West Seattle, Washington
31 Saturday
West Seattle’s hottest ticket tonight wasn’t for a play or concert … instead, the gym-jamming capacity crowd of nearly 700 was there to cheer the stars of a once-in-a-lifetime show: The 49 members of the Seattle Lutheran High School Class of 2010:
Outside, awaiting the school’s 30th annual graduation ceremony, some seniors were exuberant … others, perhaps a bit nervous … but once inside, with parents, grandparents, other family, friends, etc., it was serious business:
According to the program, the class address was given by valedictorian Elyssa Watford and salutatorian Kelsey Shaw; student-body president Mindon Win delivered the welcome and invocation, while senior-class president Gabrielle Little gave the closing prayer. Also from the program, the class’s scripture (II Timothy 4:7): “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”
West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth International High School graduations are next week – CSIHS Tuesday, WSHS Wednesday, both at 5 pm at Seattle Center‘s Memorial Stadium.
Two notes from and about the Duwamish River industrial corridor tonight:
First – we dropped by the Lafarge of North America cement plant in eastern West Seattle this morning after getting word of its “Safety Day” expo. Workers browsed exhibits discussing safety advice and protective equipment. Several local businesses were there to talk about safety and health, too.
Second – expect to hear more about this next week, but we thought you’d be interested in the media advisory from City Council President Richard Conlin‘s office:
Seattle – The Seattle City Council will be briefed on a new eco-industrial district concept for industrial lands and the Duwamish River corridor.
WHO: Office of Economic Development, Environmental Coalition of South Seattle, Full council, and Andreas Koenig, EcoIndustry
WHEN: Monday, June 14, 2010, 9:30 a.m.
WHERE: Seattle City Hall Council Chambers, 2nd floorThe Seattle industrial district along the Duwamish River valley and surrounding neighborhoods is one of the largest contiguous industrial areas in the U.S. With approximately 4,000 companies and 70,000 employees and its proximity to multimodal transportation options, this area continues to be a vital economic driver for our region.
The eco-industrial district concept helps industrial sectors and the neighborhoods in which they reside truly coexist, by preparing for future challenges, establishing sustainable development practices, allowing for efficiencies between companies and optimizing business performance and collaboration.
In addition to the full council briefing, Koenig will be part of a more detailed briefing before the Regional Development and Sustainability Committee on June 15, at 2:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.
After getting that advisory, we asked a followup – any geographical boundaries yet for this potential “eco-industrial district”? Rob Gala from the Conlin staff says, in short, no – so far, it’s just an idea, but they would love to hear what you think of it. We’ll have more on it next week, and you’ll also be able to watch these briefings via Seattle Channel if you can’t make it to City Hall.
They’re known best for the art of hairstyling – but tonight, Illusions Hair Design (longtime WSB sponsor) branched out, staying open a few hours extra to show and sell creations — including paintings and jewelry — from the Circle of Friends for Mental Health. Among those welcoming guests was Illusions proprietor Sue Lindblom, whose salon is celebrating its anniversary this month:
Circle of Friends offers classes in visual arts, music and writing to those dealing with mental illness – a category that the group says can include more than a fourth of all American adults in any given year. Visitors to Illusions tonight not only got to browse and view, they also were treated to live music:
The duo goes by Julia and Jack. Find out more about Circle of Friends by going here.
As noted here about 24 hours ago, SDOT plans to close the 1st Avenue South/South Spokane Street intersection at 8:30 tonight, continuing till about 6 am Monday. But the eastbound West Seattle Bridge offramp remains open. So a few have asked – how’s that going to work? We asked SDOT, whose LeAnne Nelson replied:
The intersection will be blocked off and closed to all northbound and southbound through traffic, with drivers south of the intersection directed from 1st Ave S to Dawson to 4th Ave S. Drivers north of the intersection will be directed to Lander St and then to 4th Ave S. Five police officers will be on site to help guide traffic. Drivers from West Seattle will still be able to turn left off the ramp to go north to downtown on a lane dedicated to that traffic.
Hope that helps, in case you were wondering.
60+ options, for a weekend promising 70-degree temperatures! The big events include the Morgan Junction Community Festival (co-sponsored by WSB) 11 am-7 pm tomorrow, continuing with the West Seattle Junction Health Fair (WSB sponsor) 10 am-2 pm Sunday, and a lot more inbetween, like the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle making Westcrest Park Off-Leash Area a nicer
place (with volunteer help), the Junction Plaza Park planting party, the West Seattle Tool Library grand opening, benefits for Chief Sealth jazz, Community School of West Seattle, and author Val Mallinson; much more … The WSWL is sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music, bountiful brunches, plus lunch ‘n’ dinner:Read More
As mentioned earlier, tonight’s graduation night for Seattle Lutheran High School in West Seattle. Didn’t get a seat in the gym? Out of town? Or otherwise unable to go? Never fear – they’re planning to stream it live. Courtesy of SLHS’s Bil Hood, here’s the link. 7:30 pm is the scheduled start time.
Seattle Police have now released more information on an incident that several people asked about this morning – we’d called earlier and all they told us at the time was that the incident that left police tape up at 15th/Henderson was “a robbery” – so we shared that info in a WSB Forums thread while working to find out more. Here’s what’s just gone up at SPD Blotter:
On June 11th at approximately 4:45 a.m., officers responded to a home invasion robbery in the 1500 block of SW Henderson St. The victims stated that they were awakened by loud noises and suspects storming into their bedrooms.
The suspects were armed with a knife and wearing masks and gloves. The suspects jumped on top of the victim’s beds demanding to know where the money, drugs, and jewelry was. The suspects took $3,500 and a projector from the victims.
