“Full house!” as Admiral Neighborhood Association past president Mark Wainwright put it, arriving at the ANA meeting tonight at Admiral Congregational Church – more than two dozen people.
The evening’s main event was a somewhat tense appearance by the Admiral Safeway project team, explaining the recent, seemingly sudden change in the project (reported here two weeks ago) – doubling the number of the residential units in the building on the southeast side of the site, discarding the flex-work office component (we first reported the change when it appeared on the city’s Land Use Information Bulletin, and Safeway shared an explanation later that day).
Safeway’s Sara Corn and Fuller/Sears architect Bill Fuller explained that the change was the result of financing troubles unfolding after construction began; ANA president Katy Walum read an official statement gently chiding the team for not having given the group a heads-up. In turn, the Safeway team implored the ANA to bring any concerns to them in the weeks ahead rather than just debuting them before the City Council when the proposed change comes up for a future hearing. More on this, and other meeting topics, ahead:Read More
As mentioned here earlier this week, the group is taking a serious look at its future – and more than 25 people answered the call to join in that scrutiny by showing up to join in. “I see a lot of new blood,” offered ACC’s Larry Carpenter from the sign-in table at the back of the room. Some of it, he explained later, included members who hadn’t come to meetings in a while. He said membership is currently at 132, down from a peak of 390.
Like other print publications, the ACC-published Alki News Beacon has gone through some changes in recent years.
Bernadette (Bernie) Matsuno, a former deputy director of the Department of Neighborhoods and a well-known community activist and volunteer, will return as interim director of the department, Mayor Mike McGinn announced.
(One of the underground rooms at Lowman Beach’s Murray Pump Station, from a tour last June)
And another preview for the week ahead: The Morgan Community Association only meets quarterly, so when they get together, the agenda is info-packed. On the agenda for Wednesday night, 7 pm, lower level of The Kenney, hot topics from street changes along California SW and 48th SW, to planning this year’s Morgan Junction Community Festival, to the recent recommendation for how to reduce combined-sewer overflows (CSO) into Puget Sound at Lowman Beach’s Murray Pump Station (above). As we reported in early December, the county is recommending a Murray solution that will require the purchase of private property across from Lowman Beach Park (we followed up with MoCA’s response); King County’s Martha Tuttle is scheduled to be at Wednesday night’s meeting with an update on where it stands and how the recommendation was reached. MoCA also will talk Wednesday night about its new Facebook page (you can “like” it here), and soon-to-retire Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow will discuss neighborhood safety. See the full MoCA agenda here.
Two days after the city’s Department of Neighborhoods director Stella Chao visited West Seattle to talk with the Southwest District Council, there’s word she’s leaving the job after four years. The mayor’s office just sent the announcement – read it in full after the jump:Read More
As part of the just-concluded city-budgeting process for next year, the Neighborhood Matching Fund process is changing. It’s been a important source of funding for many projects in West Seattle as well as other parts of the city, and this morning the Department of Neighborhoods has sent an explanation of the changes ahead – read on:Read More
ANA leaders (from left) Mark Wainwright, Katy Walum, and Gary Williamson with their new banner.
Story and photo by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The mood was festive at the final meeting of 2010 for the Admiral Neighborhood Association at the Admiral Church on Tuesday night, as the group celebrated a successful year and looked forward to 2011.
ANA President Katy Walum thanked the group’s volunteers for their hard work and dedication, and passed around a two-page list of “2010 Activities and Accomplishments” (which will be revised and posted online in January) that emphasized just how much the group has been up to. Here’s a summary:
Walum unveiled the group’s new banner (pictured above), notecards and letterhead, featuring their new logo. She also reminded attendees that the group’s new Admiral apparel (pictures here) “make great holiday gifts,” and encouraged anyone to e-mail her at katy.walum@gmail.com if they’re interested in buying some — $40 jackets, $15 t-shirts, $10 kids’ shirts.
Admiral Neighborhood Association president Katy Walum is among the neighborhood leaders you can expect to see at tonight’s City Council Budget Committee hearing at South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center (signups at 5, hearing at 5:30, more in this morning’s preview). ANA is the latest local group to voice concern about Mayor McGinn‘s proposed budget, particularly the cuts that would be made in the Department of Neighborhoods – closing the Neighborhood Service Center in The Junction and cutting the Neighborhood District Coordinator job that’s based there, as well as cutting the amount of money that would be available through the Neighborhood Matching Fund. Read on for more, as well as other toplines from last night’s meeting:Read More
By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Serving the community and reaching out to neighbors were key topics at the monthly meeting of the North Delridge Neighborhood Council at the Delridge Library on Monday night.
