West Seattle, Washington
02 Saturday
(First 5 photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Pluto time, it was, at the High Point branch of the Seattle Public Library tonight, as West Seattle’s own Solar System Ambassador (and WSB’s Skies Over West Seattle reporter) Alice Enevoldsen convened an informational celebration of the New Horizons Pluto flyby:
Not only did Alice draw a crowd, regional media even took note – TV on site, radio earlier:
With the spacecraft due to “phone home” about midway through the two-hour event – 21 hours after the flyby itself – she had activities ready to inform and entertain the younger participants:
New Horizons indeed “phoned home,” and Alice declared the event “amazing and awesome.” Here’s how the Mission Operations Center celebration in Maryland looked:
(NASA photo by Bill Ingalls)
What now? From the NASA coverage linked above: “New Horizons will continue on its adventure deeper into the Kuiper Belt, where thousands of objects hold frozen clues as to how the solar system formed.” You’ll find updates on NASA’s website for the mission.
Eight years and eight months after 26-year-old Matthew Tatsuo Nakata was hit and killed at 47th and Admiral, the intersection finally has a signal – a safety improvement that some were seeking even before his death. The then-City Councilmember for whom Mr. Nakata worked at the time, David Della, joined community leaders and city reps tonight at an event commemorating the completion of the signal and crosswalks at the intersection. Among them: Past and present leaders of the Admiral Neighborhood Association had advocated tirelessly for the signal, including a rally in November 2011, close to the fifth anniversary of Mr. Nakata’s death:
Earlier that year, SDOT had again turned down ANA’s request for a signal, but they wouldn’t take “no” for an answer. Almost two years later, then-Mayor Mike McGinn proposed a “flashing beacon”; but Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and his council colleagues changed the budget to include funding for a full-fledged signal. Construction finally began this spring, and the light went into service last week. One more feature: RainWorks art by Peregrine Church :
It’s only revealed when the sidewalk is wet:
(ANA president David Whiting says they’ll be leaving a container of water nearby all week so you can test it for yourself.)
ADDED: Here’s our video showing what Whiting, Rasmussen, Della, and SDOT director Scott Kubly said, about 12 minutes followed by, in the last minute of the video, the water pour that “revealed” the art:
A corner on the north side of the intersection has another RainWorks creation with a similar theme:
Though Kubly acknowledged arriving at SDOT late in the process to get this project in place, he said it was one he heard about frequently:
The completion brought big smiles from Katy Walum and Don Wahl:
She was ANA president during the biggest push to make the signal reality; he has operated Alki Mail and Dispatch at the corner for many years and has seen and heard both crashes and close calls for too long.
Every year we publish a reminder about the White Center Jubilee Days fireworks show, in case you want to go see it, or just want to be forewarned about the booms in the distance. This year’s show is tomorrow night (Wednesday, July 15th) at dusk, at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center (1321 SW 102nd), where it’ll also be the first night of the Jubilee Days carnival.
Five months after we broke the news that Chipotle Mexican Grill was in the works for the ground floor of 4730 California, it’s weeks away from opening. Thanks to Kennedy for tipping us that its exterior sign was going up today; we just got the chance to go over for a photo. We also checked with Chipotle’s media-relations department to see if there’s an update on when they expect to open – the reply, “late August.”
(Firefighter Jeff Blevins with rescued cat; 2012 photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
You might remember that scene from a fire near The Junction in 2012; the Seattle Fire Department has to revive/treat pets more often than you think, and that’s why a donation today is so welcome. Here’s the SFD news release:
Today, Seattle Fire Department Chief Harold Scoggins received 20 donated pet oxygen masks from the Invisible Fence Brand of Seattle. The masks will be used to resuscitate animals overcome by smoke inhalation at fire scenes.
“I am very thankful for Invisible Fence’s generous donation,” said Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins. “These masks are another tool in our tool belt that firefighters can use to save pets overcome by carbon monoxide.”
