Tomorrow, Sunday, and subsequent weekends into mid-March, you are invited to join West Seattle’s newest neighborhood-beautification campaign – on the sloped median of Chilberg Avenue between Genesee and Douglas, just east of Beach Drive, leading to Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook Park.

(WSB photo showing part of the project area)

A group of neighbors, Friends of the Chilberg Link, successfully applied for a Neighborhood Matching Fund grant, $8,900 to be matched by more than $10,000 in volunteer work and contributions. Janice Nyman – herself an arborist and architect – sent word that their work parties are about to begin and they’re inviting participation.

“Although its looking pretty raw right now,” she said, “I think it’s going to be quite pretty: Fruit trees, pollinator wild flowers, berries!” You can see the plan here.

The announcement adds that “Friends of the Chilberg Link will remove invasives, prune vegetation, plant edible plants, and create an area for rainwater holding and a secured art piece. Work parties will be held in the winter and spring of 2016. Professional landscape firms will be hired to lead the community in landscape installation, including: Mariposa Naturescapes, Garden Cycles, and Black Lotus Landscaping LLC.”

The project will evoke the area’s history, according to research done by local historian Judy Bentley – a one-lane road ran through a meadow filled with wildflowers.

At the northern end of the Schmitz property, a single-lane dirt road wound down a hill through substantially uninhabited meadow to a dead end a block beyond Carroll Street.

When walking to and from the old Alki School [at Chilberg Ave. SW/59th and Carroll], we frequently preferred the trail along Chilberg Avenue, to enjoy some of the most beautiful wild flowers in the open fields and leading up into ‘The woods,’ the hillside forest.” (Lillevand Papers, SWSHS).

“We love the historical reference to a winding meadow with wildflowers, so we are using it as the basis of our design,” Nyman says.

Join them Saturdays and Sundays, 10:30 am-12:30 pm. You’re asked to “bring shovels, pruners, and gloves”; cardboard donations are welcome too, as is the donated use of yard-waste containers. Questions? Contact Nyman at nymanarc@gmail.com.

P.S. If you or someone you know has more information about the history of Chilberg Avenue, please contact Bentley at bentley.judy@gmail.com or Lissa Kramer at the Log House Museum.

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High-school basketball: Chief Sealth girls continue win streak

January 22, 2016 10:03 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Thanks to Shelley for the photo and report: “The Chief Sealth girls played another great game, coming off a win against Bainbridge Wednesday night. They traveled to Lakeside to overcome them 46-45.” She adds that the Seahawks, coached by Katie Jo Maris, are on a 5-game winning streak (see the season’s results and schedule here), and that this is their first win over Lakeside in at least 9 years.

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VIDEO: West Seattle High School Diversity Club produces video to ‘show support for our Muslim students’

January 22, 2016 8:55 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

That 4-minute video is by the West Seattle High School Diversity Club, “made to address anti-Muslim stereotypes and show support for our Muslim students,” explains the club’s adviser, WSHS teacher Rebecka McKinney. She adds, “I am very proud of the work our students have done and hope it will be shared throughout the district and even beyond. They first held focus sessions where Muslim students were invited to discuss their feelings around the anti-Muslim rhetoric, how they felt, and what they would like to see done to support them. Diversity Club co-president Meron Mulu then created questions and signed students up to be in the video. From there we partnered with sophomore Sam Cleary and his crew to do the filming and editing.” The video was shown to all students during the announcements period at WSHS this morning.

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TOMORROW: Climate conversation at Duwamish Longhouse

January 22, 2016 6:11 pm

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| Environment | West Seattle news

At the Duwamish Longhouse tomorrow (Saturday, January 23), 1-5 pm, join in a conversation about climate:

Continue the dialogue begun at COP21 in Paris!

You are invited to join with participants from the COP21 session at La Galerie des Solutions including local activist Sarra Tekola, members of the Tulalip, Lummi, and Saanich Tribes, and keynote speaker Laurence Brahm.

Laurence Brahm is a US native who has lived in Asia for much of his life. He is a global activist, social entrepreneur, international lawyer, political-economist, crisis mediator, and author of over 20 books on Asia. He has worked on climate change with many heads of state from Bhutan to Iceland and with the Chinese government to create their new green growth national policy. He is the author of Fusion Economics, on his work with the Himalayan Consensus and the African Consensus.

The Green Party of Washington State is sponsoring the event; find the Longhouse in West Seattle, at 4705 W. Marginal Way SW.

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Sidewalk work, park expansion, and other Morgan Community Association notes

January 22, 2016 4:21 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

We’ve already published our video from the HALA and “backyard cottages” presentations that comprised the second half of Wednesday night’s quarterly Morgan Community Association meeting. Before that, a quick MoCA meeting included these neighborhood updates:

SIDEWALK WORK TO CONTINUE IN SPRING: The grant-funded work to repair/replace the sidewalk on the west side of California SW south of Fauntleroy Way will continue “in late March to April.” The sidewalk in front of the commercial building on the southwest corner of the intersection was completed last fall (our photo is from Thursday).

