In case Burien falls through, White Center remains (technically) in Seattle’s sights
Burien’s bid to annex White Center and most of the rest of what remains of unincorporated North Highline (the green “Area Y” in the map above) is fairly far down the road, as we’ve been reporting on partner site White Center Now, but in case it somehow stalls, Seattle is retaining its potential interest. That’s the bottom line of a brief discussion today by the Seattle City Council‘s Economic Resiliency and Government Relations Committee.
Last year, Seattle councilmembers promised to decide by this month whether they would continue supporting the status of White Center (etc.) as a “potential annexation area,” despite having said that they didn’t think they could afford to pursue it and so wouldn’t get in Burien’s way; today’s discussion fulfills that promise. City staff said there wasn’t much to lose in keeping it designated as a “potential annexation area” – right now, Burien is waiting to see if the Legislature will preserve or cut a tax-related funding source that is vital to keeping the annexation affordable for them (or any other city). Even if they do, Burien then needs to take the matter to voters in the area, before annexation would be final.
Meantime, Seattle is expected to move forward on annexing some unincorporated turf that isn’t part of what Burien is pursuing, the so-called “Sliver by the River” in the South Park area and the “Duwamish Triangle,” with a council discussion planned March 5th.
Yes, WSB is on Pinterest – and here’s where else to find us
With all the wonderful photos that we’ve been fortunate to be able to publish, it seemed that the new image-viewing site Pinterest was a place to be. We signed up a couple weeks ago and just now created our first board – West Seattle Wildlife (note – we respect copyrights here, and will NOT pin contributors’ copyrighted photos unless they have given us explicit permission). If you use Pinterest too, see you there. Since it’s a quiet Friday night (so far), seems like an opportunity to remind you about some other places you can find, and collaborate with, WSB, since this is our fifth year of using “social media” to be where you are, when you’re not here:
Facebook page
facebook.com/westseattleblog
Flickr group
flickr.com/groups/westseattleblog
Google+ (jury’s still out on this one)
gplus.to/westseattleblog
Pinterest
pinterest.com/westseattleblog
Twitter (human-powered)
twitter.com/westseattleblog
Twitter (automated stream of WSB story links)
twitter.com/westseattlenews
Twitter (West Seattle Crime Watch links)
twitter.com/wseattlecrime
YouTube (where we upload most of the video clips we use in stories)
youtube.com/westseattleblog
If you don’t use any of those services, no worries – you won’t miss anything; WSB on the Web is the main place to be. (With a handy mobile format that automatically kicks in if you check the site via smartphone.) Then, there’s the good old-fashioned stuff – the simplest ways to reach us, whether or not you’re on the other services too:
24/7 phone (text or voice)
206-293-6302
e-mail
editor@westseattleblog.com (news)
patrick@wsbsales.com (advertising)
Zippy’s Giant Burgers: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor
Zippy’s Giant Burgers is warmly – sizzlingly – welcomed today as one of the newest WSB sponsors. They’ve been in business going on four years now, and here’s what the Zippy’s team would like you to know:
Zippy’s may be popular, but they’re not puffed up about it. Say West Seattle-residing owners Blaine and Rahel Cook (photo, front and center): “We don’t claim to make the ‘best’ burger, nor are we part of the ‘gourmet burger’ bandwagon (though our burgers are more gourmet than others) – we let our food speak for itself. Some people won’t like it and that’s OK. I guess we’d say ‘come on in and give us a try’.”
As for those who have given Zippy’s a try, and keep coming back: “They love our burgers and they like how we address them by their first names. This can be somewhat embarrassing when we’re out doing our shopping. … We believe that our ‘keep it simple’ approach to making what is already a simple meal is one of the reasons people come back. Since we really weren’t ground-beef eaters when we opened the restaurant, it was incredibly important for us to like what we make. The only way we found that we like the taste is to grind the meat ourselves. We think our customers appreciate this as well. We think we’ve made a lot of friends over the years. There are lots of customers that have moved away from us and they still keep coming back. We’ve been welcomed by both the Highland Park and White Center neighborhoods; we’re proud to be part of the community and that pride shows in what we do.”
See for yourself by checking out Zippy’s Giant Burgers, open 7 days a week at 9614 14th SW; online (including the menu!) at zippysgiantburgers.com, and on Facebook here; you can call advance orders to 206-763-1347.
We thank Zippy’s Giant Burgers 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.
1 taken to hospital after crash across from Lincoln Park
1 person was hurt and taken to the hospital after a 2-vehicle crash that briefly blocked northbound traffic in the 8400 block of Fauntleroy Way, across from central Lincoln Park. Should be clearing now, as crews were starting to pack up when we left the scene a few minutes ago, but since it’s a high-visibility spot – traffic coming from the ferry terminal had to maneuver around the scene – we thought it worth a mention.
West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen SUV to watch for
Shane e-mailed on behalf of a friend whose SUV was stolen in the Delridge/Holden area:
It is a 1988 Chevy Suburban, WA Plates: WA7TZ (her ham call sign).
It is golden brown with a wide black stripe and has chrome wheels and dark tinted windows. It has roof and mirror mounted antennas. I’m kind of hoping it sticks out and someone has seen it. There was some ham radio equipment in it as well that I doubt is still there although likely useless to whomever stole it.
The owner is a real nice lady who gives a lot to the community and I’d like to see her get it back.
Please call 911 if you see it.
