West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
(County map showing where the “green stormwater infrastructure” is proposed for the area feeding the Barton pump station; go here for larger version)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
There was a bit of myth-buster flavor to the first major community meeting since King County’s December announcement that it wants to solve the Barton Pump Station‘s overflow woes with “green stormwater infrastructure” in a 17-block area of Westwood and Sunrise Heights:
No, there won’t be a raingarden in front of every home in the area.
No, the raingardens aren’t expected to fill up and sit stagnant as mosquito-breeding ponds or child-drowning risks.
No, they won’t block you from getting between your street-parked car and your front door.
So – what will they do, and how?
(Photo by Deanie Schwarz for West Seattle Blog/White Center Now)
‘AS-IT-HAPPENED’ REPORT AT 9:22 PM THURSDAY: Shortly after the renovated Southgate Roller Rink opened its doors to general-public skating for the first time in more than five years (here’s our original February story about the reopening plan), this line snaked out the door and out along the walkway to the front door. Inside, the skate is on. More coverage to come.
ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: Photos and video from Opening Night, by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB/WCN. First, the Derby Girls took the floor in early evening before the official opening session, to work on fundamentals:
Then at 8:30 – the first public session:
The old saying “a good time was had by all” seemed to be in order. Even for Ronda Stapleton, who Ellen says may have been the first to take a tumble, but was still smiling, bravely showing off her bruised arm:
Southgate has a skate shop, too, in case you want to buy your own skates and gear (rental skates are included in the admission fee if you need them):
The Southgate schedule is online – see it here.
Three weeks ago, Katie Krause at The Kenney shared a photo of a nesting hummingbird on their grounds near Lincoln Park. Tonight, two more photos – with a hint of the results.
(WSB photo of Rachel Marie @ Seacrest Pier on Thursday morning)
If you’re going to the Mariners’ home opener tomorrow night, don’t forget that the King County Water Taxi‘s West Seattle-Downtown Seattle run is an option for getting there and back. That’s because tomorrow is the day the Water Taxi launches its spring/summer schedule, which means adding midday and weekend runs back to the plan. You can see the full schedule here. It includes special evening service to Mariners and Sounders home games through October 30th, according to the county. As for the shuttle buses, here’s how their changes are explained:
Shuttle routes 773 and 775 will remain in service through the afternoon/evening commute period, but will not serve any arrivals or departures into West Seattle past 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. However, Sunday shuttle service will be extended to serve passengers taking the final 8 p.m. Water Taxi trip from downtown Seattle.
This is the first year the Water Taxi has run year-round – since last fall, it’s been on a weekday-commute-times-only schedule.
More than a few West Seattle businesspeople spent part of today in “lockup” – but it was for a good cause, and they didn’t do anything wrong. They joined in a Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraiser where they had to rustle up donations in order to get “bailed out.” Above, Todd Ainsworth of West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor); below, Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy of Mac’s Triangle Pub on the West Seattle/White Center border in the south Delridge Triangle:
We photographed both at Angelina’s in Admiral, which served as the “lockup” host site for West Seattle participants, once they were picked up by Seattle firefighters! It was up to the “locked up” to figure out how to get friends, family, clients, etc., to chip in donations so they could get out and get on with the rest of the day; one of the most enterprising was longtime WSB sponsor Rhonda Porter, who’s one of our area’s most active businesspeople on Twitter, Facebook, and the Web, and used them all to round up enough cash to get out within an hour or so! It’s not too late to donate – for example, Rhonda’s page is here, WS Autoworks’ page is here. If we can find Mac’s link, we’ll add it tooAnd here’s Mac’s link; plus, here’s somebody else who tweeted theirs – Cheryl from Twilight Artist Collective – (donation link here).
From last night’s Southwest District Council: Above, that’s SWDC co-chair Tony Fragada, also president of the Alki Community Council, peeking out from behind a map, as the council discussed plans to showcase neighborhood groups during the upcoming West Seattle Summer Fest (July 8-9-10 in The Junction). That’ll include ways, like the map, to show festivalgoers how to find the nearest neighborhood group (and how to know which neighborhood they’re in!) That was part of another busy agenda for SWDC, whose members represent community councils and other key organizations around the area. But one big topic took a fair amount of time – read on:Read More
‘EIGHT GOING ON EIGHTEEN’: Think kids these days are growing up too fast? Parent educator Amy Lang will be at Pathfinder K-8 in West Seattle tomorrow night at 6 pm to tackle the topic, and you’re invited. Here’s the official flyer; the talk is free, but they’re requesting that you RSVP, pathfinderk8rsvp@gmail.com.