PARK-EXPANSION UPDATE: The city has owned the commercial building north of Morgan Junction Park for more than a year and a half, and demolition is now “guesstimated” for next July, according to MoCA. The cleaners closed earlier this winter and the convenience store is expected to be out by May. Park design hasn’t begun yet, though.

LINCOLN PARK PLAY AREA MEETING REMINDER: As noted here last week, Seattle Parks has set February 2nd as the next meeting for the renovation of the north play area at Lincoln Park, 6:30 pm at Gatewood Elementary (4320 SW Myrtle).

MORGAN JUNCTION BUSINESS MIXER: Area businesses are invited to network and mingle at the next mixer – 5-7 pm April 28th at Zeeks Pizza (WSB sponsor) on the northwest corner of California/Fauntleroy.

P.S. MoCA (an all-volunteer group) also elected this year’s officers/executive board members: President Deb Barker, Vice President Phillip Tavel, Recording Secretary Jennifer Whip, Treasurer Eldon Olson, Public Information Officer Cindi Barker, Southwest District Council rep Tamsen Spengler.

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New timetable for ‘People, Dogs, Parks’ plan: Late February

January 22, 2016 2:42 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

What will be proposed in the city’s “People, Dogs, and Parks Strategic Plan” – formerly the off-leash plan? We won’t know for another month. That’s the latest word from the city; thanks to Mike Dey from the Fauntleroy Community Association for the alert. When the new project lead, Susan Golub, spoke to the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council in November (WSB coverage here), it looked like the draft plan would be out in early January. Now the city says “tentatively … late February.” You can watch this city webpage for updates – or be at the city Parks Board’s next meeting, as they have a “preliminary discussion” about the forthcoming plan. A briefing paper just posted in connection with that meeting offers these questions for Parks Board members to discuss:

1. Should we allow/encourage sponsorships and advertising? …

2. Should we have unfenced, hours-only off-leash areas? …

3. How should new OLAs be added to the system? …

4. Should there be a restriction on the number of dogs an individual can bring to an off-leash area?

The Parks Board meets 6:30 pm next Thursday (January 28th) at Queen Anne Community Center. No dog-plan-specific meeting dates/times are set yet

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Southwest Design Review Board, report #2: Perch advances on 2nd try

January 22, 2016 12:45 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

(GO HERE for coverage of the first project reviewed Thursday night, 1307 Harbor SW)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

With some reservation, the Southwest Design Review Board voted last night to allow 1250 Alki SW – a ~100-unit apartment building that developer SolTerra has named “Perch” – to advance out of the Early Design Guidance phase on its second try.

Neighbors who have been closely watching and analyzing the process again voiced their concern that the project remains out of scale with the neighborhood. Here’s the “design packet” on which last night’s presentation was based:

Here’s how the review went:

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West Seattle Friday: From Legos to live music…

January 22, 2016 11:14 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Don Brubeck)

Friday and the weekend is almost here! First, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

WEST SEATTLE GARDEN CLUB: This month’s meeting is under way, but there’s still time to join some of the upcoming sessions. Info in our calendar listing. It’s happening in building 3 at Daystar. (2615 SW Barton)

LEGO EXTRAVAGANZA: 6:30 pm at the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor), come build whatever you can dream up! Prizes in certain age groups. Free. The Y welcomes Lego donations, too, if you have some that are no longer needed. (4515 36th SW)

WANT TO TEACH YOGA? Informal information night at Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor), 7 pm – info in our calendar listing. (5639 California SW)

HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: The only team home tonight is Seattle Lutheran High School, hosting nearby Shorewood Christian – girls play at 6, boys at 7:30, at the SLHS gym. (4100 SW Genesee)

LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: Singer/songwriter Mitchell Mirande performs at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

CD RELEASE CONCERT: Daisy Day Band‘s CD release, plus Death Muffins, 9 pm at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

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BIZNOTE: PCC West Seattle store reopens after short shutdown

January 22, 2016 10:05 am

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

10:05 AM: Thanks to Chris for the tip – the West Seattle PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) store is temporarily closed. We called to find out why; a staffer told us they’re fixing a plumbing problem and hope to reopen later this morning, perhaps as soon as 11 am or so. We’ll be checking back, but if you find it open again before we mention it, please consider texting/calling our hotline, 206-293-6302 – thank you.

10:50 AM: Via Twitter, PCC just announced the West Seattle store has reopened.

