West Seattle Helpline has back-to-school on its mind
In West Seattle Helpline‘s “Clothesline” clothing bank (featured here in April) at Hillcrest Presbyterian Church in Arbor Heights, those two young volunteers were hard at work Tuesday morning helping brighten up the space. Other volunteers on hand during the work party were quick to point out that painting materials were donated by McLendon Hardware and TrueValue. Helpline executive director Anna Fern explains they’re painting one wall in the Clothesline space that same shade — “fruit punch.”
After the sprucing-up is done, Clothesline will reopen August 7, with an emphasis on getting kids the clothes they need for returning to school. And toward that end – Helpline’s big annual Backpack Drive is now under way. You can drop off a new backpack at Capers in The Junction – Mondays-Saturdays 10-6 and Sundays 11-5 – or at Helpline HQ in the resource center at 35th/Morgan, Mondays-Thursdays, 1-4 pm. Or donate $25 to Helpline and they will buy one on your behalf; 932-2746 is the number to call if you’d like to make a $ donation – or use the link atop the Helpline home page – also call to find out how/when to donate clothes for Clothesline.
Is it the weather? Unusual sights at Alki and Arbor Heights
(bees photographed by Rick, who reported them)
First: We’ve received reports this afternoon by phone and e-mail that the water at Alki looks “gross” (among other descriptions). Haven’t been there yet to check firsthand, and can’t find any official reports of a problem – we had a suspected algae bloom on the western West Seattle shores not that long ago, but reports say this is green, not brown. Meantime, from Arbor Heights, a report of a bee swarm near 37th/102nd. Maybe all this has to do with the heat? We’ll be checking … ADDED 6:39 PM: Via Twitter, a diver offers the opinion it’s an algae bloom. We found this state Ecology Department photo from May – sounds like the descriptions we received; here’s general information from People for Puget Sound.
West Seattle schools: Genesee Hill goodbye; Arbor Heights carnival
Just days left to go in the school year for Seattle Public Schools. That means year-ending events abound – including one-of-a-kind events like the closure celebration Saturday at the Genesee Hill building that’s been the longtime “temporary” home to Pathfinder K-8, which is moving to the Cooper School building on Pigeon Point. As the photos above and below show – memory-sharing was a big part of the Genesee Hill event:
Also on Saturday, Arbor Heights Elementary drew crowds for its carnival – thanks to teacher Mark Ahlness for sharing photos:
Mark noted, “The streets were jammed with cars and the school and playground with happy families enjoying a beautiful day! The Carnival is an annual fundraiser sponsored by our PTSA (arborheights.wikispaces.com/AHPTSA).”
Update: Hazmat response in Arbor Heights over
View Larger Map
Fire units are just arriving now so we don’t have details but we do know some roads are being blocked — so avoid the area around the 9900 block of 33rd SW in Arbor Heights for now. Stand by for details. They’re also calling for a medic unit. 11:16 AM UPDATE: The incident commander at the scene tells us that a “gallon of suspicious liquid” has been found but they’re not sure what it is. The medic unit is standing by just as a precaution. But roads remain closed for a few blocks around. 11:35 AM UPDATE: The container of liquid is just sitting out on the sidewalk in front of a house while fire crews decide how to handle it. Adding a photo from about as close as media’s allowed:
11:43 AM UPDATE: Just got the word, it’s NOT a hazardous material, so this is all about to clear out. Dana Vander Houwen with Seattle Fire Department tells us the original call was from someone who called 911 because they found the gallon container and it was “making their eyes water” – so in order to take no chances, they sent out hazmat. The roads should be reopening momentarily too. Co-publisher Patrick was told at the scene, the liquid turned out to be windshield-washer fluid and motor oil. ADDED 12:33 PM: The pic’s somewhat fuzzy but that blue stuff you see one firefighter bending over is the container that caused the scare:
West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen boat/trailer, “easy to spot”
Out of the WSB inbox, from Eric:
I had my small boat stolen last night from my alley in Arbor Heights (41st and 100th) between 8 last night and 7 this morning. It should be easy to spot and identify as it is bright yellow. The boat is a 1988 12 foot Duroboat with WA hull ID number WN-6743LD and the boat is yellow on top and aluminum on the bottom. It was on a galvanized (silver) trailer license number 2990TL. The trailer should be easy to spot as well as there aren’t too many boat trailers with small mismatched 8″ wheels (hey, I had a flat last week).
