West Seattle, Washington
14 Sunday
And now, just as a new park is being dedicated, there are two more Seattle Parks projects under construction in West Seattle: Work started at Pro Parks Levy-funded Myrtle Reservoir Park last week (as reported here), and this week – thanks to Mike and Kate for the tip! – construction is under way at Fairmount Playground (map). It’s a Parks and Green Spaces Levy-funded project, and it’s replacing some classic-but-old playground equipment — Mike and Kate’s note pointed out that a backhoe was “mangling the rocket” as they wrote; however, project manager Kelly Davidson says the merry-go-round will be reinstalled. The second and final community design meeting was held last January (here’s our report); you can see the final design here (PDF). The new playground at Fairmount is expected to be finished in August. ADDED 10:21 AM: We e-mailed Davidson to ask about the work – she mentioned she had some images of the old equipment. So for posterity’s sake, here’s “the rocket”:
(Photo by Jillian Lenox)
Maybe it’ll be sunny later. Can’t even rely on the forecast any more. In case it isn’t, here’s a blue-sky photo to enjoy. Fun stuff going on later, clouds, sun, or rain – the long-long-long-awaited Junction Plaza Park dedication (previewed here) at 5:30 pm; a Senior Housing and Resource Fair at Senior Center of West Seattle, lunch provided, 10 am-1 pm (full details here); tonight at 6:30 at Jefferson Square (suite 600), Savvy Seattle Women present “How to Finance and Buy a Fixer” … Porterhouse is the lone West Seattle restaurant on the list of participants for the first Spoke and Food Event — raising money for Solid Ground’s Lettuce Link program if you bicycle to dinner … At 7 pm West Seattle Hi-Yu invites you to the 2010 White Rose Reception, a women-only event celebrating past and present Hi-Yu royalty and candidates at Fauntleroy Church Hall; past royalty are encouraged to wear or bring their sashes and memory scrapbooks … Another reception today, at South Seattle Community College, celebrates the artists showing their work in “This Old Piano,” 12 – 2 pm at the Art Gallery, more info here.
(Program brochure photo provided by Toni Reineke)
Among the many summer programs under way this week is a summer music program that’s in its 57th year, taught by Seattle Public Schools music teachers, and though it started Monday, its head teacher Toni Reineke sends word it’s not too late to join in. It’s for students who just finished 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th grades:
Designed for students grades 4-8 (student must have completed at least one year of instrumental instruction)
Students who attend Seattle Public Schools as well as private schools are welcome!
Band, strings, jazz band, solos, ensembles, improvisation—and more!
Daily field recesses!
Evening concert Thursday, July 15, 7:00 p.m.
Weekdays, June 28 – July 16 (except July 5), 9:00 to noon.For more info, please call the Fine and Performing Arts Department at 206-252-0051 or 252-0050, or contact Toni Reineke at 206-243-6955 or tonireineke@comcast.net
Two reader alerts to share this morning; both came in last night: One, a man who turned up in a family’s yard; the other, two men caught on a surveillance camera stealing metal including a wheelbarrow:Read More
If you are a longtime WSB’er, you may remember West Seattle Art Attack – the whimsical late-night forays of a glass artist (and accomplices) to leave surprises here and there – here’s our first report from fall 2007. As far as we know, WSAA has been dormant for two years (here’s the last spree) – but we just got a communique:
We are targeting 6 houses in the Admiral neighborhood tonight. We scoped them out in an afternoon drive-by and it was hard to pick but based on our whims and an appreciation for the care they have put into their yards we have selected some recipients for a midnight (perhaps sooner) surprise. As long as everyone knows that this is yard art and often has cracks or chips (but is not dangerously sharp) and is not a piece of studio quality glass we’ll all be good. It’s great to be back attacking again!
WSAA tells us they’re actually already back from the covert operation … so if you find an artsy surprise in your yard, let us all know!
Thanks to Paige for the tip (via Facebook) that some power is out in The Junction. We’re up there looking around and so far all we’re seeing is the traffic lights at California/Oregon and 42nd/Oregon. There’s a crew on scene so we’ll check with them. 9:20 PM UPDATE: We’re told a transformer on a pole in the alley behind Shoofly Pie is to blame for the outage. It’s just affecting that block – east side of California north of Oregon, that area. Crews are working on it (as our photo shows).