In 2006, the Seattle Fire Department began carrying pet oxygen masks on Battalion Chief vehicles. The masks are used on animals overcome by smoke at building fires and other types of emergencies. Each mask contains a small, medium and large face piece. The cone-shaped design allows a snout to fit inside while a rubber gasket on the large end allows a seal to be maintained. They can be used on small animals like mice and guinea pigs too.
“When a family suffers the tragedy of fire, lives are turned upside down,” said Ed Hoyt, Director of Invisible Fence Brand.” Pets are valued family members, so we want families to know that their pet can be cared for if tragedy strikes.”
While the priority for firefighters is saving lives and property, the first responders are able to rescue and resuscitate trapped or injured pets.
Since the pet oxygen program began, the masks have been used at more than a half dozen fire scenes to successfully resuscitate pets.
On March 26, 2014, firefighters and paramedics revived two cats trapped in a burning home in the 3200 block of South Hudson Street in the Rainier Valley.
On March 22, 2013, Firefighter Blake Bidleman and other fire crews revived two cats after they were rescued from a burning North Seattle condo building located in the 11500 block of 15th Avenue NE.
On January 9, 2012, Firefighter Jeff Blevins revived a cat found inside a burning West Seattle home in the 3800 block of 46th Avenue Southwest.
There are steps that people can take to protect their pets during a fire or medical emergency. We have a fact sheet on our website.
(At right in our video, Donn Weaver directing the WS Big Band at 2013’s Concert in the Park)
By Randall Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
“A change is brought about because ordinary people do extraordinary things.” – President Obama
When Donn Weaver, the 2015 recipient of the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community, received as a seventh grader the gift of a trumpet from his older brother, he certainly could never have imagined he would someday be honored for sharing his love of music with the West Seattle community.
Yet, honored shall he be, at tonight’s Hi-Yu Concert in the Park featuring the West Seattle Big Band, an organization for which Weaver served as director from its inception in 1996 until stepping down this past winter, and then he’ll carry the trophy in this Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade, whose committee chooses the honoree.
The band initially was formed as a collection of a “baker’s dozen” of band alumni brought together to play at a West Seattle High School reunion.
“They asked for a band to play, so we contacted as many former members as we could. We had a rehearsal and played the reunion,” recalls Weaver. “At the end of the reunion, they got together in a huddle in the lunchroom and they told me they decided they wanted to have the band keep going. So I thought, “Well, we’ll just make it into a swing band,” and it’s been going ever since.”
The all-volunteer band quickly grew into the 18-piece unit that has been entertaining crowds throughout West Seattle ever since, while also raising thousands of dollars for the music programs of local public schools.
Born in Onalaska in southwest Washington, Weaver first arrived in Seattle to attend the University of Washington. where he earned his BA in music education in 1954. His career eventually brought him to West Seattle High School, where he taught from 1966 until 1978.
When Weaver first started at WSHS, there were just eleven students in the band. By the time Weaver moved on to new challenges, taking him to Franklin, Rainier Beach, and Ingraham high schools, the program was flourishing with more than 80 members.
“It was phenomenal how it blossomed,” says Weaver, downplaying his own role in helping build the school’s program. “High-school kids love a challenge.”
One person who does not underestimate Weaver’s contributions to not only the WSHS program, but also to the community at large, is former student Jim Edwards, who worked closely with Weaver in the West Seattle Big Band before succeeding his mentor as its director (he’s also a Rummel Trophy recipient, with wife Barbara Edwards, in 1998).
“Donn’s years at West Seattle High School, while a paid position, are not representative of your normal band director,” says Edwards. “He had a record of building strong programs wherever he taught. In 1978, his last year at West Seattle, his combined instrumental performing groups had a total of 72 performances out of a 180-day school year.”