Another helpful ID point may be that the boat was upside-down on the trailer when stolen to keep the rain out. Most thieves aren’t know for their housekeeping skills so it is probably still upside-down on the trailer.
He’s reported this to Seattle Police, so if you call them with a sighting, they should be able to cross-reference.
Arbor Heights Elementary delivers for Earth Day Groceries Project
While observances have been under way for days, even weeks, tomorrow is the official Earth Day – and since April 22 is the original date of Arbor Day, it seems fitting that Arbor Heights Elementary School launched, and is continuing, what is now a 17-year tradition. We just caught up with Mark Ahlness and his third-graders outside Roxbury Safeway, delivering reusable bags decorated by AH students as part of a worldwide event he founded. As Mark explains, “The store will be bagging groceries with the beautifully decorated bags on Earth Day. This is the 17th consecutive year Arbor Heights has partnered with our Safeway (it used to be at 35th/Roxbury) in this activity. The Earth Day Groceries Project began at Arbor Heights in 1994. One of the oldest/largest educational activities on the Internet, it’s at earthdaybags.org.” Mark says you can also find the Earth Day Groceries Project on Facebook (here) and Flickr (here). Check out the Facebook page – you’ll see notes from not just participants across the country, but even in other countries – and it all started here in West Seattle!
ADDED TUESDAY NIGHT: Two more photos – these are from Mark – first, the presentation of the bags (274 in all!) to Safeway manager Alex:
And this one is captioned “Mr. A’s bag, and its inspiration”:
P.S. — 2 other Earth Day West Seattle grocery-bag notes: West Seattle Thriftway will put all your groceries in reusable bags tomorrow (more details here) … Metropolitan Market will kick off an April 22-May 5 promotion – buy one reusable ReBag for $1, get a second one free.
Fun and fundraising on the menu: ARK Park, Chief Sealth dinners
That’s the team we found in the kitchen at Arbor Heights Community Church for the ARK Park Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser tonight (the park-plan ringleaders we first introduced you to last summer were in the group – Jan Seidel with the salad, at left, Loretta Kimball with the spaghetti, second from right). We showed you the ceremonial groundbreaking last month; the church is raising money to turn a nearby parcel into a playground-centered park. Play figured into tonight’s event, too, with activities for kids in separate rooms after dinner:
By the time we arrived at the spaghetti dinner, 2 hours into the 3-hour event, they estimated they’d already fed more than 200 people! From there, we headed northeast to Delridge, where the Chief Sealth High School cafeteria was also full of good times and good food – plus good music, at the 7th annual Honor Choir and Mariachi Tamale Dinner. In addition to enjoying the talent of CSHS student musicians, diners also heard from guest groups such as Mariachi Quinto Sol, featuring University of Washington students and alumni – here’s one of the songs they performed:
While at Chief Sealth, we bumped into a former TV co-worker, Lowell Deo, who was there to work on a Seattle Channel TV feature about CSHS that will air in his ongoing CityStream series later this spring – he promised to let us know when it’s scheduled, so we can let you know to watch for it. (Lowell profiled us halfway through this CityStream episode six months ago [15 minutes into the program].)
West Seattle Helpline’s relaunched Clothesline almost ready to go
At right, that’s West Seattle Helpline executive director Anna Fern marshaling volunteers this morning at Hillcrest Presbyterian Church in Arbor Heights, as they sort and arrange donated clothes in preparation for the reopening of Helpline’s clothing bank, Clothesline, this Friday. Local churches (including Holy Rosary, home parish to some of the volunteers helping this morning) and even the Inspire book club, have already donated clothes — the bags in the foreground were collected at a club gathering:
Hillcrest churchgoers can bring donations when they come to church; everybody else is asked to bring donations to the Helpline’s office at 35th/Morgan (map), which is staffed Monday through Friday from 7-8:30 am; Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-4 pm; Wednesdays noon-6 pm. You can also call 206.932.4357 – which is the same number for people to call to make an appointment to “shop” at the Clothesline (for free), which Anna says is stocking kids and adult sizes, even shoes (currently, though, men’s clothing is limited).