Most of the meeting was devoted to a presentation and discussion with Brian Waid and Andy Horner from the Rotary Club of West Seattle (see WSB’s archive of WS Rotary news). NDNC co-chair Jay Mirro said they’re hoping to invite more groups and speakers such as the Rotary Club to the monthly NDNC meetings, to build relationships and better serve the Delridge neighborhood.
Waid and Horner encouraged NDNC leaders (and members of the community at-large) to visit the WS Rotary website for information about the group’s activities, meetings, and mission. Read More
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Transportation issues and community involvement took center stage at Tuesday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting at the Admiral Church, as the group also celebrated a busy summer of activities and looked ahead to the future.
Two weeks from today – 2 pm September 27th – Mayor McGinn will unveil what is by all accounts expected to be a bleak budget – cuts at many turns. When the summer “midyear” budget ax loomed, you heard a lot of pleas from parks and libraries workers and patrons. But we haven’t heard much from the Department of Neighborhoods. Among programs including the popular P-Patches, it runs two Neighborhood Service Centers in West Seattle, where you can do everything from pay a city bill to borrow a wagon full of paint to get rid of graffiti – and a lot more. The Delridge District Coordinator, Ron Angeles(photo right, with graffiti-paintout equipment last April), has just shared this with his mailing list, headed “DON and I Need Your Support”:
Dear Friends
Today is the time to take action! Please urge the Mayor and City Council to minimize reductions to the budget for the Department of Neighborhoods.
As the 2011/2012 biennial budget is being created, the Mayor and City Council are facing a $67 million budget shortfall. Cuts ranging from 9-15% are anticipated for most City Departments.
Community building and civic participation are at the heart of the mission of the Department of Neighborhoods. In difficult economic times it is more critical than ever that we have programs and services, such as the Neighborhood Matching Fund, P-Patch, Neighborhood District Coordinators, and Neighborhood Service Centers that bring people together to look out for and support each other.
Please think about the value of the programs with DON and the impact they have on the city and your neighborhood and share your experiences with the Mayor and City Council. For example, if you’ve been part of a Neighborhood Matching Fund project describe how it has changed your neighborhood, brought people together and created relationships as well as leveraging the City’s investment in itself. The same story can be told for your experience with a P-Patch community garden or your interaction with a Neighborhood District Coordinator. Let the Mayor and City Council know that you value citizen engagement, community building and the resulting strong connected communities. Working together these services and programs bring efficiencies to government, provide proactive solutions to problems and bring together groups in the community. For many, the Department of Neighborhoods is the face of City government and the liaison to other parts of the city.
Now is the time for you to speak up on behalf of the Department of Neighborhoods as the Mayor’s budget is being formulated. He will announce his budget on September 27th. We’re hoping you will join us in supporting the vital work being done by DON by contacting the Mayor and City Council now through letters, phone calls, or meetings. Also, public hearings will be held on September 29, October 13 and October 26. The hearings are an opportunity to offer public comments of no more than two minutes and a chance to voice your priorities and concerns. For more information about the City budget process and upcoming public hearings, please see: http://www.seattle.gov/council/newsdetail.asp?ID=11035&Dept=28
We recognize that all Departments will have to help meet the budget deficit and are not suggesting that the Department of Neighborhoods is untouchable. However, we are suggesting that the Department offers essential services and that reasonable reductions be made with minimal impact on the public. Thank you.
(Ron’s counterpart at the Neighborhood Service Center in The Junction is Stan Lock. They are often the unsung heroes of many events, programs, and citizen-assistance actions large and small.) As we reported here last week, one of the City Council’s budget hearings will be here in West Seattle, at South Seattle Community College on October 13th.
Lots of ways to get involved in your neighborhood – or one nearby – this week. Above, we photographed Admiral Neighborhood Association immediate past president Mark Wainwright during the ANA’s quarterly Adopt-A-Street cleanup yesterday, with assistants Hayden, Anne, and Molly. ANA is one of the West Seattle neighborhood groups meeting this week: 7 pm Tuesday, Admiral Congregational Church basement (map). Also Tuesday night – the Junction Neighborhood Organization meets (6:30 pm at Ginomai; here’s a map), and the Fauntleroy Community Association board is in session at 7 pm (Fauntleroy Schoolhouse). But first — Monday night, be at Delridge Library (map) at 6:30 pm to see what the North Delridge Neighborhood Council is up to (including a peek at their new website). There’s more Delridge action on Wednesday night, with the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Then on Thursday night, the Alki Community Council (which no doubt also will discuss today’s yet-to-come Family Fun Day) has a hot topic on its agenda: Alaska Airlines’ “Greener Skies” proposal, which involves flight-path changes in our area; 7 pm Thursday, Alki UCC Church (here’s a map). Stretching ahead into next weekend, the Genesee Schmitz Neighborhood Council invites you to join neighbors in another garden cleanup at the closed Genesee Hill Elementary campus on Saturday (9/18), 9 am-1 pm. (All of the above, of course, is on the frequently updated WSB West Seattle Events calendar – and again, these are just the neighborhood-group meetings – lots of other big events we’ll be previewing for this week, too.)
