West Seattle, Washington
12 Monday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Just before the end of last school year, a member of the Highland Park Elementary School PTA made a pitch to the nearest community council, the Highland Park Action Committee.
Peter Weiss told HPAC’s May meeting that he wanted to organize a 5K to bring the PTA and the school not just money but awareness. HPES, he explained, is the lowest-performing elementary school in the entire district.
That was jaw-dropping news to many, if not most, in the room. Just supporting an event would not be enough. A community conversation was called for.
The conversation began in earnest this past Tuesday night.
Though most community groups skip midsummer meetings, HPAC and the HPE PTA set a date, issued an invite – and the room was full.
We counted more than 50 people.
At the front of the room, along with Sol Mendez from the HPE PTA and HPAC co-chairs Carolyn and Billy Stauffer, were school and city leaders – among the former, new HPE principal Chris Cronas and the district’s regional executive director of schools Israel Vela; among the latter, Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim and City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen.
More questions than answers emerged. But it was one of those events where the event itself was the triumph, for starters, rather than any single declaration or promise made.
No word of any injuries, but it appears that police have confirmed that was gunfire heard by many near the Delridge Library (5400 block of Delridge) a little while ago. Officers are still in the area investigating and one reported (via radio) finding shell casings. One nearby resident who called 911 tells WSB that dispatchers told her others had called too.
Seattle Fire has sent a sizable response to the 7500 block of 24th SW (map) for a possible house fire. First crews on scene are seeing “light smoke” from the second floor.
7:47 PM UPDATE: The fire call turned out to be “food on the stove.” Lots of smoke, though, so fans are being used to ventilate the residence right now. No injuries reported. Most units have been dismissed.
(Photo by David Hutchinson, from 2012 Alki Beach 5K)
Only one week till the summer’s next big benefit 5K in West Seattle, the Northwest Hope and Healing-presented Alki Beach 5K, 9 am next Sunday (August 24th). It’s a fundraiser for West Seattleite-founded-and-led NWHH’s work helping breast-cancer patients. You can run or walk; Alki SW will be closed for the run, so there’s plenty of room for you and the other hundreds of people who will be part of it. Sign up online right now, or in person this week at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), which also has an early-packet-pickup event set for Saturday (10 am-2 pm, California/Charlestown), if you want to get yours before 5K day. See you at the beach (start/finish line is by the Bathhouse, 61st/Alki) next Sunday!
With this weekend’s Washington State Ferries woes – Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth is still running two boats because the un-mothballed M/V Evergreen State remains out of service – some have wondered about the status of ferries in view at Vigor on Harbor Island. The one in the foreground of our photo above is the 130-car M/V Kitsap, a 34-year-old ferry that is at Vigor until late September for $5 million worth of scheduled work, including painting and galley modifications. In the background at right is the M/V Yakima, in for about $310,000 of maintenance scheduled to last another week. The third ferry you might glimpse at Vigor is still being built, the 144-car M/V Samish, expected to go into service next year.
Another West Seattle retailer has just added a location downtown, but wants you to know it’s NOT leaving WS. >Fleurt (WSB sponsor) proprietor Sam Crowley explains:
Many have reached out to me after hearing Fleurt is closing in West Seattle and moving to Pioneer Square – as Clementine is doing. This is NOT true for Fleurt – Fleurt West Seattle is open and there are no plans to close this shop. Fleurt West Seattle is our “home” and flagship store. We are constantly growing our business in the areas of retail gifts, flower deliveries, full service flower shop, weddings and events. We are truly grateful to all our customers for their loyalty, love, and support for the past 4 years, and we look forward to many more years.
This Thursday (August 21st) is Fleurt Pioneer Square’s grand-opening party (112 S. Washington), from 5 pm to 7 pm.
(At new Junction ‘bike corral,’ last stop on the tour)
West Seattle Bike Connections members spent part of their weekend taking City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the council’s Transportation Committee, on a tour “to get a first-hand look at some of the routes and intersections in the Seattle Bicycle Master Plan that we think are high priority for funding and implementation,” according to WSBC president Don Brubeck, who shares photos and this report from Saturday’s tour:
We started at Highland Park Improvement Club. First stop: The crosswalk at 11th Ave SW (a planned Greenway route) at SW Holden St, a busy arterial. We are supporting the Highland Park Action Committee’s application to SDOT for flashing beacons to help make this a safe crossing for kids going to schools and playgrounds in Highland Park and Riverview.
