West Seattle, Washington
13 Saturday
It started with an idea in the WSB Forums, and tomorrow (Saturday) is the day it happens: The homeless encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville” is inviting visitors to an open house, 2-6 pm, with a potluck at 5 pm. Everyone is welcome, and tours will be offered, as well as information on the camp’s future plans, according to WSB Forums member Mike, who has been living there since shortly after the camp returned to West Seattle last month. He says you can even find out about their “Small, Simple, Sturdy, Sleeping Structures.” The camp is at the southeast corner of West Marginal Way SW/Highland Park Way SW (map) – if you get lost, you can call 206-450-5268. And if you’d like to pitch in some last-minute help for the potluck – this is the newest WSB Forums thread, detailing the last few things organizers were trying to round up.
Three more sign-up events are ahead for the Southwest Athletic Club (SWAC) youth football and cheer programs – and the next one is tomorrow. The SWAC Football/Cheer program recently joined the WSB sponsor team and is signing up boys and girls, ages 7-14, for the season that starts with August 1st practices. SWAC is a West Seattle-based nonprofit organization; board president Eric Larse says its purpose is to teach “youth teamwork, discipline and self-esteem through participation in youth football and cheer activities. We provide a safe structured and positive environment that stresses dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship, which teaches as much about life as it does football and cheer.”
Practices are at the Southwest Athletic Complex, across SW Thistle from Chief Sealth International High School. Tomorrow’s sign-up event is 11 am-2 pm at Roxbury Safeway, 9620 28th SW; others are listed on the SWAC website.
For more than a quarter-century, Windermere Real Estate agents and other staffers have taken a day off work each year – independent of whatever volunteering they do in their private lives – to work on neighborhood-improvement projects during their Community Service Day. Today was the day for a project in West Seattle, and the sun graced the 40-plus people working at Greg Davis and Cottage Grove parks in North Delridge – mulching, weeding, and planting.
The two-park work party was a joint project of Windermere’s two West Seattle offices. They raised money to donate more than 50 new plants you’ll see next time you visit the parks (here’s a map).
Out of the WSB inbox, from Marty H:
I was cleaning out my car at 45th and Charlestown and had walked back up to the house when I heard someone calling out “help me”…. I went back down to the street and an elderly gentleman was wandering looking confused. A couple of moms from the neighborhood were out biking with their kids and they stopped to ask him if he needed help. I joined them in asking the fellow where he lived and if we could call someone for him. He seemed to know where he lived, but couldn’t figure out where he was or how to get home. These moms stayed with him while I retrieved my keys and I was able to drive him to his home based on his description of his house and a vague recollection of the intersection. I waited outside to make sure he had his keys and was in the door safely. I don’t know who the other women were who helped in this situation but I am heartened by the fact that together we were able to help a neighbor in need. Thanks to you, ladies!!! We put the “good” in the hood today!!
About a block from where one former Huling Brothers Auto site is being transformed into West Seattle Trader Joe’s at 4545 Fauntleroy Way, another, as we’ve been reporting since January, is being remodeled to house Les Schwab Tires, at 38th/Alaska. We’ve long had a request out to the company for some information that city files didn’t reveal – such as, when are they expecting to open? Les Schwab had declined comment till all the permits were in, but today we have a few official details, directly from the company for the first time:
1. The new store will open in September. The final date is not yet determined.
2. The store will employ 10-12 people and additional employees will be hired based on the volume of business.
3. The store manager will be selected from an existing pool of Les Schwab employees, based on the company’s promote-from-within policy.
4. The retail space is 12,000 square feet with six service bays and there
will be an additional 4000 square foot basement that will be used for warehousing product inventories for customer tires, wheels, brakes, shocks and alignments.
As is the case with the TJ’s project, this one is neither demolishing nor constructing a building – an existing structure on the site is being remodeled.
A question on the WSB Facebook wall reminds us of something that needs to be mentioned here: There will NOT be an Alki Beach car show this summer, according to organizers. So far they’re not commenting on why, but when we tracked them down recently to ask – after a few people e-mailed us to ask about the (previously) annual summertime show – the reply was, sorry, no show this year. So there you have it. However, there WILL be a West Seattle Junction Car Show, as of this writing – planned for Sunday, September 18th; watch for more info in the weeks ahead.
