West Seattle, Washington
15 Thursday
Three meetings, averaging 200+ participants each, already have happened around the city – in the Rainier Valley, in Northgate, on Beacon Hill – to coax out citizens’ hopes and ideas for Mayor McGinn’s “Youth and Families Initiative.” Tomorrow (Monday) night, the fourth meeting will be here in West Seattle — with the mayor expected to appear — at Denny International Middle School in Westwood (map). To see what the previous meetings have been like – coverage of the first meeting is here, from the Rainier Valley Post; coverage of the meeting in Northgate is here, from Maple Leaf Life; there’s some coverage from last week’s Beacon Hill meeting in an overview story published tonight by our citywide-news partners at the Seattle Times. The city says this isn’t just ABOUT youth – they hope young people will participate as well as adults – all ages welcome at 7 pm Monday at Denny.
The advance announcement of Seattle Lutheran‘s “Global Connections” dinner/auction Friday night at South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center promised “an announcement about future plans … that will have a lasting impact on our school and community.” While full details are yet to come, Head of School Adair Hinds said the main announcement was that they’ve received a “seven-figure donation” to launch a capital campaign for a building project affecting “both the school and community,” including “major upgrades.” Hinds told us a little more on camera, with SLHS Director of Advancement Bil Hood alongside:
This time last year, Seattle Lutheran and neighboring Hope Lutheran School had big news too – that’s when they announced that after decades of operating separately, they would begin to operate together as Seattle Lutheran Schools (WSB coverage here). That was just as an expansion/renovation project was wrapping up at Hope (WSB coverage here). Meantime, right now the extended enrollment period for the two schools (preschool-12th grade) continues; tour schedules and other info can be found on the schools’ website.
That sign on the door at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) is for a new first-of-its-kind service launched by Hotwire proprietor Lora Lewis – it’s Textwire; text Hotwire your beverage order and the time you’re arriving, and the drink will be ready when you get there. You have to pre-register so they have your name and, if you want, prepayment info on file – then, there’s a special text-only number you’ll be able to use to send the info. Sign up at hotwirecoffee.com or at Hotwire, and while you’re there – with three weeks till Easter, drinkable Peeps are in the house. 
Lora sent the photo at left and explained, “Our much anticipated Peeps drinks are back along with the ‘peep hunt’ for a third year in a row. This year we added a salted caramel lavender Peep beverage. Our Peep hunt is for the kids but let’s face it, who doesn’t like a treasure hunt? so all ages welcome. Find all the pictures of the Peeps at Hotwire and win, well, a Peep.” Four flavors are available – besides the salted caramel (etc.) there’s honey-vanilla, peppermint and strawberry-white chocolate.
Tuesday night, the Gatewood and Roxhill Elementary Schools‘ music programs will benefit from a mini-concert by Westside Symphonette at Gatewood – with the minimum admission price just $1 (they hope you’ll give more, of course). Here’s the plan, from Westside Symphonette’s Toni Reineke (April 2009 photo at right):
Concert in the Community
Come hear West Seattle’s very own orchestra, 45 members strong!
Program Highlights
Orchestra classics: Finlandia, Intermezzo from Hary Janos, Bugler’s Holiday (with a twist!)
Sing along: Sounds of Simon and Garfunkel
Special guests: Gatewood and Roxhill advanced strings and their coachesGatewood Elementary, 4320 SW Myrtle [map] in the cafeteria
Tuesday, March 16, 7:30 p.m.Sponsored by the Gatewood and Roxhill PTAs; funds will benefit both music programs
The Gatewood PTA also plans a bake sale, so bring $ for treats. (P.S. Westside Symphonette’s on Facebook now – you can join its group page here.)
That photo’s by Christopher Boffoli, who went to Lincoln Park to check out a big fire/medic callout this past hour – the Fire Department transported a girl (we don’t know her age) to Harborview Medical Center after she fell off the zipline just east of the playground by the park’s south parking lot. Witnesses told Christopher the girl was one of two people riding it when she fell off, took a hard fall, and told her mom she couldn’t get up, then got sick, which can be a sign of head injury, so medics were called. The scene has now cleared, but at one point two medic units and three engines were summoned, so if you saw all the commotion, that’s what it was about.
West Seattleite Scott C sent that photo earlier today as the third 787 “Dreamliner” built by Boeing took off for its first flight from Paine Field in Snohomish County. At the time, it looked like the jet was Moses Lake-bound – but instead, it landed at Boeing Field, so you might have seen it in nearby skies. According to the FlightAware log, it’s still at Boeing Field right now. (ZA003 is actually the fourth Dreamliner to fly, though it was the third built; this news release explains.)
(video added 4 pm – County Executive’s speech to the caucus – warning against 2010 = 1994 for Democrats)
The state Democratic Party decided not to do precinct caucuses since it’s an offyear, moving straight to legislative-district caucuses like the one happening now at Mount View Elementary in White Center, for Democrats registered to vote in the 34th Legislative District (including WC, West Seattle, Vashon, part of Burien, and more). They heard from this district’s highest-ranking Democrat – though he currently holds a nonpartisan office – King County Executive Dow Constantine). He and 34th DDs chair Tim Nuse both urged the 70 or so people in attendance to not get complacent in the wake of the big 2008 victories. They’re electing state-convention delegates today, among other business (here’s the agenda). Among those on hand: State Reps. Eileen Cody and Sharon Nelson (Sen. Joe McDermott was expected once the Nature Consortium brunch wrapped up) and at least two candidates for Nelson’s job (she’s running for McDermott’s seat since he in turn is running for County Council) – Marcee Stone and Sabra Schneider. PHOTOS ADDED: Thanks to Dina Johnson for sharing her photos. First – a big part of the caucus was selection of delegates to the state convention – and that meant lineups like this one, awaiting time to make a pitch:
State Democratic Party chair Dwight Pelz made an appearance:
And there was a candidate whose fate will be decided within days: Kirk Prindle – a West Seattleite who is one of five people running for one seat in the King Conservation District board election this Tuesday:
The KCD election isn’t conducted like other countywide votes. No voting by mail; no close-to-everyone polling places. You have to vote in person at one of several polling places; none in WS – the nearest is Downtown Seattle – they’re all listed here. Back to the caucus: The 34th District Democrats’ website should have the final caucus results up soon. (And we have a few more of Dina Johnson’s photos up at partner site White Center Now.)
