West Seattle, Washington
02 Sunday
(Photos courtesy Urban Homestead Foundation)
“We need a hero to save this land and legacy before it’s lost forever.”
That’s what it’s come down to for the West Seattle volunteers who founded the Urban Homestead Foundation, as they now have less than 8 weeks left to finish raising the money needed for a rare remaining open-space site in West Seattle, right across the street from the area’s most-populous elementary school.
The grass-roots group won a $281,000 matching grant from the King County Conservation Futures Fund, as reported here last June. That was a major achievement. But the key word there is “matching.”
The land at stake, dubbed the Dakota Homestead, is at 50th SW and SW Dakota [map], to purchase the lot, on the corner of SW Dakota and 50th Avenue SW. It’s city-owned – a decommissioned substation – and holds 20 mature trees, six of them with “exceptional” status. The foundation has been working for more than a year and a half to manage the land as a neighborhood preserve and gathering space, a hub for urban gardening and environmental education.
But they have to have the money to buy it by the end of the year. That’s where the hero, or heroes, come in, says foundation board member Phoebe Ingraham: “We are confident a visionary family, an energized community member or local businesses will respond to this call and save the day with a major gift. We need a hero to save this land and legacy before it’s lost forever. It’s the 11th hour on this unique opportunity. This green space represents West Seattle’s past, present, and future.”
The Urban Homestead Foundation has raised money and awareness, and along with securing the grant, they’ve pulled together $30,000 from neighbors. On the same June day that foundation supporters celebrated the big matching-fund grant, for example, a Girl Scout troop stopped by to donate $350:
(Photo courtesy UHF president Katie Stemp)
And now, they need major gifts totaling at least $300,000 before the end-of-year deadline.
The community supporters include Gerrit Kischner, principal of Genesee Hill Elementary across the street. He sees the site as “a natural classroom. Right now, much of the space is closed up and cut off from the community. Urban Homestead Foundation wants to do better for students and neighbors. I urge local families, individuals and businesses to consider their deep ties to this area, learn about the vision, and to step forward. It would be an incredible legacy to capture this moment in time and preserve the Homestead for future generations.” He’s one of the people you’ll hear from in this video about the site:
Donations are tax-deductible; information about how to give is here. December 31st is the deadline.
Thanks to Jim Borrow for the photo – it answers the question several have asked us today, about those fishing boats seen off Alki. They are purse seiners, which often show up right about this time of year, fishing for chum salmon. (WSB archives have photos from past years including 2009 and 2014.) The chum run might also be what has drawn the orcas we’ve been tracking today – though the Southern Residents prefer chinook, those salmon are harder to find right now.
1:09 PM: Thanks to Brian for the tip – demolition has begun at 4754 Fauntleroy SW, where the Capitol Loans pawn shop closed a year and a half ago, and where construction is expected to last the next year and a half for The Foundry. After the telltale No Parking signs went up last week, we sent a note to developer Holland Partner Group; no reply yet, but a notice sent by its construction company to some nearby businesses and residents says demolition is expected to last through November 17th, and that the project includes “108 residential units with 10 live/work units on 8 levels with amenity spaces throughout and parking for approximately 100 vehicles will be provided below grade …” That’s the same scope as it had when finishing the Design Review Board process back in April.
(Edmunds side of The Foundry – rendering by Mithun)
This is the third of three redeveloping corners of Fauntleroy/Edmunds, after The Whittaker (WSB sponsor) on the NW corner and the under-construction LIV Fauntleroy on the SW corner. The Foundry’s site is also immediately south of the two-building, 300+-unit Legacy Partners project at 4722 Fauntleroy SW that’s still in the Design Review process.
3:17 PM The building is down now – and there’s a bit of trouble – a leaning streetlight along Fauntleroy. Outside NB lane was blocked by police when we went by. Will check again in a bit.
4:56 PM: Added a photo from Brian above this line – City Light has been on site a while working on the streetlight. We just went through again a short time ago, and noted that traffic is getting through.
10:53 AM: Thanks to Cami for flagging us to this – which we’ve since discovered is affecting service here at HQ too: Comcast acknowledges its internet service is having trouble:
Some customers are having issues with their XFINITY Internet service. We apologize & appreciate your patience while we work to fix.