Two more Helpline notes – Metropolitan Market has donated grocery bags for Clothesline “shoppers” – and the Taste of West Seattle fundraiser for Helpline (which provides emergency services for area families) is just one month away – May 14, The Hall at Fauntleroy; Anna says some tickets are still available — ticket info is on the Helpline website (or call that same number,
West Seattle Crime Watch: Car-prowl encore in Arbor Heights
Out of the WSB inbox, from KEM … of particular interest if you think “not on OUR street”:
For the second time in as many months, our unlocked cars (shame on us, I know) have been prowled. We woke two months ago to my car doors left open, and a few items had been pilfered – a Polar heart rate monitor, and a few other inconsequential items. I assume I left my car door unlocked the night before, though I’m not totally sure. This morning we woke to my husband’s car having been rifled-through. We think his car was unlocked, too, and, as I said, shame on us for doing it twice. This time they stole a pair of iPhone earbuds, but nothing else. Risking getting caught for some iPhone ear buds? Seems sort of silly, really. Not a big deal in terms of loss of property, but we live on a quiet, dead-end street around 36th and 110th and it’s a little unsettling to think that prowlers are lurking around in the middle of the night and rifling through our stuff. Neighbors, beware! And keep your doors locked. (Duh.)
From the resource list at the bottom of our Crime Watch page, here’s the official advice on deterring car prowlers.
Crash at 35th SW/Marine View Drive
Checked out a “medic response, 6 per” call to 35th SW/Marine View Drive (map) – just one vehicle left at the scene and no traffic trouble, but we then got a note with more to the story: Apparently a bicyclist was involved in the collision too and was taken to the hospital. We’ll let you know if/when we are able to find out more.
Video: Groundbreaking ceremony for ARK Park in Arbor Heights
That’s the future site of ARK Memorial Park, just west and a little south of Arbor Heights Community Church, which owns the 8,000-square-foot parcel. Under and around that gazebo, a small but hardy group gathered Saturday afternoon for the ceremonial groundbreaking:
The young assistants are Isabella and Elliana Kimball, sisters of the park’s namesake, Alexandra Ramona Kimball, stillborn on the same day – March 28th – one year earlier. As Hal Kimball noted goodnaturedly during the downpour-graced groundbreaking, baby Alexandra’s initials are part of the double meaning in the park’s name:
AHCC says the park/playground will be for the entire community, not just for church families. As noted in our first story about the ARK Park plan last summer (see it here), this is a private project, not seeking city funding. So far they have raised more than $5,000, enough to begin the project’s first phase, but that’s just a start; next fundraising event is a spaghetti dinner at the church Fellowship Hall on April 18th (more info here). The timetable for construction depends on how the fundraising effort goes, but
Groundbreaking set for ARK Park in Arbor Heights
(WSB photo from August 2008)
Last August, we brought you first word of the plan for ARK Park in Arbor Heights, on the site shown above, which is owned by neighboring Arbor Heights Community Church. Now the date for groundbreaking is set, as well as for another fundraiser – here’s an update from project leaders Loretta Kimball and Jan Seidel:
1. Our February 9th Benefit provided an enjoyable evening of music to those who attended and helped us establish a solid Development Fund for ARK Memorial Park. We appreciate Chad Kimball and cast members of Memphis for their part in making our first fundraiser a success as well as the generosity of our donors!
2. A Groundbreaking Ceremony will be held at the site (102nd and 42nd Ave SW [map]) on Saturday, March 28th at 3:00 p.m. in memory of baby Allexandra Ramona Kimball on her 1 Year Birthdate Anniversary. Refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall of Arbor Heights Community Church following the groundbreaking ceremony.
