West Seattle, Washington
03 Thursday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Delridge residents concerned about the Downtown Emergency Service Center‘s 75-unit “supportive housing” project have obtained more information about the project via public-records requests, and we have a few new details too.
Four months after news of the proposed apartments in the 5400 block of Delridge first came to light at a North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting (WSB coverage here; next-day followup here), documents posted by citizen researchers indicate the agency is close to key dates for greenlighting the project, such as a projected December 1st closing of the deal for property on Delridge. Public-funding decisions are being made; as reported here last week, the city Office of Housing says it has approved “up to $4.45 million” for the project, right after the state announced an award of $500,000.
The county is considering a grant as well; the advisory Joint Recommendations Committee was scheduled to make a decision at a meeting last week, but postponed it after hearing from Delridge residents who attended the meeting on Mercer Island to comment on the project. One of them, Karrie Kohlhaas, summarized some of the concerns that were voiced regarding the neighborhood’s characteristics:Read More
HELP THE HELPLINE: Tomorrow night at 6 at the Duwamish Longhouse, it’s the fall fundraising gala for West Seattle Helpline. Executive director Tara Byrne says one of the highlights will be “award-winning Native American flutist and storyteller Paul ‘Che oke ten’ Wagner performing.” You can still get a ticket online by going here, no later than tomorrow morning.
KILLER WHALE TALES: Also at the Longhouse, West Seattle-headquartered Killer Whale Tales plans a dinner and auction – with special guest Tucker the whale-research dog! – on Saturday, November 12th, starting with drinks and appetizers at 6 pm. Tickets are available online, here.
‘THE ART OF LOVE’: Furry Faces Foundation‘s silent auction and wine tasting event, featuring Stomani Cellars, is set for Sunday, November 13th, 3-6 pm at Ola Salon. No admission fee; all ages are welcome. Read on for the official news release:Read More
The next design review is now set for the six-story, 120-apartment project that is now in the records as 3261 SW Avalon Way (different from the address used during its first review three months ago). It’ll come back before the Southwest Design Review Board at 6:30 pm Thursday, November 17th, at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon in The Junction); here’s the official project page.
And another traffic alert – this one for next week. The next westbound closures of the Spokane Street Viaduct (that’s the West Seattle Bridge between Highway 99 and I-5) have just been announced for every weeknight next week, 10 pm-5 am, Monday (November 7th)-Friday (Nov. 11th). You will NOT be able to get onto the WS Bridge from I-5 or Beacon Hill during these closures, but the exit from southbound 99 will be open. (Detour info here.) Like previous westbound closures, this is because of the ongoing Spokane St. Viaduct Widening Project.
Need to pass through downtown and/or SODO to get home tonight? Beware! This just in from SDOT:
The afternoon commute could become a little dicey later today. Occupy Seattle will hold a protest rally and march in downtown Seattle starting at 6 p.m. A crowd of more than 500 people is expected to gather at the north end of Westlake Park at Fourth Avenue and Pine Street for the rally. Between 6:30 and 7 p.m. the protesters will move to the Sheraton Hotel on Sixth Avenue between Union and Pike streets. Seattle Police will escort the marchers south on Fifth Avenue to Union street, east on Union to Sixth Avenue, and north on Sixth to Pike Street. Given the size of the expected throng of protesters, the march will likely be in the street so motorists should plan to avoid the area to avoid delays.
At the other end of downtown at 7 p.m., the Seattle Sounders will be drawing over 40,000 scarf-waving fans at CenturyLink Field. They’ll take on the Real Salt Lake soccer club for the second leg of the Western Conference semifinals. Expect traffic around the stadium to be very congested before and after the match.
The Water Taxi is on its winter schedule now and is NOT extending for sporting events, according to the county.
(Photo courtesy Kathleen Lonergan, from 10/26 City Council budget hearing)
As reported here previously, the mayor’s proposal for next year’s city budget – currently under review before the City Council – changes the Southwest Community Center into a shared space with Southwest Teen Life Center and West Seattle’s lone Neighborhood Service Center (moving from its Delridge location). SWCC supporters are trying to get the Council to change the plan and keep the center open for general community use. Among them is Kathleen Lonergan, who shares the news that …
… City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen has accepted our invitation to visit SWCC! He’ll be there this Friday, November 4th, at 2:00pm. He will do a meet and greet/Q&A session with members of the community for about 1/2 hour. Around 2:30, he will tour the center with me and other Family Learning Program representatives.
We’d love to have plenty of people there for his visit. Most of our homeschoolers will be gone home by that time, since so many have small kids who need to nap. This would be a GREAT opportunity for West Seattleites to get out and show their support for SWCC.
Lonergan was one of dozens of SWCC supporters who went downtown last week to plead their case at the City Council’s most recent public hearing on the budget. This week, the council has moved into a round of presentations about potential budget alternatives – you can check them out under “Green Sheets,” in the Budget Documents section of their website. Tomorrow morning, when the budget meetings resume at 9:30, Parks (which runs community centers) items are on the agenda, including one titled “Enhanced Hours at Community Centers”; the Green Sheet for that does not appear to be online yet. Next week, the council starts making decisions on potential changes to the mayor’s plan, and final approval is expected on or by November 21st, so if you have something to say, this is the time, as they start locking in on changes (or non-changes) – here’s how (as well as being at SWCC if you can on Friday).