— ComcastCares (@comcastcares) November 6, 2017
Via Twitter, among other places, the problem appears to be affecting people in multiple states.
12:27 PM: Comcast describes the problem, via Twitter, as “an external network issue.” Cami, meantime, says her service (in the Alki area) is better now.
1:38 PM: Comcast says the problem should be fixed. If yours still isn’t working, be sure to let them know. (If you use Twitter, you can DM @comcastcares.)
10:38 PM: CNN reports that, believe it or not, CenturyLink had something to do with the Comcast problems.
10:39 AM: Tim‘s car was stolen overnight on Charlestown Hill:
It’s a golden/ivory 1996 Honda Accord. Very clean 110% bone stock. 5-speed manual. Tan interior. It has a small dimple dent with a green scuff on passenger rear door, and the bumpers have small scratches/scuff marks with “color match paint” to cover. Last seen parked out front on Charlestown St. (near 52nd SW; map) Stolen Sunday night 11/5/17. License plate #BEZ9764. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Call 911 if you see or have seen it. (Tim was in the process of reporting it to police and we’ll add the report # when we get it.)
ADDED 1:28 PM: SPD incident # is 17-411669.
(Olympic Mountains this morning, photographed from Gatewood by Mark Dale)
Got a future preschooler in the house? Or a future college student? Education-related events are a big part of the highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
RENTAL REGULATIONS: City-organized workshop at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 1-3 pm, open to all but mostly geared toward information that rental properties’ owners need to know about the newest city regulations. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
SSC ADMISSIONS WORKSHOP: Planning to study at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor)? 2-3:30 pm, get help with the process in this workshop at the SSC library. (6000 16th SW)
GET HELP WRITING COLLEGE ESSAYS: It’s college-application time and 11th/12th graders who are applying can get essay help today (and next Monday) with the Bureau of Fearless Ideas in Room 252B at Chief Sealth International High School, 4-6:30 pm. (2600 SW Thistle)
A CHILD BECOMES PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 6-8 pm, prospective families are welcome to visit A Child Becomes Preschool (WSB sponsor) to see the school and meet staff during tonight’s open house. (4320 SW Hill)
SING OUT YOUR MONDAY: Two Monday night karaoke events on our calendar – Yen Wor Village starting at 7:30 pm in The Admiral District, and Talarico’s starting at 10 pm in The Junction.
WHAT ELSE IS ON THE CALENDAR? See for yourself – and look into the future! – by going here.
(Added 4:55 pm: Photo by Trileigh Tucker)
8:37 AM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for sharing the report: Orcas seen off Alki this morning, headed southwest. Let us know if you see them – commenting here is great, and/or use our 24-hour text/voice hotline, 206-293-6302 – thank you!
12:28 PM: Alisa from the Orca Network is reporting that the orcas are confirmed as Southern Residents and are now northbound again, passing the Fauntleroy ferry terminal area as of less than 15 minutes ago.
2:10 PM: Now reported to be off Lowman Beach. Thanks again for the updates!
3:33 PM: We are at Constellation Park, where the orcas are visible – albeit in major sun glare – north of Blake Island.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:30 AM: Good morning! The temperature’s above freezing and no reports of iciness in our area. But it’ll be a chilly day – highs in the 40s.
SHORT SCHOOL WEEK: Since Veterans Day is on a Saturday this year, it will be observed this Friday (November 10th) by many, including Seattle Public Schools.
7:35 AM: Still no incidents reported in/from West Seattle.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 8:24 PM: That’s a screengrab from SDOT’s Winter Weather Response map (click the image to go to the “live” map), showing where city crews have pre-treated roads in this area in the past few hours. The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement alert warning about potentially icy roads:
Rain and snow showers will end across the lowlands of Western Washington this evening. Skies will begin clearing later tonight, allowing low temperatures to dip to near or below freezing in many areas. The coldest temperatures in the mid and upper 20s are expected in outlying areas away from the water. Some roads that are still wet or slushy will freeze late tonight and Monday morning. Icy roads should be anticipated for the Monday morning commute. Lows in the metro areas may also reach near freezing and some side roads or hills could also have icy spots.
After this, the forecast warms up gradually throughout the week, toward a high around 50 on Friday.
MONDAY MORNING: The alert was lifted overnight – temperatures have remained above freezing.