Worried you won’t make it to the Fremont Fair because of this weekend’s predicted traffic craziness? Here’s just one more reason you don’t even need to think about leaving West Seattle: The “Art Car” roadshow – which will spend most of the weekend in Fremont – is headed to West Seattle on Sunday night, according to Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) proprietor Jeff Gilbert. He shared the top photo of the “Chewbaru” – which Jeff explains as being “covered in dentures, empty tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes. … All told, there are between 30 and 40 art cars with mind-boggling cars showing up in the Feedback Lounge/Zeeks Pizza parking lot this Sunday, June 19th. … A pretty cool Father’s Day activity that everyone can enjoy. This event is free, kid and camera-friendly. Rain or shine, though I hope if it does rain it won’t foam up any of that guy’s toothpaste!” (That’s the northwest corner of Fauntleroy/California, if you don’t often get to Morgan Junction.)
12:44 PM: Just getting word of an arrest following a reported robbery attempt at a business in The Junction. The photo above shows Seattle Police alongside the north side of “The Hole” on 40th SW, near where the arrest reportedly was made. More to come – we’re still working to confirm details – thanks to everyone who has called/texted about the police sightings during the search.
(This photo and next one by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
12:55 PM: Just talked to Det. Mark Jamieson in the SPD media unit, and here are the details, according to what police were told: A man who was “acting suspiciously” inside West Seattle Computers was asked to leave – and then pulled a gun out of his backpack. He then left the store. Someone from the store followed him until he turned east on Alaska, and called police. After searching areas including Jefferson Square and the businesses on the northeast side of The Junction, officers found someone in the alley between 40th and 41st SW matching the description, and after a positive ID, made an arrest at 12:38 pm.
1:27 PM: Added photos by WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli, who is based near where police made the arrest. The suspect’s face is blurred in the photo added above the 12:55 paragraph; in the photo above this paragraph, you see items that were reported to have been in the suspect’s possession – including what appears to be a gun.
West Seattle’s Denny International Middle School has won the citywide Middle School Math Olympiad for the third consecutive year, according to principal Jeff Clark, who reports: “The team got strong performances from all three grades: 8th and 7th Grade teams finished first overall in their grade levels, while the 6th grade team finished second overall. The competition was held at Campion Hall on the Seattle University campus. The sun was out and the mathematicians from all of the schools were having fun. Congratulations to our students and to Mr. Lai, our math-team coach.”
(WSB video of Massy Ferguson at Summer Fest 2010; they’re back this year)
It’s the biggest question we’ve heard asked in anticipation of West Seattle Summer Fest (coming up July 8-9-10, with WSB among the co-sponsors) – who’s playing? (Besides the Fastbacks reunion announced last month.) Finally, the music lineup is live on the Summer Fest website. See it here with full details on dates/times! Or, for a quick glance at the list of performers, click ahead:Read More
Two spray-paint incidents overnight are being dealt with this morning. Both carried messages about West Seattle High School. One incident involved spray paint at the school – after receiving a report about it, we photographed it on a low concrete wall and sidewalk on the west (parking lot) side of the school. (The actual writing is blurred in our published photos, per WSB policy.) WSHS principal Ruth Medsker says Seattle Public Schools crews have since removed it. “Our security is working on determining who is responsible. We have some leads. … We have not called the police as of now, but it is not out of the question.”
The other incident is in the same spot that gets painted every year about this time – the SW Charlestown hill west of 45th SW. Last year found commenters debating “tradition or vandalism?”. This year, we heard about it via a commenter who claims that neighbors captured it on hidden cameras and will go to police with the visuals unless it’s removed. We went over for a look. The road surface is indeed newly painted with multiple colors. Spray paint cans are still in the planting strip on the north side:
The stop sign at the bottom of the hill was painted too:
After we went by, a neighbor called and claimed there’s paint on some private property as well, including a fence. They had not yet reported it to police. Regarding the road and the sign, we are waiting to hear back from SDOT to see what their plans are.