3. We are planning to hold our second fundraiser, a Spaghetti Dinner, on Saturday evening, April 18th in the Fellowship Hall at Arbor Heights Community Church. Dinner will be served between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. There will be family friendly activities such as a bouncy house, face painting, etc. Cost of the dinner is $5.00 for singles, $10.00 for couples and $15.00 for families.
You can read more about the park plan – which is a private/community-funded project, not a city park site – at this website.
1 week till spring: The gardening mood is sprouting up all over
On this rainy night – think of how great the rain is for all those West Seattle gardens-in-waiting, with the official start of spring just a week away. We have several garden-related notes to share:
P-PATCH VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: An update from Aaron Hernandez, who’s helping coordinate the creation of a new P-Patch on a plot provided by West Seattle Christian Church in The Junction:
We’ve finally got a name, Friends of West Seattle Genesee P-Patch. We’re shooting to meet the April 6 grant deadline, and I am still in search of potential volunteers. I am also interested in hearing from any local businesses able and willing to contribute to our project. The items we need vary, so if anyone is interested they should contact me. I’d also like to encourage businesses and other organizations to consider volunteering as teams, as it is a great way not only to contribute to our community, but also build and strengthen employee teams and relationships. My e-mail is wscc.grounds@hotmail.com.
LONGFELLOW CREEK GARDEN: We followed the development of this organic garden/mini-farm last year, and its volunteers are getting ready for a new growing season:
Another organizing meeting is planned tonight (Sunday) not far from the garden site in Delridge. If you’re interested in being part of it, send a note to longfellowcreekgarden@earthlink.net — you can also become a “friend” of Longfellow Creek Garden on Facebook – start here.
ARBOR HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY PLANT SALE: Orders are being taken now for plants that’ll be delivered in early May. All the info you need starts here. (And if anyone else has a fundraising plant sale under way, let us know – all our contact info is here.)
Monday afternoon notes: From annexation vote to float followup
COUNCIL SAYS “NO” TO ANNEXATION AGREEMENT: We’re working on continuing coverage for this at partner site White Center Now, but it’s worth a note here: The Seattle City Council has just voted 8 to 1 to *not* endorse the recent agreement reached with Burien and two fire districts, setting a framework for the potential annexation process over the next few years; the agreement basically gave Burien first rights of refusal on the southern half of the North Highline unincorporated area, and Seattle first rights on the north half (including most of White Center). We’re continuing to add details from the council discussion to the WCN report here. (5:14 pm note: Added a comment from Seattle mayoral spokesperson Alex Fryer, saying, “The MOU with Burien took some time, but we had an agreement that made sense for all the parties. With the City Council decision today, we’re done with the issue for this year.”)
HAPPENING TONIGHT: Last reminders about three events of note, all on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: The Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council meets at Cooper Elementary, 7 pm; the Denny Site Redevelopment Design Team meets at the Denny Middle School Library, also 7 pm; and the ARK Park benefit concert (raising money for a privately funded new park on land owned by Arbor Heights Community Church) is happening at Roosevelt High School, also at 7.
“HAVE A HEART” FINAL TALLY: Heather at Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor) tells us yesterday’s event (WSB coverage here) brought in more than $1,700 for West Seattle Helpline and Pencil Me in for Kids.
HI-YU FLOAT HOME SEARCH: West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival president Tim Winston reports that the float has a reprieve (following this item over the weekend) but it’s not forever:
Harbor Properties has once more been gracious and extended our storage of the float through February. However, their project will need us to be out after that.
Regarding use of other currently empty buildings – they are looking for contacts, so even if you don’t know for sure whether something might be available, if you have a contact and can provide that info to Hi-Yu, please call Tim at 206-938-2088.