(UPDATED MONDAY NIGHT with documents from meeting)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Will Camp Second Chance get a second year at its Myers Way Parcels site?
That question was brought up many times on a cold, snowy afternoon when the idea of living outdoors seemed difficult to grasp, as the Community Advisory Committee for West Seattle’s city-sanctioned encampment met indoors. The group meets monthly at Arrowhead Gardens, a few blocks north of CSC’s site at 9701 Myers Way [map].
Along with the recurrent question about how long the camp would stay at the city-owned site, the committee heard updates on its current occupancy, which is down significantly.
On hand from the committee were Willow Fulton, a nearby resident, Aaron Garcia from the White Center Community Development Association, and Cinda Stegner from the Westside Interfaith Network, a coalition of West Seattle-area faith-based organizations. From the Low-Income Housing Institute (LIHI), which is now the camp’s operator, were executive director Sharon Lee and Josh Castle. And the lone city rep was, from the Department of Neighborhoods, Tom Van Bronkhorst.
The first update was from David, described as being authorized to speak for the camp board and as “a friend of the camp” who said he’s been serving as a mediator between CSC and LIHI. He said LIHI had recently delivered four more tiny homes and “a huge load of supplies – everything from kitchen supplies to coffee, flashlights, extension cords, and batteries” to the camp.
“It has been a process of the two organizations getting to know each other,” he said, working to “develop a constructive relationship.” That was an improvement from the bumpy initial relationship described at last month’s committee meeting.
Our second report today of sizable items taken in a car prowl. This report is from Paul in the 3500 block of SW 98th [map] in Arbor Heights, where the theft happened sometime this weekend:
The main thing that was stolen was a large gear bag (black PGA golf bag with wheels) that contained kite-surfing gear:
Kite board
10 and 12 meter kites
Harness
Bar and line
Wet suit
Long board skateboard
About $2500 worth of stuff to the right person but worthless to most peopleI also lost a black briefcase that had my entire financial life in it and an old MacBook Pro.
Hopefully the criminals just dumped it all somewhere and I can recover it soon.
If you have any information, the SPD incident # is 17-410552.
Thanks to the Chief Sealth International High School parent who shared the photo and report:
Students from Okinawa visited with Sealth Japanese-language students at High Point library. The program is called Kakehashi Project – a week-long exchange to boost understanding with American high school students. This program has been around for years and is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan.
SIDE NOTE: CSIHS welcomes prospective students and their families – current 8th graders, in particular – to visit this Thursday night (November 9th), 6-7:30 pm.
If you’re wondering whether this afternoon’s Longfellow Creek celebration is still happening on this snowy, chilly afternoon – yes, but at a new location. Signs at the originally announced Dragonfly Pavilion site will point you to Delridge Community Center.
Seattle Parks reps there joked that they thought they would only have to deal with the Seahawks game as competition for the event – not the Seahawks and snow. Nonetheless, they’ll be there with information about the creek, its environment, and its wildlife until 4 pm.
Matt lives across SW Frontenac from the north side of Gatewood Elementary and is asking you to watch out for guitars stolen from his car:
I’m kicking myself for making the mistake, but I left my guitars in my truck out in front of our house on the evening of Thursday November 2nd. When I went out to my truck to go to work on Friday morning, I knew right away what had happened. Someone had broken in and stolen my guitars and my backpack with song books, journal etc. We love our neighborhood, but I never leave things in our vehicles for this reason. Sadly, I blanked out this time and paid for it. Here are some more details as to what was taken in the off chance they cross people’s paths.
Taylor 714 Acoustic Guitar – serial #20060209124
Vintage Classical Guitar – circa early 70’s with distinctive wear around the sound hole where someone played it with a pick long ago and scratched up the soundboard.
It seems crazy that I don’t know the make given how long I’ve had the guitar and how much I love it, but it’s true. I seem to remember it being a Japanese maker, perhaps starting with an M. …
Northface Backpack, black – contents include a song book, journal, egg shakers, harmonica, harmonica holder, and other odds and ends etc. In short, things that would be meaningless to others, but matter to me.
A police report is filed among other steps Matt has taken to get the word out. If you have any info on the stolen items, you can refer to SPD incident # 2017-409388.
