West Seattle, Washington
22 Monday
(iPhone photo taken during final Blue Angels flyby Sunday, north of Boeing Field control tower)
BLUE ANGELS’ DEPARTURE: Finally found some ballpark time info, for anyone else interested in seeing them leave: Len Anderson IV — aka @lead_solo on Twitter, a former Blue Angels pilot traveling with the group and providing behind-the-scenes info, came through again: He says Blues 1-7 are scheduled to leave Boeing Field around noon today; check his Twitter page for the latest. Their next stop: The California International Airshow in Salinas (near Monterey/Carmel).
NIGHT OUT: Neighborhoods all around West Seattle will close their streets and get together for block parties during tonight’s annual Night Out celebration, in the name of building bonds and fighting crime. We’ll be reporting “live” as it happens, thanks to the dozens of WSB’ers who answered our second annual call for locations we can visit. If you’re not participating – since arterials aren’t eligible for block-party shutdowns, you shouldn’t find any major traffic effects, though your favorite side-street route might be off-limits for a few hours.
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN: Lots of rave reviews since this once-a-week produce stand opened last month. 4:30-7 pm today, 32nd/Juneau (map), fresh and reasonably priced produce grown in the gorgeous “market garden” right by the stand.
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN’S WEEKLY SALE DAY: Every Tuesday through the summer, 4:30-7 pm, fresh produce is on sale at 32nd/Juneau (map), grown in the big beautiful “market garden” tended right there. Here’s our story from opening day two weeks ago.
MUSIC AT ALKI PLAYFIELD: Can’t wait until Thursday night for the next installment of the Admiral Summer Concerts at Hiawatha (6:30 pm, Tom Colwell and the Southbound Odyssey)? Get an early fix of outdoor music tonight, 6 pm, Alki Community Center Playfield.
PLAN WEST SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS’ FUTURE: We’ve been talking about this for weeks (here’s last night’s preview) and tonight’s the night. After talking to local neighborhood advocates, we can tell you we are not exaggerating when we say it’s the most important meeting you’ll attend all year. 10 years after the oft-referred “neighborhood plans” for five West Seattle neighborhoods (and Georgetown) were created, are they working? What’s the best course for those neighborhoods’ future? Even if you’re not sure you have anything to say, come to listen, to understand, to support (or even oppose). 6 pm, Delridge Community Center NEW LOCATION: YOUNGSTOWN ARTS CENTER – air-conditioned! (updated 3:23 pm)
BLUE ANGELS’ ARRIVAL: For our fellow fans of the Navy aerial demonstration team that’ll be performing during Seafair (practicing Thursday, shows Friday-Sunday, remember the I-90 bridge closures), #7 arrived Monday (here’s KIRO video) and the other 6 are scheduled to land at Boeing Field this afternoon (2 pm estimate but could be earlier or later) *3:55 pm update, they’re running late, sometime in the next hour to hour and a half…
PASSING WEST SEATTLE’S NORTHERN SHORES TODAY: Another Seafair sight you may see – the U.S. Coast Guard’s first Homeland Security cutter, USCGC Bertholf, is scheduled to arrive today to be part of Fleet Week. (We’re checking with USCG District 13 to see if there’s an approximate time.)
After a cloudy day, the sun broke through just in time for several notable events tonight, including this one: The celebration of a new van for Providence Elizabeth House in High Point, donated by King County after it was “retired” from the van pool. That’s State Rep. Sharon Nelson smiling at left with the big ceremonial key to the van, which will be operated with money that Providence employees and Elizabeth House residents have raised over the past two years. (Elizabeth House has 74 one-bedroom units and is one of a dozen apartment buildings that Providence operates to offer independent living to elders and disabled people.)
WSB’er “Datamuse” sends along this solicitor sighting:Read More
Just back from the Seattle Market Gardens farm stand at 32nd/Juneau in High Point, open till 7 pm (and every Tuesday 4:30-7 pm through Oct. 6). Brought home peas-in-pod for $3/pound, also noticed carrots, baby bok choy, onions, potatoes, lettuce, salad greens and beautiful flowers including fiery crocosmia. Everything harvested this morning, we were told; the growers were a bit shy but we did manage to snag this photo:
Looking east from the southwest end, over the actual garden (mini-farm), the stand is under the white tent:
Here’s a map to 32nd/Juneau. This is one of two Seattle Market Gardens, both in Seattle Housing Authority communities, and their farm stands are new this year – read more here. (They also offer weekly subscriptions.)
Starting today, every Tuesday from 4:30 pm-7 pm through October 6th, the Seattle Market Gardens Program will present a weekly farm stand at the Juneau Market Garden in High Point, 32nd SW and SW Juneau, selling fresh produce and flowers, grown locally! Here’s a map.