It was Edwards, a member of the West Seattle Parade Committee and longtime co-coordinator of the parade, who nominated Weaver for the Orville Rummel Trophy before recusing himself from the decision-making process due to the long-term personal ties between the two men that has spanned several decades.
“When I first knew Jim, he was in elementary school and in the summer music program,” says Weaver. “I used to get a kick out of him because the trombone he played was bigger than he was!”
While there may be no more-fitting testimony to Weaver’s legacy than to have a former student nominate him for a prestigious community award while also continuing his work with the Big Band, Weaver always defers to the power of the music to move young and old alike, as seen repeatedly at his many performances.
“Music is worthwhile,” says Weaver. “If someone asked me to prove it was worthwhile, I wouldn’t know what to tell them, but I have seen it.”
****
You can applaud Donn Weaver for his decades of community service at tonight’s Concert in the Park – again, 7 pm, east lawn of Hiawatha (2700 California SW, but the concert’s on the Walnut side), free! – and when he rides in the West Seattle Grand Parade on Saturday, starting 11 am from California/Lander and proceeding southbound along California to the south end of The Junction at Edmunds.
****
ABOUT THE ORVILLE RUMMEL TROPHY: It’s named after the man who founded the parade in 1934, Orville Rummel – lots of background in the story we published the year we were honored with it, in 2010. The award was first presented in 1984. Click ahead for the full list of recipients from 1984 through 2015:
Read More
It’s the busiest community-council meeting in West Seattle – once a quarter, lots of talk about – so here’s an advance agenda alert for the Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting tomorrow (Wednesday, July 15th), 7 pm, at The Kenney (WSB sponsor):
7:05: Special guest, Debbie Goetz from city Office of Emergency Management
7:25 MoCA Minute Updates
• 35th Ave SW Safety Design meeting July 16 at ** Library
• MoCA in the Hi-Yu Parade – July 18
• Morgan Bike Rack update
• Nazarene Church Rezone Update
• 2015 Morgan Junction Festival Wrap-up7:30 Old Business
Murray CSO Briefing
Morgan cut-through traffic study
Morgan Junction Business Mixer
NPSF Morgan Junction Sidewalk Improvement Grant
Nazarene Church Comprehensive Plan Amendment status8:10 New Business
SW Precinct Focus Group Interest
KAWS (Kulture and Arts on the West Side) Endorsement Request
Morgan Neighborhood Plan Update
SWDC Budget Recommendation
Land Use Updates
PICK A DATE Morgan Festival 2016: June 11 or 18 or 258:45 By Laws
Voting on Proposed By-Laws Changes
MoCA meets in the lower meeting-room area at The Kenney (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW), all welcome.
Check out the sea lion hitching a ride on a southbound ship between West Seattle and Blake Island on Monday! The photo, just texted to us, was taken from a tugboat escorting the ship; the texter says the ship was traveling very slowly and that the sea lion eventually jumped back into Puget Sound, no harm done. Thanks for the photo – editor@westseattleblog.com or 206-293-6302 any time.
Jumping into Tuesday, (mostly) on land:
LOW-LOW TIDE, WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: Today’s low tide is -1.8 feet at 10:26 am, and Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are out until noon at Constellation and Lincoln Parks.