For the past month, the library at West Seattle Elementary has been undergoing renovations – 2,000 books, a tech upgrade with iPads, new furniture, new shelves, new carpeting. Today, the overhauled library unveiled to the world. Lauren sent us the above photo via Twitter; when we dropped by for a look, a full complement of photojournalists was there, as was Mayor McGinn (on the other side of the cameras):
The project was the work of the Heart of America Foundation and Target volunteers, dozens of whom were at the school doing more work today, including playground revitalization:
WSES is one of 42 schools around the country in the library-makeover program this year. As part of the project, each WSES student gets seven new books to take home. A commemorative tree was planted too, we were told by WSES counselor Laura Bermes, who summed up the day as “a big deal!”
Every year right about this time, we get the question – What are those boats with the big nets out there? Reply: Purse seiners fishing for salmon. They have been working off West Seattle’s west-facing shore, as Beach Drive Blog reports. (Our files yield photos from 2009.) The times when this type of fishing is allowed are reported here.
Mayor McGinn‘s been on the road all morning – including visits to West Seattle Elementary and West Seattle High School – our stories on those are coming up shortly, but first, an early-morning stop at Seattle City Light‘s control facility in Ballard. That’s of interest to WS because the topic was how the city – particularly its electric utility – is better prepared for winter windstorms than, oh, say, five years ago (anyone remember December 2006?). We tried to make it over to Ballard to cover it in person but – no exaggeration – almost-winter weather set us back (we walked out of the house this morning to a much-iced windshield and couldn’t find the scraper!). So here’s the Seattle Channel video. We’re betting they talked about the SCL mobile website we mentioned here yesterday; will add other toplines later, for anyone who can’t (or doesn’t have time to) check out the video.
ADDED 12:46 PM: Most of the toplines are in the official city news release that’s since been sent out; the mayor also noted that SCL has 50+ more lineworkers than at the time of Windstorm ’06 – read the news release (including family preparedness advice, which the mayor also stressed) after the jump:Read More
(WSB photo from Ed Kingston‘s memorial at Holy Rosary on October 22nd)
Just got word about an event this Sunday to help the family of Dr. Ed Kingston, who died suddenly at the age of just 38 while coaching his son’s West Seattle Soccer Club team at Riverview Playfield almost a month ago. West Seattle Eagles vice president Paul Leonardo, who is also a fellow Holy Rosary parishioner with the Kingston family, invites you to a benefit brunch at the aerie:
There will be a benefit brunch for the Kingston family on Sunday November 6, 2011 beginning immediately after the 9:30 am Family Mass. Doors will open at 10 am. The benefit will be held at the West Seattle Eagles Aerie #2643. It is located at 4426 California Avenue SW (1 block from the parish). The cost will be $15 per adult and $7 for children under the age of 10 years.
There will be an omelet bar, fresh fruit, waffles, coffee, tea, juice, and hot chocolate. All proceeds will benefit the Kingston Family and all are welcome. In addition, we will be holding a raffle.
If you have any questions, please contact Paul leonardo at 206-250-5213 or Erik Ricard at 206-683-1018.
Dr. Kingston is survived by wife Laura, son Jack, and daughter Reese; his memorial fund also has a webpage, here.
Every trick-or-treater in Monday’s “Admiral Treats and Treasures” was invited to get their stops marked off on a map which then was presented at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor) for a drawing to win one of two giant treasure chests (goodie baskets) – and the folks at MG have shared photos of the winners as they came to claim their “treasures”! Congratulations to Brenna Hinsley and Annabelle Moeckel!
Each basket contained gift cards, toys, and other items worth a total of more than $300.
Many people ask where they can get “I Heart West Seattle” items. Here’s a new answer: The first West Seattle branch of Portland-based Umpqua Bank (WSB sponsor), opening its doors north of Admiral Safeway at 9 am today. It’s also where you’ll find this tale out of early West Seattle history:
And though it’s a brand-new bank branch, it has a veteran manager who’s worked in West Seattle banking for seven years:
Kirk Mead is also a board member with the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. Of course, not everything about the new Umpqua Bank branch is West Seattle-specific, but it certainly has features you don’t find in every bank branch – read on:Read More
(By smohundro from the WSB Flickr group pool)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
BUSINESS OPENINGS: Opening day for Umpqua Bank (WSB sponsor) in West Seattle’s Admiral District, next to Admiral Safeway, and Petco‘s new location at Capco Plaza (41st/Alaska), both at 9 am.
METRO CHANGES IN WEST SEATTLE: Before its official meetings later this month, Metro presents its proposed West Seattle changes tonight at the Southwest District Council meeting, 7 pm, South Seattle Community College board room. Also on the agenda: SDOT rep explaining changes on West Seattle roads that have been or are being made for RapidRide. Here’s our preview (including linked maps to meeting location).
‘THE DESPERATE HOURS’: West Seattle High School’s Drama Club production, 7:30 pm at WSHS Theater. More info here.
PRIDE SKATE: Second edition of Pride Skate at Southgate Roller Rink – Halloween sequel; wear your costumes! 9-11 pm; more info on FB.
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