day : 10/09/2017 7 results

We were already planning to publish a reminder about a City Council committee hearing Monday night that’s of citywide importance to everyone interested in development – the Planning, Land Use, and Zoning Committee‘s hearing on proposed changes to the Design Review process. Then, just now, a local community group that closely watches development-related issues sent an alert with new last-minute information. From the Morgan Community Association:

The city has proposed some major changes to the existing Design Review Program. MoCA President (and past Design Review member) Deb Barker was on the stakeholders group who worked with the city on possible changes earlier this year. The city just released their final proposed version in a package sent to the City Council in August. Several MoCA board members have been reviewing those changes to see how they would impact our neighborhood and if we wanted to make additional comments at the Public Hearing tomorrow, Sept 11. But to our dismay, on Friday (Sept. 8th), the City Council Planning, Land Use and Zoning Committee proposed 9 additional amendments of modifications, some of which have multiple new options. In their discussion, staff was not able to actually describe what the full changes are and admit it is confusing and more information is needed.

In a nutshell, we don’t know what’s on the table any more!

The PLUZ committee has said they plan to vote this out of committee on Sept 19. We are asking anyone who has an interest in good design happening in our neighborhoods to write to the PLUZ committee and request more time for Council to solidify their amendments and have time for the public to review and comment on the final package. Please send a short note to city council by 7:00 pm Monday, Sept 11.

Email addresses for the PLUZ committee

rob.johnson@seattle.gov
lisa.herbold@seattle.gov
mike.obrien@seattle.gov
lorena.gonzalez@seattle.gov

Link to the Mayor’s proposed changes to Design Review (Director’s Report summary)

Link to the City Council proposed amendments (as of last Friday)

The council committee has been discussing the potential changes (pre-amendments) in recent months; we wrote about one of the discussions in mid-August. In general, reasons cited for changing the program include shortening the time it takes to get projects through city vetting, and also an alleged overload/backlog for the city’s Design Review Boards (although right now, for example, the Southwest Design Review Board has zero projects on its upcoming calendar).

MONDAY NIGHT’S HEARING: If you’d like to comment in person at the committee’s hearing on the Design Review changes, the Monday night hearing is on Lower Queen Anne, at SIFF Cinema Uptown, in Auditorium 3, 511 Queen Anne Ave. N. The meeting starts at 5:30 pm with an hour and a half scheduled for the Uptown rezoning proposal, not related to the Design Review proposal, which is then scheduled to come up at 7 pm. The meeting’s full agenda, with document links, is here.

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CAMP MOMENTIA: ‘Lifting up people living with memory loss’ this weekend at West Seattle’s Camp Long

September 10, 2017 7:56 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Story and photos by Marika Lee
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Inside the lodge at Camp Long today, a group of Camp Momentia attendees got to their feet and danced with students from the University of Washington’s Musical Theater program.

The campers later sang along about the importance of hugs and took part in nature-inspired craftmaking and storytelling tailored for people with dementia/memory loss.

Camp Momentia is an annual event that has been growing in attendance since it started four years ago. About 70 people attended the two-day camp this year.

“Momentia as a movement is really about lifting up people living with memory loss as the experts of their own experience and looking to them for what they want to have happen in the community and what is important to them,” explained Cayce Cheairs (above right), who coordinated the camp as a Dementia-friendly Recreation Specialist for Seattle Parks.

The UW students researched and met with an advisory board of people with memory loss and caregivers to determine what to include in their musical revue, titled “Just a Moment.”

Cheairs said Camp Momentia is the container for everything Momentia does in the community to empower and ensure people with dementia/memory loss remain connected and engaged in their communities. She said the camp definitely saw the impact of the recently created West Seattle “Momentia in My Neighborhood” group.

“There are a lot of folks here from West Seattle. In previous years, we really didn’t have many folks from West Seattle coming to the camp. It feels like that process has really spread the movement and who is now participating and involved,” Cheairs said, adding that Providence Mount St. Vincent’s involvement in the group has also helped.

West Seattle resident Kathy Daley got involved by taking her mother to talent shows that featured her artwork.

“Everyone gets to be a person here. There isn’t just one thing that works,” Cheairs said.

Mary Firebaugh of West Seattle said she has been around with city-wide Momentia since the beginning. “It has always been fun. Even the word ‘Momentia’ was to make dementia and memory loss sound more exciting and positive, which is a sort of a questionable goal. But there is no reason we can’t get together and celebrate life and do things.”

She and Daley are working on other Momentia events in West Seattle, such as musical performances and park walks.

(Camp Momentia participants working on a dreamcatcher)

In addition to the proven health benefits for bringing people with memory loss into nature, Cheairs said Momentia presents events such as the camp to combat the narrative that people with memory loss should be hidden away.

“People with dementia have things to teach the rest of us about living in the moment and being creative and being engaged,” Cheairs said.

Momentia is a regional movement, with events and programs listed here. Find out more about Seattle Parks’ Dementia-Friendly Recreation programs here.

