West Seattle, Washington
07 Wednesday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
District 1, including West Seattle, will elect a new City Councilmember this year, since Lisa Herbold has decided not to run for a third term.
Three people have formally announced campaigns so far, and it’s early, so more are likely. Rather than wait until late in the campaign to interview them, we decided to help ensure you have a better chance to get to know the candidates, by interviewing them multiple times, starting with an early “chat.”
So starting tonight, we’ll feature a City Council Candidate Chat for at least the next three Sundays (beyond, if and when additional candidates make announcements). We’re starting with more of a get-to-know-you kind of conversation; first up is Rob Saka, a Delridge resident who is the most-recent candidate to jump into the race.
We sat down with him at Delridge Community Center, a place Saka says is near and dear to his heart, not just because he lives in the area, but because he and his family – including three young children – have spent a lot of time there.
Our entire half-hour chat, unedited, is recorded on video:
If you don’t want to, or don’t have the time to, watch/listen, here’s our summary of key points:
As noted here Saturday night, both West Seattle High School teams have made it into the state tournament. Tonight, we know when and where they’ll play their first games. As announced by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, here’s the schedule:
GIRLS: Tuesday (February 21st) 7 pm, at WSHS vs. Central Kitsap
BOYS: Saturday (February 25th) 8 pm, at Bellevue College vs. winner of Tuesday’s Everett–North Thurston game
Both are open to the public, with admission charges.
As shown here last night, Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists were out at Constellation Park, helping people explore responsibly at low-low tide. Tonight we have photos of some of the wildlife they saw – the first three photos are from Rosalie Miller: Above, a painted anemone; below, northern kelp crabs:
And a rough piddock:
We don’t have the ID on this one, but Molly Al-Jawad sent the photo:
Tonight’s low-low tide, -2.5 feet at 10:18 pm, will be just as low as the one that brought explorers out last night. Meantime, you can watch this page later this year to see when the beach naturalists will be out during the summer daytime low-low tides.
Today was scheduled to be the last day for answering the city survey that kicked off work on the South Delridge Action Plan. However, checking its start page reveals it’s been extended through February 28th. We discovered that while preparing to write a preview about community council HPAC’s monthly meeting coming up this Wednesday (February 22), which will include guests discussing the SDAP, described a month ago as intended “to develop a vision for the future of South Delridge, which includes parts of neighborhoods such as Westwood, Roxhill, Highland Park, Delridge, and White Center … (to) help the City support community and focus investments in the coming years.” If you haven’t already answered the survey, go here to find links in 4 languages; attendance info for Wednesday’s 7 pm online HPAC meeting is here.
As we reported Thursday night, a city rep told the Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council that the Harbor Avenue RV encampment area was scheduled for a sweep (aka “remediation”) late this month. Driving through the area at midday today, we noticed “no parking” signs along both sides of Harbor from Fairmount to Spokane, for next Thursday-Friday (February 23-24), and a closer look at the mandatory explanatory notices on some of them attribute the restrictions to “RV remediation”:
Most of the half-dozen-plus RVs scattered along that stretch of Harbor also have been tagged – the orange squares were in view on front windshields.
(WSB file photo)
While much of Seattle’s only river, the Duwamish River, has been pressed into service as industrial “waterway” over the decades, some stretches retain remnants of its original wild beauty. In all its roles, the Duwamish can be a source of inspiration, and a writer who grew up in West Seattle wants you to know about a writing workshop he’s leading soon – not in WS but not far away. Here’s the announcement:
This winter Simon Wolf will offer Place Based Poetics: Writing with the Duwamish River, a workshop through Hugo House, an essential literary community in Seattle. The course draws on documentary and ecopoetic work that has preoccupied Wolf for the past three years, including his University of Washington Bothell MFA thesis, Charging. That project drew from Seattle settler history texts, family migration stories, and reflections on urban experiences, with the Duwamish River as a grounding line through every element. In his current work he questions his preconceived notions of nature and explores new ways of approaching the Duwamish River through writing, research, and his work in land restoration.