2 park project updates: ARK Park, California Place Park
(WSB photo from August 2008)
Five months ago, we brought you first word of a proposal to create ARK Park on land owned by Arbor Heights Community Church. This morning, we have word of the first fundraiser for the project, which organizers told us last summer would be built entirely with church/community contributions. Co-organizer Loretta Kimball tells WSB her son Chad Kimball is headlining on the fundraiser – an evening of Broadway music, 7 pm February 9th at Roosevelt High School, including some of his castmates from “Memphis” (which opens this week at the 5th Avenue Theater). $15/person gets you the benefit concert plus a reception afterward. Here’s the official flyer, on the playground project’s website. Now, to North Admiral:
View Larger Map
Meantime, in North Admiral, the first of three design workshops for California Place Park is now a week away. When it was announced recently that the workshops would be held at Alki Community Center, some voiced concern about the distance; now, there’s word from the community group spearheading the project that they’ll coordinate rides to the workshops so no one is stuck without a way to get there:
Friends and Neighbors of North Admiral (FANNA) will be coordinating rides for neighbors to each of the community design workshops for California Place Park. We will match people up who have extra room with those who need a ride. For those who plan to attend the meeting and have an extra seat or for those in need of ride to the workshops, please e-mail info@californiaplacepark.org or call Kellee Jones at 206-684-7052. Requests for rides must be received by end of day Sunday, February 1st.
The three design workshops will allow the community to explore various ideas and design options for California Place. Karen Kiest, Landscape Architects, will lead these meetings. We are looking for ways to increase community use of the park by people of all ages, and create a naturalized and safe area for the neighborhood to enjoy now and for generations to come. As an option, a supervised area for childcare will be provided during each meeting. Please bring your ideas, your neighbors and your community spirit!
Meeting Location and Dates:
Alki Community Center
5817 SW Stevens Street
Tuesday, 2/3, 7 – 8:30 PM
Saturday, 3/7, 10:30 – 12 Noon
Thursday, 4/16, 7 – 8:30 PM
For more information about the improvements proposed at California Place please visit our website: www.californiaplacepark.org
West Seattle Crime Watch: Beware, if your GPS is still in your car
Out of the WSB inbox, from Hillary in Arbor Heights, who called the police to report the car break-ins and then sent this to share with you:
I wanted to get the word out that both my husband’s and my cars were broken into last night. We are at 42nd Ave SW and 100th (map). Our GPS units were stolen, some change, and a phone charger (for a phone which was not in the car, so the charger is USELESS to the moron – but I need it since my phone has been discontinued).
We’ve lived here for less than a year, after a big move from the east coast. My husband uses his GPS for work, and I use it because I’m still becoming familiar with the area. We feel extremely violated and are wishing we were back east right about now.
I won’t expound on how I feel about the jerk who did this. But at least we can help others.
The Seattle Police website offers very basic information about deterring car break-ins; however, as we mentioned in our story about the November meeting of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, law enforcers say it’s optimal not to leave anything in your car that even hints at a GPS system – even suction cups with nothing visible might give someone impetus to break in to look under the seat or in the glovebox. By the way, the WSCPC meets again this Tuesday night (7 pm at the Southwest Precinct), and there’s always a local police rep in attendance, to share info about the latest local crime trends AND to answer questions personally.
Police raid Arbor Heights house, seize marijuana plants
If you’re in the area of 40th SW and SW 102nd in Arbor Heights (map), that video shows what all the police presence late today was about — officers, with a search warrant, forcibly entering a house where they say a major marijuana-growing operation is based. Through an open door, we could see some of the plants that police believe may number in the hundreds:
Police say there have been claims that it’s raised for medical-marijuana purposes, but the situation has caused neighborhood trouble – police say they have responded repeatedly to burglaries at the house. They seized some plants that were in evidence when they responded to a recent burglary call, but needed a warrant to go in and look for more. No one was home when they went in. We’ll be checking tomorrow on what happens next and whether anyone will be charged in connection with what was found in the raid.
West Seattle school-closure hearing: Cooper makes its case
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
40 speakers, 3 schools, 2 school board members. Those are the numbers from last night’s school-closure public hearing at the Genesee Hill Elementary building that Pathfinder K-8 has called home for almost 15 years. And numbers were the reason the hearing had to happen at all – a $24 million-$37 million budget shortfall faced by Seattle Public Schools, with $3.6 million a year potentially to be saved by shuttering school buildings including the long-deteriorating Genesee Hill. The district’s been proposing closing it for years — without also closing the Pathfinder “program” — so the issue has been, and remains, where does Pathfinder go?
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