By one count, more than 500 people sprawled out across the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center tonight for the season’s third installment of “Summer Concerts at Hiawatha,” presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, whose president Katy Walum‘s shoulders you’re looking over in the top photo. On stage, Pearl Django:
As usual, lots of families – check out the stroller lineup:
As mentioned in our preview earlier, the “cooler on wheels” featuring Full Tilt Ice Cream was there, and next week will feature the Buns on Wheels burger truck. Tonight, there was some unofficial neighborhood awareness-raising going on – we spotted opponents of the 3200 block of California rezoning proposal – with its pivotal public hearing coming up next Wednesday downtown (here’s our coverage archive topped by the newest stories)
We’re told, however, that this was not an authorized table – tabling at the series has been reserved for sponsors (which include WSB, though tonight because so much was going on, we just dropped by for photos/video.) Meantime, as big as tonight’s crowd was, next week just might beat it – a double bill of family music by Caspar Babypants and The Board of Education. (6:30 pm Thursday as usual) – admission free as always, but donations will be collected for WestSide Baby: Bring diapers, kids’ essentials, or even $ to donate.
P.S. More West Seattle free outdoor music tomorrow night – the second of four Outdoor Concerts at The Mount, south side of Providence Mount St. Vincent, dinner offerings go on sale at 5 pm, music starts at 6 with Maia Santell and House Blend.
North Delridge and Morgan Junction leaders have just learned that their neighborhoods are winners in the latest round of decisions about who should get a share of city Neighborhood Street Fund Large Projects money. These proposals went through a lot of review, including the local district councils. The decisions just announced will allot $112,000 for crossing improvements – such as striping and signage – at three California SW intersections – at SW Frontenac and SW Othello, as well as, north of Morgan Junction, SW Findlay (see the full proposal here). And $501,000 will be allotted for curbs and rain gardens 25th SW between Brandon and Juneau (see the full proposal here). These are two of 11 projects citywide (here’s the list) that were chosen for NSF money this time around; the mayor and City Council have to sign off on it for next year’s budget, and provided that happens, SDOT says design will likely start this December.
In addition to more photos from WSB photojournalists – we’ve received Night Out photos taken and shared by WSB’ers around the peninsula. Above, shared by Dina Johnson (second from left), taken on what she proclaims, “The BEST block in Highland Park!” Next, from another “Park” neighborhood:
Thanks to Erik for that photo from Upper Luna Park – one of the neighborhoods visited by West Seattle firefighters tonight! Meantime, touring north West Seattle neighborhoods for WSB, Christopher Boffoli found Engine 29 at 57th/Winthrop (Upper Alki):
Ginny Woo shared this next photo of her young neighbors on the front fender of Ladder 11 at a Night Out party in Fauntlee Hills:
Ginny reports, “We had a great block party with a visit from one of West Seattle’s fire trucks, multi-generational attendees, hula hoopers, and jump ropers. Great fun was had as we sipped root beer floats and visited with our neighbors.” Not far from there: While we featured one photo earlier from the big Fauntleroy party at 45th/Henderson – this one tweeted by @sthecaddy has a scenic backdrop:
From Fauntleroy, going diagonal across the peninsula to Pigeon Point on the northeast corner: Cliff DesPeaux visited that neighborhood for WSB, and noted the dishes contributed by dozens:
P-Point’s Pete Spalding sent photos taken by his wife Kerry Hughes – first one, that’s Pete with Southwest Precinct Capt. Joe Kessler;
Next, PP Neighborhood Council co-chair Jim Sander with a game Pete says Jim cooked up for the kids:
Pete says it was “by far (their) largest-ever” Night Out event. Crowd shot:
Cliff DesPeaux took that, as well as this one from a party not far away: In the 4100 block of 25th SW, 8-year-old Kelsea Edwards (right) raced other kids during the block party:
From 34th and Findlay, David and Michelle Parker share photos from their 2-block party – including a neighborhood child eyeing part of the dessert potluck that was a major attraction:
They say at least 50 people showed up. And check the homegrown zucchini bread, urging onlookers to “eat local”:
We’ve got one more report to come, with more neighborhood-party portraits by Christopher Boffoli – he caught so many, even neighborhoods that hadn’t contacted us – ones he spotted while traveling around – they get a report of their own.
