West Seattle, Washington
12 Monday
More changes for ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery, which is undergoing a leadership transition. For one – see the new logo at left, explained by interim managing director Laura Lee: “”Our new logo tells the ArtsWest story. The square of our old logo is still visible, as we are not rebuilding a completely new ArtsWest, but instead heading into the next stage of our growth with more confidence and maturity. The square is now a three-sided box, representing the three facets of ArtsWest – our theater, gallery and education programs – and is also the physical shape of our thrust stage. The open fourth side invites us to consider the fourth wall as our audience, our community and possibilities yet to be defined. Our lettering is purposefully moving us outside of the box. The word ‘Arts’ is highlighted in orange – a bright, in your face color – just as we too fall into that realm, and the word ‘West’ is to the literal west, reminding us all of our location and roots in West Seattle.” Meantime, ArtsWest is updating its gallery/theater spaces at 4711 California SW, Lee says, and will be closed until September 26th, when she promises that “a more contemporary, cleaner and fresher ArtsWest will greet the public.” (Tickets for upcoming productions are still on sale online and by phone during the closure.)
11:07 PM: Just heard from Jack Miller @ Husky Deli – whose famous ice cream has made it to the final 8 in a TV contest for “Best Ice Cream” in Western Washington. If you see this before midmorning tomorrow, they’re asking for your vote – it’s apparently a fast-moving contest and votes between now and 9 am (Wednesday) will determine the Final Four. Here’s the direct link; please note it’s a “Facebook app” contest (if anybody knows another way to vote, let us know!).
12:58 AM: Thanks to JanS for finding (as she notes in comments) the Facebookless way to vote! You still have to “create an account” but it’s simple (we tested it). Go here – before 9 am!
Thanks to Debra Salazar Herbst from Alki Beach Daily Sunsets for allowing us to use her photo of the military plane whose low Alki flyby drew some attention tonight. Several people messaged us to ask about it; we also obtained some information via Twitter, because what was apparently the same plane also caught some eyes/ears in Whatcom County. It’s reported to have been a C-17 from Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
West Seattle’s next new restaurant, Pecado Bueno, has announced it’s opening this Thursday (August 15th) at 5 pm. We first reported back in June that PB, whose original location is in Fremont, would expand here, taking over the former Wing Dome spot at 4523 California SW. As founder James Schmidt explained to us at the time, PB is a “casual,” family-friendly taqueria-style restaurant with a full bar.
Thanks to Dana Guy with PEPS (Program for Early Parent Support) for not only sharing news of registration and upcoming groups – but also sharing that photo, from a group of moms and babies who started meeting in June: “Getting 11 young babies to pose for a photo is no easy task!” Dana says. Now, the news from PEPS:
There are lots of PEPS activities going on in West Seattle in the next month! Registration is open now for several site based programs for parents of older babies that will take place weekly starting in September, plus we have a PEPS “While You’re Waiting” Drop In-session coming up on August 27.
In a PEPS group, parents meet (with their babies), share, and learn in sessions facilitated by a trained volunteer. Each meeting includes time for sharing parenting highs and lows, followed by a discussion of a topic related to the joys and challenges of parenting; plus break time for informal socializing and connecting with other parents.
Baby Peppers is open to all families with babies 5-12 months old when the group starts. Groups meet once a week for 11 weeks every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. starting September 25 at the Fauntleroy YMCA.
Little Peppers is for families with 2 children under age three (at the time the group begins). Meetings are led by a professional facilitator with the help of an assistant to keep the toddlers busy. Babies and children remain in the room with their parents for the entire meeting – which makes for a busy and exciting morning! Groups meet once a week for 11 weeks every Thursday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. starting September 19 at the Fauntleroy YMCA.
For new and expectant parents who are interested in PEPS neighborhood-based Newborn Groups, the next West Seattle While You’re Waiting Drop-In Sessions will take place on August 27 and September 24 at Limber Yoga from 1:30-3 pm.
Just announced by the city: “Find It, Fix It,” an app for your iPhone or Android phone that can be used to report graffiti, potholes, abandoned vehicles, parking-enforcement issues, and more. The announcement explains that you can use the app to take a picture, add details, pinpoint the location, and send the report to the city. What happens from there?