First came the online availability of police reports in certain categories of incident (start here) – now, Seattle Police have added incident types to the city’s My Neighborhood map, which has been available a while with multiple layers of other types of information. We’re still wandering around it ourselves but wanted to share the link in case you hadn’t already heard. As explained here, the icons – showing what type of report was taken – will start showing up as soon as six hours later. The announcement on SPD Blotter summarizes:
The crime reporting map is a short-term view of crime: it provides a good sense of what is reported to be going on in a certain neighborhood or the city at large at any time. It is also good for seeing patterns of types of crimes happening (such as an unusual amount of reported bike thefts in your area).
If you choose to use the “neighborhood” view instead of the specific-address view, note that Southwest is basically “western West Seattle,” while Delridge is the label for most of the eastern half of the peninsula. 8:25 PM: After spending some time clicking around, one observation: While more categories of crime are reported on the map, the reports to which you can link don’t offer any additional detail – so far we’ve clicked on the report links for crimes such as auto theft and animal bites, and the only detail on the “report” is what block and what day/time.
Tomorrow night, you’re invited to celebrate West Seattle’s newest park, at the dedication ceremony for Junction Plaza Park – where the finishing touches have been going in (check the bench in our photo taken early this afternoon, one of three alongside the grassy oval on its west side). We noted here earlier this month that Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, who chairs the council’s Parks Committee, was planning to attend; she just announced via Twitter that her predecessor in that role, West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, will be on hand too. The Parks Department had previously announced that Deputy Superintendent Eric Friedl would participate as well, and that music will be provided by violinist Pasquale Santos. The dedication’s scheduled to start at 5:30 pm tomorrow (Tuesday) – if you haven’t been to the park yet, it’s on the northwest corner of 42nd and Alaska, and it’s been more than five years in the making, with tons of volunteer help and donations.
We haven’t yet formally welcomed one of our newest WSB sponsors – so, as is customary, today they get the chance to share information about their business with you: Bin 41, “your Junction wine shop.” Bin 41 co-proprietor T. Frick McNamara explains, “Jon and I are casual West Seattleites who just love wine. Our goal is to provide a welcoming, open atmosphere to discover. Based on a quote we once saw, we believe a meal or get-together without good wine and friends is like a day without sunshine. We want wine to be approachable and affordable so it can find a special place in everyday experiences.” She sees a parallel between this business and the work she has done as an urban designer: “I used to design socially sustainable places with a focus on community. Now we get to be a part firsthand in our community fabric. The most rewarding aspect of our new lives at bin 41 is meeting new faces from the community and getting to share and learn more about the world of wine with them. We love it when customers come back to provide feedback on the last bottle of wine we recommended to help us hand select wines to match their palate, their dinner menu or assist in finding the perfect gift item.” Their current community involvement includes being part of the West Seattle Junction Association and participating in the monthly West Seattle Art Walk (stop by to see them next time, July 8, night before West Seattle Summer Fest). And there are special occasions just about every week – with tastings at the shop – the schedule is here. Bin 41 is in The Junction at 4707 California SW, and online at bin41wine.com.
We thank bin 41 for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.
Quick update on last Friday’s three-location West Seattle Community Car Wash fundraiser for West Seattle Food Bank and Haiti relief (via World Vision) – Terry Gangon says they raised $2,577, with $2,000 of that going to the food bank. (Here’s our as-it-happened report on last Friday’s event.)
Thanks to Larry Nitkey for that photo from 4516 42nd SW (map), where one of the houses scheduled to be cleared away for future development is in the process of being moved. According to Larry, “One of the contractors said they are moving this to 47th & Stevens.” This is one of four houses on the site of the 42nd/Oregon development that’s been in the works for more than 2 years. This house in particular, in fact, came up in a WSB discussion two years ago about saving old houses. 2:07 PM NOTE: Went by to check on progress, and crews are doing some work on the structure; we’ve got a message out to the construction firm to see if there’s a timetable for actually moving it. LATE-NIGHT NOTE: We did talk with the firm’s proprietor – the move actually is still more than 2 weeks away, very early July 17th.
