West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
The summer’s biggest events are approaching fast – among them, the West Seattle Garden Tour, 9 am-5 pm on Sunday, July 17th, with a milestone today: Tickets are now about to go on sale, now that ticket books have just arrived at West Seattle Nursery, and the rest to be available at all designated outlets by this weekend, according to Jane Watson from the WSGT:
The WS ticket outlets are: Junction True Value, West Seattle Nursery, ArtsWest, Metropolitan Market and Village Green Perennial Nursery.
We hope to sell a record number of tickets this year to support our 2011 beneficiaries (Seattle Chinese Garden, Walking on Logs Landscape Restoration Group, West Seattle Tool Library, Nantes Park, Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center, Nature Consortium, Lincoln Park P-Patch, and ArtsWest).
This year’s featured gardens are previewed here (minus addresses). Tickets are $15 and include Sue Goetz’s noon lecture on perennials, at the West Seattle Golf Course. (WSB is proud to be co-sponsoring the WS Garden Tour again this year!)
It’s going on 2 years since the city approved new rules for so-called “backyard cottages.” They’re not exactly what the name conjures – they can be elegant, albeit relatively small, residences in their own way. WSB sponsor Ncompass Cottage Company is a specialist in the field and is about to launch a series of free workshops, along with Microhouse Northwest. (At right are Drew Foster and Stefan Hansmire of Ncompass.) They say the city processed 55 construction permits for backyard cottages last year, nine in West Seattle, and they’re ready to share information about everything from the history of the idea, to current regulations, to financing options, planning/design considerations, and how to choose an architect and builder. Got a sketch already? Bring it along. The free one-hour workshops are planned for 7 pm June 22, June 29, and July 13th at the Community School of West Seattle (9450 22nd SW). RSVP (or get questions answered) by contacting Stefan at 206-933-5961 or stefan@ncompass-llc.com.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Reopening a closed West Seattle public school is virtually inevitable, Seattle School Board president Steve Sundquist confirmed during this morning’s community-conversation meeting at Delridge Library, as the district deals with overcrowding issues in the second year after the last round of closures. And though no decision’s been made yet, Fairmount Park Elementary at 38th/Findlay – shuttered for four years – seems likely to be that school, he acknowledged – with one caveat. Read on for details of the discussion, which also tackled issues including sibling waitlists:Read More
Longtime WSB’er Margaret Lanphier is getting a shoutout on the SPD Blotter website today – for helping reunite a stolen car with its owner. Spotting an unfamiliar car on her Arbor Heights block, she checked SPD’s @getyourcarback Twitter account – which sends out the plates of cars reported stolen – and found it had been tweeted. Turned out the car had been stolen from Capitol Hill. Read the full story here – including advice for people whose stolen cars are recovered, stemming from what was found inside this one.
If you have a 2011 grad in your family – you’ve known the big date for a long time. But for everyone else who’s wondering when it’s cap/gown/diploma time:
SLHS GRADUATION THIS FRIDAY: West Seattle’s first graduation ceremony of the season is this Friday (June 10), 7:30 pm, for Seattle Lutheran High School.
WSHS GRADUATION NEXT TUESDAY: West Seattle High School‘s grads get their diplomas on Tuesday, June 14th, 5 pm at Memorial Stadium (5th and Harrison downtown).
MIDDLE COLLEGE GRADUATION NEXT WEDNESDAY: One week from tonight, June 15th, it’s the Middle College High School graduation, 7 pm at South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center.
SSCC GRADUATION JUNE 16 – SOMEPLACE NEW: South Seattle Community College commencement is at Benaroya Hall downtown for the first time – SSCC spokesperson Candace Oehler explains, “We’ve outgrown the Brockey Center. At Benaroya, we can now accommodate our graduates’ families, friends and significant others. Previously, we’ve had to limit the number of tickets per grad and many folks were left out. We’re very, very excited about the move!” The ceremony is at 2:30 pm, one week from tomorrow (June 16).
CHIEF SEALTH GRADUATION A WEEK FROM FRIDAY: The seniors’ sendoff for Chief Sealth International High School is at Memorial Stadium downtown on June 17th, 5 pm.
