West Seattle, Washington
14 Saturday
Today, we welcome a WSB new sponsor, Dr. Susanne Gee, who has owned and operated the Skin Doc Shop in West Seattle since 2002. New WSB sponsors are offered the chance to share information with you about what they do, 
and here’s what Dr. Gee wants you to know: She graduated from The George Washington University School of Medicine after completing a master’s degree in nutrition, and a bachelor’s in art. She says, “I approach skin conditions with a visual and artistic experience, which I have found very valuable in recognizing diverse diagnoses. In addition, nutrition is a valuable resource when treating certain skin conditions.” She believes that her practice is unique, as she treats all her patients herself. Unlike most practices, Dr. Gee is the sole provider of medical care, and does not defer the patient’s evaluation or treatment to associates or assistants. She has found this consistency of care is a great benefit to her patients. “We have grown into the successful dermatology practice that we are today by doing what is best for our patients– providing excellent-quality service. The personal relationship between the physician and patient is key to the successful treatment of the skin. We know that by providing our patients with the concern, attention and customer service they deserve, our company will continue to grow and prosper.”
Dr. Gee would like you to know that “the Skin Doc Shop is a private, solo practice with only one medical doctor with no affiliation to any multi-specialty group or hospital. I evaluate and treat all skin conditions from acne to skin cancer and I also enjoy turning back the clock for some of my patients with strategic use of Botox and fillers.” She has done extensive research in ultraviolet light, skin damage, and skin cancer at The George Washington University School of Medicine. She is also a member of the Rotary Club of West Seattle, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and the BNI Westside Professionals networking group. Dr. Gee and her entire staff are residents of West Seattle. Find her online at skindocshop.com (more contact information and office location here).
We thank Dr. Susanne Gee’s Skin Doc Shop for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
Two chances this Saturday night to have nostalgic fun while helping local nonprofits:
FAMILY PROMISE OF SEATTLE: As FP gets back into the business of helping homeless families, they need to raise money to be sustainable, so they’ll never have to go on hiatus again – we reported about the heartbreaking stories of their phone ringing, with nothing they could do to help the families seeking somewhere to stay, together. Saturday night 5-10 pm at the Holy Rosary gym, it’s ’50s-’60s music for a sock hop dance, dinner and auction to benefit Family Promise (which is West Seattle-based) – libby@carrbiz.com or 937-2703 for tickets, $25/person, $40/couple.
ARTSWEST: Go even further back in time, to the ’40s, for the “Come Fly With Us” gala Saturday night at the Museum of Flight, ArtsWest’s biggest annual benefit. The auction catalog is online now (find it as a PDF here); tickets are available online too.
Dianne e-mailed to report that her power’s been out since about midnight, in the 56th/Spokane area; we checked and Seattle City Light‘s status map shows a small outage, 17 customers (homes, in this case). “Equipment failure” is blamed, according to the SCL site, and they’re estimating the power will be back on by mid-afternoon.
If you’re in or around Highland Park, you might have heard/seen the response to this about an hour ago – what was briefly a “heavy rescue” call in the 1700 block of SW Holden (just a block west of Fire Station 11). We don’t have many details, but apparently this car collided with a second one (which was visible nearby and did not appear seriously damaged), went through a fence and into the stoop/front corner of a house. This was the second car-hits-house crash in West Seattle in a week; we covered one at 34th/Trenton last Thursday afternoon. SFD spokesperson Lt. Sue Stangl says their medic units were not used to transport anyone, but isn’t sure if a private ambulance might have been called. 9:27 AM: Just talked with SPD, but the report’s still being written, so we don’t know the circumstances, or whether anyone was cited. We’ll check back later.
(Photo from last weekend, shared by Stephen Elser)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
ART WALK: Tonight is the monthly West Seattle Art Walk, 6 – 9 pm, dozens of venues around the peninsula. We’ll spotlight some of them in a separate preview later today, but if you want an early sneak peek, check out the official Art Walk website, which will tell you about many of the artists to be featured tonight (and beyond).
