day : 12/01/2012 8 results

(WSB photo from 2009)
When Dakota Place Park was dedicated two years ago, it was acknowledged that the old substation building at the site – a city landmark – still needed to be renovated. It was going to be used as extra space for Hiawatha Community Center programs, we were told.

Right about that same time, the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee voted to put money toward the project. But now, two-plus years later, with the city cutting back on community-center hours, and even changing one West Seattle community center to another function, you might think the project has gone on indefinite hold. It hasn’t – and in fact, this week, the call for bids appeared online, for about $350,000 worth of work. (See the call for bids here.) So we asked Seattle Parks what the building would be used for, now that the community-center system has been somewhat reorganized. Spokesperson Dewey Potter provided the reply:

Parks will use the Dakota Place building as a location for classes and programs as an annex of Hiawatha Community Center. Classes and programs held there will be for registered participants (no drop-in). Staffing for the facility will be included in the cost of the class or program. The space will open only when a class is scheduled. Programs will be offered Monday through Thursday.

The building will also be available for private and community rentals on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That will probably be handled through our event-scheduling office but that arrangement is not set up yet.

Another fact: The Hiawatha Community Center Advisory Council has contributed up to $170,000 to help Parks with the interior renovation and to buy equipment and furnishings.

We’ll be following up on the expected construction timetable.

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Happening now: West Seattle Art Walk, January 2012 edition

January 12, 2012 5:47 pm

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| West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

5:47 PM: Tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk technically doesn’t begin till 6 pm, but Holli Margell got started early – Sugar Rush Baking Company is the site of her first photography show, and she is collecting donations for the West Seattle Food Bank. She started at 5 and is continuing till 8, and a few donations already had come in when we stopped by. Bring 2 nonperishable food items (the bin’s by the front door) and get a free photo card! Holli explained, “I am inspired by all the West Seattle Holiday giving, and want to see it extend into the New Year. I have family who have depended on the Food Bank, and I know the need is still high after the holidays.” She’s a Delridge resident and while she used to be a wedding photographer, she is now a fulltime homemaker/mom and says her work “captures the beautiful details of everyday life.”

More stops ahead – tonight we’re updating as we go.

6:07 PM: A few blocks away, at 4709 42nd SW (across from the north end of Jefferson Square, next to The Beer Junction, which has a tasting event tonight), go say hi to the folks at Young At Art:

Dr. Vali Hawkins Mitchell, an art therapist (and more) who recently opened a studio inside YAA, is at left, with YAA proprietor Theresa Anderson (who we first told you about three months ago). Next to them, that’s work by Starheadboy, who they were expecting to arrive at any moment for live painting tonight.

6:52 PM: At Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), they’re winging it tonight:

Artist Shelli Markee is famous for her wire birds – modeled after real ones; these are no flights of fancy. They are so delicate that it’s hard to capture them in a photo that includes a person! You just have to go take a look (there are closer views on the Click! website, too). You can put them on the wall, usually with a single nail or tack; some also can be placed standing on a table bookcase, etc.; and some are mounted. Click! has dozens of her creations. Co-proprietor John Smersh also reminded us that their January sale is still on. Among the sale items:

Tired of toting your groceries in bags bearing store logos or something else promotional? Show your West Seattle pride! These cloth bags featuring the peninsula and many of its neighborhoods are on sale too.

7:15 PM: At Nature Consortium‘s office in The Junction – the little building right behind Shadowland – live music was scheduled to start a short time ago. We were there before the band started playing, and met featured artist Tamblyn Gawley:

Appropriately enough for an organization focused on forest restoration, her work, like “Green Burst” in the photo, explores nature’s glory. Read more about Tamblyn and her paintings on the NC website. P.S. If you missed our mention yesterday – NC invites you to spend your MLK Day Weekend of Service with them in the West Duwamish Greenbelt, with work parties Saturday and Monday (details here).

P.S. Here’s the winter-quarter walking map/venue list – 30 participants this time around. The Art Walk’s on till 9 pm.

