West Seattle, Washington
13 Tuesday
As the “second day of summer” begins – here’s the latest forecast – we have two you-don’t-see-THAT-every-day photos to share, both taken along Alki on Tuesday. The first is from Eilene Hutchinson, who explains:
We were out enjoying the sunshine with a walk along the Alki Promenade when we met Jason Aman and his 3-year-old albino Burmese Python, “Albi.” Albi drew quite a crowd of onlookers who had many questions.
Next, from Bob Bollen:
(Related to Journey to Makah 2010, later this month, maybe?)
Perfect weather, too:
THE BIG SATURDAY BIKE RIDE: It’s the annual Water and Spirit Bike Ride, starting at St. John the Baptist Church in the Admiral District with registration 6:30-8 am, proceeding through three ferry crossings over the course of the day, concluding with a barbecue on Alki. Proceeds benefit Family Promise of Seattle, a West Seattle-based nonprofit that helps homeless families around the city. Full details here.
THE NOT-AS-BIG SATURDAY BIKE RIDE: Meet at the Log House Museum at 12:30 pm to tour Alki, and beyond; the ride will end at the Duwamish Longhouse around 2 pm. Details here.
SUNDAY BIKE RIDE: From Stu Hennessey at Alki Bike and Board: His shop is the meeting place at 10 am Sunday for this month’s Spokespeople West Seattle ride, North Admiral to downtown, “a stay-together ride at a leisurely and easy pace, 11.5 miles round trip, with hills … This ride will feature the new SODO bike trail along the Sound Transit light-rail line.” Questions? Contact Stu at alkistu@hotmail.com or 206-767-9366.
If your teen’s summer isn’t quite filled out yet – there’s a new weeklong camp next month, offered by the West Seattle-based nonprofit Nature Consortium: Arts in Nature Camp, 10 am-4 pm daily, August 16-20, for ages 12 and up, at Camp Long. It’ll feature “workshops from real local artists” and activities including “challenge course, recycled art, world music, nature games, sound installations, and forest ecology/restoration.” Full details and online registration, here.
From KV:
After reading through the blog it seems like these might be the same people that struck other neighborhoods. I live in the Gatewood neighborhood between Holden and Kenyon. Older model loud blue pickup with two men stopped pickup in alley, one African American male and one Caucasian male, got out and walked into neighbor carport. The whole back of the pickup was full of large metal items and they looked through the neighbors whole carport and stole fencing and other pieces of miscellaneous metal. The pair was stopped by another neighbor further down the block when they were found in the backyard looking around another neighbor’s yard. They said they were looking for scrap metal, but were going to ask permission before they took anything. This time, one of the people was actually around the front and side of the house and it is unclear what they were doing.
(Photo provided by WSLL: With manager Derek Page and coach John Coats are players Anthony Coats, Jack Page, Timmy Roach, Ethan Chen, Jackson Chilcott, Jackson Oehling, Anthony Goss, Thomas Sobotta, Jacob Terao, Blue James, Matt Dietz, and Grayson Oneil)
That’s the district-champion West Seattle Little League 10-11 All-Stars team we told you about last Thursday, after the big win that put them into the state tournament (WSB coverage here). Now they need a little help: The tournament is in Yakima, July 17-26, and WSLL is hoping to reduce the out-of-pocket costs to players’ families by raising money at a pancake breakfast and car wash this Saturday at Bar-S (map), 10 am-1 pm. Here’s the official flyer (with prices, including the discount for breakfast if you’re getting your car washed too!)
(Saturday night Twitpic by @davidgjames)
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency tells WSB the agency received two complaints over the holiday weekend about the Saturday night emission from Ash Grove Cement that drew attention from West Seattle, and elsewhere (WSB coverage here), as well as an initial “fire in building” response from the Seattle Fire Department. PSCAA spokesperson Amy Warren says the complaints will be reviewed before the agency decides what, if any, action to take. Meantime, Ash Grove has issued a statement saying “finished cement was discharged” from the plant, “as a result of the affected silo being overfilled,” though the amount of “finished cement” was not mentioned. The statement sent by corporate PR rep Jackie Clark also says Ash Grove has “contacted affected neighbors to offer cleanup assistance.”
