By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“We’re an urban village. Urban villages are supposed to have bus service.”

So said one attendee at Tuesday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting, voicing opposition to the Metro restructuring proposal that could end Route 55 service in North Admiral.

Though there wasn’t a formal topic or presentation, the proposed Metro restructuring for next year, to be launched in conjunction with the debut of RapidRide, was a hot topic. Attendees were urged to speak up at Metro’s two West Seattle meetings about “restructuring” – the first of which is tonight (6:30 pm, Chief Sealth International High School). And ANA will draft a letter objecting to the prospective elimination of North Admiral service, while also extending an invitation for a Metro rep to speak at its December meeting.

“Can we make a trade for light rail?” somebody quipped.

“I’m a big fan of mass transit and I want to see it succeed,” said outgoing ANA secretary Jim Cavin. He, by the way, was the lone group leader not to be running in the election that also happened during last night’s meeting, along with a discussion of two potentially big events the group is planning before the year’s out – a tribute, and a tree lighting:

ELECTIONS: President Katy Walum, Vice President Karl de Jong, and Treasurer Ann Limbaugh were re-elected, unopposed. Sylvia Rolle was elected as the new Secretary, with Cavin stepping down.

REMEMBERING TATSUO NAKATA: He’s the City Council staffer killed in late 2006 at 47th/Admiral, where ANA plans an event in his memory, as it continues to lobby for safety improvements at the intersection, which they’ve been told is 13th on the list for a light. “Still not good enough,” says Walum. “Somebody has already died in that intersection, (hit by a driver) driving too fast and talking on their cell phone.” So they are planning a tribute the morning of November 28th, in connection with the fifth anniversary of Nakata’s death (which actually happened in mid-November 2006). They hope to have schoolchildren, neighbors, anyone and everyone concerned about safety, be part of it, while promising it will be “an educational and lawful event; we’re not trying to get in trouble, we’re trying to draw attention to it.” Watch for more details, including signmaking the night before at Alki Mail and Dispatch.

BUSINESS COMMITTEE – AND A TREE? Walum recapped the second meeting of the new group to organize Admiral businesses, which has already created subcommittees. One big thing: They’re looking at putting together the first-ever Admiral District Holiday Tree Lighting. No date or details yet, but they’re definitely hoping to pull it off for THIS year, saying the tree that would be used is between the Admiral Theater and Porterhouse Pub.

ADMIRAL TREATS AND TREASURES: Best-attended yet, president Walum says she heard from a couple business owners – including, she says, Alki Bike and Board, which reported handing out 1,100 pieces of candy! “It just keeps getting better and better.”

SEEKING NONPROFIT STATUS: With the events that ANA has been organizing, it’s become clearer the group needs official nonprofit status (501c3), and is seeking it – but looking for help in getting it organized, and help with accounting once it’s in motion.

Admiral Neighborhood Association meetings traditionally start with going around the table to find out who’s on hand, and there were a few guests, including:

ALKI ART FAIR VISITOR: Fred Madrid from the Alki Art Fair board – which is carrying on with the annual event despite the loss of official Parks Department support – visited ANA tonight for “outreach,” as the volunteer board looks ahead to growing the event.

UMPQUA BANK VISITOR: “You’re my new neighbors,” said Kirk Mead, explaining his visit as manager of the brand-new Umpqua Bank (WSB sponsor) branch next to the rebuilt Admiral Safeway. He also explained Umpqua’s ongoing contest to show some love for your favorite local businesses – get started on the Umpqua Facebook page.

ANA meets the second Tuesday of the month, 7 pm, in the lower-level meeting room at Admiral Congregational Church (California/Hill), and is online at admiralneighborhood.org.