West Seattle, Washington
04 Monday
Two opportunities — one pre-Thanksgiving, one on the holiday itself.
Pre-Thanksgiving, High Point Community Center invites everybody to a feast they’re having this Friday night, 6-8 pm, featuring deep-fried turkeys, veggies, rolls, even door prizes.
On Thanksgiving — we just got details from Carol Madaio @ Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering about the fabulous free feast that somebody mentioned in our RRR thread below, the community dinner at the Hall @ Fauntleroy:
Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering hosts a free Thanksgiving Community Meal on Thanksgiving Day, November 22nd, from noon to 3 PM at our banquet facility The Hall at Fauntleroy. This will be our 9th year hosting Thanksgiving dinner at the Hall. Co-owners David and Meg Haggerty and David Meckstroth invite all to come to this served traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings prepared by our Executive Chef Michael Chase. The meal is a seated dinner served by our volunteer families – many who have been with us every year since we began in 1998. We are located in the old Fauntleroy School Building across from the Fauntleroy Church at 9131 California Ave SW.
In the RRR of your blog, Jan commented that it is not a “soup kitchen†kind of meal. This is in part because of the warm atmosphere of our room. The biggest part however is our guests. Some people come from the street to warm up and have a much needed meal. Some come from their warm homes to share conversation. Some come just to be taken care of for the day. Some come alone, some bring the whole family. Some guests come because they came the first year and look forward to the ambience which has made this into a new tradition. The reasons are as different as our guests, but one thing is for sure, we all leave with a sense of community.
People can call me if they need any more information, 206-932-1059 ex 305.
Seattle City Council President Nick Licata came to High Point last night to meet with the HP Neighborhood Association. His evening began with a walking tour led by neighborhood reps Denise Sharify and Miranda Taylor showing him what they consider the hot spots for pedestrian danger and explaining what they want the city to do. Our videographer recorded much of it — but nothing underscored the point as well as this bit of unexpected suspense, when a little boy on a bicycle showed up nearby, needing to get across 35th SW:
Earlier in the tour, the HPNA reps made their case to Licata, explaining why they feel the neighborhood concerns (as detailed in this WSB post) haven’t gotten enough traction:Read More
They’re your one-stop shop for holiday gifts and all kinds of other surprises. Fauntleroy Church is having a bazaar and bake sale today, 8 am-6 pm, to coincide with the visit of voters (but everyone’s welcome even if you don’t vote there), Another one of the upcoming bazaars you’ll find on the WSB Events page still has room for more vendors: The Holiday Gifts & Crafts Bazaar at Elizabeth House in High Point, this Saturday, 10 am-4 pm (with a bake sale!) in the EH community room (map). One prerequisite: 10% of the proceeds must be donated to EH (find out more about it here). E-mail organizers Rose or Jean.
What a day for High Point, with a big event this morning to officially celebrate the global award just given to the Seattle Housing Authority‘s grand experiment. Citywide media dropped in too; check out this tv clip with a few familiar folks (Wendy Hughes-Jelen, who has two sites on our Other Blogs in WS page, and neighborhood activist Miranda Taylor). We stopped by to check out an expected appearance by the mayor, but the crowd was told he had to cancel at the last minute for a funeral. Instead, Al Levine from SHA (photo right) emceed. High Point is amassing quite the trophy case. If you haven’t been through the area lately, make time for a drive, or a stroll. The sheer scope is something to behold.
Two nights till Halloween! As we count down … first, a photo from what promises to be one of the wildest Halloween night events in West Seattle (and it continues the night AFTER Halloween as well) — Skeleton Theatre at 36th & Hanford. This free neighborhood production drew thousands last year; this year, the Skeleton Theatre team has a website up with lots of info about the show, the people, when and where to see it. And they sent this cool photo:
And we continue showcasing the pumpkin photos you’re sending. In honor of the High Point award mentioned earlier, here are three jack-o-lanterns by a family in HP — first by Rachel; next by Galen; then, by Michael (more later!):
The development has just won a Global Award for Excellence — one of only two U.S. projects among the 5 winners worldwide. Here’s what the judges liked about it.
Late September was an unpleasant time on our side of the bay last year. Today, Cathy Woo‘s Alki Beach Walks blog reminds us that yesterday marked 1 year since the Alki Ave crash that killed 2 teenagers. Later this week, it’ll be one year since the High Point bike-van collision that killed bicyclist Susanne Scaringi.
Huge thanks to several WSB readers who e-mailed us at this late hour to tell us about 35th being blocked off near the High Point Library. According to LyndaB, the problem apparently has something to do with a dangerously leaning power pole she had noticed earlier in the day; City Light’s on scene as well as police.