P.P.S. (8:21 PM) While you’re out – M3 Bodyworks (WSB sponsor) is having its annual Masquerade Party/art celebration till 9 – proprietor Michael Mandell sent a photo:

M3 is a few blocks south of The Junction, at 5236 California SW.

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Pink Gorilla Games expands to West Seattle, opening next week

January 12, 2012 3:35 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Another new business is on its way to the new live-work buildings on California SW just north of Morgan Junction – and for the two guys who lead Pink Gorilla Games, it’s a homecoming. Paublo Smith (pictured) lives just south of West Seattle – in North Highline – and his friend and colleague Nathan Paine lives in West Seattle. Next Monday, they expect to open the third Pink Gorilla Games store at 6051 California SW. That’ll be a soft open, because they have a big “grand opening” weekend scheduled for February 4th and 5th.

The first two Pink Gorilla stores are in the International District and University District. Haven’t been to one? Paublo explains what they do: “We sell video games and video-game supplies. We sell everything but specialize in retro and import games.”

They buy and trade, too – so if you have a still-usable copy of some old Atari, Sega, or Nintendo game, they just might be interested. Paublo says their goal is to have at least one of everything available – so “you can find anything you’re looking for.” (If you want to sell or trade, you’re welcome to bring the game/s in any time; one or two might be evaluated immediately, but if you have a bag or box full, you’ll have to leave it for evaluation.)

The West Seattle Pink Gorilla Games shop also will carry board games. Paublo sees that as a reflection of WS community spirit, since board games are a face-to-face community-building activity.

They’ll be open 11 am-7 pm seven days a week. Their inventory of new games will be weighted toward “all the big hits.”

Though the U-District Pink Gorilla Games store is known for its events, there’s not much room in the cozy West Seattle space for those, but Paublo says they’re hoping to talk with nearby venues (Beveridge Place Pub and Feedback Lounge [WSB sponsor] are just down the block, for example) about space for gatherings.

Once they open – again, likely next Monday – everybody who makes a purchase between that day and the grand-opening weekend February 4th/5th will get a raffle ticket, with drawings scheduled for Sunday of that big weekend – $100 gift card, T-shirts, and so on. You won’t have to be present to win, but those who ARE, will have a chance at something even more special, Paublo promises.

Just look for the store with pink and green inside – P and G, for Pink Gorilla.

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New bridge-closure alerts, including EB Spokane St. Viaduct

January 12, 2012 1:47 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

The city’s just out with its weekly update on road work that might affect you – and in addition to more Fauntleroy Expressway closures in the works, the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project will have some EASTBOUND closures (as opposed to the previous set of WESTBOUND shutdowns). From the city’s announcement:

– Jan 12, 16-20 and 23-27, the Fauntleroy Expressway will be closed each night. This is the portion of the West Seattle Freeway west of Delridge on/off-ramps and east of 35th Ave SW.

– Jan 19, all eastbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct will be closed overnight (9PM to 5AM), east of the 1st Ave S off-ramp. Traffic will be detoured to the lower roadway (S Spokane St).

– Jan 27-30, all eastbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct will be closed through the weekend, east of the SR 99 off-ramp. Access to the 1st Ave S and 4th Ave S off-ramps will be closed.

And of course that also would mean you couldn’t get to I-5 or Beacon Hill from the West Seattle Bridge. These closures (and others around the city) should be listed soon on this city webpage, for later reference.

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Video: Otter shows up at Duwamish River habitat project

January 12, 2012 1:12 pm

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| Environment | West Seattle news | Wildlife

You know the otters in West Seattle waters are river otters, even if they’re in saltwater, right? Here’s one of them – by an actual river this time around. Seattle Public Utilities just shared that video, saying it’s from the Slip 4 cleanup site on the Duwamish River. That’s on the eastern shore, 3 miles south of Harbor Island; we covered an event there back in October as the cleanup began. According to the info-page for the cleanup work, habitat restoration should be complete in February.

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Crime Watch: Murder suspect in court; ‘sacred image’ stolen; hit-run crash; WSCPC to hear from ADRT

January 12, 2012 11:29 am

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| Crime | West Seattle news | White Center

MURDER SUSPECT IN COURT: On partner site White Center Now, we just added video to our courthouse coverage of this morning’s arraignment of Cu Van Truong, charged with murder in the shooting death of Jason Saechao at Seattle Roll Bakery last month. Truong pleaded not guilty and is scheudled to return to court in two weeks.