Thanks to Collin for the tip on this one – the photo shows one of two cars reported to be involved in a crash that is partly blocking Olson Place at Cambridge [map]. SFD has been dispatched. Avoid the area for a while.
10:09 AM SUNDAY: Thanks to Brian and Allison for the tips on this: A short police search is over after a driver crashed that car up onto the corner of Fauntleroy and Edmunds on the south side of The Whittaker (WSB sponsor). The building itself wasn’t damaged – the car was stopped by a concrete planter/bench. When Brian called it in, he was told the driver had run from the scene, and was suspected of being under the influence of drugs, related to an earlier call near Fairmount Park. Police did confirm to us that the driver ran but is now in custody.
MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: According to jail and court online records, the 26-year-old man arrested in connection with this crash remains in jail, facing charges of hit-run and being under the influence.
Though the National Weather Service canceled the big snow alert, we’re seeing showers right now. So who knows what the rest of the day will bring? Only thing we know for sure – these calendar highlights:
MARK WANGERIN PHOTO SHOW: The West Seattle photographer who has shared so many spectacular bird photos with WSB over the years has 18 of them on display right now at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) in The Triangle. You can see them on the wall between the women’s and men’s locker rooms any time the Y is open – 10 am to 8 pm on Sundays, 5:30 a.m. -10:00 p.m. weekdays, 7 am-6 pm on Saturdays. (3622 SW Snoqualmie)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Rain, shine, OR snow, the Sunday market happens year-round. 10 am-2 pm in the street in The Junction. (California between Alaska and Oregon)
LONGFELLOW CREEK CELEBRATION: 1-4 pm, come to Dragonfly Pavilion and celebrate 25 years of community engagement with eastern West Seattle’s creek. Take a nature walk, learn about salmon, and more – backstory and details in our calendar listing. (28th SW/SW Dakota)
BYSTANDER INTERVENTION TRAINING: 2 pm at Admiral UCC – learn how to intervene safely in a hate-based event. Check ASAP to see if there’s still room. (4320 SW Hill)
CAMP SECOND CHANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: 2 pm at Arrowhead Gardens – public welcome. This is the regular monthly meeting of the citizen advisory committee dealing with concerns, issues, and questions related to the city-sanctioned encampment on Myers Way. (9200 2nd SW)
CLEAR AND SWEET 360: Seattle-based visual/dance arts team zoe | juniper presents a “multidisciplinary” screening of their film, free, 2 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library: “The screening will feature a projection of the 2D version of the film and the opportunity to experience the VR 360º version on provided headsets.” (2306 42nd SW)
CORREO AEREO: At C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), “sumptuously soulful music in Mexican, Argentinian & Venezuelan folk traditions.” 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
HOLIDAY FOOD AND WINE PAIRING CLASS: 6 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club, as previewed here – it’s dinner as well as a class! Check ASAP to see if there’s still room. (1116 SW Holden)
SOUSA BIRTHDAY BASH: The Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band‘s annual bash at Kenyon Hall, 7:30 pm. Check ASAP to see if there’s still room. (7904 35th SW)
LOOK INTO THE FUTURE … via our complete calendar, here.
6:37 AM: Good news if you were worried about getting around today, bad news if you were hoping for a chance to throw a few snowballs: No snow so far, just rain. The National Weather Service canceled its alert a few hours ago and explained in the “forecast discussion”:
What needed to happen to get snow in the lowlands early this morning was a combination of the winds becoming northerly cooling the air mass down before the moisture from the frontal system moved out of the area. What happened was the surface low associated with the system instead of ending up near the mouth of the Columbia river is now just west of Grays Harbor. This difference in the low position has kept the winds from Everett southward easterly overnight instead of the winds becoming northerly. In these marginal low snow level scenarios for the Puget Sound region the low level easterlies are a killer. The little bit of downslope warming from the easterlies keeps the temperatures warm enough to keep the precipitation type as rain and that is what happened overnight.
The forecast still suggests the possibility of snow showers.
7:24 AM: One of those showers has arrived.
5:39 PM: We’ll have an update later, but in the short run – the NWS now warns things could be icy Monday morning.
Me-Kwa-Mooks is one of the West Seattle spots that’s greened up after a chilly morning of hard work by Green Seattle Day volunteers today. (Thanks to C. Parrs for the photos above and below!)
