West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
If you’re in Westwood or Gatewood or Sunrise Heights and wondering about all the commotion – a search is under way after a crash. We’ve been listening to the search on the scanner – a K-9 is involved, and the Guardian One helicopter just joined in, too. According to Ken, one car hit two parked cars in the 7900 block of 30th SW (map), and the people inside apparently left the scene. 11:46 PM UPDATE: Scanner indicates police are still searching within a radius of at least a few blocks. 11:51 PM: The helicopter’s leaving but ground search continues.
One day after we bumped into Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle founding director Aviva Furman between a cornfield and a future orchard, we found her again tonight at Eat Local Now! where she was honored with the Jeff Fairhall Local Food Hero Award. Aviva’s in our photo above with Bill Reiswig from Sustainable West Seattle, one of the groups that presented tonight’s 7th annual edition of the gala dinner/auction:
Though this year’s Eat Local Now! was in SODO, it had lots of West Seattle presence, not just because of presenting organizations like SWS and CoolMom.org, but also the food and beverages:
West Seattle-area flavors included Raven’s Brew coffee from Bird on a Wire Espresso, beer from Elliott Bay Brewery and Big Al Brewing, wine selected by Bin 41 (WSB sponsor), sustainable sushi by Chef Hajime Sato from Mashiko, sweet potato crab cakes by Fresh Bistro‘s Chef Dalis Chea, Red Beet and Butternut Squash Salad by Blackboard Bistro‘s Chef Jacob Wiegner:
And we could go on … those are just a few items from the menu (which even included Apple Honey Tarts by On Safari Foods‘ Pastry Chef Traci Knight, described as “local apples cooked with honey from the West Seattle Meadery”). Eat Local Now! also featured a silent auction benefiting SWS, CoolMom, and BALLE Seattle, with a long list of donations from three dozen businesses, many from West Seattle (as previewed here):
(As a co-sponsor of Eat Local Now!, we donated an item for the silent-auction too – a social-media how-to consultation.) One more note – when we caught up with SWS members promoting Eat Local Now! at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market last Sunday, they mentioned “the famous Eat Local Now! underwear” would be on sale too. We thought they were joking. Nope:
The Eat Local Now! gala also featured live music and speakers, and was sold out again this year – all 300 tickets gone by late morning today. Want to learn more about sustainable locally grown food? Check out the videos on the Eat Local Now! YouTube channel, produced by sustainability advocate Wendy Hughes-Jelen of High Point.
West Seattle writer Georgie Bright Kunkel doesn’t just have a way with words online and on paper – she’s a stand-up comedian, too, one decade short of a full century on Earth. Never seen a 90-year-old comedian? This Sunday’s your chance, during “Tea With Georgie” at the Admiral Theater. Georgie tells us she’s also thrilled to be able to show a big-screen clip during the event – from her appearance on “Oprah” in 1989 with husband Norman Kunkel (who died a year and a half ago), to whom she’s dedicating her Sunday show, calling him her “muse.” All seats in The Admiral are just $10 for the show (buy tickets online here), and she notes, “There will also be a surprise bit with a young improv comic friend of mine.” 2 pm this Sunday. (Photo courtesy Georgie Bright Kunkel)
It started with five West Seattle boutiques putting on a fall-fashion show at Shadowland earlier tonight, raising money for the Gulf Restoration Network …
… and now the party’s moved on to three of those boutiques where you can do late-night shopping till ten: Carmilia’s, Sweetie (also featuring items from Edie’s), and Clementine (also featuring items from Coastal).
Announced tonight by WSDOT: The next weekend shutdown of the Alaskan Way Viaduct for its semiannual inspections will be October 16-17, 6 am-6 pm each of those days. If you’re interested in a close-up look at The Viaduct during the closure, WSDOT is offering walking tours on the 16th, between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm, and you have to sign up in advance: E-mail viaduct@wsdot.wa.gov or call 888-298-5463.
While the King County Department of Transportation has not yet released information on how long the Rachel Marie will be out for repairs following last Sunday’s crash into the downtown seawall at the Washington Street Landing (WSB coverage here), they’ve just sent an update on West Seattle Water Taxi replacement plans for the next week-plus. Melissa Ann, which handles the Vashon-downtown Seattle run for the King County Water Taxi, will fill in this weekend and will dock at Pier 50; Argosy Cruises’ Sightseer will fill in again next Monday-Friday and will dock at Pier 55.