Submissions are entered into the City’s Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) system, and departments responsible for providing that specific service will manage and track requests. The City of Seattle began using the CRM system in December 2011. There may be some initial delays in response time as City departments adjust to any increase in service requests. …
The City anticipates adding other request types in the future and welcomes feedback on the app and ideas for additional features. Users should choose the Find It, Fix It app’s “other inquiry” category – found under the “New Request” icon – to submit feedback.
Read more about it here – and/or, if you have an Android or iPhone, go to Google Play or the App Store (respectively) and check it out. The city says it’s looking forward to feedback from the first round of users to figure out how to improve it in the long run.
(WSB photo: Work being done on one of the Boren-stored portables today)
An early-morning traffic alert for the next two days, from Tom Redman at Seattle Public Schools: Three portables are about to leave the Boren campus at 5950 Delridge Way SW. Before 6 am tomorrow, one single portable will be taken from Boren, bound for Bagley Elementary in North Seattle. Before 6 am Thursday, two double portables will be taken from Boren to Schmitz Park Elementary in north West Seattle. SDOT will determine the exact routes before the moves.
“We are in need of some new volunteers at the White Center Food Bank,” says spokesperson Leah Zoller. If you have some time to spare in these final weeks of summer – YOU can help! She adds, “Most needed days are Mondays and Wednesdays as well as every third Saturday. Contact audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org to volunteer.” The WC Food Bank, at 8th/108th in WC, is the official food bank for West Seattle south of Myrtle Street as well as for WC and other parts of the unincorporated area.
(May 2 photo by West Seattle bicyclist Eric Shalit: Rutted road near East Marginal crash scene)
With another bicycle collision on East Marginal way drawing attention last week – this time, a bicycle-vs.-bicycle crash, three months after the bike/truck collision that took a life – we checked with SDOT on the status of city-promised safety improvements, some of which were discussed hours after the May crash that killed Lance David. SDOT spokesperson Marybeth Turner says this is the list of what they expect will be done by November:
This fall SDOT plans the following improvements:
· A rapid flashing beacon at South Horton Street with a marked crosswalk to create a preferred crossing location.
· Asphalt spot repair along the travel lanes and bike lanes.
· Relocation of the trees from the tree pits, which will then be filled with asphalt to widen out the sidewalk area for bikes and pedestrians.
· Roadway restriping and some additional spot delineators for separation.
· Signal timing adjustments at East Marginal Way South and South Hanford Street.
· Some shim repair work on the sidewalk.
Then next year, according to Turner, “SDOT will study the possibility of installing a two-way cycle track or multi-use trail along East Marginal Way South from Spokane to Atlantic streets.”
P.S. In that same area, the big Bike/Truck Safety Fair with co-sponsors including the Port of Seattle and West Seattle Bike Connections is coming up the morning of September 6th – in case you missed the earlier announcement, here it is again.
Three West Seattle business notes this afternoon:
WEST SEATTLE CYCLERY GRAND OPENING: Six weeks after we first told you about proprietor Brad Loetel‘s new bicycle shop at 4508 California SW, West Seattle Cyclery is about to have its official grand opening, this Friday-Saturday-Sunday (August 16-18). Brad says, “We have a great selection of 2013 bikes with discounts of 10-40 % off. This weekend we will have several opportunities to win free stuff or discounts on 2014 bikes. Check out our website for more information on the drawings. Our Service department has been up completing most repairs in one to two days.” Hours at WS Cyclery are 10 am-7 pm Tuesdays-Thursdays, noon-7 Fridays, 10-5 Saturdays, noon-5 Sundays.
FIREFLY CAFE HOSTING SECOND GEAR SPORTS DROPOFFS: One week ago, we noted the impending opening of Second Gear Sports in Morgan Junction. As Second Gear gets ready to open, Firefly Café and Creperie (WSB sponsor) in The Junction is hosting a dropoff event for anything you’d like to consign to Second Gear, this Saturday (August 17), 8 am-4 pm. Details are on the Firefly Facebook page, including a Firefly discount if you drop something off! The truck will be behind Firefly at California/Genesee.
