MLK Day 2011: ‘Impromptu day of service’ for West Seattle kids
Many people spent this MLK Day as they spent previous ones – volunteering in ways big and small. Some joined in organized events; some came up with their own, as did Annabelle Allen, Hayden and Anne Wainwright, and Molly Allen: Sharing the photo, Mark Wainwright described their efforts as an “impromptu … Day of Service,” explaining:
They picked up a bunch of trash along California from Charlestown to Hinds. Great work, kiddos! (And thanks to the moms, Jane and Shana, for the encouragement!
Happening now: Pearl Jam CD release party @ Feedback Lounge
As the CD release party for Pearl Jam‘s “Live on Ten Legs” got going at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) less than an hour ago, it was so wall-to-wall, we barely had room to get Shawnte, Mollie, and Melissa to pose with their newly purchased copies of the CD and vinyl versions. Easy Street Records is there selling the album, Ten Club is there selling merchandise, and The Feedback has on-loan rare PJ memorabilia on display (in addition to their existing collection):
We’re told the party continues the rest of the night. Or till closing, whichever comes first. Next special event, Fiasco plays live, as a benefit for a nonprofit helping multiple-sclerosis patients, January 29th.
Ahead this week: CSO & more @ Morgan Community Association
(One of the underground rooms at Lowman Beach’s Murray Pump Station, from a tour last June)
And another preview for the week ahead: The Morgan Community Association only meets quarterly, so when they get together, the agenda is info-packed. On the agenda for Wednesday night, 7 pm, lower level of The Kenney, hot topics from street changes along California SW and 48th SW, to planning this year’s Morgan Junction Community Festival, to the recent recommendation for how to reduce combined-sewer overflows (CSO) into Puget Sound at Lowman Beach’s Murray Pump Station (above). As we reported in early December, the county is recommending a Murray solution that will require the purchase of private property across from Lowman Beach Park (we followed up with MoCA’s response); King County’s Martha Tuttle is scheduled to be at Wednesday night’s meeting with an update on where it stands and how the recommendation was reached. MoCA also will talk Wednesday night about its new Facebook page (you can “like” it here), and soon-to-retire Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow will discuss neighborhood safety. See the full MoCA agenda here.
Update: Truck fire briefly closes ‘low bridge’; driver OK
ORIGINAL 11:58 AM REPORT: That traffic-cam screengrab from a few minutes ago shows a vehicle fire that’s being put out in the Terminal 5 area, on West Seattle’s side of the Port. We don’t have information on the fire itself yet but received a call that traffic on the “low bridge” is being forced to turn around – so wanted to send out a heads-up.
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli, added 12:50 pm)
UPDATE: Christopher Boffoli is at the scene. He says the cab of a tractor-trailer caught fire. The driver got out OK, and the cargo (a load of paper) appears to be all right. No word on the cause. This is right on the west end of the low bridge, and they’re starting to let traffic through again, but he says there’s still a notable backup.
Video added 2:16 pm; no official word so far on the fire’s cause.
West Seattle treasure for sale: Walker Rock Garden (and home)
(Photo courtesy of Rhonda Porter)
If you would be interested in living in and caring for what has to be the most unusual home/garden pairing in West Seattle today – Lita has an offer for you. She e-mailed WSB to share the news that the Walker Rock Garden and Home are for sale:
I am the granddaughter of Milton and Florence Walker, the creators of the Walker Rock Garden (located at 5407 37th Ave SW, West Seattle). We (my aunt, cousin, and myself) are placing the Walker Rock Garden and Home for sale as we can longer maintain it. … We’re hoping to drum up interest amongst locals and ultimately find someone whose heart lies in keeping the garden healthy and happy (and hopefully allowing the public to still visit).
The Walker Rock Garden, created by Lita’s grandparents over the span of 20 years, is one of those places you have to see to appreciate. Photos do hint at its memorable sights – here’s a gallery shared by Lita; here’s one by Rhonda “The Mortgage Porter” Porter (WSB sponsor). Others who have written about it include Lori Hinton in “West Seattle 101“ and West Seattle-based online entrepreneur/eclectica expert Jerry at JetCityOrange.com (his page about Walker Rock Garden is here).
The site is not an official landmark, so there’s no official guarantee of its protection. Lita shared this official flyer; we asked her a few followup questions such as asking price (not mentioned on the flyer, nor could we find a listing online) and whether they’ll have an open house – we’ll add her answers when they come in.
ADDED 8:50 PM: Lita replied:
The property will be listed on the MLS near the start of February and the price has yet to be determined. However, we wanted to get the word out so anyone interested in preserving can start to look at their finances. Also, because we do not yet know who the next owners will be, this very well could be the last year the garden will be open, so come check it out before it is too late. The hours can be found at walkerrockgarden.net.
She says they will not be requesting an official agreement that the buyer would preserve the rock garden.
Memorial service Saturday for community activist Ann Owchar
A memorial service is planned this Saturday for Ann Owchar, a longtime West Seattle community advocate and volunteer. In a note shared on community lists, her daughter announced Ms. Owchar “passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with a very rare and debilitating form of dementia.” Until her illness, Ms. Owchar continued to represent the Highland Park Action Committee on the Southwest District Council. She was also active in its battle against the city’s proposed jail sites in Highland Park; she joined Monica Cavagnero and then-HPAC chair Dorsol Plants in speaking to the 34th District Democrats about it in summer 2008:
Later that year, HPAC honored her, as reported here, for her decades of community service:
(Photos courtesy of Dina Lydia Johnson, who also designed the certificate)
Ms. Owchar also volunteered tirelessly for other causes/groups including Soroptimist. Sharing news of her death via the North Delridge mailing list, city Neighborhood District Coordinator Ron Angeles noted, “Delridge is a better place for all people to live and grow due to Ann’s never ending love for her community. She will be missed by many.” Ms. Owchar’s memorial service is at noon Saturday at Howden-Kennedy, 3909 SW Alaska, and will be followed by a reception at her daughter’s home at 3726 SW Webster. Ms. Owchar was 81.
West Seattle Monday: MLK Day 2011, and more
MLK DAY HOLIDAY: It’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day; here’s our list of holiday changes, first published last night, including Metro on “reduced weekday” service, and no Water Taxi. P.S. The official regional MLK Day Celebration is at Garfield High School (map) in the Central District this year, with workshops at 9:30 am, march at noon.
ALSO HAPPENING: Chief Sealth International High School boys-varsity-basketball team plays in the King Holiday Hoopfest at UW Hec Ed Pavilion, 11 am (details in this WSB story). We got a quick quote from Sealth head coach Colin Slingsby about their opponent today, Bellevue HS:
We’ll tweet live from the game at our @wsblive account.
Tonight Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) hosts the CD release party for Pearl Jam‘s newest, 9 pm (Easy Street Records will be selling it at the Feedback) … Mondays mean Fundraising Scrabble at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), 7 pm registration, 7:15 pm game (details here) – $5 to play, benefiting charity, prizes … More on the calendar!
We took that photo tonight after Judy 
commander Capt. Steve Paulsen confirms to WSB that he will follow in his predecessor Capt. Joe Kessler‘s water-shoed-footsteps by doing the same. You can form a team or go it alone to be part of Polar Plunge on Saturday, January 29, plunging at noon, after awards at 11:15 am, and a pre-plunge performance from the Seahawks’
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