(Rendering provided by Trader Joe’s with the June West Seattle announcement)
With three and a half months having elapsed since Trader Joe’s announced it was finally, really, truly coming to West Seattle – but no sign of construction on the site yet – some local TJ’s fans are starting to get nervous. We’ve received several notes in the past few weeks asking if we know why work hasn’t begun. The official online project page on the city Department of Planning and Development site hasn’t changed since shortly after the announcement, and DPD spokesperson Bryan Stevens says Trader Joe’s has not yet turned in the formal application for the building permit – so we talked with the local point person for the project: John Wunder from Associates West, who represents Huling-owned properties around the area, like this one. He says the project is still progressing, and that his Trader Joe’s contact told him today that they plan to file the official application within a month, to get permission for the remodeling work at the former Huling Buick showroom (as detailed in our post-announcement followup in June). According to Wunder, Trader Joe’s currently expects to be open here in “late spring of next year.”
SIDE NOTE: While talking with Wunder, we asked him about a rumor that Whole Foods – which as reported here in July has formally dropped out of the idled-and-court-knotted Fauntleroy Place project across the street – had reportedly signed a letter of intent for another Huling site. He says that is NOT true. He acknowledges they’ve spoken with Whole Foods, but suspects they’re far from the only local landowners/property managers who have done so.
A comment just added to our original coverage of the Highland Park quadruple murder-suicide one week ago today has new information on how to help the family, so we’re spotlighting it here:
Thank you all for your kind words and compassion. The family is thankful and appreciative for all the support we’ve received from the community at large.
Several fundraisers are in the works and will be announced fairly soon. You can find the information/updates via Facebook event “The Phan/Harm Fundraiser”.
The family is in need of financial assistance for medical, funeral and other various expenses associated with the memorial services and ceremonies. If you are able and willing to contribute to the benevolent fund, please see the information below.
“The Thy Luellen Benevolent Account”
BECU Acct #: 3586082948Please include both Account Name and Number when making out a check. Deposits can be made at any BECU location with a deposit box, or by mail (address below). BECU members can deposit funds electronically by calling (800) 233-2328.
BECU
PO BOX 34044
SEATTLE, WA 98124-1044At this point, any amount helps.
As noted here earlier today, the Seattle Times (WSB partner) has spoken with the only family member who survived being shot (she’s out of the hospital); memorial services are set for this weekend.
Though the sun’s out and there’s not a cloud in the sky, at least one snowplow has been traveling West Seattle roads this morning. Cheryl reported a sighting via Twitter, so we checked with SDOT, whose Marybeth Turner confirms: “We’re conducting a test run today so that drivers are familiar with the city’s snow routes and to make sure equipment is functioning properly.” (If you see one, send a photo!) Maybe a good thing they’re testing early, considering the outlook. (Photo at left is from last year’s test runs, while we see if anybody catches one on camera today.)
The sudden closure of The Body Bar on the north end of The Junction brought in some questions – and after several days of research, we finally have some answers. For starters, Nita, who owns Salon 08 around the corner, says she has purchased the space and will reopen it as NRG Spa. Regarding Body Bar customers’ questions about previously purchased gift certificates, Nita referred us to The Body Bar’s former owner, Therese. We have just spoken by phone with Therese, who says she now has her own practice and is working in a Junction space shared by multiple wellness businesses (upstairs from JaK’s) and is there 3-9 pm Fridays and Sundays, and that she also is hosting lunch events at noon Wednesdays at Buddha Ruksa. But most importantly, for those who have Body Bar gift certificates, Therese confirms she is honoring those and asks that people holding them call her at 206-226-5175.