Marco and Tony both e-mailed to report an overnight car break-in at 32nd/Raymond (map) overnight and sent photos; the one above is from Tony, who notes that broken glass and a card from an investigating officer is not what you want to wake up to find in your car. Tony explains that he “called 911 @ 2 am, for shirtless man wandering the traffic circle yelling at apparently no one. … Police arrived, cuffed the individual, and investigated a car break-in. Not sure if both are connected but, car was 20′ from where they caught him … And the kicker – the car has Army plates. Way to support Vets on The 4th.”
Alex from Neighborhood House, the organization that’s building the new Neighborhood Center at High Point, shared that photo – the first solar panels are going up. NH says the HPNC will have the largest solar array in the state, and it’ll be the largest solar array atop a social-services building anywhere in the U.S. (They’ve got a sponsorship drive under way, as we reported last month.)
Wendy Hughes-Jelen from High Point forwards word that Steve Barham of the High Point Neighborhood Association announced via mailing list that another of the city’s much-buzzed street-food vendors, Marination Mobile – described here – is coming to HP on Saturdays, starting on the Fourth of July:
Marination will be stationed at the empty lot on 35th and Graham on Saturdays from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm, starting this Saturday, July 4. That means you can [leave your car at home], walk down, get cheap food and hang out street-food-style, before going to the Diversity Festival (which will also have food but not until 3:00 PM when it starts). Hmm…if you want to get real-time updates on this like they do in LA, follow @curb_cuisine or marinationmobile.com.
Steve’s note also includes a reminder about the festival, which includes free food: “Yes, there will be tons of free food, barbecue, Somali food, and of course marinated kalbi tacos, ginger chicken tacos, and tofu tacos …” The Diversity Festival on Saturday is 3-8 pm, Commons Park in High Point. As for Marination confirmation, we’re working on that – nothing on their various sites yet but we’d read previously they were looking for a chance to visit West Seattle. 5:03 PM UPDATE: The Marination Mobile website now confirms the Saturday plan at 35th/Graham.
Jennifer Cobb from the High Point Neighborhood Association wanted to share this letter – anyone who lives in the High Point area is eligible:
Many new families and individuals have moved into the neighborhood during the past few years. However, many neighbors haven’t had the opportunity to get to know and support one another. The High Point Neighborhood Association, the Neighborhood House Family Center and the Seattle Housing Authority recognize this and are working together to support the creation of a community leader program at High Point.
The community leader program is aimed at increasing opportunities for neighbors to get to know one another, strengthen communication and to learn about the cultural diversity in the neighborhood. Community leaders throughout High Point would take the lead in hosting small gatherings so that neighbors can get to know one another. Community Leaders will receive support and assistance to host local gatherings in the neighborhood and will be invited to regular gatherings to receive resources and training on an ongoing basis.
… In order for the program to be successful and representative of the entire community we need your participation. We invite you to join us for dinner at the High Point Community Center on Thursday, June 25 at 6 pm, to get to know your neighbors and begin planning activities. If you have any questions before then please feel free to contact Genevieve Aguilar, High Point Community Builder, at gaguilar@seattlehousing.org or 206.696.3148
That sign went up, on building-side space donated by Nucor, a month ago – and now the accompanying donation drive has begun: Today, Neighborhood House launches the Solar Panel Challenge to bring in $100,000 for a “second array of solar panels” atop its under-construction (here’s our recent hard-hat-tour story) Neighborhood Center in High Point, which will be both a community gathering place and a headquarters for social services as well as environmental education. The second array will make the building “energy-neutral” and will pay for itself within a few years, saving up to $30,000 a year. Read on for the official news release about the Solar Panel Challenge:Read More
So asked Beth, leading into this report via e-mail:
In High Point tonight while sitting in the yard and enjoying the company of a neighbor, a woman we didn’t know/recognize pulled up to the curb. I said hello to her. At the same time, our neighbors husband pulled up to the curb. In front of all of us, the woman we didn’t know proceeded to take a hubcap off a vehicle owned by the neighbors we were talking with! The woman threw it in her trunk, refused to talk with any of us (who were by now asking her why she was stealing hubcaps!). The worst part? She did this with her kids in the car.
The Caucasian woman was about 5’3″, weighed about 175lbs, wore medical scrubs, and drove a bright blue Toyota Corolla with a dent in the front passenger door that was missing (wait for it!) a hubcap.