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WEST SEATTLE RESTAURANTS: Srivilai Thai on the way to ex-Blackboard Bistro

September 10, 2017 5:55 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Thanks to Josh for the tip: That small sign has appeared in the window of the ex-Blackboard Bistro at 3247 California SW, just three weeks after it closed, announcing that Srivilai Thai Cuisine is “coming soon.” After receiving Josh’s note, we went over for a look, but didn’t find anyone there, and so far we haven’t found any additional information online – we’ll update when we do!

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Deterring bicycle theft

September 10, 2017 3:54 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Crime | Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

From Seattle Police‘s crime-prevention coordinator for the Southwest Precinct, Jennifer Burbridge: “We have recently seen an increase in bicycle thefts in the North Admiral and the Alaska Junction neighborhoods. Due to this increase, the SW Precinct would like to provide our communities with some helpful prevention techniques.” See them here, and/or embedded below:

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CELEBRATION: Sendoff set for retiring West Seattle HS baseball coach Velko Vitalich

September 10, 2017 2:10 pm

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

(Coach Velko Vitalich, photographed in June by WSB’s Patrick Sand)

Three months ago, we talked with longtime West Seattle High School baseball coach Velko Vitalich about his decision to retire from that role after more than 30 years. Now, a public celebration for the coach has been announced, and you’re invited. The announcement is from Bret Meaker:

It takes a dedicated person to give up their free time in order to teach and mentor kids. One man has faithfully and tirelessly spent three decades looking after the youth of West Seattle and we would like to recognize and honor him for it.

After 30 years of coaching generations of youth at West Seattle High School, Coach Velko Vitalich is retiring. Please come help us send him off in style. We will be having a celebration at the West Seattle Golf Course on Saturday, September 23rd, at 5 pm. Players, parents, teachers and students are encouraged to attend. We will be serving a BBQ dinner and a no-host bar is available. Attendees are encouraged to bring pictures, stories, and memories to share.

There will be a $20 charge per person to cover the cost of the food and rental. All RSVPs needs to be made by 9/18 at RSVP4Velko@gmail.com

If you are unable to attend, but would like to share a memory about the coach, please send the stories to RSVP4Velko@gmail.com and we will make sure he gets it.

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UPDATE: Vote on what you want to see at new West Seattle Junction park

September 10, 2017 12:01 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

12:01 PM: At the south end of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, until 2 pm, it’s the Seattle Parks “open house” for the future two-thirds-of-an-acre park that’ll be three blocks away, in the 4700 block of 40th SW [map]. Stop by and you’ll get the chance to “vote” on which of more than 30 “design elements” you’d like to see at the park – they’re on paper ballots being handed out, and on one of the easels:

That’s project manager Karimah Edwards at left in the photo above. The “design elements” aren’t on the project website yet, but we’re told they will be soon. The park site was purchased for $1.4 million in 2012 and “landbanked”; until recently, it was home to temporary Fire Station 32 while the new station was under construction. Almost $2 million for design and development was set aside from the Park District levy; the park is to be designed next year, and built in 2019.

ADDED 2:20 PM: Your next chance to talk about the future park will be at the Junction Neighborhood Organization‘s upcoming meeting, 6:30 pm September 19th at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon) – Parks’ project team is scheduled to be there.

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West Seattle Sunday: Hurricane help; park feedback; Colman Pool finale; more…

September 10, 2017 6:03 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Sunday: Hurricane help; park feedback; Colman Pool finale; more…

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Happy Sunday! Here are the highlights of what’s happening today/tonight in West Seattle:

HURRICANE FUNDRAISER: The photo above is from Amy, who explains, “My kids are raising money for hurricane victims. They made a lot of money (Saturday), in a short amount of time. And will be back (today) selling cookies, brownies, muffins, and lemonade.” ~10 am-2 pm. The proceeds go to hurricane relief via GlobalGiving.org. (52nd SW/SW Stevens)

PARK FEEDBACK @ FARMERS’ MARKET: Two-thirds of an acre of land in the 4700 block of 40th SW, bought by the city five years ago, is getting closer to being turned into a park. Potential designs are being shown, and your feedback collected, 10 am-2 pm today at the Farmers Market – look for the Seattle Parks booth/table. We’ll be looking for it once the market opens and will update with the location. *Added – south end of market* (California between Oregon and Alaska)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: As for the rest of the market – go see what’s fresh this week! 10 am-2 pm. (California between Oregon and Alaska)

MEET GREYHOUNDS: 11 am-1 pm at Mud Bay-Admiral. (2611 California SW)

LAST DAY FOR COLMAN POOL: Noon-7 pm, it’s the last day of the season for Colman Pool on the shore at Lincoln Park; here’s the swim-session schedule. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

‘THE WHO AND THE WHAT’: 3 pm matinee at ArtsWest – first week for the play by Pulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar. Ticket info and more in our calendar listing. (4711 California SW)

ALL-AGES MUSIC: At The Skylark, 6-9 pm, Curt Terry, Victrola, and This Past Tuesday. $5 cover. All ages. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

And if you’re going downtown tonight …

WATER TAXI EXTENDED SCHEDULE FOR SOUNDERS’ MATCH: Last run from Pier 52 to West Seattle will be at 10:45 pm.

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