ASK AN EXPERT: If you visit Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) during the Art Walk, you can also “Ask An Expert” at the West Seattle Tool Library, 6:30-8:30pm in the Community Workshop (east side of the building).
NEW HAPPY HOUR: Wine and food specials as new Thursday-Friday-Saturday Happy Hour debuts at Tuscan Tea Room in The Junction, 3-6 pm – details here
WINE EVENTS: 3 of them, starting with the first of three days of the Northwest Wine Academy event at South Seattle Community College, 12:00 – 6:00 pm, offering 6 new wines for tasting … The weekly tasting at West Seattle Wine Cellars features German wines, 5:30-9 pm … The monthly Wine Club meets at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm (new? RSVP to candpco@comcast.net).
SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: 4th-to-last night of SIFF (WSB sponsor), with two films tonight at West Seattle’s Admiral Theater, from Spain and Italy – schedule and ticket info here.
FINAL CHIEF SEALTH PTSA MEETING OF THE YEAR: 7 pm, Room 222 at Chief Sealth International High School.
HOME BUYERS’ WORKSHOP: Local real-estate and mortgage professionals present a workshop about the purchasing process, Bank of America in The Junction, 4001 SW Alaska Street, 6-8 pm, RSVP to 206-310-9551.
A memorial service is planned in West Seattle on June 16th for Donald R. Chesterfield, who died last week just three days shy of his 80th birthday. Here’s the announcement sent to us:
In Memory of Donald R. Chesterfield
June 4, 1931 – June 1, 2011Donald R. Chesterfield, 79, son of the late Roy M. and (Betty) Elizabeth V. Chesterfield, is survived by brother, John R. and Marcia Chesterfield, his sister, Cheryl A. and Mike Ferguson, and their families. Don is survived by his wife of 58 years, Phyllis J. Chesterfield, and his children, Kris Ohanu & family, Kip Chesterfield & family, Karen Brown & family, Kitty Chesterfield & family, Karli Shanklin & family, and Kilian Chesterfield & family, as well as many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Don was a 1950 graduate of West Seattle High School. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, received a Purple Heart for his service during the Korean War, and served 10 years in the U.S. Air Force. He loved his family, fishing, baseball and more. One of his favorite pastimes was playing fast-pitch softball as a pitcher for more than 30 years in Southern California and in the Seattle area as well. Don retired from The Boeing Company.
A Memorial Service will be held in his honor on Thursday, June 16, at 6:00 p.m. at the West Seattle American Legion Hall, 3618 SW Alaska.
(WSB publishes obituaries by request, free of charge. E-mail the text, and a photo if available/desired, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
(Photo courtesy the John family)
This Saturday, you have a chance to help Joplin, Missouri, tornado victims – without leaving West Seattle. A neighborhood yard sale (4726 50th SW, 9 am-3 pm Saturday) is being organized as a benefit – not only because the organizers want to help, but because they have a personal tie: Their neighbors have family in Joplin. The photo above was shared by those neighbors, Torrey and Steve John, taken during Steve’s recent trip, accompanying his father to help their relatives – here’s his dad:
We asked Torrey for more about their Joplin relatives’ story. Read it after the jump, along with more on the sale – to which you can donate, by the way, even if you can’t shop it on Saturday (they’ll be accepting donated items on Friday):Read More
A standing-room-only crowd filled the main room at The Hall at Fauntleroy tonight for the 34th District Democrats‘ pre-primary-election endorsement meeting. “Always one of our best-attended meetings,” as the group’s vice chair Sabra Schneider observed. The toplines: 34th DDs member and Seattle School Board incumbent Steve Sundquist did not win the group’s endorsement; the only challenger who has filed, Marty McLaren, was endorsed, with 62 percent support. On the Highway 99 Tunnel city referendum, “approve” – essentially pro-tunnel – was endorsed. And in much-contested City Council Position 1, incumbent Jean Godden and challenger Bobby Forch won a dual endorsement on the third ballot. Full details of the 2 1/2-hour meeting, including other endorsements, and video, are coming up. (11:38 PM NOTE: 34th DDs webmaster Bill Schrier just sent word the list is up on their site – see it here.)