During the Green Seattle Day work parties, our photographer stopped by two other spots where volunteers were planting trees and shrubs – in Highland Park, volunteers worked east of the off-leash area at Westcrest Park, where some Friday snow was still on the ground:
(WSB photos from here down)
And in east Admiral, the Duwamish Head Greenbelt drew dozens of volunteers to work at 34th and City View, one of the sites where the city is restoring damage done by illegal tree-cutting:
Steve Richmond from Garden Cycles was leading the work today, and told us they were planting larger evergreens as well as understory plants such as ferns.
The city is committed to work at the east Admiral restoration sites for five years, Jon Jainga from Parks noted.
The 21 Green Seattle Day sites with work parties today included two others in West Seattle – Camp Long and Lincoln Park.
Want to step up your cooking/serving game a bit as the holiday season nears? Highland Park Improvement Club tells us there’s still room in a unique “class” – it’s also a demo and a dinner – set for tomorrow (Sunday) night. Master Sommelier Reggie Daigneault and classically trained Chef Jennifer Asmundson will lead you through “a magnificent food and wine extravaganza” with the menu including pumpkin-spice brie, smoked-salmon crudite, pumpkin soup, roast turkey, and dessert, plus two wines paired with each course, bubbly on arrival, sherry at the end. HPIC’s info page, with a ticket link, is here.
That’s Pellegrini, onstage at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW) when we stopped in toward the start of tonight’s 2nd annual Benefit Concert for the Homeless. 10+ bands are on the lineup tonight, $12 cover (unless you bought an advance ticket), with all proceeds going to benefit Mary’s Place, which helps families experiencing homelessness (and opened a shelter in nearby White Center earlier this year).
One year ago, Andrew Trujillo and Laurel Trujillo were celebrating the grand-opening weekend of their North Delridge taproom/beer garden, Ounces. Tonight, their first-anniversary celebration continues, with something new ahead as their second year begins:
Besides serving beer, Ounces is also known for hosting food trucks most days – see the calendar here – Cocina Buena is there right now:
Ounces hosted another truck until 6 pm, as highlighted in our West Seattle Saturday lineup – the Humane Society’s MaxMobile, with adorable kittens:
If you haven’t yet wished them “Happy Anniversary,” they’re open until 10 tonight – 3809 Delridge Way SW – and a special anniversary IPA is on tap, too.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
5:33 PM: We stopped by Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) at midday for photos just as the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s champagne gala brunch was getting started. Above, new SWSHS executive director Jeff McCord and board president Karen Sisson; below, former executive director Clay Eals and former City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen:
Another West Seattleite retired from politics, former Mayor Greg Nickels, was there with wife Sharon Nickels:
Husky Deli proprietor Jack Miller was scheduled to be a star of the show, in a conversation with broadcast journalist Connie Thompson:
As with many galas, donated one-of-a-kind auction items were a major attraction. This one is a classic Pearl Jam poster:
Donations big and small are the lifeblood of nonprofits like SWSHS – that includes lots of volunteer power, so you can give time to support its work – and/or you can give money, too.
ADDED 8:23 PM: From Jeff McCord, a wrap-up with words of thanks:
Southwest Seattle Historical Society would like to thank the Community for coming out today to our 2017 Champagne Gala Brunch at Salty’s on Alki. We had some great highlights, like former executive director Clay Eals being awarded a “Power of Community” hand-blown glass ornament created for the occasion by Avalon Glassworks, and long-time supporter John Bennett, owner of Luna Park Cafe, leading off donor support this year as the Presenting Sponsor. This is in addition to the help John has always given us in the upkeep and care of the Log House Museum.
The Gala Committee worked tirelessly to put on the event, including creating four “Fun in the Junction” auction packages for the Morgan, Alaska, and Admiral Junctions, as well as the Alki business district. Some packages included things like B’s Po Boy on Alki contributing a five-course meal for six with wine pairings; Wiseman Appliances providing a stainless steel Frigidaire 38-bottle cooler for the Admiral Junction package; and, in the Morgan Junction, Thriftway making up a huge Seahawks-themed gift basket.
Between challenge funders, exciting live auction & raffle items, we are proud to announce that the community came together to help us raise over $82,000.
| 12 COMMENTS