(left to right starting with the pink jacket, are Seattle City Council members Jan Drago, Richard McIver, Sally Clark, meeting at High Point Community Center tonight as the Economic Development and Neighborhoods Committee)
We went to tonight’s meeting to make sure we didn’t miss anything earthshattering. A few dozen other people showed up to see what happened with the latest proposals to crack down on nightclub noise and violence; the new noise rules advanced unanimously, the “nightlife premises licensing” proposal got a 2-1 vote (McIver against). The latter proposal has been watered down a bit (potentially affecting far fewer businesses around the city) and didn’t draw much passionate opposition; the only emotional public testimony came from two women who say they got beat up at a Belltown club the other night and couldn’t get the club to care, so they’re for tougher rules, as is Jackie Ramels of the Alki Community Council, who spoke early in the meeting to voice her support. Toward the end of 2 1/2 long hours, the council members heard excellent short presentations by leaders of the High Point redevelopment project, the West Seattle Food Bank, Neighborhood House, and Safe Futures — lots of specifics there for future updates here.
Wendy from Green Spaces Real Estate and The Wonderful World of Wendy (two of the 86 sites now on our Other Blogs In WS page) wants to let the world of WS dog lovers know about the High Point K9 Club she’s organizing (not just for HP), with meetup #1 planned for September 1st. Find out more here.
Could be — if some of the more vocal proponents/opponents in the city’s ongoing nightlife-regulation debate show up for the City Council’s Economic Development & Neighborhoods Committee meeting in WS — since the next potential step in all this is on the agenda. 6-8 pm this Thursday, High Point Community Center.
We’ll set up a special section soon, now that people who have lost or found pets are finding out this is another good place to get the word out. In the meantime, this just in: Izzy the 10-pound Cairn Terrier (photo right), described by her people as “shy but very friendly” and “looks like Toto from The Wizard of Oz,” disappeared from her High Point home sometime Friday. Izzy was wearing a pink collar with name and owner info. There’s a reward out for her safe return. 937-5693.
The (unofficial) Seattle Public Schools Blog points out that the agenda for this Wednesday’s school board meeting includes a proposal to rename High Point Elementary (photo below) “West Seattle Elementary.” According to the agenda item, this name-changing is by “request of the High Point and Fairmount Park merged elementary schools.” (If you’re just coming in on this saga, the district closed several schools at the end of this past school year, including Fairmount Park, to save $; the students of FP are “merging” into HP.) Historical datapoint: This won’t be the first “West Seattle Elementary School”; the district’s thumbnail history of Lafayette Elementary says it briefly held that name about 90 years ago!
We’ve received reports of several overnight fires blamed on fireworks around WS, but the one in the High Point vicinity was by far the biggest. News coverage includes this P-I article, an update from the Times, and a KIRO update with links to video. We’re glad to hear nobody was hurt, but honestly, this is why personal fireworks are banned in cities like ours. Fun, sure; dangerous and damaging, unquestionably, no matter how hard you try to keep it safe.
You don’t hear the word “cottage” around here much, unless it’s deployed as spin on a dinky house’s for-sale listing, but tonight it’s part of an honor for High Point — Cottage Living magazine has chosen HP as one of its Top 10 Cottage Communities for 2007.
One week before Sylvan/Morgan closes to through-traffic between 35th and Delridge for three months of construction-related utility/road work, there’s an “open house” tonight where you can find out the latest on detours, local access, and also more on what’s up with the ongoing High Point-area development: 4:30-6 tonight, High Point Library.
You are, if you expect the ravaged roadway of Sylvan/Orchard (east of High Point and home to the sign at left) to be all good as new once the upcoming closure is through. Nope, just a short stretch, reiterates the project spokesperson in today’s Herald.
As in, screams from drivers fed up with bumpy Sylvan Way/Orchard between Delridge & High Point. We just noticed this addition to the warning sign along the westbound lane:
Fun stuff happening midweek on our side of the bay, so here’s an advance alert:
-For family fun: High Point Community Center sponsors Springfest tomorrow.
-Two big entertainment events in The Junction on Wednesday night: “On the Verge” opens @ ArtsWest; Jonatha Brooke performs live-in-store @ Easy Street.
Might be too early in the morning for you if you’re still up as we post this, but worth a mention anyway, however belated: West Seattle does have a bonafide Easter sunrise service, with several churches participating — 6:30 am @ Forest Lawn (east of High Point).
The new High Point gets a mention in this article today about the high cost of homeownership (condos included) within city limits.
High Point-to-Delridge drivers, beware: Cindi from the Morgan Community Association alerts us to more upcoming traffic woes; this excerpt is from the latest Morgan Junction e-mail newsletter, quoting the major construction company on the High Point project:
“SW Morgan / Sylvan Way will most likely be closed for a short period (one to two weeks) during late February/early March. This closure is being planned in conjunction with work taking place on an unrelated development east of High Point. This coordination will minimize the impacts to the neighbors and surrounding area. SW Morgan / Sylvan Way will then be temporarily closed for a longer period (several months) this summer to allow for complete rebuild of the roadway and utilities associated with our project. We will provide notification to local residents and businesses and will have a detour route well-indicated. Every effort will be made to minimize the duration of street closures.”
We’ve been asked before about the deplorable condition of Sylvan Way closer to Delridge; Cindi is checking on whether repairs to that stretch might be included in those summer closures.
The original pictures were just a wrecked bike on the ground. Now we can see the face of, and hear about the life of, the woman killed while riding her bike near High Point on Wednesday morning.
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