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Celebration of life tomorrow for ‘Nurse Shirley’ (Thomas), 1932-2016

January 22, 2016 9:31 am

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| Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

So many knew her as “Nurse Shirley.” Those who knew her as “an incomparable and beloved mother, auntie, and friend” are sharing this remembrance and invitation to tomorrow’s celebration of her life:

Shirley Ann Thomas, 6/22/32-1/7/16

Shirley Thomas might say her job here on Earth was done. She’d run all the “Erins” and “Jillys” on her list, and it was now time for her next big adventure.

Born June 22, 1932 to Alaric and Ellen, and the baby of six spirited Belanger siblings, she came into this world with determination and a mischievous glint in her eye. Destined to love hard and laugh often, her feisty nature was the product of good family genes and an inherently good and decent soul.

Married in 1961 to Earl William Thomas, her greatest joy was their two daughters, Erin and Jill. Her pride in her girls was unrivaled. Her love for them, boundless. No matter how big or small the accomplishment, those girls knew they’d made mom proud.

Shirley was never stingy with her love. Her bond with son-in-law Tom was unbreakable. Her relationships with her siblings, nieces, nephews, and everyone in-between were equally strong. As the generations of kids who came through the doors of the Children’s Clinic of West Seattle knew all too well, you didn’t have to be blood related to be worthy of Nurse Shirley’s love and attention. If you were in the vicinity of her kind heart, you were considered family.

Miss Shirley enjoyed holding court, waving her hands through the air as though playing an imaginary piano, while regaling us with her dry wit and oftentimes jaw-dropping stories. But more than that, she gleaned great pleasure in sitting back and taking in the family and friends who had surrounded her for the precious decades she’d blessed us all with. She was the grand dame of her neighborhood, and it was a rare occasion to find her home alone. Kelly and Bob, Darlene and Dan, Julie and Terry, she loved you so! Shirley never had a bad day.

Shirley is survived by her two loving daughters, Erin and Jill, her son-in-law Tom, and so many family members, friends, and adoring fans, there isn’t a newspaper or website large enough to name them all. And while she would admonish us with a swipe of those hands for grieving her passing, there are simply no words to describe our loss. Our comfort is knowing we all carry a piece of her joyous spirit inside us. We see it in the mirror every day, and in the mischievous grins of our children, to be passed on for generations to come.

Please join us in celebrating the life of an incomparable and beloved mother, auntie, and friend at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on January 23, 2016 at 1:00 pm – followed by a festival of family, friends, and food at her home. She wouldn’t have had it any other way.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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UPDATE: Repairs under way for sewer-pipe leak south of Alki Point; work to continue Saturday

January 22, 2016 8:53 am

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| Environment | Utilities | West Seattle news

(WSB photo)

ORIGINAL 8:53 AM REPORT: County crews are working on what they describe as a “small sewer leak” near Alki Point and have posted warning signs in the area. Just in from the Wastewater Treatment Division:

King County utility crews are working quickly this morning to repair a sewer line leak near the 63rd Avenue Pump Station, which is located at 3535 Beach Drive SW.

The small leak was detected last night in a 42-inch pipeline that pumps wastewater from homes and businesses in West Seattle to King County’s West Point Treatment Plant in the Magnolia neighborhood.

An undetermined amount of wastewater overflowed out of the pipe and into Puget Sound. To protect public health and safety, crews quickly initiated cleanup and posted warning signs to keep people away from affected areas.

Construction workers will be on site this morning to repair the pipeline. King County reported the overflow to health and regulatory agencies and will monitor water quality over the next several days.

10:37 AM UPDATE: County staffers are distributing flyers in the area, and spokesperson Annie Kolb-Nelson also tells us they’re now closing the sidewalk, as well as one traffic lane – in an area that’s already relatively narrow. So they’re advising avoiding the area.

5:13 PM UPDATE: Work will continue tonight and tomorrow, the county says:

King County Wastewater Treatment Division crews have begun repairs to a sewer line where a failed seal caused a leak at the 63rd Avenue Pump Station on the evening of Thursday, Jan. 21.

Earlier today, crews excavated the pipeline, identified a repair method, and are now working to contain the leak and complete work as quickly as possible. Work is expected to be completed for the night at 10 p.m., and will resume at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23.

The area is cordoned off, and warning signs are posted to keep people at a safe distance from the work area during repair activities. King County employees are monitoring water quality, and will continue to do so until the problem is resolved and water quality returns to normal condition.

We will continue to provide updates as the work to repair this pipeline continues. Please contact us if you have questions.

What to expect:
· Work will continue until 10 p.m. tonight, and resume at 7 a.m. Saturday.
· Neighbors will experience noise, and construction lights will be on site.
· While repairs are expected to be completed Saturday, some work to restore the area may continue the week of January 25.
· Vactor trucks will be on site beginning Friday, January 22, 2016.
· Drivers should watch for traffic control devices – flaggers, signs and cones – and drive slowly through the area.
· Fencing, warning signs and tape will all be used at the site to keep people safe. Please avoid the area.

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