ADDED 4:56 PM: From Marybeth Turner at SDOT:
SDOT Street Maintenance supervisors looked at the street painting on SW Charlestown and 45th/ 47th SW today. They removed the paint cans and determined that the street is safe to drive on. To conserve resources in the event that more painting occurs, they will wait until school is out and then clean the street.
Street Maintenance notified the community police team and asked them to keep an eye out for any further vandalism.
If you missed – or forgot about – the alert earlier this week, here it is one more time: Big events this weekend PLUS closures for the I-5 Mercer exit *and* the 520 floating bridge = potential traffic backups around the region. So say the local transportation departments, including SDOT, which is out with its weekend roundup of what’s happening where. (The Alaskan Way Viaduct *is* open this weekend – but remember that NEXT Saturday, June 25, it is scheduled to be closed most of the day for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon.)
A few highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
LOW-TIDE QUESTIONS ANSWERED: 12:36 pm, the tide is out to -2.6, and won’t be that low again till late October (and that’ll be a late-night low-tide). Again today, Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists will be at Lincoln Park and South Alki to assist with low-tide explorers (here’s the full schedule)
NEW RESTAURANT ADDS LUNCH: After a week in “soft open” mode, Bang Bar in The Junction is scheduled to add lunch today, 11 am.
TAKE A HIKE: Free eco-hike presented by the Nature Consortium, meet 14th/Holly, 1 pm
SENIOR DANCE: Dance for people 50+ (singles and couples) at Delridge Community Center, 4501 Delridge Way SW, 1:30-3:30 pm. Dance or listen to the music of Lauren Petrie. $3.
BOOK SIGNING: As part of the 40th anniversary celebration at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor), the Admiral store (2320 42nd SW) has Becky Selengut signing her seafood book, 4 – 6 pm
CHIEF SEALTH GRADUATION: Commencement for Chief Sealth International High School Class of 2011, 5 pm. Memorial Field (Seattle Center, Downtown). More info on school website.
STORYTELLING: Storytelling event at the White Center Cultural Center (9421 18th SW), 5:30 pm – Indonesian storytelling by Diakonda Gurning.
DIAPER DRIVE AND POKER: Admiral Pub event at 6:30 pm – poker and diaper donations! Details in this WSB Forums post.
FREE MOVIE IN HIGHLAND PARK: Doors open at 6:30 pm, movie at 7 pm. Free admission, Highland Park Improvement Club (12th and Holden). They will be selling snacks and nonalcoholic drinks, and adults can bring their beverages of choice. There will be folding chairs for seating, or feel free to bring blankets and pillows or non-floor-scratching chairs. Movie hint: This animated superdog has a rude awakening when he strays off his movie set into the real world.
LATE-NIGHT END OF SCHOOL ICE CREAM PARTY: Free sundae-making party at High Point Community Center for teens, plus games, 7 pm-midnight.
CONCERT: Composer, guitarist and singer Jim Scott is coming to Westside UU to perform at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation (7141 California SW), 7 pm. Jim is most well-known for being a long-time member of the Paul Winter Consort, a group known for their “earth music”, a blend of jazz and world music. TIcket info or questions: 206-935-0418 or office@wsuu.org.
Two more local schools are getting much-needed new musical instruments, thanks to donations from the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, whose donation to Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School was reported here earlier this week. Daniel Rossi teaches instrumental music to students at six area elementary schools, including Highland Park and Concord International, which he says are also getting grants from the foundation: 20 flutes, clarinets, violins, violas, trumpets, and trombones for Highland Park, to “begin to build a collection of instruments for students to use,” and 13 flutes, trombones, and cellos for Concord, “to supplement our inventory.”
Thanks to Jim Clark for sharing Thursday low-tide scenes from south of Alki Point. One more low-low tide awaits, today (Friday) at 12:36 pm (-2.6 feet)
Tides won’t be this low again till late October – and then, it’ll be in the post-midnight wee hours, requiring most likely a light and a coat if you insist on exploring!
| 4 COMMENTS