For starters, the process of moving out of the temporary Chief Sealth International High School campus at Boren, getting ready to occupy the renovated permanent campus in fall, is a big job – we happened onto the band equipment getting packed up. But that’s not the main reason we were at the school:
It’s the first day of the first weeklong session of the 13th annual edition of the popular Chief Sealth Life Skills and Basketball Camp. In that view, everyone’s gathered for the team meeting. Guest coach this week with Coach Colin Slingsby (right) is recent Sealth grad Daniel Davis:
Coach Slingsby noted that Daniel first attended the Sealth camp way back in third grade – and now he’s coaching. Participants – 2nd through 9th grade boys/girls – spend the day in everything from warmups to specific basketball-skill-coaching to drills.
And as the name indicates, it’s more than sports. The printed schedule has the quote of the day: “You have not lived a perfect day, even if you have earned your money, unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” For info on the summer’s remaining sessions, check out the brochure (PDF).
(WSB photo of Maia Santell at The Mount in August 2009)
Once again this August, Providence Mount St. Vincent plans a slate of outdoor concerts. The Mount’s Arlene Carter has just shared the lineup, including info on family activities accompanying the music, as well as the dinner offerings you can buy:
August 6th: Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana
Taco salad, burgers, hot dogs. Clown, face painter, caricature artist.August 13th: Maia Santell & House Blend
Jambalaya, burgers, hot dogs. Bouncy House, face painter, caricature artist.August 20th: Illusion of Elvis by Danny Vernon
Fried chicken picnic, burgers, hot dogs. Clown, face painter, caricature artist.August 27th: The Haggis Brothers – Rockin’, swingin’, fiddle-driven string band
BBQ ribs, burgers, hotdogs. Magician, face painter, caricature artist.Providence Mount St. Vincent is located at 4831 35th Ave SW (between SW Hudson & SW Edmunds in West Seattle. (206) 937-3700.
Other outdoor music this summer includes the West Seattle Summer Fest (co-sponsored by WSB) slate – see it here – and the West Seattle Hi-Yu Concert in the Park with the West Seattle Big Band on July 20th (when the West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Award winners will be honored), the Admiral Neighborhood Association’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha (co-sponsored by WSB), and several concerts planned at Alki (playfield and boardwalk).
This morning, the official city report is out on a major development reported here Friday in a story that’s been ongoing for almost three years – a request to change the zoning for both sides of one full block (and a bit extra) of California SW. Most of it currently has a 30-foot height limit; the proposed new zoning would add 10 feet. As property owner/rezoning proponent Mike Gain told WSB on Friday, the Department of Planning and Development, which has had the rezoning proposal under review since summer 2007, is recommending approval. This page explains how to comment before the public hearing, which is planned before the city Hearing Examiner at 9 am August 18th (her chambers are on the 40th floor of the Municipal Tower downtown) – after that, it goes to the City Council. The full Director’s Report on the recommendation can be seen here (PDF); we’re reading it now and will add its toplines to this story.
ADDED 10:35 AM: As promised – click ahead for toplines from the report, including what it forecasts would be the eventual effects of the rezone:Read More
Yet another award for the West Seattle Hi-Yu “Dreams Do Come True” float – the President’s Award in the Port Orchard Fathoms O’ Fun Parade on Saturday, according to Hi-Yu vice president Deena Mahn. (We should have some photos to add soon.) Next up for the float, next Sunday’s Burien 4th of July Parade (time/route info here). And before then, the West Seattle Hi-Yu Order of the White Rose Reception – a women-only event honoring Hi-Yu royalty and hopefuls, past and present – is 7 pm this Tuesday at the Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall. 8:14 AM: Photos added. In the one below, from left, Senior Court Princess Kelly Nealson, Junior Court Princess Kaitlin Morgan, 2009 Junior Court Princess Anna Fuller, 2009 Junior Court Queen Zoe Mahn, and Queen Georgia are posing with the President’s Award plaque.
You’ll get to see the award-winning Hi-Yu float (and royalty, and volunteers) in the West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade on Saturday, July 24, starting at 11 am from California/Lander in the Admiral District and proceeding down California SW to SW Edmunds in The Junction.
