West Seattle, Washington
02 Monday
That’s one of dozens of short poems on cards lining a path into Camp Long as you enter this weekend’s Arts In Nature Festival, presented by the Nature Consortium. It’s on until 9 tonight and again from 11 am-6 pm tomorrow, and it’s a chance to immerse yourself in art experiences of many kinds, from words to music to ethereal creations woven between tree branches:
You might find performance artists wandering the grounds, like this otherworldly duo:
We first encountered them by a work in progress that’s unfolding all weekend long:
The painting started between two trees and will grow, we were told, to show how the built environment is obscuring nature and greenspaces; go see for yourself by the cabin between the north end of the meadow and the south side of the pond. Some of the comforts of civilization, though, are lining the central meadow – food trucks including the vegan Luchador Taco Company:
There’s a beer garden behind Camp Long’s historic lodge, too. Wander the grounds and you’ll find something to see, do, or hear, almost everywhere – at the small amphitheater on the south side of the meadow, we found these musicians:
Be sure to take several turns around the festival grounds – you might miss something behind a curtain or around the bend, first time you pass. Here’s the full schedule; ticket information is here – online sales are over but you can pay at the tent just past the gates of the park, which is at 5200 35th SW.
Out of the WSB inbox, from Wolfe:
We found a bike at the old Denny School park this morning 30th and Cloverdale. It’s an older Peugeot. It can be claimed by calling 206-940-0696 and telling us what color it is.
We also advise that found bicycles be reported to police – bikes are often stolen, used to get from one crime scene to another, then abandoned.
Three reports of orcas off our shores – most recently, just before 2:30 pm, off Beach Drive in the Me-Kwa-Mooks vicinity, headed southbound. As always, we hope you’ll let us know (comments or text/voice 206-293-6302) if you see them!
(Friday night photo by David Moya)
Yes, that’s wildfire smoke coloring our skies – yellowish haze right now, last night’s moonset (above), today’s sunrise (below) …
(Saturday morning photo by Craig Young)
If you’re sensitive, you probably have even noticed a smoky smell in the air – two people messaged us last night from different areas of West Seattle, wondering if there was a major fire close by. You can find many images and explanations on the Web, but the most comprehensive combination we’ve found so far is from weather analyst Cliff Mass, who published this update on his site, headlined, “Large Smoke Cloud Heads for Puget Sound.” (Puget Sound Clean Air Agency expects the wind to change tomorrow, improving the air quality here.) For information on specific fires, InciWeb is a good source (other suggestions welcome!).
From today’s list … arts-and-crafts creators of all ages are at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) until 3 pm. Early-early holiday gift, maybe? Or just something for yourself, a loved one, a friend – see which creations catch your eye.
Browse inside and out, at 5612 California SW.
Looking ahead to fall’s first festival in West Seattle – Holy Rosary School’s WestFest, four weeks away, is putting out a call for volunteers to entertain festivalgoers. Tiffany (a volunteer herself) is in charge of lining up stage entertainment and says, “We could use bands, musicians, magicians, etc. WestFest is Friday, September 18th, 6 pm-10 pm, AND Saturday, September 19th, 10 am-10 pm.” If you’re interested, please e-mail Tiffany at westfeststage@outlook.com.