We know we’ve mentioned this multiple times already today – but once again, whatever West Seattle neighborhood you’re in, the WS Crime Prevention Council is the place to come share your concerns, ask police questions, and hear about crime trends, 7 pm tomorrow, Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster – the entrance to the building is off the parking lot on Webster west of Delridge). ADDED 11 AM TUESDAY: David just e-mailed this “sequel” (we are not publishing the entire plate because our policy is not to publish full identifying information — plates included — on people not charged with a crime, unless there is an immediate risk to public safety or law enforcers ask for assistance):
A car with this description parked in front of our neighbor’s house (32nd & Trenton) last night, around 8:40-8:45pm, and soon the driver was hammering something on their car (looked like a hubcap) then roared off down Trenton St eastbound. I got the license #: WA plate, 454-**D, a bright blue late model four-door Toyota Corolla. Didn’t see any dents on passenger side but it was traveling fast when it passed me.
This is not a 100% ID. I didn’t see the race/gender of driver; didn’t see the dent, or see any passengers in the car.
The heart of festival season is getting closer – the Morgan Junction Community Festival is coming up this Saturday, with the new park’s dedication at 10 am, followed by festival fun 11 am-6 pm – and now another festival that’s just a few weeks away is putting out an invitation to participants: The High Point Diversity Festival has booths available for businesses and community groups. Read on —Read More
First, new information on the upcoming 16th SW paving project near South Seattle Community College, from Rick Sheridan at the city Transportation Department – he says the schedule is now pushed back about a month:
An update on the paving work that will occur on 16th Avenue SW this summer. The project, previously scheduled for June, will now instead begin in late July. This is being done to accelerate our work on 4th Avenue S between Royal Brougham and Airport Way, and lessen its impact on the traveling public and nearby businesses.
We will still be able to repave 16th Avenue SW during the summer session at South Seattle Community College, when student traffic through the area is lower. The work will last approximately six weeks and require a detour.
Here’s the official city page about the project. Meantime, a report from Marco in High Point, regarding the 30th SW sidewalk work between High Point and Delridge, right after this photo he just sent:
After weeks of construction on 30th Ave SW they removed the ‘road closed’ sign at the bottom of the hill, but not yet at the top (Juneau).
The city’s most recent update, published online earlier this month, said the project was on schedule to be done “in early June.”
You’ve seen the big green banner on Nucor – now, a closer look at the building that it’s touting, as it finishes taking shape. Early Wednesday morning, we joined a rare hard-hat tour of the construction site for the High Point Neighborhood Center, which will be — among other distinctions — the biggest solar-powered social-services building in the nation, with its roof holding the biggest solar array in our state. (Construction started with groundbreaking last August; here’s our coverage.) The solar panels on its roof are not the only aspects that have the $13 million Neighborhood Center angling for LEED Gold certification, however – it’s got a geothermal component too. Note the pipe in this photo, which is a LOT more than it seems:
Also in the photo, our tour guide, Ray Li from Neighborhood House, the Seattle-based nonprofit that’s building HPNC. He explained that pipe goes 300 feet underground – where the temperature is a constant 56 degrees — as part of a “ground-source heat pump” system to keep the building’s temperature equalized. So what else is making this building a model of environmentally minded construction? Read on, and we’ll show and tell you what we saw and heard:Read More
Hot topics all over West Seattle (and beyond) today/tonight. First, three events in High Point: 7:30 am, hard-hat/sturdy-shoe construction-site tour of the LEED-Gold-to-be Neighborhood Center (more here); 4 pm, you can tour High Point neighborhoods with a focus on “how green energy initiatives create jobs, better communities, and a safer world.” More here. 6 pm at High Point Library, the King Conservation District wants to hear from you; here’s why. Speaking of libraries, at the big one downtown, the Seattle Library Board considers those behavior-policy changes, 4:30 pm (details here). And at 7 pm, be at Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor) to talk about universal health care after watching the documentary “Sick Around the World.” More events for today/tonight/beyond here.
The crosses are going up on the graves at Forest Lawn (map), preparing for Memorial Day, when American Legion Post 160 presents West Seattle’s annual community service. It’s scheduled for 2 pm on the rolling hills of the cemetery. (Here’s our coverage, with video, from last year.) Crosses and flags are placed on the graves each Memorial Day weekend by volunteers including local Scouts.
This was originally supposed to happen during Sustainable West Seattle Festival weekend three weeks ago, but got postponed till today: Alex Wang from Neighborhood House wrote to let us know that the big banner to promote the High Point Neighborhood Center‘s solar array – 256 panels spanning 6,000 square feet, biggest of its kind in the state – is now up, in space donated on the west side of the West Seattle Nucor plant. Neighborhood House will be kicking off a campaign on the summer solstice to solicit sponsors for the solar panels. By the way, if you’re interested in a hard-hat construction tour of the under-construction HPNC– not just being built green, but being built LEED Gold — Wendy Hughes-Jelen of Green Spaces Real Estate has arranged a rare opportunity to do just that, early next Wednesday morning — find out about it (and how to RSVP) here.
