Bar-S Playfield: “Unique” partnership makes improvements a hit
By Scott Eisen
UW News Lab
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
A unique public-private partnership between Seattle Parks and Recreation and West Seattle Little League was on display during tonight’s public meeting at Alki Community Center discussing plans for building new concession stands, a restaurant and storage facilities at Bar-S Playfield.
Using funding from a $100,000 Mariners/Boeing grant announced in 2007, the new facilities will require no government funding and will be maintained by West Seattle Little League. In the works for decades, the Bar-S improvements are still awaiting final approval from several government agencies, but the hope is to finish the project by the start of Little League season.
“Baseball season for us starts in a couple months,” said Mark Terao, WSLL president. “My goal was to have it done by the opening jamboree, but it’s not realistic as to if that is going to happen.”
The designs for the new facilities were created by Rich Murakami, an architect who lives right next to the fields and donated his services.
Read More
Celebrating Cherisse Luxa’s life: Photos from tonight’s wake
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
Only one guest was truly two-dimensional at tonight’s lively wake for local activist/advocate Cherisse Luxa: The life-size cardboard version of Howard Dean, for whom Ms. Luxa had served as a delegate during his presidential run. a month and a half after her death from cancer at age 62, she was feted tonight by a standing-room-only crowd at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub in Burien, with friends from West Seattle to White Center to Burien and beyond (in both directions) crowding the pub, like the 34th District Democrats‘ King County Committeeman Ivan Weiss:
(Photo by Dina Johnson)
Dina Johnson took that photo while, as she says, he was “speaking about his admiration and respect for Cherisse as an ally, and occasionally adversary. (He) said the only time she was wrong is when she asserted she could get Dave Reichert to flip parties and become a Dem.” Also in that photo, State Sen. Joe McDermott at right, Liz Giba at left. A few more photos, ahead: Read More
Opening “Love Song” tonight, ArtsWest seeks to spark, and grow
Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Alan Harrison is a man with a mission.
More precisely, ArtsWest, the theater and gallery at 4711 California SW, where Harrison is executive director, is an arts organization with a mission – as well as a new production, the Seattle premiere of “Love Song,” which opened tonight.
In fact, the mission, adopted four years ago, is spelled out in detail on the ArtsWest website:
ArtsWest produces artistic events so fiercely compelling
that they require conversation, improve the imagination,
and promote cultural vibrancy as a core value for the communities of West Seattle.
Harrison credits the ArtsWest mission with the organization’s success: more tickets were sold in 2009 than in any year previous. And, like others at ArtsWest, he’s confident that the mission will help ArtsWest overcome recent setbacks. Because although ticket sales were at an all-time high, the revenue they generated still wasn’t enough to cover a drop in donations, which forced the non-profit to cover expenses with their reserve fund.
“The mission is not insignificant for us; we literally talk about it every day,” Harrison says.
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West Seattle Crime Watch: Again and a Gain hit by burglars
Sarah at Again and a Gain baby/child consignment shop in The Junction says their store’s been burglarized:
Many of the 5000 families, mostly based in West Seattle, who participate in reducing / recycling / & reusing at Again & a Gain will be sorry to hear (what happened to) this consignment shop for Everything Baby, Kid & Maternity dedicated to supporting and sponsoring many of our local schools, charities and organizations to promote Healthy Children & a Healthy Planet including WestSide Baby, Family Services and more including to help children and families in need in Haiti.. Discovered the shop was broken into overnight and the till cleaned out.
Police may have obtained some good fingerprints, incident # 10-30397. The community’s support of the shop will be greatly appreciated as we work to recover from this setback.
Again and a Gain is at 4832 California SW, east side of the street a few doors south of Edmunds. ADDED 10:19 PM: Of potential interest to other local businesses, this note from Square 1 Books (WSB sponsor) in the WSB Forums, reacting to this story, recommending an alarm-monitoring company.
More West Seattle help for Haiti: Crutches needed
Just in, and time-sensitive, from Cathy:
We just found out that two physicians friends will be headed to Haiti this weekend. They have been told that there is a great need for crutches due to amputations. If you have any crutches that you could donate please bring them by our house by Sunday night so we can get them on the flight. They can be left in the driveway or in the back of the pickup parked outside. The truck is a beige GMC with a topper.
Our address is 3008 45th Ave SW. The house is blue and the cross streets are 45th and Stevens.
If you have any questions please call Cathy at 206-406-6633
Update: Charges filed in attack on bus driver from Alki
Just in from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office:
A 15-year-old boy was charged today with assault in the second degree and assault in the third degree for attacking a METRO bus driver early last Saturday morning in Tukwila. The victim was beaten unconscious during the assault.