(Ravens photographed over The Arroyos by Lon)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
HAPPENING NOW – ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR AT C & P: Find a treasure during this one-day craft fair at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) featuring local artisans. Continuing until 3 pm. (5612 California SW)
HAPPENING NOW – PUGET SOUND BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION KIDS’ DAY: Happening until 1 pm at the West Seattle Bee Garden, as previewed here. (31st SW & Graham)
HAPPENING NOW – ARTS IN NATURE FESTIVAL: The Nature Consortium‘s weekend of art, music, and nature at Camp Long is on! Until 9 tonight, and 11 am-6 pm on Sunday. You can plan your visit via the schedule on the festival website. (5200 35th SW)
HIAWATHA WADING POOL’S CLOSING DAY: Noon-6:30 pm, last day of the year at the Hiawatha Community Center Park wading pool. (SW Lander & Walnut)
ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Free summer-weekend-only tours continue this afternoon, 1-4 pm (last tour starts at 3:40 pm) with US Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers. (3201 Alki SW)
FREE BACKPACKS: 2-5 pm at Delridge Skatepark, West Seattle Baptist Church is giving away backpacks, with the event to be followed by a free concert. (Delridge Way SW & Genesee)
TWO PERFORMANCES OF ‘SIGNAL’: Performance artist Rachel Green‘s work for Duwamish Revealed will be performed at 3 pm and 7 pm at T-107 Park in West Seattle – details in our calendar listing. (4250 W. Marginal Way SW)
SALSA ON ALKI: Admission includes the dance lesson at 4:30 pm, followed by dancing until 10 pm, at Statue of Liberty Plaza. (61st SW & Alki)
‘ROCKY HORROR’ AT WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: This is it – sixth and final West Seattle Outdoor Movies event of the year – and it’s the audience-participation “cult” classic, “Rocky Horror Picture Show” (rated R, if you’ve somehow never seen it). Birdseed provided – no rice, please. Gates open at 6:30 pm at the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), so come get your space early; bring your own chair/blanket. Admission free but if you can bring some $, you can help local nonprofits via the concessions (Southwest Seattle Historical Society) and raffles (Furry Faces Foundation and AARF are this week’s beneficiaries). Movie’s at dusk, which is likely around 8:30 pm this time around. Series sponsors include WSB and a long list of local businesses and organizations you can see on the right sidebar of the official WS Outdoor Movies website. (4410 California SW)
MOVIE UNDER THE STARS EN ESPANOL: “El Padrecito” will be screened tonight at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, 8:30 pm – details in our calendar listing. (1321 SW 102nd)
PUNK, LIVE! AT THE SKYLARK: 9 pm, three bands at The Skylark in North Delridge. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Sorry the daily highlights are late today – some technical upgrades got in the way of prep time, but are good news for the future, speaking of which: You can always get a major jump on the day, the week, the month by going directly to the calendar.
Two road reminders:
HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE: From the Battery Street Tunnel north to Valley Street, 99 is closed both ways all weekend, for realignment onto newly built roadway. The Viaduct is open but if you’re heading northbound, you’ll have to exit at Western (as shown in the “live” webcam image above); if you want to use it southbound to West Seattle, you’ll have to get onto it (or back onto it) south of the tunnel.
ALKI BEACH 5K TOMORROW: Alki and Harbor Avenues will be off-limits to vehicles for about three hours Sunday morning before and during the Alki Beach 5K, a benefit for breast-cancer patients.
Westside School is finishing the transformation of the former Hillcrest Presbyterian Church campus into its new permanent home. Westside (a longtime WSB sponsor) has announced August 29th – one week from tomorrow – as the date for its grand opening:
Westside School will host the grand opening of its new campus on Saturday, August 29 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in West Seattle’s Arbor Heights neighborhood. The Westside School community will gather to celebrate the move into its permanent home with a ribbon cutting, tours, food trucks and more.
Construction at the new location began in early 2013. The building is a complete renovation of the former Hillcrest Presbyterian Church and features 53,000 square feet dedicated to teaching and learning: 27 classrooms; light-filled, child centered work spaces; a beautiful library; separate, team-oriented middle school classrooms; a 450 seat auditorium; green space, and warm and inviting gathering spaces where students, teachers, parents and visitors can connect, share, and meet.
Westside School was founded in 1981 by a group of educators and parents who wanted a positive and self-esteem building school experience for their children. Today, Westside School is the only accredited NWAIS (Northwest Association of Independent Schools) pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school located in West Seattle, with 340 students enrolled in for the 2015 – 2016 school year. Over the past few years, the school has grown into one of the largest pre-kindergarten through eighth grade independent schools in the region. Westside School’s mission is to prepare students for the world by challenging them to achieve academic success and by connecting their human spirit to imagination and learning.