TWO READER REPORTS … for West Seattle Crime Watch this morning, both with photos. First, from Bill:

A sacred image was stolen from under the giant poplar at the end of my driveway at the west (21st Ave SW) entrance to the SW Graham Hill Climb sometime between about 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 10, and 7:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 11.

Big, old trees, especially, may be possessed of female tree spirits, which can be malevolent if not properly propitiated. Reward, no questions asked. Please contact Bill, 206.768.0170

And from Jamie:

I wanted to report a hit and run. Happened January 10th during the day sometime, on 21st ave SW.

(updated) In the 9400 block, Jamie adds.

Last but not least, as we were finishing this, we got word from Richard Miller of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council that he has confirmed a guest speaker for next Tuesday’s meeting:

We have Officer William Witt from the Aggressive Driving Team. Officer Witt is unique in that he is also a DUI Officer as well as being part of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Team.

Want to know how the ADRT – subject of so many WSB discussions! – works? Perfect opportunity. 7 pm Tuesday, Southwest Precinct meeting room (Webster/Delridge), all welcome.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Latest on the potential snow

January 12, 2012 9:50 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to Mark Bader for the view of Mount Rainier during today’s sunrise. Will our area, too, soon be frosted in snow? The newest forecast still calls for the chance of snow showers beginning Saturday night; the snow level is expected around 400 feet, and some of West Seattle’s hills go higher than that. By Sunday night, that’s down to 200 feet. If you want more context, check out the latest “forecast discussion,” which concludes, “For now, uncertainty is way too high to get very excited yet.” (Also remember there’s still a burn ban in effect, with an “air stagnation advisory” covering the area as well as a “special weather statement” addressing the possibility of snow.)

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West Seattle Thursday: Art Walk; Little League; DIY; more

January 12, 2012 7:28 am

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(A regular visitor to photographer Melanie Dixon‘s feeder)
No rain, no snow – yet! (Saturday night is the earliest forecast mention) – so it should be a perfect night for the West Seattle Art Walk, if the forecast holds true. From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

‘KING TIDES’ AGAIN: Another round of ultra-high high tides (here’s the chart) – this morning, 12.7 feet as of minutes ago (7:17 am), next two mornings, a bit higher.

LITTLE PEPPERS: Two children under three in the family? 10 am today, it’s the first class in a new session of Little Peppers, meeting at West Seattle Bright Horizons, 4530 38th Ave SW – details here.

WEST SEATTLE ART WALK, JANUARY EDITION: For previews of specific venues and artists, check out the official Art Walk site – tonight’s highlights will include Twilight Artist Collective‘s 7th-anniversary celebration – 6-9 pm at dozens of venues around the peninsula.

WINE TASTING AND LIVE MUSIC: Second Thursday of the month, that’s what you’ll find at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW, 6 pm – 8 pm. You’re welcome to bring an appetizer to share! Tonight, Choro Tocando and the music of Brazil. $5 tasting fee, or wines by glass or bottle.

ASK-AN-EXPERT AT WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: 6-8 pm tonight, 4408 Delridge Way SW (east side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center), see our preview from last night.

WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE SIGNUPS: First in-person registration session for West Seattle Little League, 6-8:30 pm at West Seattle High School (3000 California SW), more info here.

ADVISORY GROUP: Design Advisory Group for the Murray CSO project meets, Fauntleroy Church, 6:30 pm (more info here).

LIVE MUSIC: Alma Villegas performs at Shadowland, 4458 California SW, 8 pm-11 pm. No cover.

OVERNIGHT PARTIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: 9 pm-5 am, another Fauntleroy Expressway closure is scheduled as the seismic-retrofit work continues.

GARAGE SALE FANS, MARK YOUR CALENDARS: West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (sponsored by WSB for the fifth consecutive year) is exactly four months away – May 12th. Way too soon to register, but we’ll give you plenty of advance warning!

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