West Seattle Elementary made that video about “Community” for a new nationwide contest they insist they’re “planning on” winning – to get $20,000 for a new technology lab. But they have to win the vote first. The contest is through the retail chain Big Lots and you can find the backstory here; what matters most is to go directly to WSES’s contest page and vote for them, which you can do three times a day (the site says) till July 4th.
10:37 AM: WSB Forums member Paul points us to this post about another Seattle school’s entry – The Center School, which has dozens of students from West Seattle. Here’s a direct link to their contest page.
That’s the trailer for “Sushi: The Global Catch,” which has its world premiere tonight here in West Seattle, during the ongoing Seattle International Film Festival (WSB sponsor) run at the Admiral Theater. It’s at 7 pm, and debut documentarian Mark Hall is scheduled to be there. Also from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS: Our area’s largest political organization, the 34th District Democrats, meet tonight to consider who they’ll endorse in the August primaries. Candidates will be there too. 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy.
COOLMOMS (AND KIDS) ON PARADE: This month’s meeting of the family-oriented environmental-awareness group CoolMom is a walk-and-bike parade at Lincoln Park, 10 am. Meet at the south end of the paved beach path for a walk/ride to Colman Pool and back.
MEET YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: Got a concern or question about Seattle Public Schools as the school year winds down? West Seattle’s representative on the school board – also its president – Steve Sundquist holds two neighborhood chats this week, starting with 11 am today at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW).
ANOTHER WAY TO HAVE A SAY ABOUT PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 9 pm tonight is the deadline to answer a survey that will factor into Seattle Public Schools’ Strategic Plan – 21 questions, all online, anonymous. The survey’s here.
BRAINSTORM THE FUTURE OF PARKS PROGRAMMING Seattle Parks and Recreation Adult Programming Dinner and Brainstorm. Free dinner at Delridge Community Center, followed by a lively discussion on what programs you’d like to see at your local community centers. 6 pm
SUMMER FEST COUNTDOWN! Exactly one month till West Seattle Summer Fest, July 8-9-10 in The Junction (with co-sponsors including WSB).
Two signs seen along 35th SW in West Seattle on Tuesday are the latest proof that despite the legislative turmoil in Olympia, and local authorities’ words of warning, the medical-marijuana industry is moving ahead undaunted.
First, we’ve never seen signs like the one above, promoting medical-marijuana cards (aka licenses/prescriptions), but we spotted several along north-central 35th SW while checking on Tuesday morning traffic backups. We called and Googled the phone number, and both pointed to Pacific Medical Labs, based in Gig Harbor. We left voicemail asking for comment, but no callback.
On the south stretch of 35th, another sign – unrelated to the one above, so far as we know – for the new medical-marijuana business we first told you about in April:
(This photo and others below: By Deanie Schwarz for WSB)
Before the sign went up, the WSB contributor who broke the news of Northwest Patient Resource Center‘s move into the ex-Payday Loans spot at 35th and Roxbury had checked in with its proprietors for a followup:
By Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
In the weeks since the State Legislature’s special session concluded without passage of new legislation to clarify medical-marijuana law, the Northwest Patient Resource Center (NWPRC) has continued forging ahead with its West Seattle plan, despite the impending law change next month, when legislation that did pass takes effect.
We toured the facility and talked there with owner John Davis and partner Anthony Lilly. about both their business and the uncertainty of the regulatory situation.
They are awaiting the installation of their “point of sale” system, and expect to open within a few weeks. But then what, given the legislative/legal climate? They explain what they call a different model:
Read More
One week from tonight, the new architect/developer for Oregon 42 – the official name for the revived development plan for 42nd/Oregon in The Junction – will meet with interested community members (all welcome) to discuss its revised plan. We’ve been covering it here, including, on Monday, a then/now comparison with renderings from the 2008-2009 Design Review process compared to hard-copy versions from the current revisions on file with the city. Since then, new architect JBDG has provided a PDF document with two views of the project, then/now (the one you see above is a current view), as well as their toplines on what’s changed – more ahead:Read More
Union organizers and other activists came to West Seattle on Tuesday afternoon for a media briefing organized by UFCW 21 to spotlight their concerns about “the global supply chain for clothing” and working conditions for the people who work as part of that chain.They chose Jack Block Park in hopes of a scenic backdrop showing container-laden ships bringing in imports. Unfortunately, the rain moved in just as they were starting; also unfortunately for their hopes of a citywide spotlight, we were the only media who showed up.