Westside’s administration has moved to the new campus, while its camp and Sing Out Seattle will continue their programs at the school’s old campus, the former EC Hughes Elementary, until summer’s end. The plan for what happens to that campus in Sunrise Heights, leased and fixed up by Westside five years ago and recently designated a city landmark, has changed:
While Seattle Public Schools had been saying Hughes would be used as an emergency/interim site after Westside’s move, the district is now moving toward renovating and reopening it to add more elementary capacity in West Seattle. It’s at on the list of proposed projects for one of the levies the district plans to take to Seattle voters next February. The district has not finalized the levy plan yet, but the Hughes plan is already on a “request for qualifications” the district circulated this summer (cached here – the district website is down as we finish this story):
Project #5: E.C. Hughes Elementary: Located at 7740 34th Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98126 on a site area of approximately 160,736 sq. ft. The school was constructed in 1926 with a three story classroom addition completed in 1949. This project will modernize the existing 47,307 sq. ft. school to provide permanent space for up to 490 students, grades K-5. Construction is anticipated to begin by February 2018 and be substantially complete by July 2019. The construction budget is anticipated to be approximately $15 million to $17 million including hazardous material abatement and offsite improvements. Funding for the project is provided by the State through a Distressed School Grant and BTA IV capital levy dollars. If BTA IV is passed, the project total cost will be approximately $24 million to $26 million dollars.
Before the BTA levy is finalized, the district plans a series of community meetings next month, including one in our area – 6:30 pm Monday, September 28th, at West Seattle High School.
Time is … fleeting! In one month, it’ll be the 40th anniversary of the debut of “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Don’t wait to celebrate – do it tomorrow night at the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), during this year’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies finale. (No rice, please – birdseed will be provided!) And bring your own chairs/blankets … and do show up early – gates open at 6:30 pm and you can start staking out your spot then. Movie (free!) is at dusk, which should be around 8:30 pm. Before then, live comedy and music, and concessions (provided by and benefiting the Southwest Seattle Historical Society) plus raffle benefiting Furry Faces Foundation and AARF. Hotwire’s at 4410 California SW, next to the Junction post office.
Another shipment of logs arrived today at the Alki Homestead, as owner Dennis Schilling continues the first part of its restoration. The video is courtesy of Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director Clay Eals, whose organization is headquartered just half a block away, at the Log House Museum, which was the Homestead’s carriage house in its early decades as the Fir Lodge. While the full restoration project will require city Landmarks Board approval, Schilling has administrative approval to proceed with work to replace logs at the building’s southeast corner.
P.S. This year’s SWSHS gala will celebrate the start of the Homestead’s restoration; reservations will be open soon, but in the meantime, SWSHS invites you to save the date, November 7th, and to read an early preview here.
(Photos provided by Chas Redmond: Above, at WS Food Bank today with Judi Yazzolino, Lester Yuhand, and Christopher Dickie)
With two of nine candidates in the primary for Seattle City Council District 1 advancing to the general election, what’s next for the other seven? We heard today from one of them – Chas Redmond, who was first to start campaigning for the seat, and finished fifth. As far as we can recall, he’s the first ex-candidate who’s ever sent word of what he’s doing with the leftover campaign cash:
Now that I’m out of the race, I have to close out my campaign finances. I ran a very tight campaign and underspent my fundraising, meaning I had surplus funds at the conclusion of my run for office. I raised $12,467 and spent $9,967, making my cost-per-voter among the lowest, if not the lowest, of all 47 campaigns for City Council – my cost-per-voter was $7.86.
According to the Public Disclosure Commission, I can do several things with surplus campaign funds including donating them to non-profits and charities. Thanks again to all who donated. I had $2500 in surplus funds and have donated $1250 of those funds to Sustainable West Seattle and another $1250 of those funds to the West Seattle Food Bank.
(Above, at Sustainable WS picnic last night, presenting check to president Bryan Fiedorczyk)
As I kept saying throughout the campaign, there are no losers in this race, all of West Seattle and South Park are winners.