Then south on 10th Ave to SW Thistle at Highland Park Playfield. These are mapped as future Greenway routes, and seem ideal low traffic streets for walking and riding bikes. A set of public steps at 14th allows pedestrians to continue through on Thistle, but stops cars and bikes. We’d like to see a “runnel” gutter for bike wheels added to the steps, which are under construction now.
Then north on 17th Ave SW, which is a neighborhood Greenway route currently in the planning and design stage. The proposed route jogs over to 15th Ave on Kenyon, then back over to 17th at Webster. These jogs did not seem realistic to our group. Who would want to go 2 blocks east out of their way, and then 2 blocks west back to their route? And the intersections of Kenyon & 16th, 15th & Holden, and Webster & 16th would all need marked crosswalks and signals to be safe Greenway crossings. It looks much easier to just improve Holden for the short block from 17th to 16th, and then 16th to Webster, to get around the block that does not go through on 17th.
(Delridge sunflowers, by Laura Goodrich, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Notes from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – after a transportation alert:
FERRY ALERT: The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is still on a 2-boat schedule, and fog is complicating it further this morning. Keep an eye on which boat is where, “live,” via WSF VesselWatch.
WSHS MUSIC CAR WASH: 10 am-4 pm, get your car washed on a donation basis as a benefit for West Seattle High School‘s music program, raising money “for an upcoming trip to Disneyland next spring to march in the Disneyland parade and other music events.” West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor). (35th/Webster)
SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE’S LAST DAY: Local Girl Scouts are collecting school supplies through today, with a dropoff box at Mind Unwind in The Admiral District – details in our original report. (2206 California SW)
LAST DAY FOR SHOOFLY, DIVA: This is the last day for two local businesses: Shoofly Pie Company in The Junction (as announced last month; per Facebook, they’re opening at 10 am today and going until they sell out) and Diva Espresso in The Triangle (our previous report is here, explaining why they’re out and who’s in).
LUNA PARK BLOCK PARTY: Noon-3 pm with music, fashion, accessories, and more; details in our calendar listing. (2942 Avalon Way SW)
CITYDOG MAGAZINE COVER-DOG SEARCH: Does your dog have star power? S/he might be CityDog Magazine cover material. Photo sessions at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) noon-2 pm today by donation – details in our calendar listing. (California/Morgan/Fauntleroy)
WHILE YOU’RE THERE … The Dog Days of Summer adoption drive also continues at WS Thriftway today, noon-3 pm – details here.
WADING POOL’S LAST DAY: Delridge Community Center wading pool’s last day of the season, 12-6:45 pm – see the citywide schedule here. (Delridge/Genesee)
BEERFEST AND PET-ADOPTION EVENT: 1-4 pm at West Seattle Nursery, come have beer, a hot dog, and a chance to add a new companion to your household. Four animal-advocacy/rescue groups are participating; live music too – details here. (California/Brandon)
GOLDEN HERON GAMELAN IN CONCERT: Traditional music of Indonesia at Village Green Perennial Nursery, 1 pm – details in our calendar listing. (10223 26th SW)
ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOUR: Five chances left this summer to take a free tour of historic Alki Point Lighthouse with US Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers – today (and the next two Saturdays/Sundays), 1-4 pm. (3201 Alki SW)
MUSICAL THEATER X 2: Again today, two local productions onstage, and both have 3 pm matinees – “Hello, Dolly!“ presented by Twelfth Night Productions, and “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” presented by the ArtsWest youth – click on either production’s name for details.
SUPPORT GROUP: New West Seattle miscarriage support group meets today, 3 pm – location information via RSVP; details in our calendar listing.
MUSIC THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT … see the calendar!
(WSB photo by Katie Meyer)
12:42 AM: Police are closing the southbound side of Fauntleroy Way SW right now in the Fairmount Playfield area, between Dawson and Brandon (map), because of what we’re told is a flipped-car crash. At least one person is hurt, described as a woman in her 30s.
12:59 AM: Adding photos. Police say the woman has been taken to the hospital; the car is on its side, and officers are awaiting a tow truck to clear it away. Witnesses tell us a parked car was also hit. (added) Second photo from WSB’s Katie Meyer actually shows at least two parked cars damaged.
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