The suspects spoke both English and Spanish. They gained entry by forcibly kicking in the front door and both bedroom doors. Seattle Fire responded and treated the two male victims. Neither victim was transported. The Robbery Unit responded and processed the scene and interviewed the victims. The suspects are at large.
Strawberries are first up this year for the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s annual berry sale, and orders are being taken right now – they should be delivered in time for pickup in just two weeks, June 25 and 26, on the south side of Admiral Safeway. You can order online at the Rotary website, or call 206-779-5301; raspberries and blueberries will follow in July. (Also note that the Rotary website also has forms for the Kiddies’ Parade it sponsors before the West Seattle Grand Parade every year – parade day this year is July 24th.)
Exactly one month after we first reported the resignation of West Seattle High School principal Bruce Bivins, who’s taking a job in California, we have just confirmed multiple reports that both WSHS assistant principals are leaving as well. Jenni Maughan-MacDonald wrote about her plans on her What’s Happening at Westside website – she says she’s taking a “small school principal position” in Seattle’s neighbor district to the south, Highline Public Schools. And district spokesperson Teresa Wippel confirms that the other assistant principal, Anitra Pinchback-Jones, has resigned. So what now, we asked? She replied, “We have a pool of applicants for all positions and will be updating the community next week on our process.”
An update from SDOT‘s Marybeth Turner on the SW Genesee paving plan between 47th and 49th SW: She says they’re now looking at next Tuesday, “weather permitting,” and the work will probably take all day. SDOT says traffic will be able to get through during the work.
As first reported here in April, the redevelopment plan for The Kenney is undergoing some revision – changing into “something smaller,” as T.J. Lehman of West Seattle-based Euclid Development told the Morgan Community Association at their last quarterly meeting. As part of the changes, The Kenney has just sold some land. CEO Kevin McFeely confirmed to WSB not only that they’re selling 7022 46th Avenue SW (the quarter-acre parcel across SW Myrtle from The Kenney’s NE corner; the site holds an old house and was listed for just under half a million dollars), but that the deal is closing today. He explains that “the property no longer fits into our plans” because of the “retooling” of the redevelopment project. McFeely says he expects to be able to reveal more specifics on the downsized project by the end of next month. (Our 2-year archive of stories on The Kenney’s project can be browsed here.)
The stalled development on the southeast corner of 35th/Avalon will get going again, according to a report in today’s Daily Journal of Commerce. The DJC says “an entity” of Bellevue-based Longwell Company has paid $4 million cash for it. That’s all we know so far — all but the first paragraph of the DJC story is behind a paywall — but we’ll be gathering more information to add as we get it. The project stalled after its original owner, Michael Mastro, was forced into Chapter 7 last year. The DPD permit history for the site is here. 1:10 PM: Thanks to those who’ve sent the rest of the DJC story. While we cannot and would not cut and paste copyrighted material, we’ll note that they also report Longwell says the building will be apartments for the foreseeable future, with rents starting around $1,000, because they’ll have “high-end finishes.” The article also has an interesting tidbit, citing West Seattle’s apartment-vacancy rate at 5.4 percent.
Quick look at today/tonight highlights: Low-tide time again, -2.3 at 10:49 am (here’s the chart – gets even lower this weekend) … West Seattle’s first major high-school commencement ceremony of the month is tonight, Seattle Lutheran High School … Tonight’s the wine and jazz fundraiser for Chief Sealth International High School‘s Jazz Band @ EB Foote Winery in Burien – e-mail pdsampson@comcast.net to be sure tickets are still available … The rescheduled summer wine release at South Seattle Community College is today and tomorrow … Last day of “filing week” if you’re thinking of running for something (for local races, no surprises so far on the state list or county list) … Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor) hosts a special art/food/wine event tonight … The annual Seattle Playwrights Studio showcase starts tonight at ArtsWest … More details on the above – and more events – on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar page!
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
The monthly West Seattle Art Walk is more than a night for admiring art. At Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in North Delridge last night, it was also an occasion for borrowing it, as the Art Lending Library opened for the night. It’s been a year since the ALL made its debut – in this June 2009 story, artist Seth Damm explained it on video, and last night he was busy explaining it to prospective borrowers:
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
The Art Walk is also often a night for music. At wine shop Bin 41 (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, along with watercolors by Lee Copeland, we found Red Dog:
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
They played Appalachian music, while the Bin 41 team poured wine from South Africa:
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Also in The Junction, another WSB sponsor, Mural Apartments, also featured live music – here’s video of the Velveteen Lotharios:
(Video by Patrick Sand)
In keeping with the building’s name, Mural’s lobby is meant as gallery space – you can even see art through the windows as you walk by on 42nd SW. Heading back west through The Junction, at CAPERS, featured artist Jennifer Ament has chosen to help wildlife through her imagery of it:
(Photo by Patrick Sand)
CAPERS’ Lisa Myers explains that Jennifer “is donating 20% of her art sales to the National Wildlife Federation for sealife rescue in the Gulf [of Mexico] through June 24th. … She has just released a heron, nautilus, sea fan and whale as part of her growing collection of linoleum cut prints.”
Ahead – more photos, including two examples of last night’s Art Walk spotlight shining on food:Read More
Early warning: About 3,000 homes in West Seattle will get something special on their doorsteps next week, and it’s something that local Windermere Real Estate agents hope you will use. Next Wednesday (6/16), they will distribute bags for a food-donation drive that’s part of their annual Community Service Day; then next Friday (6/18), they will return to the 3,000 or so homes where they left bags, hoping to find them filled with nonperishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank and White Center Food Bank. If you get one of the bags on your doorstep – point person Doug Baldwin says the volunteers will be hitting various neighborhoods – here’s the flyer you’ll find with it.
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