HEIDI FISH/TWALA INTIMATES CHANGES: After sharing space in The Junction at 4519 California SW (second floor) for a while, changes are ahead for Heidi Fish Swimwear and Twala Intimates. Heidi Fish will take over the entire retail space in which the two have been co-located, while Twala Intimates will relocate to a non-retail space in SODO. Heidi Fish will continue carrying some Twala Intimates items, and “also plans to expand on her own offerings to include resort and lounge wear,” according to the announcement.
(Lincoln Park pair out for a stroll, photographed by Flickr member “wsLaura,” shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Before the day gets too far away – four calendar notes for tonight:
HIGH POINT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: You’re invited to come talk about neighborhood successes and challenges at the monthly HPNA meeting, 6 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
WWRHAH COMMUNITY COUNCIL: Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights, represent! Your community council meets at 6:15 pm, Southwest Branch Library. (35th/Henderson)
MOONDOGGIES AT EASY STREET: Celebrating their new album, The Moondoggies play in-store at Easy Street Records in The Junction, 7 pm. Free, all ages. (California/Alaska)
TRIVIA THAT ROCKS: Cash prizes! Bragging rights! Show what you know during weekly trivia at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm. (6451 California SW)
For the second consecutive day, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent José Banda has announced a new principal for a local school – this time, Shannon Stanton as principal of Alki Elementary:
Ms. Stanton comes to Alki from Pine Tree Elementary in the Kent School District, where she has been principal since 2011. She is committed to the academic initiatives at Alki and we believe she will be a great fit for the Alki community.
Shannon Stanton previously held several positions in the Kent School District including professional development coordinator, curriculum specialist, literacy specialist and classroom teacher. She has provided instructional coaching and leadership as a consultant for international schools. In this role she trains groups of teacher leaders, administrators and curriculum directors working in the international school system.
Ms. Stanton earned a Master’s in Education, Teaching, Learning and Assessment from Lesley University and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of Washington, Bothell. She received a bachelor of arts in interdisciplinary child development from Western Washington University. She has trained in best practices for literary instruction with Columbia University’s Teachers College and with the Public Education and Business Coalition in Denver. Ms. Stanton holds principal and teacher certificates for Washington State.
The hiring process for Alki included input from staff and families. The selection team committee was particularly impressed with Shannon Stanton’s passion and knowledge of the Alki school and community and her experience in working with the current academic initiatives in place at Alki.
She succeeds Chanda Oatis, who, as announced last month, is the new principal at Van Asselt Elementary. The SPS school year starts on September 4th, three weeks from tomorrow. (Photo above: Kent SD website)
(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
One note so far this morning: If your commute is on the water, the West Seattle Water Taxi is scheduled to be back, per King County, though Melissa Ann is scheduled to make the run, with Spirit of Kingston out for now.
Continuing our countdown to the Delridge Day festival, 11 am-4 pm next Saturday at Delridge Community Center/Park and the adjacent Delridge Skatepark … 4 more notes:
VENDORS/EXHIBITORS: More than 70, per the North Delridge Neighborhood Council, which produces Delridge Day!
FOOD TRUCKS: The newest update from organizers: “We have two great food trucks this year: Outside the Box – a Paleo-style food truck – the first in Seattle – and Jemil’s Big Easy, featuring authentic New Orleans cuisine.”
LIVE MUSIC: Perhaps you saw the schedule in our Sunday night preview. A few more details from organizers: “Get ready to start your day off right at 11 am with the Ellis Brothers, a three-piece band that performs jazz and improvisations. At noon, Listener Discretion will take the stage and show their skills in acoustic alternative. At 1 pm, Victrola the Band will perform some R&B and soul style tunes and at 2 pm Bill Wolford will play some good ol’ rock, funk, and blues. Finally, Quarter Past 8 will close out the festival with the last time slot at 3 pm.”
BUBBLEMAN! The bubble-waving, bubble-blowing, bubbly entertainer performs at 2 pm.
See the full festival schedule here – and stay tuned as the countdown continues.
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