“Any assault on a bus driver is a very serious matter,” said King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg. “In addition to the harm to the bus driver, the passengers, other motorists and pedestrians are all put at risk when a driver is attacked,” Satterberg added.
Based on the victim’s injuries, assault second degree is the maximum charge. Because state law sets strict parameters for allowing adult prosecution, the 15-year-old defendant is not eligible for adult prosecution because of his age, lack of criminal history and other factors. However, King County Prosecutors will request a sentence above the standard range on the assault charge based on the seriousness of the offense and the risk to community safety.
Under state law, the standard sentence range in Juvenile Court for assault in the second degree is 15 to 36 weeks in detention, but prosecutors will recommend a sentence of over a year of incarceration if the defendant is convicted.
Two other boys, ages 16 and 17, were charged with malicious mischief in the first degree for breaking windows on the back door of the bus and damaging the door frame. Their cases are also required to remain in Juvenile Court where they each face a maximum sentence of up to 30 days in detention.
Two of the defendants remain in custody. The 16-year-old charged with malicious mischief is currently out of custody on electronic home monitoring. All three are scheduled for arraignment on Jan. 28 at 9 a.m. in Juvenile Court.
The victim’s daughter first talked about the incident in the WSB Forums, revealing her mom is an Alki resident; that post sparked our followup over the weekend. The family called on Metro to put more measures in place to protect drivers; Metro’s deputy general manager told us on Monday they will be looking at that.
Rock 4 Relief update: West Seattle businesses donate to raffle
Just one day till the Rock 4 Relief benefit concert for Haiti postquake aid at Showbox SODO (7 pm tomorrow), with a major contingent of West Seattle participation – and Jamie Chamberlin, best known as a WS-based filmmaker, has just sent word of more:
Through the generous donations of over 15 West Seattle businesses we will be conducting a raffle throughout the course of the evening.
Sample prizes include : A $400 membership to Allstar Gym, $100 Gift Certificate to Admiral Tattoo, Hoodies and T-Shirts from Easy Street, The Feedback Lounge, Luna Park Cafe, $50-$60 dining certificates to Cafe Revo, Porterhouse and JaK’s.
Tickets are available at showboxonline.com but Jamie cautions that they’re expecting a sellout so if you’re thinking of going and you don’t have tickets yet, get ’em now. He also shared the new poster art at left, by Devan Register.
White Center in Seattle? Annexation vote proposed for November
We’ve just confirmed with Kenny Pittman, a senior adviser to Mayor Mike McGinn, that the mayor is proposing to have White Center vote this November on whether to be annexed to Seattle – that’s the entire area between the current city limits, and what will be the northernmost city limits of Burien when the voter-approved North Highline South annexation takes effect later this year. Pittman first disclosed the plan in a letter to Burien’s mayor Joan McGilton, West Seattle Rep. Eileen Cody and Rep. Ross Hunter (see the letter here), responding to their request for clarification of the mayor’s intent regarding White Center annexation; we updated the annexation issue just last week, when Councilmember Jean Godden discussed it during a brown-bag lunch at West Seattle Chamber of Commerce offices (here’s our report on partner site White Center Now).
Pittman told WSB by phone that City Council approval will be required to get this before voters in November, and the process of working toward that will begin next Monday, when he briefs the council on the plan. We have requests for comment in to both Seattle Council president Richard Conlin, Burien City Manager Mike Martin and the White Center Community Development Association.
ADDED 3:28 PM: Speaking for Council President Conlin, Rob Gala says, “(He) is ready to put this before the council – we’ll start talking about it right away. He’s been an advocate of annexation for a while, and we’re ready to put it before the people for a vote.”
Ready for midwinter (school) break? Music camp in West Seattle
The photo’s from two years ago, when we covered the first-ever midwinter break music camp at Denny International Middle School – not just for Denny students. Today, Donna Pierce shares the announcement of this year’s camp:
Band students, 4th through 8th grade: Come make music with friends from schools all over West Seattle during mid-winter break!
All-Star Mid-Winter Break Music Camp
Tues, Feb. 16 – Friday, Feb. 19, 2010 – 9 AM to 3 PM
Grades 4 thru 8
Suggested donation for tuition: $100 (or pay what you can) – Lunch provided
The All-Star Break Camps started in the winter of 2008 to help bridge the gaps from elementary to middle school and from middle school to high school by engaging elementary and middle school students in a fun and educational program led in part by high school mentors. Participants receive group instruction from certificated music teachers and participate in sectionals and small ensembles led by exceptional high school and college musicians. This will be an opportunity for students to develop friendships with kids from different schools and an excellent way to have fun playing music during the midwinter break from school.