“He read ‘Kon-Tiki‘ as a kid.” That’s one explanation Beach Drive resident Peter Goldman gave for the solo outrigger journey his 27-year-old nephew Alex Kongsgaard launched this morning from the rocky shore below Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook on Beach Drive – West Seattle to Glacier Bay, planning on about 30 miles a day over the next eight weeks or so. Kongsgaard is actually from Napa, California, sixth-generation Napan who works at the family winery:
His West Seattle aunt Martha Kongsgaard, Peter’s wife, provided that photo – she says Alex and his dad “just finished bottling the Kongsgaard 2008 vintage of Chardonnay, Cabernet, VioRous, and the famous ‘The Judge'” – as well as sharing this next photo, with a closer look at Alex:
Martha says her nephew has paddled long distances before – in 2007, he and a friend kayaked to Port Hardy, on the north tip of Vancouver Island. The 33-pound outrigger he’s paddling this trip is based on a Kevlar racing kayak, she adds. This morning, she had to catch a ferry to Bainbridge, so we were on the beach with Peter – the solo sendoff party for the solo paddler – and rolled video on his first minute and a half at sea:
Alex called out “See you in two months!” to Peter, who had to head off to work before the sun even finished rising above the Me-Kwa-Mooks hillside (note that Alex isn’t in sunshine till about half a minute into our clip); Peter yelled back, “May the Force be with you!” (Earlier, Alex had joked that he blamed his adventurousness partly on Peter, who’s climbed in the Himalayas, among other places.) Once Alex had paddled away, we drove over to Alki Point to watch until he was out of West Seattle waters, Canada- and Alaska-bound (Peter says his nephew plans to sleep in a hammock each night). We’ll let you know how he’s doing if the family shares any updates they get along the way.
As first reported here in May, the city has been looking at a possible “rechannelization” for the Admiral Way southeastbound hill – and now, SDOT‘s official proposal is out, with news of an open house:
To reduce vehicle speeds and enhance safety for all roadway users, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is proposing to alter the lane configuration on SW Admiral Way between SW Olga St and the West Seattle Bridge on- and off-ramps at SW Manning St.
To brief the community on the rechannelization concept and receive public feedback, SDOT will hold an open house on Tuesday, July 13, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the West Seattle Library, located at 2306 42nd Ave. SW.
The improvements are designed to reduce speeds and benefit everyone who uses the street, including commuters, truck drivers, bus passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists. SDOT is proposing the following for SW Admiral Way:
* Providing two travel lanes uphill that are wider than current lanes
* Removing one travel lane downhill between SW Olga St and SW City View St
* Maintaining a through lane and a right turn lane to SW Manning St at the bottom of the hill
* Providing a six-foot wide bike lane in each direction adjacent to the curb
* Placing the parking lane between the bike lane and the travel lane on the street’s uphill side
* Striping a two to three foot buffer zone between the bike lane and travel lane on the street’s down-hill side
* Remarking a crosswalk and constructing a median island at SW City View St
* Removing under-utilized parking on the uphill side of the street between the West Seattle Bridge off ramp and SW City View St
As average speeds are in excess of posted limits, this proposal will help address the speeding problem on SW Admiral Way. It will also make the roadway more accommodating for vulnerable users like pedestrians and cyclists.
SDOT is interested in hearing from the public about these recommended changes. Comments can be submitted by e-mail to walkandbike@seattle.gov or by calling 206-684-7583. This project is part of the voter-approved Bridging the Gap transportation initiative.
The project even has its own webpage already, with graphics showing the potential alternatives (we’ll add here shortly too). If this goes through, it will be the second major “rechannelization” in West Seattle in less than a year, following a similar process on Fauntleroy Way between Morgan Junction and The Triangle.
A long list of Seattle Public Schools leadership appointments that have just been announced includes some West Seattle news: First, two interim principals are now official: Madison Middle School‘s Henterson Carlisle and Alki Elementary‘s Clover Codd. Second, the announcement reiterates that Ruth Medsker is the interim principal at West Seattle High School (as noted here 2 weeks ago). Third, a new principal is announced for Highland Park Elementary, whose previous principal Ann Gray left for a new job in another district. Here’s the district’s announcement for HP:
Ben Ostrom has been appointed principal at Highland Park Elementary School, effective July 1, 2010. Mr. Ostrom comes to Highland Park Elementary from ORCA K-8, where he has served as principal since 2003. Prior to ORCA, he spent three years as principal at Loyal Heights Elementary. He also has extensive classroom experience, including six years as an elementary teacher at both Cooper Elementary School and Madrona K-8 school. Mr. Ostrom received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University and a Masters in Teaching from Seattle University. He also completed the Danforth Educational Leadership Program at the University of Washington.