The presentation of the colors opened the ceremony at noon today at Dignity Memorial/Forest Lawn in High Point, with dozens of police officers and community members gathered for a groundbreaking. We reported a week ago about the plan for this site — Forest Lawn is donating it for the construction of what will be Seattle’s first freestanding memorial to officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. The ceremony was brief; speakers included West Seattle’s highest-ranking law enforcer, Southwest Precinct Captain Joe Kessler:
The line of SPD cars nearby was another sign of the police participation:
Also in attendance, representatives of groups that assist the families of fallen officers. Forest Lawn officials explained that the idea’s been in the works for three years, sparked by ongoing collaboration with SPD chaplains, whose leader John Oas was part of today’s event, and helped with the ceremonial groundbreaking:
Forest Lawn will now embark on fundraising to help cover the cost of designing and building the actual memorial; they’re hoping it will be ready for a big dedication ceremony around this time next year. (Forest Lawn has another big event coming up, by the way – 2 pm May 25th, the annual Memorial Day ceremony; here’s our coverage from last year.)
Reminder – at noon today (here’s our report from a week ago), you’re invited to Forest Lawn in High Point for the dedication of a site intended to become the first freestanding memorial to Seattle Police who lost their lives in the line of duty. (Here’s a map to Forest Lawn.)
(note: since original publication of this item, Neighborhood House has changed banner installation date to “approximately May 7”)
As previously reported, the Neighborhood Center that Neighborhood House is building in High Point will make solar-powered history. It opens in September, but days from now, NH just announced, a huge banner touting that fact will go up in a can’t-miss-it spot – on the Nucor plant, alongside The Bridge. The timing is aligned with this Sunday’s Sustainable West Seattle Festival in The Junction. Read on for the big news about the big banner:Read More
Just out of the WSB inbox, from Kelly:
My friends and I were driving back from Alaska Junction to our home in the Westwood area right before midnight on the Friday night (4/24).
We removed 2 signs and a cone from the middle of the road. They seemed to be placed there deliberately so that cars could hit them. The location was 35th Ave between Raymond and Juneau Streets (map).
I was wondering if you could post this on the site to see if anyone witnessed people in the act of placing these in the street. I feel a lot better knowing these items are out of the street and no one is hurt. We have seen our share of car accidents in the neighborhood recently.
Next month, Forest Lawn Cemetery in High Point (whose HQ is shown in Google Street View above) will be the scene of West Seattle’s annual Memorial Day service (2 pm 5/25). But a few weeks before that event, another ceremony will bring community members and dignitaries to Forest Lawn – to commemorate the start of a process that will create a new memorial in honor of fallen police officers (the Seattle Police Department‘s list, dating back to the 1800s, can be seen here). Here’s the announcement from Dave Salove, general manager of Forest Lawn Cemetery:
On Friday May 1, 2009, at 12 Noon, we, along with leaders and officers of the Seattle Police as well as the community at large, will dedicate a site in Forest Lawn Cemetery where a memorial to these fallen officers will be placed. The Seattle Police Memorial will be designed and built over the next year for unveiling and dedication at the 2010 ceremony during National Police Week 2010. We are working to include active police and community leaders and residents to be involved in the creation and dedication of this memorial.
There is a Police Officer Memorial at Olympia for the state and another at the Police Academy in Burien representing various departments. There is, however, no specific memorial honoring Seattle Police officers in our city that recognizes the sacrifice of those officers who have died in the line of duty.
As the announcement notes, the memorial is not yet designed; Salove says “the design will be determined based on the number of names and final design selections that are made as a committee is formally formed. Our intention was to get this ball rolling, dedicate a site for placement, and work over the next year to promote, create and build the memorial which I envision to be very substantial. I will be working with various people in the community and looking for input from the community about this memorial.” He says Forest Lawn is donating the space for the memorial, adding, “We hope to fundraise over the next year to pay for the memorial itself … We will be forming a committee to administrate the memorial as well as the fund that will be created to care for it over time, repair etc.” (If the fundraising campaign falls short, Salove says, FL will step in to help with that as well.)
According to the Police Department’s online list, the most recent SPD death in the line of duty in West Seattle was that of Officer Dorian Halvorson, shot and killed in September 1976 during his 8th year of SPD service, while responding to a call in the 9200 block of 17th SW. SPD’s downtown HQ has an indoor Memorial Wall paying tribute to Officer Halvorson and the department’s other fallen officers.
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