha Taylor’s class, the winners, brought in over 700 pounds of food. All in all students gathered 1800 pounds of food! (School nurse Sami Hoag weighed it all.) The food was distributed to Madison families in 41 Thanksgiving food baskets.
Last night, we published an update on what West Seattle Food Bank needs for the holiday; coming up in the next few hours, our update on how you can help White Center Food Bank. (Lots of additional ideas for how to help, including Giving Trees and donation drives, can be found on the West Seattle Holidays page.)
Two notes today if you want to get vaccinated against H1N1 flu but haven’t done it yet: First, new WSB sponsor West Seattle Community Clinic just sent word that it’s received more H1N1 vaccine. They have mist and shots, and will administer by appointment (they’re open M-F and occasional Saturdays/Sundays at 35th/Henderson): 206-937-9722. King County Public Health also has announced upcoming clinics to provide H1N1 vaccine to people who can’t afford it – including two in White Center, this coming Saturday and Wednesday. Read on:Read More
(scroll down for latest information, added to the original report)
ORIGINAL 10:16 AM REPORT: Just announced by Seattle Police at SPDBlotter:
Ryan Cox was arrested this morning by Southwest Precinct detectives near the intersection of 44th Avenue SW and SW Alaska Street. Cox was taken into custody without incident at around 8:30 a.m. He will be booked into King County Jail. The Seattle Police Department appreciates all of the public assistance in this matter.
The arrest comes less than 24 hours after police released photos of Cox, including three like the one above, in which they say he was caught in the act of marking/painting the same three-word anti-gay slur that reappeared on businesses and homes around West Seattle repeatedly over the past three months (here’s the report we published Sept. 9), after incidences in the spring that led to his previous arrest. 10:44 AM UPDATE: We just checked with Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen, with whom we have talked about the case multiple times in recent months (including yesterday, after we got three more reports, at which time he told us about the arrest warrant). Regarding more details on this morning’s arrest, he says Detective Nick Bauer spotted Cox at California and Erskine on the south end of The Junction, called for backup, and “several patrol units assisted in the arrest” two blocks north. 11:48 AM UPDATE: The King County Jail Register shows Cox was booked about an hour ago, and the charges are listed as property destruction and “dangerous weapon” – we’re checking on more information regarding that last one. 11:57 AM: Lt. Paulsen explains it: He says Cox was found carrying a “fixed-blade knife.” He’s scheduled to answer the charges in a hearing tomorrow; bail currently totals $1,330.
2 more event reminders have arrived since our earlier item about today/tonight highlights. First, the West Seattle Democratic Women are lunching today, with guests including two of the local leaders who remain finalists for West Seattle’s open King County Council seat after the long no-decision night the other night (here’s our play-by-play if you missed it):
The West Seattle Democratic Women are having their annual fundraiser/auction at the West Seattle Golf Course today at 11:30. Come on down if you are in the area. Lunch is $10, but you can just come and hang out with us if you like. We have some great auction items and Sen. Joe McDermott and Rep. Sharon Nelson will be attending.
Here’s a map to the golf course. Meantime, Lynn sends word of the Chief Sealth HS winter concert – happening outside WS:
Due to lack of a performance space at Boren, Chief Sealth High School Music Department will be presenting their winter concert tonight at Mercer Middle School Auditorium (1600 S. Columbian Way) at 7PM. Admission is free and following groups will be performing.
Jazz Band
Concert Band
String Orchestra
Mariachi band
Intermediate and Honor Choirs
Men’s Vocal Ensemble
Here’s a map to Mercer Middle School. Also today/tonight, some holiday-shopping special events – more on those next.
ADDED 11:07 AM: Since the Ryan Cox arrest will be atop the home page here for a while, here are a few of the shopping notes we wanted to share: First, tonight 5-9 pm, longtime WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits in the Admiral District is having its “Wrap It Up” party, 5-9 pm, with 15 percent off purchases over $100. (While you’re in the Admiral area, check out the other local businesses that have joined Click! in sponsoring WSB this season to encourage you to “Shop Local” in their district too – they’re listed on this page, with a map and even coupons [yet more coupons here].) On Alki, Coastal Boutique is having a sale event noon-7 pm today with 40 percent savings. And looking ahead to this weekend, six Junction businesses have joined forces to offer free “stocking stuffers” with purchases, including WSB sponsor Brunette Mix – another participant, Clementine, has the full list here.
All’s been somewhat quiet in meeting-land, with the holiday season leading many groups to take December off. But not the two that are meeting today/tonight:
ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT SOUTH PORTAL WORKING GROUP, which is working on VERY West Seattle-relevant issues centering on how the south end of the planned tunnel ties into the transportation grid, meets 4 pm at Puget Sound Regional Council‘s board room, 1011 Western (map) …
SOUTHWEST DESIGN REVIEW BOARD looks at the Admiral Safeway redevelopment project at 8 pm (here’s our preview with the link to the proposal that’ll be reviewed) after Transitional Resources‘ new residential building at 6:30 pm (here’s the corresponding link); both meetings are at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center …
Also tonight, the WEST SEATTLE BIG BAND‘s Holiday Concert fills Grace Church (map) with music, 7 pm …
And one note from outside West Seattle – but maybe near your workplace or somewhere outside WS you’re going today/tonight – the Jimmy John’s sandwich chain is donating all Puget Sound PROCEEDS (as in, 100% of sales) today to the murdered Lakewood Police officers’ families’ fund. Here’s where to find local locations – Pioneer Square looks like the closest.
That totem pole is back in its place outside the Redmond Library, where a Seattle company called Artech reinstalled it – along with another large work of native-inspired carved-wood art – on Tuesday. We were there that day to talk with Artech, after the Seattle Parks Department told us the company had expressed potential interest in doing some work on the West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park totem pole before it’s put back in place. First, a recap of where the stolen-then-found totem pole saga stands: Still awaiting word of charges against the suspect, a 69-year-old West Seattle man arrested eight days ago. The pole, found in Oregon a week ago after, police say, he told them where to find it, remains at a Seattle Parks facility (as we showed you Monday):
The pole found with it in Oregon has been identified as one stolen from outside the Renton Fred Meyer (as we reported Tuesday). Now the question is how long till the West Seattle pole can be returned to its home at the viewpoint alongside 35th at Alaska. The Rotary Club of West Seattle, which donated the park and the pole – carved by Native American artist Robin Young – in 1976, is taking a major role in sorting that all out, and has created a task force that will start meeting after the holidays, while raising money now for restoration/reinstallation. The Parks Department says it’s connecting Artech with the Rotarians. We got in touch with Artech to find out more about their interest, and what they’re all about – read on:Read More
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