West Seattle, Washington
11 Sunday
Remember the warm sunshine back on Saturday? And the movie shoot with Alki standing in for a Florida backdrop? Here’s one more Alki scene from Saturday – West Seattle aerial photographer/pilot Long Bach Nguyen just sent this Alki Point Lighthouse aerial, inviting us to share it with you, and given the fact the weather’s done a 180 since then, it’s a welcome sight. (Click the photo, or this link, to see a larger version.)
Can the new synthetic turf at Walt Hundley Playfield, next to High Point Community Center, be marked for youth soccer as well as adult soccer? That was one question brought up tonight at Southwest Library, during Seattle Parks‘ only scheduled community meeting for the $1 million Parks and Green Spaces Levy project (though this field wasn’t originally on the levy list, its new turf will be paid for with savings from four others – including Delridge – that were). Project manager Ted Holden said it would cost $28,000 more to set up the field for youth soccer; West Seattle Soccer Club reps were there and said their demand is growing, so they need all the field space they can get. (That led to a side discussion about field-scheduling issues; Parks reps said that would have to be discussed separately.) Otherwise, there wasn’t much controversy – no lighting issues, as existing lighting will be kept; along with soccer interests, there was some advocacy for lacrosse as well. When someone asked about baseball, Holden said that’s not feasible, since the field is too small, and there are two grass/dirt lots nearby already. Construction is expected to start sometime this summer and be done by fall; though this was the only scheduled meeting, your comments are still welcomed by e-mail and phone – you can reach project manager Holden at 206-684-7021 or ted.holden@seattle.gov.
One more quick mention that we’re in the final 3 hours of registration for the 7th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, coordinated/presented by WSB – deadline is 11:59 pm tonight. This year’s lineup for sale day on May 14th is looking pretty astounding – around 240 sales so far, big and small, north and south, east and west. Once signups close, we start organizing everything for the map, which will be available online by May 7th, and promoted widely so garage-sale fans from all around the region will know this is THE place to be on May 14th. If you haven’t registered your sale yet but want to be part of what we fondly consider a massive one-day person-to-person recycling effort – go here before 11:59 pm. Then tomorrow, the previews begin!
(WSB photo from 2010 Walk With Us to Cure Lupus on Alki)
The annual Walk With Us to Cure Lupus is returning to Alki Beach next month, and organizers are excited to have just secured the same emcee as last year – Seahawks player and lupus-fighting advocate Jordan Babineaux is returning, according to Laurie Gray from the Alliance for Lupus Research. 500 people joined in last year’s walk, raising $40,000 to fight the autoimmune disorder, which affects more than 1 million people in the U.S. alone. The walk starts at 10 am Saturday, May 14th, from the Alki Bathhouse; you can sign up in advance, and/or make a pledge, by going to the official website.
Just in from the city – before their parking-ticket “scofflaw” program kicks in this July, they’re offering people with overdue parking tickets a chance to catch up. Read ahead for the news release:Read More
Before it’s too late to make or change plans – here’s a look ahead to Dining Out for Life tomorrow night around Seattle, with a percentage of proceeds going to the Lifelong AIDS Alliance, four West Seattle venues are on the participant list: Buddha Ruksa, Fresh Bistro, Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), and Talarico’s are all participating for dinner, and Fresh Bistro is in for lunch, too. (P.S. Longtime WSB sponsor M3 Bodyworks Massage Clinic invites you to join them at Talarico’s at 10 tomorrow night with special guest Precious Cargo.) ADDED 9:04 PM: Via Facebook, Skylark points out this coincides with their monthly Westside Burlesque Revue – though dinner service is over when burlesque begins at 9, they are contributing to the cause with drink specials.
3:24 PM: Just in from the King County Department of Transportation’s Marine Division: The West Seattle Water Taxi‘s runs are now canceled for the rest of today, because repair of what was described as a “defective weld” in the hull of the Rachel Marie is taking longer. The county is expecting to resume West Seattle Water Taxi service tomorrow morning.
5 PM UPDATE: The county confirms service will resume tomorrow.
Another road-work announcement from SDOT:
Seattle Department of Transportation paving crews tentatively plan to spot-repair the pavement at three locations on Delridge Way SW next week, weather permitting. One lane of traffic will be open for each direction of traffic. Some on-street parking will be restricted in front of locations being paved.
As for which three locations – we are working to find out SDOT’s Marybeth Turner says it’s an area between Holly and Willow; an area between Oregon and Alaska; and an area 300 feet north of SW Genesee.