After receiving that announcement from Redmond, we asked him about future plans:
I’m working on a few ideas that still involve being an activist in local politics and I think it’s going to be really hard to take me out of the music scene, so music will remain part of my life. And I’m an active member of VIEWS, and we’re looking to do all sorts of cool things to increase engagement here in West Seattle in South Park. The campaign was amazing and getting to know everyone was even more amazing. West Seattle and South Park are very fortunate to have the quality of people running for public office and engaged in civic activities that we do. And finally, hats off to Lisa Herbold and Shannon Braddock, you were great competitors; I thoroughly enjoyed running with the pack.
We published the final election results after certification this past Tuesday.
(Photo from M/V Doc Maynard’s launch in Bellingham, courtesy King County DOT)
As first reported here last week, the new King County Water Taxi vessel that will serve West Seattle is due to arrive in about a month. And now the county has announced the plan for a dedication ceremony on September 18th – though it won’t be happening on this side of the bay:
We cordially invite you to the dedication ceremony and celebration for the new King County Water Taxi vessel, the M/V Doc Maynard.
Named in honor of an early Seattle leader, the Doc Maynard will provide safe, comfortable and environmentally sound transportation to the growing number of riders on the King County Water Taxi’s West Seattle-downtown Seattle route.
The dedication event will be held Friday, Sept. 18, 11:30 a.m. at the King County Water Taxi dock on Pier 50 in downtown Seattle.
After the ceremony you are invited to board the Doc Maynard for her maiden voyage.
Guests coming to the event from West Seattle are welcome to take a special trip from Seacrest Dock departing at 10:45 a.m. to the event at Pier 50 on the current Water Taxi vessel, the Spirit of Kingston. We will provide a return trip to West Seattle for invited following the maiden voyage, departing Pier 50 at 12:35 p.m. (both trips are free of charge). A community celebration event will be held at Seacrest Dock at a later date, after the Doc Maynard starts regular service on the West Seattle route.
If you want to ride over per the aforementioned offer, the Spirit of Kingston will leave Seacrest at 10:45 that morning; the ceremony at Pier 50 begins with remarks at 11:30 am; the return trip to Seacrest leaves Pier 50 at 12:35 pm.
Before we get further into Friday, quick highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
STUDENT DONATION DRIVE FOR CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL: Noon-3 pm at Hiawatha Community Center, here’s what you can help Seattle Lutheran High School student Macey Crooks with:
For a service project I will be collecting crayons, markers and coloring books to give to Seattle Children’s Hospital. I have my first drive on the August 21st at Hiawatha Community Center from 12:00 to 3:00 pm. All contributions of the above items are welcome, as well as dollar donations where all proceeds will go toward the hospital.
(2700 California SW)
CELEBRATING SPAIN: Flamenco and tapas at Brookdale West Seattle, 4-6 pm, open to the public but please RSVP – our calendar listing explains how. (4611 35th SW)
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS’ GARDEN PARTY: 6 pm at Bethaday Community Learning Space in Lakewood Park, join this area’s largest political organization for its biggest annual fundraiser – dinner, auction, and more, themed “The Roaring ’20s.” (605 SW 108th)
FREE MOVIE NIGHT: 6:15 pm kids’ short, 7 pm main feature at Highland Park Improvement Club – let’s just say, it’ll be incredible! Movie’s free. Bring $ for concessions. More info on the HPIC website. (12th SW & Holden)
DUWAMISH REVEALED PRESENTS ‘SIGNAL’: Rachel Green‘s performance is at T-107 Park in West Seattle tonight, 7 pm, described as “site-specific multimedia performance exploring growth and rebirth.” (4750 W. Marginal Way SW)
MOUNT CONCERT POSTPONED: If you missed the announcement yesterday – Providence Mount St. Vincent has postponed tonight’s scheduled outdoor concert with Danny Vernon‘s Elvis tribute. He’ll perform instead on September 10th.
9:46 AM: Thanks for the tips that Guardian One is up over Puget Ridge, with police on the ground near 18th and Dawson. SPD media relations tells us they’re looking for an assault suspect in a suspected case of domestic violence.