2:02 AM: Here’s our video of the entire meeting (including non-endorsement business at the beginning and the end), in two parts, but none is edited or altered – the 2nd part picks up 2 minutes after the 1st ended, but no speaking was missed (they were collecting votes), and ends a few minutes short of the end of miscellaneous meeting-ending “good of the order” (the camera’s power ran out):
Now, if you want to read highlights of how it unfolded – that’ll be done in a few hours. that’s been added; click ahead:Read More
Just in case you were wondering … After three days of the Melissa Ann filling in for the undergoing-repairs Rachel Marie on the West Seattle-Downtown Seattle run of the King County Water Taxi, we checked with the county Transportation Department to see how repairs are going. Spokesperson Rochelle Ogershok says the work is still under way but: “We’re estimating the Rachel Marie will be back in service this weekend or early next week.” The Melissa Ann is usually on the Vashon-to-downtown Water Taxi run, which is currently being handled by the Victoria Express (details here).
Besides the fact the Alaskan Way Viaduct is scheduled to be closed from late Friday through early Monday – there are a variety of reasons you might encounter traffic snarls this weekend if you head eastward. SDOT is publishing Friday-Saturday-Sunday weekend advisories in advance each week, and we’re getting back to sharing them with you each week – so here’s the one that just arrived:Read More
The summer’s biggest events are approaching fast – among them, the West Seattle Garden Tour, 9 am-5 pm on Sunday, July 17th, with a milestone today: Tickets are now about to go on sale, now that ticket books have just arrived at West Seattle Nursery, and the rest to be available at all designated outlets by this weekend, according to Jane Watson from the WSGT:
The WS ticket outlets are: Junction True Value, West Seattle Nursery, ArtsWest, Metropolitan Market and Village Green Perennial Nursery.
We hope to sell a record number of tickets this year to support our 2011 beneficiaries (Seattle Chinese Garden, Walking on Logs Landscape Restoration Group, West Seattle Tool Library, Nantes Park, Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center, Nature Consortium, Lincoln Park P-Patch, and ArtsWest).
This year’s featured gardens are previewed here (minus addresses). Tickets are $15 and include Sue Goetz’s noon lecture on perennials, at the West Seattle Golf Course. (WSB is proud to be co-sponsoring the WS Garden Tour again this year!)
It’s going on 2 years since the city approved new rules for so-called “backyard cottages.” They’re not exactly what the name conjures – they can be elegant, albeit relatively small, residences in their own way. WSB sponsor Ncompass Cottage Company is a specialist in the field and is about to launch a series of free workshops, along with Microhouse Northwest. (At right are Drew Foster and Stefan Hansmire of Ncompass.) They say the city processed 55 construction permits for backyard cottages last year, nine in West Seattle, and they’re ready to share information about everything from the history of the idea, to current regulations, to financing options, planning/design considerations, and how to choose an architect and builder. Got a sketch already? Bring it along. The free one-hour workshops are planned for 7 pm June 22, June 29, and July 13th at the Community School of West Seattle (9450 22nd SW). RSVP (or get questions answered) by contacting Stefan at 206-933-5961 or stefan@ncompass-llc.com.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Reopening a closed West Seattle public school is virtually inevitable, Seattle School Board president Steve Sundquist confirmed during this morning’s community-conversation meeting at Delridge Library, as the district deals with overcrowding issues in the second year after the last round of closures. And though no decision’s been made yet, Fairmount Park Elementary at 38th/Findlay – shuttered for four years – seems likely to be that school, he acknowledged – with one caveat. Read on for details of the discussion, which also tackled issues including sibling waitlists:Read More
Longtime WSB’er Margaret Lanphier is getting a shoutout on the SPD Blotter website today – for helping reunite a stolen car with its owner. Spotting an unfamiliar car on her Arbor Heights block, she checked SPD’s @getyourcarback Twitter account – which sends out the plates of cars reported stolen – and found it had been tweeted. Turned out the car had been stolen from Capitol Hill. Read the full story here – including advice for people whose stolen cars are recovered, stemming from what was found inside this one.