OPENING RECEPTION AT SSC: “Sightseeing through the Eyes of Northwest Landscape Artists” is the new exhibit at the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) gallery; its opening reception is noon-2 pm today – more info in our calendar listing. (6000 16th SW)
PORT COMMISSION: At the commission’s public meeting at 1 pm today at Pier 69 on the downtown waterfront, the agenda includes an item related to the modernization project for Terminal 5 in West Seattle, authorizing the Port’s CEO to spend $5 million more “test piles.” Details are linked from the agenda. (2711 Alaskan Way)
KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY-AND-LEARN: 1:30-3 pm at High Point Library, for kids 3-5 – explained here. (35th/Raymond)
PLUTOPALOOZA PHONE HOME! Also at High Point Library, today’s the day – the New Horizons spacecraft will “phone home” after its historic Pluto flyby, and that’s expected around 6 pm – this event with West Seattle’s own NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen includes activities for kids (added: she’s prepping them now!) …
Sciencing my Pluto activity for this evening… #PlutoFlyby @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/0R1zH140gc
— Alice's AstroInfo (@AlicesAstroInfo) July 14, 2015
… as well as information for all ages while the “phone home” moment is awaited. (35th/Raymond)
TRAFFIC SIGNAL COMPLETION CELEBRATION: As previewed last week, the Admiral Neighborhood Association and SDOT are hosting a 6:30 pm event to commemorate the completion of the 47th/Admiral/Waite traffic signal/crosswalks project. (SW corner of 47th/Admiral)
JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle – see the agenda in our earlier preview. (Oregon/California)
CONCERT IN THE PARK: 7 pm on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, enjoy the West Seattle Big Band‘s annual Hi-Yu Concert in the Park – free; BYO chair/blanket – and come cheer as WSBB’s longtime director Donn Weaver receives the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Community Service in advance of this Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade. (2700 California SW)
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Because of the traffic-signal event mentioned above, ANA’s regular 7 pm meeting will be at a different location, Alki Mail and Dispatch. (47th/Admiral)
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm FCA board business meeting – all welcome – at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse board room. (9131 California SW)
EVEN MORE HAPPENING TODAY/TONIGHT … see for yourself on our calendar!
West Seattle’s most populous elementary school, Schmitz Park, is getting three more portables for the coming school year, and Seattle Public Schools says they’ll be delivered later this week. One single portable classroom, transported in two sections, is scheduled to arrive around 4:30 am Friday (July 17th); the next day, Saturday around 5:30 am, two single portable classrooms, moved in four sections, are due. SPS says they’re coming from Olympic Hills Elementary in the north end and the route/date/time are all determined by SDOT for city streets, WSDOT for the I-5 portion of the move. You’ll see “No Parking” signs placed today where they’ll be needed.
According to the most-recent enrollment projections we found online, SPE is expecting 642 students this fall; that’s up more than 30 from last year and just a few under the capacity for which its new campus is being built on Genesee Hill (scheduled to open in fall 2016). Meantime, SPS also says portables will be moved to Pathfinder K-8 and West Seattle Elementary next month – more on that when it gets closer.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! We start, as we do most days, with transportation-related information:
TONIGHT – 47th/ADMIRAL/WAITE SIGNAL ‘COMPLETION CEREMONY’: As mentioned here last week, the Admiral Neighborhood Association and SDOT are hosting a 6:30 pm event to commemorate the completion of the 47th/Admiral/Waite traffic signal, which has been in operation for almost a week.
TOMORROW – 35TH SW PLAN: After years of concerns followed by months of controversy, what has the city decided to do with 35th SW? 7 pm Wednesday at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way SW) is the first of two presentations.
SATURDAY – WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE & FLOAT DODGER 5K: We’re reminding you all week that the West Seattle Grand Parade is Saturday (July 18th), preceded by the Float Dodger 5K, and California SW will be closed from Lander to Edmunds that day until early afternoon while it’s all under way -watch for transit info later this week, and watch for parking restrictions on the streets to which Metro will be diverting traffic – parade organizers tell us Metro will be diverting earlier than usual, so the parking restrictions will start earlier (6 am).
Meantime, we’re on traffic watch; if you see a problem affecting West Seattle through/outbound traffic/transportation, but it’s not reported here yet, we appreciate tips when they can be made safely/legally (if you’re riding, or if you’ve arrived where you’re going) – 206-293-6302, text or voice – thanks!
5:30 PM: See comments for two alerts – a stall on the southbound Viaduct, and backed-up traffic on southbound Fauntleroy north of the ferry dock. Thanks for sharing the info!
| 2 COMMENTS