The stereotypical cornfield might stretch for as far as the eye can see, under the flat blue sky of some Plains state. But a West Seattle cornfield – more like a cornpatch – is generating attention, information – and hope. Under a not-so-flat gray sky, a closely watched harvest began Wednesday morning at the SeaChar Carbon Garden site on the south side of the South Seattle Community College campus on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge. While it may look like an unremarkable plot of corn, the difference lies beneath- some of the corn was grown in soil amended with biochar, defined here as the result of “a 2,000 year-old practice that converts agricultural waste into a soil enhancer that can hold carbon, boost food security and discourage deforestation. The process creates a fine-grained, highly porous charcoal that helps soils retain nutrients and water.” The same site declares biochar is no less than “a powerfully simple tool to combat climate change.” But no one’s making those claims without research, here in West Seattle and at other test sites around the globe:
In our video, that’s Jim Grob talking between samples while working yesterday morning with daughter Olivia – getting quite the education on a day off her Pierce County school – and Steve Tracy. While another group started to harvest corn a few rows south, this trio was sampling soil that’s headed for a federal lab in Idaho. The corn was planted in early June. (It’s just yards away from the future Community Orchard of West Seattle, as mentioned yesterday in our story about the collection of donated cardboard at that site for future sheet mulching.) And the biochar story doesn’t just include the farming side – it also includes the creation side – people here and elsewhere are working to get clean-burning, biomass-producing stoves to people who otherwise are cooking over polluting, health-endangering open fires; read more about that here.
Thanks to Eric for sharing information about one more event happening tonight in West Seattle, raising money for families of law-enforcement officers killed in the line of duty:
Frank Kempten, Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, and Ted Nicoloudakis, owner of Bamboo Bar and Grill along with the Bamboo Family, are proud to partner up with the Behind the Badge Foundation to help the families of fallen heroes. Please join us (tonight) at Bamboo Bar and Grill for Entrees and Appetizers, with all proceeds going to the Behind the Badge Foundation. Bamboo Bar and Grill is located at 2806 Alki Ave SW.
A donation box will also be provided for additional donations. Please make checks payable to:
Behind the Badge Foundation
PO Box 2047
Issaquah, WA 98027-0091
Behind the Badge was a beneficiary of another West Seattle benefit back in February – a workout at CrossFit West Seattle in memory of SPD Officer Tim Brenton, the WSHS graduate murdered in Leschi last Halloween.
(Photo of the morning: Recent shot of the West Seattle (Admiral) library branch, by Danny McMillin)
Events of note today/tonight in West Seattle and beyond – All Seattle Public Schools families in West Seattle are invited to Chief Sealth International High School tonight for the district’s “welcome back” night with district leaders, including Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson, 6:30 pm … All Seattle Public Library branches, including the 4 in West Seattle, are closed till 1 pm today because of a citywide all-staff meeting … As of late last night, half a dozen tickets remained for Eat Local Now! (dinner/entertainment/silent auction celebrating sustainable local food, 6 pm at Sodo Park, co-sponsored by WSB), check here to see if any are left! (10:43 am update: Sold out!) … 6-8 pm at Shadowland, it’s a fall fashion show featuring five West Seattle boutiques, taking donations for the Gulf Restoration Network – details here with a shopping afterparty afterward till 10 at three of the participants … info here too … A new “just build the tunnel, already” group is rolling out its campaign to the media at 10 this morning on the downtown waterfront (Pier 62/63) … And this is the deadline to sign up for the Fauntleroy Art Show and Gift Faire Nov. 19-21. Get details and the application form at www.fauntleroyucc.org.
From the folks at Alki Community Center, on behalf of the bathhouse at the beach:
Here are the puppet shows for Fall Quarter at the Alki Bathhouse. Participants can get a $3 discount if they register early for the shows. They can register online at www.seattle.gov/parks or they can call Alki Community Center at 684-7430 by Noon on the day of the show. Cost: $5 per pre-registered or $8 at the door. All shows start at 1 p.m. The Alki Bathhouse is located at 2701 Alki Ave. S.W.
Saturday, October 23rd
Penny’s Puppet Presents: “Myrna the Mermaid”
On one of her daily dives Myrna the mermaid finds a golden key and a Treasure map. Join Myrna as she swims around the world trying to find clues to what the key unlocks. Go too far off lands, meet fun new friends and sing, laugh and dance in this nautical fun filled adventure.Saturday, November 20th
Thistle Theater Presents: “Little Red Riding Hood”
Germany – Little Red Riding Hood goes to Grandmutter’s house with a basket of goodies and stumbles into an armful of adventure. This very funny version of the classic tale is set in Bavaria and includes an interactive song in which children are invited to sing and operate puppets with Little Red Riding Hood.Saturday, December 18th
Zambini Brothers Presents: “The Tasty Holiday Tale”
This tasty tale is sure to please kids of all ages.
