Delridge Skatepark: Date set for next move – finalizing funding
From tonight’s citywide Skatepark Advisory Committee meeting at Parks Department HQ downtown, a suggestion that if you support the Delridge Skatepark 
and want to be sure it clears the final turns on the way to hitting the home stretch toward construction, you might want to be at the City Council Parks Committee meeting, 9:30 am January 21 (one week from Thursday). West Seattle-residing committee member Matthew Lee Johnston says city staff is recommending the committee give thumbs-up to the final funding plan, but it was pointed out that the Parks Committee is now chaired by new Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, so supporters want to be sure she knows the Delridge Skatepark plan has garnered lots of love along the way. If you missed previous reports on the skatepark, it’s been in the works a year and a half for the northeastern section of the playfield on the north side of Delridge Community Center; the plan rose from the near-ashes of previous proposals including a smaller skateboarding facility at the future Myrtle Reservoir Park. Johnston noted that there would be an opportunity for public comment, too, though instead of having 50 people take the mike, he and chair Ryan Barth suggested, “if we all just stood up and said, hey, we support it,” that would work too. Letters of support also were encouraged (you can e-mail councilmembers through the addresses you’ll find here). Once the money’s finalized, and a few drainage and engineering issues worked out, construction is still expected to start this spring, it was reiterated tonight. One committee member’s comment on that? “Been a long time coming.” For updates on this and other Seattle skateboarding issues, follow Johnston’s website, seattleskateparks.org.
Got socks? Rocket them over to Many Moons
Emily from Many Moons Trading Company in The Junction e-mailed a message to share with you:
Hello! The homeless in White Center need SOCKS! We are collecting socks for the White Center Regina House Clothing bank. They need used and new socks, as long as they are in good condition.
Bring socks to Many Moons, on the alley side of the breezeway south of the liquor store in The Junction – 4517 California SW, Suite B (map); call 206-937-3481 if you have questions. They’re open tomorrow – Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11 am-6 pm.
Seattle Public Schools principal changes: One’s in West Seattle
Seattle Public Schools just sent an announcement of several principal changes around the district. One affects West Seattle: Cindy Nash is the new principal of Middle College, an alternative program with three campuses including one at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) on Puget Ridge. She spent the last five years as principal of the district’s Interagency Academy, another alternative program with multiple sites, including the Learning Center at Southwest Youth and Family Services in North Delridge. No other direct West Seattle effects in the principal changes announced tonight, but there’s a principal change at The Center School at Seattle Center, which we’ve been told has more than a few West Seattle students: Lisa Escobar is leaving to become co-principal at Rainier Beach; Judy Peterson will serve as interim principal. Here’s the full district news release on everything announced tonight:Read More
West Seattle Weather Watch: Rain woes require repairs @ Redline
Thanks to Courtney for the tip that Redline Music and Sports in The Triangle had some roof trouble because of the rain and was temporarily closed. We went over to check; owner Scott tells us some soggy drywall over the bar needed to be replaced. Workers are on the job now; they’re close to done with the repairs, and Redline expects to reopen for business around 9 tonight.
West Seattle-residing Housing Director is leaving City Hall
The mayor’s office announced a change at the top of the city’s Office of Housing – director Adrienne Quinn, a West Seattle resident, is heading east, to join Enterprise Community Partners as vice president for Public Policy and Government Relations. The announcement quotes Quinn as saying, “I decided that now was an important time to spend more time with my elderly parents who live on the East Coast, as well as work on housing policy in DC given the opportunities created by the Obama Administration.” She’s run the Housing Office, which has 43 employees, for five years. A 10-year veteran of the department, deputy director Bill Rumpf, will serve as acting director, according to the mayor’s office. The housing office works closely with agencies like West Seattle-based Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, whose executive director Derek Birnie provided extra info for this story.
Heads up: Site improvements in progress
If you notice anything odder than usual this afternoon – a link takes you to a dead end, for example – please forgive us; our ace technical consultant has been working on some site improvements. Most have been very behind-the-scenes but there’s one you may have noticed already: After four years, we are finally getting rid of the default URL (website address) style that among other things had the word “blog” twice and identified each story only by number. From hereon out, URLs will include words from the story headline or page title, as they do on most websites, and the second incidence of “blog” is gone – so the WSB Forums, for example, are no longer at “westseattleblog.com/blog/forum” but instead at westseattleblog.com/forum. If you bump into any bugs along the way, PLEASE let us know by posting a comment here or e-mailing editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you. A few other improvements are in the works, so thanks for your patience, and stay tuned.
Sunny offer on a rainy day: Red Cup/Solar Epiphany giveaway
Perhaps the most unusual contest we’ve seen in a while: “West Seattle’s first hybrid coffee shop” – Red Cup Espresso – and Solar Epiphany LLC (who provided the photo) are giving away a “complete solar installation” (a 350-watt expandable grid-tied installation). Entries are being accepted at Red Cup starting today, and the drawing is at 3 pm January 26th. Red Cup’s Tricia DiBernardo and Solar Epiphany’s Eric Thomas say this figures into their “2010 resolutions of community dialogue and direct action.” Need more info? Drop by Red Cup (4451 California SW) or call Eric at 206-919-3014. (P.S. They say the rooftop installation at Red Cup has generated more than 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity in the past year.)