Just in case you’re locked in an office somewhere and having trouble believing summer really and truly has arrived – here’s the scene at Hiawatha, where (along with Lincoln Park, as previewed here this morning) the wading pool is indeed open for serious splashing. The morning forecast update has downgraded tomorrow a bit, to “only” the 80s – but 90s are still possible for Thursday, and the “special weather statement” remains in effect.
Back in April, Seattle Parks announced it was taking name suggestions for High Point Playfield. On followup, they explained to WSB that it was a process triggered by a request to name it in honor of Walt Hundley, the department’s first African-American superintendent. Today, it’s official – Parks has announced three new facility names citywide, including Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point. Here’s the official news release.
Before we get to West Seattle Summer Fest this Friday-Saturday-Sunday, there’s one more Big Event – the next West Seattle Art Walk on Thursday night, “from Alki to Endolyne,” as the official postcard art proclaims – 43 venues (here’s the list/map). We mentioned one venue’s big plans last week. Today, two more highlights – First, as noted on the official Art Walk website, The Cask in Admiral plans its grand opening that night. (We brought you first word of this “Old World ale and wine house,” 2350 California SW, in this story last April.) (added 1:15 pm – we just dropped by The Cask and got these indoor/outdoor pix)
(back to original 11:02 am story) Second, for the venues in The Junction, the streets will already be closed for Summer Fest, and the theme is “Art Walk ‘Alive'” – with street performers (“buskers”) welcome to be part of it – Art Walk organizer Lora Lewis from Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) has even put out a citywide call. So if you know a busker, let them know they’re welcome to be in The Junction this Thursday night, 6-9 pm – as is everybody – we know the weather will be summery, the art will be awesome, so here’s another look at the map (again, not just The Junction, there are venues all over the peninsula) – as well as venue highlights on the WSAW site (many offer free refreshments too). See you there (and of course, at West Seattle Summer Fest the following three days).
We’d been checking on reports of activity in the former All The Best Pet Care (closed last November) space east of Cactus, at 2820 Alki SW – and this morning, there’s a small sign in the window solving the mystery. (Thanks very much to Pat for photographing and sharing it!) The sign announces Alki Arts and points to this website, promising “amazing art, affordably priced, from local artists” and also offering the space as a venue for events of up to 60 people. The website also says Alki Arts will open this Saturday (July 10). We have a message out seeking more info, which we’ll add here when we get it. ADDED 1:02 PM: Just in, co-proprietor Diane Venti answered our request for more details:
We will be a Co-op of artists – each renting wall space in the gallery. We have room for 3 more artists at this point, but the ones we have in place now are very talented! The proprietors are Tom Wyrick and Diane Venti-We are trying this space out for the summer to see how it is received and supported by West Seattle. The space still belongs to Susan Moss, owner of All the Best Pet Care, who has ‘gone above and beyond’ making it possible for us to fill the empty store front during the summer months. She really is helping to support this endeavor!
Our hours will be 12-8 Wed-Sun. We’re so excited to have people come in to enjoy all the amazing art, which includes oil paintings, water colors, metal work, glass, and photography – there’ll be something for everyone to enjoy!
That’s a photo of “Bones” – a North Delridge neighborhood fixture before somebody “kidnapped” him from his driveway-side “stage” a few days ago, according to a creative, plaintive post published to the WSB Forums. In a subsequent e-mail conversation, his owners told us:
On July 2 someone stole (“Bones”) just after we’d spent a great deal of time and money repairing him from weather damage, and we’d really like to have him returned since he has great sentimental value as well as being a significant time and financial investment.
They don’t want to make their contact info public at this point – they just hope that publicizing the theft will inspire someone who knows something to find a way to get “Bones” back to his rightful place as part of their garden-art display.
With today’s weather looking to have no trouble meeting the criteria for opening the city-run wading pools – sunny and at least 70 degrees – here’s the reminder that the schedules have changed for all but one in West Seattle, because of the midyear budget cuts. According to the revised schedule, the two that should be open today are Lincoln Park (the only one in West Seattle that’s still open daily if warm enough), 11 am-8 pm, and Hiawatha (open Mon.-Tues.-Wed.), noon-6:45 pm. Here’s the full citywide schedule (PDF).
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli)
One week ago, we shared Larry Nitkey‘s photo of the 86-year-old house at 4516 42nd SW (map), one of four eventually slated to make way for a mixed-use development at 42nd/Oregon, and his report it would be moved. For WSB, Christopher Boffoli subsequently went to the site to get a closer look and speak with the contractors, who had told us by phone that we were welcome to come find out more, and take more photos.