From the WSB inbox:
On Thursday, October 7, Southwest Seattle Business and Professional Women present
*
Women & The 2010 Elections:Will We Be Better or Worse Off on November 3rd?
*
Cathy Allen, local political commentator and international women’s leadership advocate, shares with us what’s at stake for women in the upcoming election. Will we have more women elected? What about our Washington State House and Senate: could we see a change of leadership? And those huge initiatives, from privatizing liquor sales, to turning back the soda tax and cutting more of the state budget to voting for a public safety levy to keep officers on the streets. How will that change our lives, if they pass?Cathy Allen, President/Owner of The Connections Group, Inc., has spent the past twenty years working to help communities, governments, non-profit associations and women’s groups better communicate to the press, the public and politicians. Allen has conducted trainings and been a consultant in more than 34 states, and 18 countries including Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, Croatia, Hungary, Spain, Algeria, France, Mexico and Cuba. She recently returned from training Muslim women to be more effective in Morocco. Allen has conducted workshops on achieving power for dozens of organizations such as the National Education Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business & Professional Women, National Parent’s & Teacher’s Association, the National League of Women Voters as well as a number of institutions including Harvard, Yale, Oberlin, the University of Washington, and Michigan State University. In 2000, Allen co-founded the Center for Women and Democracy at the University of Washington.
Join us, the members and guests of *SouthWest Seattle Business & Professional Women, *as we explore what’s at stake, what trends we are seeing, what we should be watching for, and what might be better or worse for women come the day after the election. *
Thursday, October 7th, 6:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m. in the Wiley Center at the Greenbridge Community Center, 9800 8th Avenue SW, Seattle.
Cost is $10.00
Networking & appetizers at 6:00 p.m. Program will begin at 7:00 p.mPlease RSVP to *
Jacqueline Petrick at jacquelinepetrick@msn.com, and/or by phone at 206.601.4162, if you have any questions
From the Senior Center of West Seattle:
Community Acupuncture with licensed acupuncturists
Thursdays from 1:00 to 4:00 pm with appointments or drop in
Cost: $15 to $35 per treatment with $2 discount for Senior Center members.
Appointments with Linda Minato, L.ac. 206-767-3298 or
Nancy Ishii, L.ac. 206-890-0758Awareness through Movement by Eric LeSeur, Guild Certified Feldenkrais teacher
Oct. 12 & 26
12:30 pm group session
1:30 pm, 2;15 pm and 3:00 pm one on one sessions
Cost: 45 memebers $10 non-member
Improve balance and stability when standing, walking, or dancing! Increase flexibility, decrease pain and discomfort associated with movement, increase mental clarity. Verbal lessons while sitting or lying down.
Register – 206-932-4044Relaxation classes “Basic Self-Hynosis Techniques”
October.6, 13 at 1:00 p.m.
Suggested donation $5 to Senior Center West Seattle
Michael Hathaway, who taught relaxation techniques to yourng children.
Register 206-932-4044Theater Improvisation “discover the ham in you”!
Mondays, October 4, 11, 18 25
10:30 am- 11:30 am
Cost: $40 mem./$48 non-mem, or $15 drop in fee
Join Carole Ross, professional actress and certificated High School theatre teacher. Aside from just fun this class will focus on techniques that help you think quickly on your feet and will release your inner creativity.
Register – 206-932-4044Potpourri‖ Bazaar –
Tuesday October 19
10 am to 2pm Free Admission
Handcrafts, collectibles, gift items, bake sale, FLU shots and more!
Tables available, contact Carol 206-932-4044 x3Sylvia O’Stayformore and Tor Cabaret Musical Magic
Nov 5th 8 pm-10 pm
donation $10
Sylvia and Tor present a 2 hour musical journey and banter exploring rare
Burt Bacharach, Bawdy vaudeville standards, old girl group songs and
original compositions. Beverages & Snacks served.