In the latest West Seattle Crime Watch roundup – an e-mailed warning from a WSB’er that car prowlers will break into “even the most dirty old beat-up car” – plus, from the police files, the baseboard burglary, the overgrowth pathway, and the bike burglar caught on tape, among other cases – all ahead:Read More
(Photo by Gilbert, taken at Hamilton Viewpoint on July 4, 2009)
The annual WSB 4th of July events/info page will be up tomorrow morning for easy reference throughout the coming week. But while it’s still in progress, a few notes if you’re looking ahead to the holiday: The Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade is happening once again, with every kid in West Seattle invited to join in (families too) – followed by fun activities at Hamilton Viewpoint – details in our previous preview. Fireworks-wise, it’s the second consecutive year with no Elliott Bay display, but much of the Lake Union Family 4th show can be seen from northernmost West Seattle, particularly spots like Hamilton Viewpoint – this is the one saved by donations around the city, mostly from businesses (we chipped in, as did WSB sponsors Ventana Construction and Merrill Gardens). Some in southwesternmost West Seattle (Arbor Heights, the Arroyos) will have a view of the Three Tree Point fireworks, which are also donation-supported (more info here). And in case this is your first 4th of July here, a reminder about fireworks laws: They are illegal in Seattle, but not in unincorporated King County, where legal fireworks stands are allowed to open starting at noon tomorrow (the northernmost one we spotted setting up tonight is in the bowling alley parking lot across from Roxbury Safeway). However, even though sales start tomorrow, fireworks use in the unincorporated area (which is smaller since the North Highline South/North Burien annexation took effect this spring) is only legal 9 am-midnight on the 4th. (Leaving the area for the holiday? Here’s the full list of fireworks displays around the state.)
If you have a 4th of July event in West Seattle or White Center that’s open to the public, please let us know ASAP so we can include it in our calendar and on the forthcoming holiday page!
Though summer vacation has barely begun, the nonprofits that heIp make sure kids get what they need for the new school year are already working hard to gather donations and support. One of them, West Seattle Helpline, wants to get out the word that it’s starting to collect kids’ and teens’ clothes for its Clothesline clothing bank, looking ahead to the August backpack/school supplies drive; Tatum from Helpline explains, “We try to allow folks coming in to do back to school shopping on the days we give out backpacks.” She also suggests that if you are having a yard/garage sale, you consider donating any “gently used” clothing that’s left over – and if you’re shopping this summer for kids’ socks/underwear, “grab an extra pack for the Clothesline” – items they always need more of, year-round. Here’s more info on what they do and how to help.
(WSB photo from last April)
With Westside School leasing the vacant EC Hughes building in Sunrise Heights from Seattle Public Schools (here’s our March report), that empties out space in the building Westside has shared with Explorer West Middle School. Now Explorer West has announced that it’s reached an agreement to sub-lease that space from Westside, pending approvals from entities including Highline Public Schools, which owns the building. Read more here.
FIRST UPDATE, 10:02 AM: The sun is starting to triumph over the clouds at 12th/Holden (map), where the first-ever Highland Park Sunday Market is under way. Good turnout for something that’s brand-new and bound to grow – and some names you’ll likely recognize: Freshy’s Coffee is selling homemade soup, local belly-dancing Troupe Hipnotica is selling unique apparel (and no, it’s not dancing gear, though we’re sure you could dance in it; Kelly from Alki Cab Company is here selling jewelry and wind chimes.
Tiffany Silver-Brace (above), who hatched the market idea, is selling fresh bread (top photo), eggs from her chickens, sourdough starter, and herbs. Photos shortly. If you’ve never been to Highland Park, come out and have a look – this is all unfolding in the lot outside the historic Highland Park Improvement Club (just a couple blocks east of Zippy’s Giant Burgers, if that happens to be your Highland Park . We’re tabling too to cover the kickoff event “live” – come show your support for local vendors and to see the concept grow; the market continues till 1 pm. Dogs and kids welcome – this is pretty laid-back. More photos to come.