In the meantime, the paving crew has finished its work on Sylvan Way and has moved on today to grinding the potholed surface off SW Orchard between Delridge and Dumar (map), with new asphalt scheduled to follow on Friday (as always, provided the weather isn’t too bad). At this spot, traffic is going one way at a time, with police and flagger assistance
(Recent screengrab from the “incident response” map [incidents are NOT “real-time”])
From last night’s West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network meeting at the Southwest Precinct: A city delegation spoke to the group to provide a full list of online resources available from Seattle Police. Amy Hirotaka from the city’s Community Technology program, Sol Villareal from the mayor’s office, and Shanna Christie, who runs SPD’s online operations, were on hand. From the list she distributed:
SPD website: seattle.gov
SPD Blotter (summaries of some incidents): spdblotter.seattle.gov
SPD on Twitter: twitter.com/SeattlePD
SPD on Facebook: facebook.com/SeattlePolice
Download police reports online: seattle.gov/police/records/online.htm
Map of recent police reports: web5.seattle.gov/mnm/policereports.aspx
Map of recent 911 responses: web5.seattle.gov/mnm/incidentresponse.aspx
File a crime report online: seattle.gov/police/report
Crime statistics: seattle.gov/police/crime/stats.htm
Crime-prevention info: seattle.gov/police/prevention
Block Watch info: seattle.gov/police/programs/blockwatch
Night Out info: seattle.gov/police/nightout
Open city datasets (not just police/crime-related): data.seattle.gov
They also discussed what additional resources might be helpful; WSBWCN’s Deb Greer suggested a video explaining how to start a Block Watch. Christie says the SPD site is going “through a revamp process,” so comments are welcome: shanna.christie@seattle.gov.
WSBWCN also has links on its website from last night’s presentation – so far, two handouts with more context for city resources, current and future, and more may be added – here’s that link.
Aside from the presentation, one topic of discussion, brought up by attendees: Whether medical-marijuana businesses attract crime. The City Attorney’s precinct liaison, Henry Chae, said there aren’t many stats to point to yet. He reiterated that the city is continuing to wait to see what the state will do, as SB 5073 – which would license and regulate medical-marijuana enterprises – is still awaiting Governor Gregoire‘s action (she has hinted she might veto parts of it).
The West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network meets on fourth Tuesdays at the SW Precinct, 6:30 pm. They’re online at wsblockwatchnet.wordpress.com and on Facebook here.
Today’s the day Schmitz Park Elementary and Concord International were scheduled to receive their Washington Achievement Awards – two of 13 Seattle Public Schools honored in the statewide awards. Both were honored for “overall excellence,” and Schmitz Park received additional honors for math achievement. The awards, based on assessment data from the past 3 years, were announced in February and to be presented this morning in Tacoma.
(Photo from Alki last week, by Kenna Klosterman)
WATER TAXI OUT OF SERVICE THIS MORNING … and maybe longer; the county will provide updates. As announced yesterday afternoon, the West Seattle Water Taxi will NOT run this morning because it’s getting a “defective weld” repaired. Keep an eye here and on the WSB Facebook page and Twitter feed for the latest.
UP EARLY? And, in the construction trades? Westside Professionals would love to meet you this morning, 8 am, The Kenney. Here’s the Facebook invite explaining what it’s all about.
WALT HUNDLEY PLAYFIELD TURF: 6:30 pm tonight, be at Southwest Library for a meeting about the Parks and Green Spaces Levy $1 million renovation project that’ll bring new synthetic turf to the playfield next to High Point Community Center.
HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE: Help shape goals by joining in discussion at tonight’s meeting of the Highland Park Action Committee meets, 7 pm, Highland Park Improvement Club (12th/Holden).
OPENING NIGHT! “Shipwrecked! An Entertainment...” opens at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), 7:30 tonight, running through May 21st.
PLAYGROUND UPDATE: The Lafayette Playground Committee is holding its monthly meeting to update the community on its playground effort. It will be held this Wednesday, April 27 from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. In Lafayette Elementary‘s library. Come and hear an update and see how you can help in the final fundraising stages!!!!!
SCIENCE! Denny International Middle School science fair, 6-8 pm
DUWAMISH CLEANUP PUBLIC MEETING: EPA Public Meeting: Boeing Plant 2. 6 pm at South Park Community Center, 8319 8th Avenue South. Food and Spanish interpretation will be available.
6 pm: Open House
7 pm: Presentations by Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition and EPA
8 pm: Public testimony: Your comments are needed!!
POETRY AND STORYTELLING: Free, all ages, monthly series with a featured reader followed by open mike for stories and tales (short and tall) from 7 pm – 9 pm. Via poetrybridge.net at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW.
RESUME WORKSHOP: Free workshop “Effective Resumes” at SSCC WorkSource – see full story here
Even more on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar!
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