(This report features photos posted as we “toured” – report #2 coming up with more!)
6:07 PM: Let the block parties begin! We’re hitting the road for Night Out 2010 around West Seattle, stopping by some of the parties that folks were kind enough to let us know about. For starters – the setup above is for at the party closest to WSB HQ in Upper Fauntleroy. If we don’t get to yours or you didn’t answer the request for invites, we’re also thrilled to have a photo of what you’re up to – here are all the ways to send it in.
6:27 PM: We’re heading from Fairmount to Hansen’s View, neighborhoods on either side of Providence Mount St. Vincent. Above, a quick shot of the group gathering in Fairmount Community Association leader Sharonn Meeks‘ backyard. Next, we’re stopping at the HQ of the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network‘s founders.
6:38 PM: At left in the photo above, with name tags etc., is the always-organized Karen Berge from the WSBCN – co-blockwatch captain for Hansen’s View, south of The Mount. Next, we head into Gatewood.
(next photo added later)
6:53 PM: Actually that one turned out to be more like Morgan Junction. Thanks to Brooks for the invite. They’re expecting a fire-engine visit sometime later – police and fire units do often make the rounds on Night Out! And that group had a couple examples (we’ll add more pix from our travels later – in a hurry and on the go, we’re defaulting to the cameraphone photos we snap first) of true fun in the street: kids scooting and tricycling without risk – great to have that one night a year! Off now a few blocks south. But first – a photo in from a big party southwest of The Junction – Dave shares this photo of neighbors Obie and Rosinia:
(added later) Dave also caught the live neighborhood concert – with a Nirvana cover:
7:09 PM: Just left a party in Gatewood – thanks to Sue for inviting us. There we found a longtime WSB sponsor – John Moore from Northwest Insurance Group (and most recently, the tipster who let us know about the smash-and-grab at The Swinery that turned out to be toward the start of the smash-and-grab “pattern”):
Next stop – Seaview.
7:27 PM: In Seaview, blockwatch captain Melody told us that Erma – with the white hair, background right – is the neighborhood’s original blockwatch captain. She also told us we’d just missed a visit by Community Police Team Officer Kevin McDaniel, who apparently is the only one making West Seattle Night Out visits tonight because of a big case elsewhere in the city that is keeping everyone busier than usual. We’re now en route to Arbor Heights – with a photo to add from Fauntleroy:
Thanks to Fauntleroy Community Associationpresident Bruce Butterfield for sharing the pic! They’re gathering on SW Henderson, between 45th SW and Fauntleroy Way. 7:51 PM: The Arbor Heights party we just visited is the first one since 1996 in a neighborhood near Hillcrest Presbyterian Church. They had a great barbecue going:
Now we’re in Highland Park, 8600 block of 12th SW – thanks to Christie for the invite here. (We have crews in the north and east too and will incorporate their photos in a second report later.) Photo (added afterward):
8:15 PM: We’re moved to North Delridge. We’re checking out the 25th/Findlay party (photo added):
And just before arrival, got this 26th/Juneau shot from Betsy Hoffmeister:
That’s Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow on the right.
8:26 PM: From the aforementioned 25th/Findlay party (thanks to Sabrina for permission to stop by) – the impromptu sound system they’re using for tunes – iPod, speaker and mixer:
Speaking of music, our next stop is a South Admiral party that’s one of several tonight reported to have bands. But first, the sun’s already set – Chas Redmond sent this photo from outside The Hall at Fauntleroy (not a Night Out party there, instead, the Citizens Advisory Group meeting regarding the Murray Basin Combined Sewer Overflow control project – yes, it’s not ALL about Night Out tonight):
8:49 PM: From the 3700 block of 42nd SW – where the band 4 Outta 5 just finished playing for a big crowd before we arrived after sunset:
(better photo substituted for earlier cameraphone pic)
We’re now checking out two parties in the Fairmount Springs/north-of-Morgan-Junction area – one to which we were invited, another we spotted while parking, which seems to have a police officer visiting.