Reservations 206-932-4044West Side Dinners for all ages only $8! – Served 6:00 to 7:00 pm
October 20th: Baked Chicken, vegetables, dessert & beverage
Great for families, dinner parties, celebrations, etc.
Reservations requested 932-4044 x1Strawberry Belgian Waffles with Sausage Dinners
Monday, October 25th
$6.00 members/$8.00 non-members
Time: 5:30 pm
Reservations requested 932-4044 x1FREE Trip Travel Show
Tuesday, October 5 at 12:30 pm
Center offers a variety of day and extended trips , come and learn about trips plans and contribute your trip ideas.
Register – 206-932-4044Watercolor and Drawing for fun
Wednesdays, October 6, 13, 20 and 27
1:30-3:00 pm
$48 mem./$56 non-mem. or $20 drop in
Register 206-932-4044 ask for supply list
Susan Schneider, Art teacher at North Seattle colleges will teach each student individually the basics of drawing in pencil and charcoal and how to create simple watercolors or rekindle interest in former artists with acrylics and pastels.
Registration – 206-932-4044
The video clip is from a Seattle Times (WSB partner) interview with 42-year-old Thyda Luellen Phan, the only person who survived being shot at a Highland Park home one week ago today. She is the daughter of the woman police say killed three before killing herself, 60-year-old Saroueun Sok; the three who died were Phan’s husband, 43-year-old Choeun Harm, and daughters, 14-year-old Molina Phan and 17-year-old Jennifer Harm. The Times reports that the funerals will be held this Saturday; you can read their full story, which is accompanied by the video clip, by going here. Meantime, as announced by the family last Friday, there is a fund to which you can contribute, through BECU:
‘Phan/Harm Memorial Fund’ – Acct # 3586082948
BECU
PO BOX 34044
SEATTLE, WA 98124-1044BECU members can call: (800) 233-2328
The Kenney‘s CEO Kevin McFeely had an extra reason to be all smiles Wednesday afternoon – friends and colleagues from around the area crowded one of the West Seattle retirement center’s meeting rooms for a reception in his honor. The occasion: He’s been elected to chair the board of Aging Services of Washington, whose CEO Deb Murphy is with him in the top photo. According to an announcement from The Kenney, McFeely will serve a one-year term working with Murphy “in support of Aging Services’ legislative advocacy and professional development programs.” Serious work – though he got a goofy gift from his staff, worn ever so briefly at the reception:
McFeely has been on the Aging Services of Washington board since 2001. You can find out more about the group at agingwa.org.
Got the tip from a community advocate: The former Boren Middle School on Delridge – home to Chief Sealth International High School the past two years, but empty this year – is being boarded up, apparently without notice to the neighborhood. We went by to check it out, and indeed, crews like the one in our photo (taken on the north side of the Boren building) were covering the windows with sheets of wood. When we called Seattle Public Schools, our inquiry was referred to facilities communication director Tom Redman. He told us it’s a matter of security, since the school is not scheduled for use any time soon – though it remains on the roster as a possible emergency backup facility if some other SPS facility has to be suddenly taken out of service, and he said it might somehow figure into BEX 4 – BEX 3 was the ballot measure that included the Denny/Sealth rebuild/renovation/colocation project. We asked if the district had plans to watch for graffiti vandalism, since boarded windows might seem like more attractive targets than glass windows, and he said they certainly would respond to reports/complaints. He didn’t know, however, if boarding up unused schools was standard procedure (we’ll be looking at Genesee Hill and Fairmount Park, the two empty elementaries in West Seattle, both of which were offered for lease earlier this year along with the former EC Hughes, but while Hughes was snapped up by Westside School [WSB sponsor], Genesee and Fairmount had no takers).
THURSDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: Redman clarifies the district’s policy:
We are selective. We try to balance asset protection with the cost of boarding the buildings not in use. Although not every window on every building not in use is boarded, we assess each building on a case by case basis.