10:53 AM: Since the sun isn’t quite all the way through the clouds yet, the four flavors of soup brought by Amber from Freshy’s sound like a particularly good idea. Here’s the menu:
We just took a closer look at some of the arts and crafts – eklectopia is selling custom mugs and glasses, too:
And the table across from ours, with art plus the Troupe Hipnotica apparel (a flyer advertising their tribal-belly-dance instruction too):
11:34 AM: Steady stream of browsers/shoppers, people chatting … Fun to see folks we know and those we hadn’t met yet – like Colleen, who manages the rentals for HPIC (it’s available for events and parties beyond those the club itself and Highland Park Action Committee already own there) and admitted she doesn’t own a computer – but thinks about it from time to time! P.S. We mentioned Kelly from Alki Cab Company earlier – we have her photo, too:
If you haven’t heard of Alki Cab before – that’s cab as in pedicab – as seen on her stickers (a fast-rising classic to add to iconic West Seattle stickers like Easy Street Records, Luna Park Café and the Alki seagull):
You’ve still got more than an hour to get here and check it out; if you miss it, take note, the market will NOT be held next Sunday (the 4th of July) but edition #2 is planned for Sunday, July 11th.
12:45 PM: Very busy this past hour or so – including visitors from other neighborhoods – Justin from White Center-headquartered Full Tilt Ice Cream just came by. We’ve heard from some of the vendors that they’ve done well – again, considering it was the start. Here’s a photo we took within the past hour as noontime browsers shopped and mingled:
We’ll be talking with organizer Tiffany shortly for her thoughts on how it went. Keep an eye on the Highland Park Sunday Market’s Facebook page for updates on future installments.
To preview next Sunday’s 4th of July “This Place Matters” group photo on the street/sidewalk in front of the Alki Homestead – the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s plan to show community concern about its future – Paul Dorpat‘s “Seattle Now and Then” in today’s Seattle Times (WSB partner) looks at the Homestead and its history, while previewing the event. Dorpat published even more Homestead history on his own website the yesterday, recalling it as “A Soap Manufacturer’s Log Mansion on Alki Point.” (His site also republishes the Times piece with a few “Web extra” photos.) Here’s our original June 8th story about the photo plan; here’s our June 20th story about where the Homestead stands from its owner’s perspective.
(Photo by Jillian Lenox)
9 am-1 pm in the parking lot at Highland Park Improvement Club today, the Highland Park Sunday Market debuts, with arts, crafts, and fresh food. To see who’s confirmed to sell there, check out its Facebook page. (We’ll be there tabling too, to cover it “live.”) 1116 SW Holden; here’s a map … For the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm as always in The Junction, here’s the online Ripe ‘n’ Ready list … Something bugging you? Also in The Junction, you can drop by Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy (WSB sponsor) at 11 am and learn how to ‘Make Your Own All-Natural Bug Sprays’ … And this afternoon, 2-5 pm at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), it’s “Vinyl Countdown 2: A Live Rock ‘n’ Roll Auction,” to benefit Animals First Foundation – auction items include vintage vinyl, posters, books and music memorabilia.
We thought we’d covered our last graduation for this school year. Then an invitation arrived – as a media advisory sent on behalf of a school we hadn’t heard of – Hope Academy. The advisory from the local Council on American Islamic Relations invited us, a newspaper, three TV stations, and three radio stations to cover its ceremony and banquet Saturday night in High Point, explaining:
Hope Academy will celebrate the achievements of its students during with its fourth annual banquet, themed “American Muslims: Defining Ourselves.” The event will be held at the West Seattle Elementary School from 4:45 pm to 6 pm. … The event will include award presentations to graduating students as well as other students. Muslim community leaders and activists from the area will join in the celebration.
As far as we could tell, we were the only media that showed up. However – as you can see in our photos – those on hand included Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell. We asked for more information about the school; Abdul Kadir Jama explained that Hope Academy is “a full-time community-based school that serves K-8.” He added, “We aim at educating the American Muslim children by providing them an opportunity to grow in a conducive environment where they can maintain their faith, culture and at the same time become good citizens.” Saturday night’s celebration included awards to two groups of students, in the photos above and below:
The ceremony included singing of the Somalia anthem, in tribute to the land Seattle’s Somali immigrants – including parents of the students honored Saturday night — left amid civil war that has raged on now for almost 20 years:
Councilmember Harrell spoke, with a message for the students’ parents:
Hope Academy’s classes are held at locations including the High Point Neighborhood Center, according to CAIR’s S. Arsalan Bukhari, who sent the graduation announcement. Looking for more information online about Hope Academy, we happened onto some YouTube clips on this channel, including a student discussing world geography.
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