Memorial tomorrow for Shuzo Chris Kato, former Sealth principal, Denny teacher, judo champ
A memorial service is planned tomorrow for Shuzo Chris Kato, a longtime educator who was a former Chief Sealth (pre-International) High School principal, among many other things. His family shares this remembrance:
Shuzo Chris Kato passed away peacefully on February 7, 2012 at the age of 85 after a battle with cancer. During WWII, his family was sent to Minidoka Relocation Center in Hunt, ID. Shuzo graduated high school while in camp from Hunt High. He served in the Army from 1945-1947.
Shuzo attended Bethel College and the University of Washington where he majored in Engineering. He married Jean Kawachi in 1958 and they raised their family in Seattle. He earned a Masters degree in Chemistry from Oregon State University and his Administrator credentials from Seattle University. An avid judoist and sensei, Shuzo did judo for 60 years and taught judo for 43 years, winning a National Judo Championship in 1957 and earning a 7th-degree black belt. He began his teaching career with the Seattle School District in 1953. He taught at Denny Jr. High, Mercer Jr. High, and Queen Anne High. He was a Vice Principal at Sharples Jr. High and at Cleveland High. He retired as Principal of Chief Sealth High after 36 years in education.
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Busy beaches: Six seal pups ashore in West Seattle in 1 day
(Photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
Most of the seal-pup photos you see here on WSB are courtesy of Seal Sitters – by “first responder” Robin Lindsey, or sometimes volunteer David Hutchinson. This time, we were lucky to see one ourselves, while out for a walk on the Lincoln Park shore. Two Seal Sitters volunteers were guarding this pup yesterday morning. This morning, we talked with Robin, who tells WSB this was one of SIX seal pups reported on West Seattle beaches yesterday! She also writes about that on the Seal Sitters “Blubberblog” (by the way, the one we photographed is NOT the one she says they’re worried about). Once again, you are reminded to please give them plenty of space – this time of year, they are weaned pups, at least six months old, who catch their own food, and come ashore to rest; off-leash dogs are a threat, as are some well-meaning humans – no, you don’t need to chase the seal back into the water, they’re fine while resting on land! If you see a marine mammal on a local beach, by the way – call Seal Sitters to make sure they know (206-905-7325 – that’s 905-SEAL), and if you would like to join their volunteer corps (big need for it, considering how busy they’ve been), a training session is coming up March 3rd; see how to be part of it, here.
West Seattle Friday: Gardening; Rainbow Bingo; more
(Youngstown Flats crane reflection, West Seattle Corporate Center; photo by ‘Old Desolate‘ from WSB Flickr group pool)
Some of what’s up today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
WEST SEATTLE GARDEN CLUB: 10 am to 2 pm today, the West Seattle Garden Club meets at Daystar Retirement Village (WSB sponsor), 2615 SW Barton, Building #1. Agenda provided by the club: Registration and Social Time, 10 to 10:30 am, followed by Business and Study Program with member Sharon Barrea speaking on “Creating a Dry Stream Bed in a Small Garden,” commentary on Design and Horticulture Exhibits. Brown Bag Lunch time at noon, with dessert and beverage provided. For the 1 pm Afternoon program, hear Paige Miller, guest speaker, talk about the 230-acre “Washington Park Arboretum,” with its treasure of species plants. Visitors welcome; donation $5.
SEATTLE COUNCIL DISCUSSES WHITE CENTER: Though Burien is pursuing annexation of White Center and other unannexed parts of North Highline, the Seattle City Council still has some loose ends regarding the issue and whether the city should renounce any interest in the area, and that discussion is on the agenda at 2 pm today at Seattle City Hall for the Economic Resiliency and Regional Relations Committee.
DOUBLE BIRTHDAY AT ‘THE BRIDGE’: The lounge/restaurant on 35th just south of Avalon has two reasons to celebrate tonight – its 1st anniversary, and co-proprietor Rita‘s birthday. Jenny from The Bridge told us via e-mail that there’ll be drink specials and general revelry. Details here.
RAINBOW BINGO: Tonight’s the night for the “Mardi Gras” edition of Rainbow Bingo at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon in The Junction; WSB sponsor), 6 pm.
WORLD MUSIC AT C & P: The world/improvisational music of Yesod is live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm.
LIVE JAZZ AT SALTY’S: 8:00-10:00 pm at Salty’s on Alki, singer/songwriter Barbie Anaka performs a mix of classic and contemporary jazz, in the lounge, no cover, during late-night happy hour.
Bringing Puget Creek Watershed back to life – with your help
(Photo courtesy Steve Richmond)
A restoration project on the grounds of a local school has just received last-minute district clearance – and so Steve Richmond is putting out a last-minute call for volunteers to work tomorrow on restoring the wetland that’s on the grounds of Sanislo Elementary School:
Puget Creek Watershed Alliance is working to be good upstream neighbors to the Duwamish Tribe to support their efforts to daylight Puget Creek and restore salmon habitat near the Longhouse and Cultural Center in West Seattle. Restoring the watershed with native plants and evergreen trees helps reduce stormwater and sewer overflows into Puget Sound. Help remove blackberry, plant a tree, and build a better community!
When: Saturday, February 25, 2012 (every 4th Saturday)
Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM (Join for an hour or all day)
Where: Sanislo School Wetland; 1812 SW Myrtle
What to bring: Gloves, shovel, pruners (we’ll have extra, but write your name on your tools), weather-appropriate gear (rain or cold), hat/eye/sun protection, food/water, sturdy shoes/boots. Snacks and water provided.
Funded by a grant from King County Wastewater Treatment Division.
1:28 PM: We’ve been watching the forecast since
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