Just in from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office: Charges are now filed against 20-year-old Shavelle Lewis, who had to be released from jail last night (WSB coverage here) because charges hadn’t been filed against her yet for the crash that killed 51-year-old William “Tony” Padilla, a driver for West Seattle-based GT Towing. She is charged with Vehicular Homicide and Felony Hit and Run, and a $150,000 warrant is out for her re-arrest. [Update: Lewis was booked back into jail at 6:23 pm.] We have the charging documents and will transcribe the narrative as soon as possible. ADDED 4:50 PM: The narrative from the charging documents (added in stages but complete as of 5:25 pm), after the jump:Read More
That’s what outgoing Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Joe Kessler told his team around noontime today as the precinct held an informal drop-in farewell reception. In our video, you see him with Lt. Von Levandowski and new commander Capt. Steve Paulsen. Like most office farewells, it was a time for handshakes and hugs – and cake…
(The SW logo is the same as the one on the new pins that we mentioned in our report two weeks ago on the command transition.) There was also a gift:
On the shirt sleeve, it says Precinct #1, in honor of the West Precinct that Capt. Kessler is about to take over (as announced two weeks ago) – headquartered downtown, but covering a wide span of the city, including Magnolia, Queen Anne, downtown, even the stadiums. Also on hand for today’s sendoff, Precinct Advisory Committee chair Pete Spalding of Pigeon Point:
It was roll-call time just before the event, so officers came and went – among those we saw, Sgt. Tony Baily, hailed last Friday by SPD leadership for calmly taking charge of the chaotic situation at the 14th SW murder-suicide scene a day earlier – he’s at left in this photo with Community Police Team Officer Kevin McDaniel:
The official transition day is this Friday – but the two captains already have been spending some time at their new posts. Capt. Kessler has led the SWP for almost two and a half years; Capt. Paulsen returns after 9 months working downtown, which followed more than four years at the SWP, where he was the Operations Lieutenant – second in command – before his move in January.
As reported here yesterday, the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee has drafted a list of final contenders for the first round of the levy’s Opportunity Fund money, after a months-long process reviewing the 95 community-generated projects that sought a share. One of West Seattle’s reps on the committee, Pete Spalding, had told us that the draft list included 2 peninsula projects, Puget Ridge Edible Park and an expansion of the planned Highland Park wading-pool-to-spray-feature conversion. The full citywide list wasn’t available till today – but now you can get it (PDF) from the Parks website. As Pete also mentioned in a followup conversation today, the location of the October 25th public hearing has changed – it’ll be at Miller Community Center on Capitol Hill, signups at 6 pm, hearing at 7. The full timeline for decisions on which projects get funded can be found here.
Today, we welcome a new WSB sponsor, All Souls Church. New sponsors are offered the opportunity to let you know what they’re about – so here’s their story: All Souls is a brand new church for the city, in our neighborhood, hosting their first Sunday worship on October 3, 10 am, at Madison Middle School. They are West Seattle locals, working and serving and playing where they live. They’re fixtures in the neighborhood –– familiar faces at the farmers’ market, the beach, the places with the best kids’ happy hours, the deli with the ice cream, that beverage place, that breakfast spot with the rotating menu, the cafe in the record store, and the park with the zipline. But this growing community is forming here not because our beautiful city is whole, but because it lacks wholeness. And certainly not because it needs more religion or self-help. Instead, All Souls exists because Seattle is filled with people just like us who can’t make themselves whole on their own, and can’t perfect themselves on their own, but who long to experience healing, significance, and hope.
All Souls, part of a network of grassroots, locally grown churches committed to changing cities by renewing neighborhoods, is not a church ‘just for ourselves’ — a community that makes sense only to its own members. Instead, it’s for folks on every corner of the spiritual grid. While ‘the church’ has not traditionally been a safe place to ask questions, express doubt, and work through life’s tattered edges in community, that’s precisely the hope for All Souls: a place to process freely and safely the audacious claims of Jesus, and the inevitable tension between the beauty and scandal of the historic Christian gospel. Because we haven’t heard the gospel for what it really is if we don’t find it at once horribly offensive and staggeringly beautiful. It is both heart-breaking and heart-mending.
So wherever you are on your spiritual journey, whether skeptical or mildly curious about the Christian faith, or whether you are already a committed follower of Christ, All Souls welcomes you. Because Jesus hasn’t come merely to make us Christians. He came to make us new. Learn more at www.allsoulsseattle.org, and discover All Souls Kids at www.allsoulsseattle.org/kids.
We thank All Souls Church for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.
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