12:54 PM: The Nature Consortium‘s celebrating its success and looking to its future right now at The Hall at Fauntleroy, during its second annual Benefit Brunch (co-sponsored by WSB). In the capacity crowd, we spotted King County Executive Dow Constantine, State Sen. Joe McDermott, and Seattle School Board rep Steve Sundquist. The Nature Consortium 
is a West Seattle-based nonprofit, headquartered at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in North Delridge, and its main work involves restoring the West Duwamish Greenbelt – with lots of volunteer help! Their work parties are listed on greenseattle.org – lots of chances to help (including the upcoming Duwamish Alive! events in honor of Earth Day, April 17). 1:54 PM: Added photos – including, at right, NC board member Becca Fong.
It’s not every day – or every year – or sometimes, ever – that you get to show off for somebody who is a true master at something you happen to love to do. So it was quite the honor for students at Alki Taekwondo this past Friday to get the chance to demonstrate their martial-arts skills for Grand Master Chin Ho Lee, a mentor of Alki Taekwondo’s chief instructor, Steve Coates. Edgar Riebe from West Seattle’s Captive Eye Media was there and offered to share this video of the big occasion. He says there was a great turnout to watch the demonstration and hear from the Grand Master. Alki Taekwondo was founded in 1982; the Grand Master was the first to open a Korean Martial Arts school in the Pacific Northwest, back in the ’60s, and had a storied career in other areas too – according to Alki Taekwondo’s original announcement of this event, he also served as an FBI Special Agent after emigrating to the U.S. from Korea, where he returned many years later and worked as an executive for Hyundai.
Thinking of going into politics – or just need/want to understand more about how that realm works? Here’s a rare chance to learn more about the practicalities of politics – without being right in the middle of it. It’s an upcoming course just announced by South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) – read on:Read More
(Photo courtesy Ben Shaevitz)
Six weeks after we first heard from Bin 41 proprietors T. Frick and Jon McNamara, their Junction wine shop is right on track with the plan they outlined at the time. They sent an update late last night – they’re getting ready for “soft opening” at 11 am Tuesday: “This will be a casual opening to allow us to interact with our customers and to work through any hiccups that will inevitably occur. We wanted to note that we are not opening with our full anticipated portfolio. This is intentional because we want to get to know our customers to allow us to evolve based upon their input and palates.” They expect the “portfolio” to keep growing as they work toward an April 1st grand opening: “This is a special day, as it is the 15-year anniversary for West Seattle Cellars and the first day for our shop. We are planning some fun tasting events for the grand opening which is scheduled for Thursday, April 1st through Sunday, April 4th.” They promise to keep the updates coming on the Web at bin41wine.com, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. If you’ve been through The Junction lately, you’ve no doubt noticed their signage; they’re adjacent to KeyBank on California just south of Alaska.
(Melanie‘s photo of a nest-material-gathering eagle in Lincoln Park earlier this week)
Another day with lots to do! (First make sure you have the correct time, since Daylight Saving Time arrived overnight – 2 am was instantly 3 am)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: The newest additions include Zaw cook-at-home Pizza and more varieties of spring flowers; here’s the latest list. 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska, as always.
NATURE CONSORTIUM BENEFIT BRUNCH: Did you RSVP? Might be a seat or two left. WSB is proud to be co-sponsoring this event to celebrate and raise money for the work of the Nature Consortium, which focuses on restoring the West Duwamish Greenbelt – a green West Seattle treasure. Noon-1:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy.
34TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS: 1 pm (signups start around 12:15 pm) at Mount View Elementary School in White Center (map) – all Democrats in the district (there’s a map in our original story at White Center Now) are invited to help elect county and state convention delegates, among other business. You’re asked to bring donations for the accompanying food drive.
BOARD GAME AFTERNOON: Friends of Southwest Branch Library are doing it again – in honor of “Pi Day” – 1 to 4:30 pm at the library (35th/Henderson).
TOUR DE FRONDS: An invitation from native-plant specialist Steve Richmond:
Join us for a walking tour this Sunday, March 14 at 2 pm – a “Tour de Fronds” in Fauntleroy Park. Trillium, Red Flowering Currant [photo] and Indian Plum are in bloom! See the good work of neighbors, volunteers, and Earth Corps in restoring native plants as they continue to battle invasive species. Meet at the Fauntleroy Church’s parking lot, 9140 California Ave SW (off SW Barton, not far from Fauntleroy Ferry Dock.
PERSISTENT PAIN? DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT … like attending today’s free event at Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, 2-4 pm, with Stas Kudla, ND, L.Ac., to talk about options and strategies.
Even more in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup!
(Photo by David Rosen)
Thanks to David Rosen for the tip: He says a rollover crash has SW Roxbury blocked westbound at 8th SW (map), right on the Highland Park/White Center line. He says it doesn’t look like anybody’s going to the hospital; the driver is OK and being questioned by police.
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