Read on for more details, and how to register:Read More
West Seattle Crime Watch followup: SWAT raid results
An update this morning on the Tuesday raid that brought King County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team members to a house in the 9400 block of 35th SW (here’s our original report): KCSO spokesperson Sgt. John Urquhart says they found heroin inside the house and arrested three people who lived there – women ages 21 and 41, and a 19-year-old man, all of whom he says have been booked into King County Jail. He adds, “Because of information that one or more suspects had been armed or there might be weapons in the house, our SWAT Team served the warrant.” They didn’t find any weapons, though, and aren’t saying “what led (them) to the house” – as noted yesterday, it’s in Seattle city limits, but KCSO handled it because as Sgt. Urquhart put it, they “developed the case.”
Tony’s Produce gets ready to reopen – with more organics
Fans of Tony’s Produce (at 35th/Barton) passed by on Tuesday afternoon and noticed signs of stirring – Paul and Bruce both e-mailed us with news of the sighting. So, off we went to seek the scoop on the produce stand’s new season. Inside, we found Tony himself, cleaning up to start getting ready for 2010 sales. Anything new this year? we asked. Yes! he said – more organic produce – he’s been over in Eastern Washington getting a firsthand look at farms. (That should be good news to the very first commenter on our story about Tony’s opening day LAST year – Sage wrote, Tony also wanted to thank his customers for what he described as a “great Christmas tree season.” After his post-Christmas break, and the current round of cleanup, he’s planning to open for business at 8 am Monday, February 8th.
Today/tonight: Schools, elections, playfield, The Viaduct, relay …
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER’S COMMUNITY COFFEE: Still concerned about the Student Assignment Plan? Questions about the Feb. 9 levy vote? Or? West Seattle’s school board rep Steve Sundquist has another community Q/A session today, 10 am at High Point Library (35th/Raymond).
DENNY INTERNATIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 6:30-8:30 pm tonight, prospective Denny families can come to the school at 8402 30th SW to meet its staff and see a presentation about its future (including the new school scheduled for move-in by fall 2011).
(added 11:05 am) SCHMITZ PARK ELEMENTARY OPEN HOUSE/MATH NIGHT: Details in this morning for tonight’s event, and beyond:
Schmitz Park is holding an open house this evening, Jan 27th, at 6 pm for incoming attendance area families.
In conjunction, we are also having Math Night from 6:30-8:30pm with workshops for parents, offered by grade band (K-2 and 3-5 topics) over two different sessions (6:30 to 7:15 and 7:15 to 8:00). Students are also welcome at Math Night – our math-excellent alumni at Madison Middle School will be returning to run math games in the gym. The Math Night agenda is available on page 2 of the bulletin.
Additionally, for families outside of our attendance area hoping to enroll through “choice” seats: Tours will be held on March 9th and March 18th (9:45-11:00 am).
HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE: 7 pm, Highland Park Improvement Club building (1116 SW Holden). Agenda includes nominations and election of officers, as previewed here.
BAR-S PLAYFIELD: 7 pm, Alki Community Center, join Seattle Parks and West Seattle Little League to talk about the improvements that are planned. Here’s our original report on the meeting announcement.
RELAY FOR LIFE-WEST SEATTLE: Kickoff party night to plan for the overnight June fundraiser, 6-8 pm, Bridge Park (3204 SW Morgan).
“LOVE SONG” OPENING NIGHT @ ARTSWEST: 7:30 pm – tickets available online for the play’s Seattle premiere. (Later today, you’ll get a peek inside ArtsWest in a spotlight story here on WSB.)
ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT/SEAWALL SOUTH PORTAL WORKING GROUP: 4-6 pm, Puget Sound Regional Council board room, 1011 Western. It’s their first meeting since Mayor Mike McGinn proposed splitting off the seawall into a standalone project and asking Seattle voters to approve it; three of the West Seattle group members offered their thoughts on the idea here.
West Seattle school news: Chief Sealth clothing-bank thanks
That’s Brooke Nielsen, YMCA school coordinator at Chief Sealth High School, in the CSHS clothing bank, available for students in need. Kelli Horn, who’s been helping Brooke organize the clothing bank, wanted to share two things about the clothing bank: First, she wrote, “I want to say a special thank you to Funky Jane’s for donating clothes for teen girls along with some fancy dresses, shoes and purses for the Winter ball they had in January.” She included a photo of Funky Jane’s owner Angela Nichols at the clothing bank:
Second, Kelli says the clothing bank “can always use teen appropriate clothes for boys and girls of all sizes. Donations can be brought to the office at the school.” (Chief Sealth is still at its temporary location in the Boren building, 5950 Delridge Way.)
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