HEAR CHIEF SEALTH’S HONOR CHOIR BEFORE CARNEGIE HALL TRIP: You’ve seen them wash cars, sell cupcakes, etc. – and now, see and hear them sing! Chief Sealth International High School‘s Carnegie Hall-bound Honor Choir sings as part of the next “Sweet, Sweet Music” show at Fauntleroy Church, 7:30 tomorrow night. (Full details on the show – which includes dessert! – can be found on the church website.)
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*Security officers on Harbor Island called 911 just after midnight Sunday to report that their video cameras were trained on two men with flashlights carrying something in an abandoned building. An officer was dispatched to the scene and met what he deemed “two amateur urban explorers” as they drove away from the complex in a “little white car.” In the rear was a large metal cabinet. The pair explained they had seen the structures on a website dedicated to “cool abandoned buildings,” readily admitted to taking the cabinet and had planned to keep it as a souvenir. The officer made them return the cabinet and lectured the two — ages 19 and 20 — on the legal and physical dangers of such adventures. Since neither had a criminal record, had legal driver’s licenses, and were not impaired by substances, they were let go with a warning to never return.
Eight more summaries, starting with a man’s odd explanation for being in a local park, ahead:Read More
After 7 months without any Southwest Design Review Board meetings – since there weren’t any developments to review – the pace continues to pick up. Just two weeks after the board met to review Harbor Properties‘ new Nova development, it has a meeting set for April 28th to resume review of the proposed 7100 Delridge development. Here’s the official notice. Most recent meeting about this development was back in August. The notice says it’s currently proposed as:
… a 4-story structure containing 58 residential units over 1,344 sq. ft. of retail space. Project includes three, 2-story single family structures and 88,800 cu. yds. of grading in an environmentally critical area. Project also includes pedestrian bridge between structures. Parking for 77 vehicles to be provided in two levels within the structure.
That proposal appears only slightly changed from how it was described during the “early design guidance” phase last August (less retail space this time). The April 28th meeting is at 6:30 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle.
(Photo by Shawn McNurney from the WSB Flickr pool)
Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
SOUTHGATE ROLLER RINK OPENS: 8:30 tonight in White Center (9646 17th SW); coverage of last night’s “soft open” is on our partner site White Center Now.
MDA LOCK-UP: More than 100 business and community leaders in West Seattle will be ‘locked up’ today to help the Muscular Dystrophy Association of King County, which explains: “These jailbirds are being accused of having a big heart for Jerry’s Kids and will ‘serve time’ while raising ‘bail’ to fight neuromuscular disease.” This year’s West Seattle Lock-Up is hosted by Angelina’s Family Italian Restaurant. Watch for a “bail me out” note from your favorite local leader, or call (206) 283-2183 for info.
WEST SEATTLE BE PREPARED: Preparedness training tonight at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 6-7:30 pm. Full details on the WSBP site.
OPEN MIKE NIGHT AT FRESHY’S: 1st and 3rd Thursday “open mike” night at Freshy’s Coffee. Beverage discounts for those who show up to perform! Open mike starts at 7 pm.
READ THE KORAN IN FOUR WEEKS: At First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, Pastor Ron Marshall‘s unique instruction session begins – as news-relevant as it was when he started teaching it eight years ago. Call 935-6530 to see if there’s still room.
NOT IN WEST SEATTLE, BUT RELEVANT TO ALL: West Seattle resident Lucy Gaskill, a member of the League of Women Voters of Greater Seattle, invites you to attend “Ain’t got no money honey.” This public forum on our economic future is sponsored by the LWV and will be held at Seattle First Baptist Church (1111 Harvard Avenue at Seneca), 7:30 – 9 pm. At this forum government experts will outline our options, shedding light on the revenue predictions in the near future and budget challenges facing our elected officials. Beth Goldberg, Seattle city budget director; Tom Goodwin, chief economist with King County’s office of Economic and Financial Analysis; and Marc Baldwin with Washington State’s Office of Financial Management will share the spotlight.
Did you know there was a 3.4 earthquake near Mount Rainier on Wednesday? Us either, till West Seattle Be Prepared‘s Karen Berge mentioned it in e-mail. Microquakes are common there, but this was a bit bigger. Not necessarily a harbinger of anything more, but just another reminder: Be ready! So, the most constructive thing we can tell you here in our sixth Disaster Preparedness Month spotlight is: Be at WSBP’s first free training session TONIGHT, 6 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle in The Junction!
A flyer is worth a thousand words … see you there. (If you haven’t been to the Senior Center before, the entrance is on SW Oregon, east of West Seattle Coins – go immediately upstairs.)
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