The course considers, “How can we write poems from a river? How can this river be the line that guides us through the violent past of Seattle? Part Seattle history, part eco-poetics, we will read excerpts of history texts and discuss poets that engage rivers, industry, and pollution in their work. Students will practice incorporating research into their poetry, will visit the river at least once, and leave class with two river poems.”
Registration is open. Hugo House members receive a discounted rate for the class, which meets in person at Hugo House Tuesdays 5 to 7 pm from February 28 through March 21, 2023.
Wolf also hosts a free monthly Writing Circle at Blue Cone Studios, on Capitol Hill, in Seattle that meets the last Friday of the month from 6-8 pm. Participants are invited to read and discuss poetry, make work together, and to share work in progress — all are welcome!
As noted here last month, the State Legislature has relaunched its page programs after a pandemic hiatus. Another local student has just completed a turn in Olympia – here’s the announcement we received:
(Photo courtesy Washington State Legislative Support Services)
Rowan Wohlf, a student at Chief Sealth International High School and South Seattle College, served as a page earlier this month in the Washington State House of Representatives. Sponsored by State Rep. Emily Alvarado, D-West Seattle, Rowan is the child of Nikki Wohlf and Ken Wohlf of Seattle.
Pages assume a wide variety of responsibilities, from presenting the flags to distributing amendments on the House floor. Pages support the efficient operation of the Legislature while also receiving daily civics instruction, drafting their own bills, and participating in mock committee hearings.
This year’s legislative session runs into April and applications for the page program are still open – find the info here.
(Luna/Anchor Park, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s what’s happening on day two of this three-day Presidents Day weekend:
ONLINE RELIGIOUS SERVICES: We’re continuing to update these – see today’s lineup here.
ANIMATED CAFE STORY TIME: 9:30 am in the building next to the coffee stand’s lot at 4518 Fauntleroy Way SW. Sign up in advance here.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market offers winter produce as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, more. Here’s today’s vendor list. (California SW between Oregon and Alaska)
MOUNTAIN TO SOUND OUTFITTERS SALE: The Presidents Day Weekend Sale is on at Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) – get gear and apparel for snow sports, with lots of time left in this year’s season – some items up to 40 percent off! Open 10 am-5 pm today. (3602 SW Alaska)
DONATION DRIVE: Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) is hoping you can donate to today’s drive – drop off items in the front courtyard, 11 am-3 pm:
The pantry is bare! There is a critical need for donations of non-perishable food for our unsheltered neighbors.
Donations of food, clothing, and outdoor gear are distributed through the Westside Interfaith Network (WIN) Saturday lunch, hosted in White Center.
ART POP-UP: Danish artist Bjoern T.M. Larsen‘s pop-up shop in the Senior Center of West Seattle corner space (California/Oregon) is oen 11 am-5 pm.
‘FAT SUNDAY’ PARTY: Free music and food – Mardi Gras-style – at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill), and everyone’s invited, starting at noon; details in our calendar listing.
FIXTURE/FURNITURE SALE: From the inbox: “Doll Parts Collective (newly relocated to 4832 California SW) is having a fixture/furniture sale at their old location (4448 California SW) today 2/19 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. They have furniture, clothing racks, small display items, and some deeply discounted home goods; even a few free items. Need a piano, anyone? Things are priced to sell! Also, in case you missed it, they’re now open at their new spot seven days a week, 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm.”
‘SMOOCH A POOCH’: Adoptable dogs at a fundraiser for Beloveds 3-6 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW).
NEED FOOD? White Center Community Dinner Church serves a free meal (take-away available) at 5 pm Sundays at the Salvation Army Center in South Delridge (9050 16th SW).
YOGA, MEDITATION, GONG BATH: Presented by Inner Alchemy 7 pm at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska), $35.
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
LATIN SUNDAYS: DJ at The Benbow Room (4210 SW Admiral Way), starting at 9 pm.
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 9 pm to 1:30 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
Have an event to add to our calendar? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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