8:57 PM: We’ve seen a LOT of kids tonight – including babies as little as 2 weeks old. The one we got in this photo (south of Graham, west of Fauntleroy) wasn’t quite that young – but mugged for the camera quite nicely – with Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith alongside:
(added) Across Graham from there, this is the alley party @zeitgeist33 tweeted about. The sign was a nice touch:
The “official” Night Out window of time is running out – though we know a couple parties were planning outdoor movies around 9:30 – meantime, we’ll definitely have another Night Out report later, with some non-cameraphone imagery, not just from our tour, but also from photojournalists Christopher Boffoli (who toured The Junction and points west) and Cliff DesPeaux (who made a couple stops in northeast WS), and from a few e-mailed/tweeted scenes we haven’t published yet. Thanks to everyone who shared word of their parties!
Tuesday’s the night – all over the peninsula (and the rest of the city), you’ll see “STREET CLOSED” signs marking the spot for block parties in honor of “Night Out” (formerly National Night Out Against Crime), celebrating neighborhoods taking a stand against crime. According to the Seattle Police “Night Out” webpage, the deadline to sign up your neighborhood – and therefore get the right to close off (non-arterial) streets for block parties – is 9 am tomorrow, so you’d better get busy now if you haven’t gotten around to it yet. And we’ll repeat our pitch – we traditionally spend Night Out visiting West Seattle parties for as-it-happens coverage, so if a WSB photojournalist would be welcome to stop by, please let us know where and when your party’s happening (the official Tuesday night time frame is 6-10 pm, but in past years we’ve noticed some neighborhoods don’t really get going till a bit later). Thanks! (Here’s some of our coverage from last year.)
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION’S SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: The second year for this free outdoor-concert series (co-sponsored by local businesses including WSB) kicks off tomorrow night with The Starlings (video above). For each of the next six Thursday nights, be on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center (bring your own chair/blanket) at 6:30 to enjoy great local music. And it’s more than music: The Kid Picks van from PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor as well as major sponsor of the concert series) will be back. ANA will sell its new T-shirts and track jackets. No food concessions yet, so bring your own dinner/snacks – but food carts are welcome if you want to invite one (they’d have to set up along Walnut on the east side of the park). See you there!
LUNA PARK BLOCK PARTY: Businesses in the Luna Park area – SW Avalon Way just south of the West Seattle Bridge – are planning this first-ever bash tomorrow night, stretching from Avalon Glassworks (where you can watch live glass-blowing demonstrations) to Ola Salon (beverages and raffle), 5-9 pm, with live music along the way too, all to showcase this unique slice of West Seattle.
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
About 25 people gathered Tuesday night at Admiral Church for the monthly meeting of the Admiral Neighborhood Association.
The agenda included a forum for local political candidates, a discussion of the “rechannelization” proposal for Admiral Way (as a follow-up to SDOT’s open house earlier in the afternoon), an update on a possible pedestrian signal at 47th SW & Admiral Way, a recap of the successful 4th of July Kids’ Parade, and an overview of the group’s final preparations for the Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series (co-sponsored by WSB, beginning 2 weeks from tomorrow).
Got a question/concern about Real Change vendors? Take it to the top, without leaving West Seattle, as Real Change‘s director of vendor services Tara Moss and field organizer Neal Lampi come to the Junction Neighborhood Organization‘s next meeting tomorrow night for Q/A. Also on the agenda: An update on where planning stands for the West Seattle Triangle, after a series of meetings with city planners and a local advisory group this spring. The planner who’s leading the project, Susan McLain, will talk about the progress toward creating a Street Design/Public Realm Concept Plan process for The Triangle, as well as zoning/land use. Everyone’s welcome at the JuNO meeting – 6:30 pm Tuesday at Ginomai (southwest corner of 42nd/Genesee).
(2009 WSB photo from Night Out party in Fauntleroy)
Signed up for a “Night Out” crime-preventing/neighborhood-strengthening party on your block yet? This year’s event is coming up August 3rd. And Seattle Police have changed a few things this time around, as noted here. For one – there’s a quicker way to sign up online – you can do it right here, right now. For two – they’ve set up a Seattle Night Out Facebook page (you can “like” it here). If your neighborhood does decide to have a Night Out block party, and you wouldn’t mind us stopping by for a photo, please let us know – SPD generally doesn’t share lists/maps of registered parties, so we’ve made this request to you the past two years, and have met some great folks as a result.
The turnout was the biggest news from tonight’s 
Just announced by the city:
Two days after the city’s 
Tuesday’s the night – all over the peninsula (and the rest of the city), you’ll see “STREET CLOSED” signs marking the spot for block parties in honor of “Night Out” (formerly National Night Out Against Crime), celebrating neighborhoods taking a stand against crime. According to the 
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