10:02 AM: Our crew reports the helicopter is still up and while there’s a significant police presence in the area, including K-9, Dawson (which takes a much-used turn through that area, between Puget Ridge and North Delridge) remains open.
10:48 AM: Guardian One has moved on, but no arrest is reported yet.
11 AM: Commenters have been asking about whether the closest schools that have Kindergarten Jump Start this week – Pathfinder, Sanislo, and Arbor Heights at Boren are each about 1 mile away – were in lockdown or shelter-in-place; some say they received notice that Pathfinder was, but Seattle Public Schools spokesperson Stacy Howard tells WSB, “We’ve just told them to lock their front doors. No shelter-in-place.”
One more show ahead for this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series – but last night’s won’t soon be forgotten:
That’s Ayron Jones, who with his band The Way was in the middle of a Jimi Hendrix riff when we arrived at the park about midway through last night’s show, which truly rocked. Missed it? Here’s video of their original song “My Love Remains”:
Lots of showmanship as well as solid music – Jones went out into the crowd at one point; at another, as shown in the photo below, shared by Brian O – who declared this “best concert of the series” – played his guitar with a drumstick:
Busy schedule for the band – which is off to Pullman to play the Lentil Festival tonight, then back toward Puget Sound for a few more metro-area gigs. Read more about them here.
NEXT UP AT SUMMER CONCERTS @ HIAWATHA: Always the biggest turnout of the series – family fave Caspar Babypants, 6:30 pm next Thursday (August 27th) on the east lawn, and that’s the series finale. We’re proud to have been a series sponsor again this year, and every year since its start in 2009; check the right side of the series’ main page on the ANA website for the list of other great local businesses making this free music possible, and if you’ve enjoyed it, consider telling them “thanks”! (The roster includes four that are also WSB sponsors: Metropolitan Market, Curious Kidstuff, Thunder Road Guitars, and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate.)
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:48 AM: It’s been a quiet commute, regionally as well as locally. So, the weekend reminders:
HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE STARTS TONIGHT: From late tonight until very early Monday (we’ll update if it ends sooner), between the Battery Street Tunnel and Valley St. in lower Queen Anne, Highway 99/Aurora Avenue will be closed so crews can realign it onto a newly built section of road – details and maps here.
ALKI BEACH 5K & OTHER WEEKEND EVENTS: Sunday morning, Alki and Harbor Avenues close for a few hours for the 9 am walk/run to raise money for Northwest Hope and Healing. It’s one of the events spotlighted in SDOT’s citywide weekend roundup.
ADDED 10:31 AM: In case anyone else was wondering – a commenter asked about missed 56/57 buses this morning; we asked Metro via Twitter, and here’s the response:
@westseattleblog We worked hard to fill the trip, but a 56 run was canceled due to no operator. The next run was overloaded & skipped a stop
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) August 21, 2015
12:04 PM: A car is reported to have hit a power pole and brought it down in the 5400 block of W. Marginal Way SW. Two people were in the car; no major injuries reported so far.
Quick note – if you happen to find WSB inaccessible at some point in the next few early-early mornings – we’re expecting a bit of after-midnight downtime for technical upgrades. Our 24/7 news commitment continues regardless, so if any breaking news happens during those downtimes, you’ll find info on our social-media channels, primarily Facebook and Twitter. Thanks, and sorry in advance for the inconvenience!
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
BREAK-IN ATTEMPT: From A in Arbor Heights:
I live near the intersection of 35th & 102nd in Arbor Heights. When I got home from work today, my crawl space door was wide open. Fortunately, there is no access to the inside of the house from the crawl space. The intruder may have had other motives, including theft, but was disappointed as everything of value is kept secured. A neighbor driving by stopped to comment that they’d found a knife lying in the street outside my entry, and had thrown it in the bushes. Police and Block Watch have been notified.