As the official after-holiday comes to a close, that photo was just sent in by MDS, who says he took it from the Admiral Way viewpoint. WSB was among the businesses contributing to make the show happen after it almost didn’t – yes, we’d rather see Elliott Bay fireworks, but that wasn’t an option, so. as opposed to no fireworks, we chipped in. (As did two WSB sponsors, Ventana Construction and Merrill Gardens – see the full donor list here.) And the event producers are already starting the donor drive for next year.
And the pendulum swings, big time. Tonight there’s a “special weather statement” out from the National Weather Service, since we’re suddenly looking at highs in the 90s for the second half of the week (in time for West Seattle Summer Fest, the Seafair Pirates’ Landing at Alki, the West Seattle Edible Garden Tour, among other events). Don’t believe it? Here’s the forecast! (Time to pull the fans up out of the basement … where just the other day we’d been resisting turning on the furnace …)
That’s the West Seattle Little League 9-10 All-Stars getting a hearty cheer from the crowd, and handshakes from their victorious opponents, as they finished with 2nd place in the district Saturday afternoon at Bar-S on Alki Point. Meantime, the WSLL 10-11 All-Stars won the district championship last week (WSB coverage here) and have now moved on to the tournament, where they won at PacWest in SeaTac on Sunday and will play again at 5:30 pm tomorrow.
The next photo and update, about the PONY League All-Stars, are from Lisa:
West Seattle was well represented in the Fourth of July Blast tournament in Tacoma, with the Southwest Pony League’s West Seattle All Stars (11 year olds) taking third place. Congratulations to the team and coaches!
Other playoffs are under way for West Seattle Pee Wee, part of PONY Baseball; their 8U All-Stars recently took 1st place at Regionals (photo here). Their 9U team starts regional play Friday in Enumclaw, while the league is hosting 12 All-Star and Select 10U teams this Friday through Sunday at the Mustang Tune-Up. Then the WS Pee Wee 10U team starts sanctioned tournament play July 16-18 with the Mustang North Sectional in North Seattle.
Finally, a belated youth basketball note. We were at Chief Sealth International High School/Boren last Thursday as the first week of Basketball and Life Skills campers played their championship games (the “NCAA” – younger campers – ended with “Texas” beating “UCLA” 14-12, while the older “NBA” campers ended with “LA” 36, “Boston” 33). Here’s Coach Colin Slingsby with the announcements and congratulations:
Here’s more about the Sealth camp, from our visit on day 1 last week. The second session got under way today, but there are still three more weeklong sessions, for entering 2nd-9th-grade girls and boys, later this summer – here’s the brochure.
Just four days till West Seattle’s biggest event of the summer – West Seattle Summer Fest (co-sponsored by WSB), three days of celebration, music, shopping, art, food, family activities, and more in the heart of The Junction, this Friday through Sunday. Quick note tonight from a Junction business with a message to famiiles with babies – Donna Ryan Photography (4218 SW Alaska, just east of Cupcake Royale [WSB sponsor]) will be hosting Summer Fest’s only “Parents’ Rest Stop” in her expansive studio space. She says it’s a place for breastfeeding moms to come nurse, and overall, “I welcome parents of babies who need a few minutes of privacy / quiet to drop in during festival hours.” What else is happening at Summer Fest, you ask? There’s tons of info on the official website – live music performances listed here, other live performances and activities listed here, vendors and exhibitors listed here …
(updated) Four West Seattle Crime Watch reports to share – starting with a burglary that included a van theft, and a request that you be on the lookout for the van. Read on:Read More
From Nancy @ WestSide Baby:
WestSide Baby Sorting Frenzy Volunteer Opportunity Today!
We will open today, Monday July 5th (12-3pm) for a special volunteer opportunity for adults or children over age 8 (with adult along). Have the day off and want to do something worthwhile? WestSide Baby has been fortunate to receive many of your donations of clothing items. Now we need a little help sorting through the donations to prepare them for distribution. If you can read the size tags, look for dirt and holes and inspect clothes for holes, we’d love your help to attack the pile of clothes in this picture taken this morning. We have empty shelves of many sizes but we know those gems are actually hidden in this pile.
If you can call or e-mail to let us know you are coming that would be great! If not, just show up at we’ll welcome you and give you instructions on how to make a difference TODAY.
WestSide Baby
10032 15th Ave. SW
(Fireworks photo by Candy)
Since Independence Day fell on a Sunday, the official observance is today – banks and most government offices (including Seattle Parks-operated community centers) are closed, Metro’s on a Sunday schedule, there’s no mail delivery. However, since libraries were closed yesterday, they’re open today. And the West Seattle-downtown water taxi is on its regular schedule.
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