Date set: Meeting to talk about Bar-S Playfield improvements
This announcement’s just out of the postal mailbox (transcribed):
Seattle Parks and Recreation and West Seattle Little League have been working together to improve Bar-S Playfield, located at 6464 SW Admiral Way [map]. They are hosting a meeting to discuss these improvements and encourage you and your family to attend.
Please come and learn about the planned addition of restrooms, the upgrades to the snack shack, and the replacement of the temporary storage sheds.
The meeting is set for 7 pm January 27 at Alki Community Center; Parks contact if you’re looking for more info before then is Raft Hollingsworth, 206-615-1401, raft.hollingsworth@seattle.gov. (P.S. As noted here last week, WS Little League registration starts tomorrow night.)
West Seattle school news: “HS choices” event; Sealth dinner dance
Two announcements to share this morning. First, from Madison Middle School PTSA president Kim Early, an event this week of interest to parents of future high-school students all over West Seattle, not just Madison families:
Start the New Year off right by attending the next Madison PTSA meeting, to be held on Wednesday, January 13, 2010. We will be holding a panel for parents, guardians and students called “High School Choices for Your Tween.” At this PTSA meeting from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm, come and hear from various high schools in the areas about their school and the programs it has to offer. High schools who will be attending thus far include: West Seattle, Cleveland, and Chief Sealth. There will also be time at the end for Q & A (questions and answers)! The PTSA is looking forward to seeing you and your child at this meeting!
We’ll also have time to discuss the early dismissals and its impact on this school year 2009-2010, as well as next year’s schedule & early dismissals for 2010-2011! If you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact Kim Early at ann8726@aol.com or 206-328-9335.
Announcement #2 – ticket sales are under way for the Chief Sealth High School Jazz Band benefit Big Band Dinner Dance coming up February 6. The Sealth Jazz Band will be joined by special guests the West Seattle Big Band, 6 pm at Sealth/Boren, tickets range from $7 (kids 5-12) to $15 (adults). Tickets can be ordered by mail; here’s the form.
Next step in The Kenney’s redevelopment: Rezoning request filed
As pointed out by Cindi Barker in the latest Morgan Community Association bulletin, The Kenney has now officially applied for the “contract rezone” it needs to carry out the current redevelopment plan (above), which the online notice summarizes:
Council Land Use Action to contract rezone 228,490 sq. ft. of land from LDT & L3 to MR and to allow a 387,450 sq. ft. expansion to an existing independent living apartment, assisted living and nursing home facility (The Kenney). Project includes three, 4-6 story multifamily structures containing 202 independent living apartments, 112 assisted living units, and 35 skilled nursing units. Parking for 279 vehicles to be provided below grade. Project includes 57,681 cu. yds. of grading and street vacation (46th Pl SW). Existing landmark building (Seaview) to be modified and relocated on site. Ten existing multifamily structures to be demolished.
A “contract rezone” means that a site would be rezoned under specific terms for a specific proposal, and, like any zoning change, requires City Council approval. Comments on the proposal are being accepted through January 20th; the online notice has a link for submitting them. As for the status of the project overall, here’s our October report on its most recent Southwest Design Review Board meeting – at least one more SWDRB meeting is still required for final approval. The date for that is not set yet. It’s been almost a year and a half since our first report on the project at The Kenney; all WSB coverage is archived here (newest to oldest).
Today/tonight in West Seattle: From Block Watch to ballroom dance
Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: Want to find out about forming a Block Watch? Be at Delridge Library, 6:30 pm, for a community meeting that’ll show you how … At 6:30 at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, preview the next Seattle Opera production, “Il Trovatore” … Two sets of dance classes today/tonight: For kids, after school, Gildenfire Dance at Highland Park Improvement Club (get more info here); ballroom and Latin dancing at Kenyon Hall, 7 pm (details here) … Earlier in the day, you’re welcome to participate in 2 “second Monday” events at the Senior Center of West Seattle – Brain Gain at 10:30 am, Caregiver Support Group at 1 pm … Downtown, an update on the Delridge Skatepark project is part of the agenda for the city Skatepark Advisory Committee tonight, 7 pm, Parks HQ downtown … See what else is on the calendar (for today/tonight and beyond) here.
West Seattle weekend scenes: In the pink of things
First – Cecile shared photos with us taken at Alki Sunday – that’s her in the water – saying, “This morning photographer Jenny B. and I went to Alki and took some awesome pictures!!! Thought it displayed our beautiful Puget Sound as a wonderful place to live!” We thought there had to be more to the story – a modeling shoot, maybe, given the striking outfit? Answering our followup, Cecile explained, “We were just experimenting with some new photographic equipment and threw together an outfit that we thought would bring out the colors of the nature, which it definitely did! I’m a classical musician so I thought it would be a good opportunity to get new pictures for CD covers/headshots etc.” Read More
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