If you have a 2011 grad in your family – you’ve known the big date for a long time. But for everyone else who’s wondering when it’s cap/gown/diploma time:
SLHS GRADUATION THIS FRIDAY: West Seattle’s first graduation ceremony of the season is this Friday (June 10), 7:30 pm, for Seattle Lutheran High School.
WSHS GRADUATION NEXT TUESDAY: West Seattle High School‘s grads get their diplomas on Tuesday, June 14th, 5 pm at Memorial Stadium (5th and Harrison downtown).
MIDDLE COLLEGE GRADUATION NEXT WEDNESDAY: One week from tonight, June 15th, it’s the Middle College High School graduation, 7 pm at South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center.
SSCC GRADUATION JUNE 16 – SOMEPLACE NEW: South Seattle Community College commencement is at Benaroya Hall downtown for the first time – SSCC spokesperson Candace Oehler explains, “We’ve outgrown the Brockey Center. At Benaroya, we can now accommodate our graduates’ families, friends and significant others. Previously, we’ve had to limit the number of tickets per grad and many folks were left out. We’re very, very excited about the move!” The ceremony is at 2:30 pm, one week from tomorrow (June 16).
CHIEF SEALTH GRADUATION A WEEK FROM FRIDAY: The seniors’ sendoff for Chief Sealth International High School is at Memorial Stadium downtown on June 17th, 5 pm.
West Seattle Elementary made that video about “Community” for a new nationwide contest they insist they’re “planning on” winning – to get $20,000 for a new technology lab. But they have to win the vote first. The contest is through the retail chain Big Lots and you can find the backstory here; what matters most is to go directly to WSES’s contest page and vote for them, which you can do three times a day (the site says) till July 4th.
10:37 AM: WSB Forums member Paul points us to this post about another Seattle school’s entry – The Center School, which has dozens of students from West Seattle. Here’s a direct link to their contest page.
That’s the trailer for “Sushi: The Global Catch,” which has its world premiere tonight here in West Seattle, during the ongoing Seattle International Film Festival (WSB sponsor) run at the Admiral Theater. It’s at 7 pm, and debut documentarian Mark Hall is scheduled to be there. Also from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS: Our area’s largest political organization, the 34th District Democrats, meet tonight to consider who they’ll endorse in the August primaries. Candidates will be there too. 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy.
COOLMOMS (AND KIDS) ON PARADE: This month’s meeting of the family-oriented environmental-awareness group CoolMom is a walk-and-bike parade at Lincoln Park, 10 am. Meet at the south end of the paved beach path for a walk/ride to Colman Pool and back.
MEET YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: Got a concern or question about Seattle Public Schools as the school year winds down? West Seattle’s representative on the school board – also its president – Steve Sundquist holds two neighborhood chats this week, starting with 11 am today at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW).
ANOTHER WAY TO HAVE A SAY ABOUT PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 9 pm tonight is the deadline to answer a survey that will factor into Seattle Public Schools’ Strategic Plan – 21 questions, all online, anonymous. The survey’s here.
BRAINSTORM THE FUTURE OF PARKS PROGRAMMING Seattle Parks and Recreation Adult Programming Dinner and Brainstorm. Free dinner at Delridge Community Center, followed by a lively discussion on what programs you’d like to see at your local community centers. 6 pm
SUMMER FEST COUNTDOWN! Exactly one month till West Seattle Summer Fest, July 8-9-10 in The Junction (with co-sponsors including WSB).
Two signs seen along 35th SW in West Seattle on Tuesday are the latest proof that despite the legislative turmoil in Olympia, and local authorities’ words of warning, the medical-marijuana industry is moving ahead undaunted.
First, we’ve never seen signs like the one above, promoting medical-marijuana cards (aka licenses/prescriptions), but we spotted several along north-central 35th SW while checking on Tuesday morning traffic backups. We called and Googled the phone number, and both pointed to Pacific Medical Labs, based in Gig Harbor. We left voicemail asking for comment, but no callback.