MISSING A BICYCLE LOCK? We haven’t received any reader reports of bicycles stolen/found in the past few days, but this morning Vanessa found this snipped lock that might be of interest to someone:
Found this morning at 40th SW and Dawson in the middle of the road. The metal U locks would be a better preventative lock.
The most-recent bicycle theft shown on the police-reports map was reported to have happened in the 3900 block of SW Bradford on Monday night.
(UPDATED FRIDAY AFTERNOON with children’s condition – scroll down)
6:54 PM: Major medical response under way right now at 34th and Morgan – two children are injured and being rushed to Harborview. Scanner traffic indicates a fall from a window.
7 PM: We’ve arrived at the scene. This is actually closer to 34th and Holly and apparently happened in an alley behind a cluster of townhouses on the west side of 34th.
7:04 PM: Via Twitter, SFD confirms a 1-year-old boy and 2 year-old boy fell about 30 feet from a window and are both in serious condition.
7:10 PM: SFD medic units have now rushed both children to Harborview and the remaining SFD units are clearing from the scene.
9:19 PM: We’re not likely to get any further information tonight but will follow up tomorrow.
2:11 PM FRIDAY: We’ve just heard back from Harborview Medical Center, with whom we inquired this morning in hopes of getting an update on the boys. An HMC spokesperson tells WSB they are both in intensive care, both still listed in serious condition.
(WSB photo)
Thanks to everyone who messaged us to ask about police and the medical examiner at the Roxhill Park/Westwood Village bus stop. Here’s what we found out at the scene: Somebody died on a RapidRide C Line bus. The bus driver was going to go take a break when he discovered that a passenger who wasn’t getting off the bus, couldn’t – he was dead. It’s not being investigated as a crime, as there’s no evidence suggesting foul play. All we know at this point is that the dead person is a man, no age estimate.
West Seattle food-and-drink-world notes, starting with tidbits of info about two new establishments:
NEW LEAF BISTRO: That’s the new name shown in public records for the ex-Royal India Grill space that’s been vacant in Admiral since spring of last year, at 2342 California SW. According to a tip from a reader who had encountered the prospective operators (we’ve been going by and haven’t found anyone there yet), it’ll be a Vietnamese restaurant.
DUMPLINGS OF FURY: “Rumors of dumplings” in The Junction erupted in a recent comment thread. Now a liquor-license application tells the tale – Dumplings of Fury, coming to the ex-Quadrato spot at 4302 SW Oregon. The names on the application: The team from Shadowland, almost just across the street.
We’ll be working to find out more about both of those (both of which are seeking beer/wine licenses, not full bars). Also of note:
‘EVENINGS’ AT JUNCTION STARBUCKS: Less than a week ago, when the new Junction Starbucks opened, the company was still saying it hadn’t made a decision about whether it would feature the “Evenings” concept, despite applying for a liquor license two months earlier. Today, John e-mailed us to mention signs up in the shop, and confirmation from a barista, so we checked again with company spokesperson Haley Nieman, who says it’s official – the new store “will begin offering the Evenings menu in late September.” That involves an “expanded menu of shareable small plates” as well as “hand-selected wines and craft beers.” The concept was premiered on Capitol Hill five years ago and is currently in more than 75 stores.
REPAIR CLOSURE AHEAD FOR ELLIOTT BAY: Elliott Bay Brewing Co. manager Amy sends word that EBB will be closed for a few days next week: “Elliott Bay Brewery will be closing for repairs at 9 pm on Sunday 8/23. We will reopen for lunch at 11:00 am on Thursday 8/27.”
Just out of the WSB inbox:
Providence Mount St. Vincent’s Aug. 21st concert featuring Danny Vernon as The Illusion of Elvis has been RESCHEDULED for Thursday, Sept. 10th. All the details are the same; just the date has been changed. Food, beer and wine will be available for purchase beginning at 5:30 pm. Danny will perform from 6 to 7:30 pm.
Our Aug. 28th concert featuring STRUM (Seattle’s Totally Relaxed Ukulele Musicians) will take place as scheduled.
The Mount apologizes for any inconvenience due to this rescheduling.
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