On the south stretch of 35th, another sign – unrelated to the one above, so far as we know – for the new medical-marijuana business we first told you about in April:
(This photo and others below: By Deanie Schwarz for WSB)
Before the sign went up, the WSB contributor who broke the news of Northwest Patient Resource Center‘s move into the ex-Payday Loans spot at 35th and Roxbury had checked in with its proprietors for a followup:
By Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
In the weeks since the State Legislature’s special session concluded without passage of new legislation to clarify medical-marijuana law, the Northwest Patient Resource Center (NWPRC) has continued forging ahead with its West Seattle plan, despite the impending law change next month, when legislation that did pass takes effect.
We toured the facility and talked there with owner John Davis and partner Anthony Lilly. about both their business and the uncertainty of the regulatory situation.
They are awaiting the installation of their “point of sale†system, and expect to open within a few weeks. But then what, given the legislative/legal climate? They explain what they call a different model:
Read More
One week from tonight, the new architect/developer for Oregon 42 – the official name for the revived development plan for 42nd/Oregon in The Junction – will meet with interested community members (all welcome) to discuss its revised plan. We’ve been covering it here, including, on Monday, a then/now comparison with renderings from the 2008-2009 Design Review process compared to hard-copy versions from the current revisions on file with the city. Since then, new architect JBDG has provided a PDF document with two views of the project, then/now (the one you see above is a current view), as well as their toplines on what’s changed – more ahead:Read More
Union organizers and other activists came to West Seattle on Tuesday afternoon for a media briefing organized by UFCW 21 to spotlight their concerns about “the global supply chain for clothing” and working conditions for the people who work as part of that chain.They chose Jack Block Park in hopes of a scenic backdrop showing container-laden ships bringing in imports. Unfortunately, the rain moved in just as they were starting; also unfortunately for their hopes of a citywide spotlight, we were the only media who showed up.
Their main target of concern is Wal-Mart, which doesn’t have a nearby store – but, the organizers insisted, the corporation wants to open stores here. We rolled video on the entire 16-minute briefing, and have published it above. Speakers included Kalpona Akter, an organizer from Bangladesh, who said she had been jailed and otherwise persecuted for her campaign to improve working conditions. She went to the Wal-Mart shareholders’ meeting recently to pressure the corporation to make changes; here’s more on that – including Wal-Mart’s side of the story – from the New York Times.
Once Bang Bar opens this Friday, that leaves three new restaurants on the watch list, by our count, and tonight we have an update on one – wood-fired Pizzeria 22 in the Admiral District (4213 SW College). We checked in with owner Cary Kemp for the first time in almost a month and a half (here’s our last progress report; we had first word of the restaurant in December). He says, “We are very close to completing the buildout and opening our doors. We hope to have the Health Department sign off this week or early next week and perhaps open on Monday the 20th. We are currently curing our oven, which will take about 5 to 6 days.”
(The Delridge Dragonfly Pavilion, by pye42, from the WSB Flickr group)
Two years ago, city leaders came to North Delridge to get a firsthand look at several problem spots. This Saturday, another walking tour with city leaders and Delridge neighbors – but it’s a look at what going right, with stops including the Dragonfly Pavilion, above. You’re invited to join in on the “Delridge Improvements Walk” on Saturday (June 11), 11 am-1 pm, starting from Uptown Espresso at Delridge/Andover. Here’s the list of stops, including some Delridge gems you might not be familiar with already. The key here: The “improvements” wouldn’t have happened without residents joining forces to make them happen. So if you’re trying to figure out how to improve your own neighborhood, you’ll get some ideas about what works, and how to do it. Bring a water bottle and comfortable shoes, organizers advise, since “we’ll be walking for a couple hours.” (The city councilmembers who’ve RSVP’d for the tour include two who were on the 2009 walk, Councilmembers Sally Clark and Tim Burgess.)
Before we get to two West Seattle Crime Watch reports – a quick note about a sizable police response in Arbor Heights this afternoon, near 34th/102nd: What started as an “assault with weapons/aid” call on the 911 log was a fight between relatives, police told us at the scene. While one person suffered minor injuries, they said, no one needed to go to the hospital, and they were not expecting to arrest anyone involved. Now, to two reports out of the WSB inbox today – both involving car crime, including a prowling incident whose victim is a bit puzzled:Read More
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