Their main target of concern is Wal-Mart, which doesn’t have a nearby store – but, the organizers insisted, the corporation wants to open stores here. We rolled video on the entire 16-minute briefing, and have published it above. Speakers included Kalpona Akter, an organizer from Bangladesh, who said she had been jailed and otherwise persecuted for her campaign to improve working conditions. She went to the Wal-Mart shareholders’ meeting recently to pressure the corporation to make changes; here’s more on that – including Wal-Mart’s side of the story – from the New York Times.
Once Bang Bar opens this Friday, that leaves three new restaurants on the watch list, by our count, and tonight we have an update on one – wood-fired Pizzeria 22 in the Admiral District (4213 SW College). We checked in with owner Cary Kemp for the first time in almost a month and a half (here’s our last progress report; we had first word of the restaurant in December). He says, “We are very close to completing the buildout and opening our doors. We hope to have the Health Department sign off this week or early next week and perhaps open on Monday the 20th. We are currently curing our oven, which will take about 5 to 6 days.”
(The Delridge Dragonfly Pavilion, by pye42, from the WSB Flickr group)
Two years ago, city leaders came to North Delridge to get a firsthand look at several problem spots. This Saturday, another walking tour with city leaders and Delridge neighbors – but it’s a look at what going right, with stops including the Dragonfly Pavilion, above. You’re invited to join in on the “Delridge Improvements Walk” on Saturday (June 11), 11 am-1 pm, starting from Uptown Espresso at Delridge/Andover. Here’s the list of stops, including some Delridge gems you might not be familiar with already. The key here: The “improvements” wouldn’t have happened without residents joining forces to make them happen. So if you’re trying to figure out how to improve your own neighborhood, you’ll get some ideas about what works, and how to do it. Bring a water bottle and comfortable shoes, organizers advise, since “we’ll be walking for a couple hours.” (The city councilmembers who’ve RSVP’d for the tour include two who were on the 2009 walk, Councilmembers Sally Clark and Tim Burgess.)
Before we get to two West Seattle Crime Watch reports – a quick note about a sizable police response in Arbor Heights this afternoon, near 34th/102nd: What started as an “assault with weapons/aid” call on the 911 log was a fight between relatives, police told us at the scene. While one person suffered minor injuries, they said, no one needed to go to the hospital, and they were not expecting to arrest anyone involved. Now, to two reports out of the WSB inbox today – both involving car crime, including a prowling incident whose victim is a bit puzzled:Read More
(Scroll down for updates, and use the comment section to let us know how your commute goes/is going!)
(Refresh for latest pic from WS Bridge; more on the WSB Traffic page)
4:16 PM: As promised, we are tracking the commute home, given the morning gridlock blamed mostly on the “Get Motivated” event at KeyArena, and the city’s warning of a possible rerun-in-reverse since that event gets out just before 5. No problems so far. This will stay atop the home page till we’re sure the commute’ s no worse than usual, so scroll down as we continue to add new news BELOW this story.
4:44 PM: Some trouble spots – in red – are starting to show up on the city Travelers’ Info Map, which you can also use to check the travel times you see on those overhead signs. Find the map here. We have multiple reports that southbound 99 is backed up – all the way past the Battery Street Tunnel, according to a text we just received.
(Refresh for latest pic from 11th/Spokane, low-bridge-bound; more on the WSB Traffic page)
4:56 PM: The low bridge opened during this past half-hour – if you don’t usually go that way, do note that it DOES open for vessels during commute periods. A possible alternative for getting out of downtown is 4th Avenue South, which you can use to get to the 1st Avenue South Bridge, which in turn will take you to exits you can use to get into West Seattle via Highland Park Way, or Myers Way up to Roxbury.
5:45 PM: No news is good news – so far still no major problems reported. Slow, but not catastrophic. We’re continuing to monitor scanner, TV, radio, maps, Twitter, Facebook, comments, e-mail for anything to pass along.
6:42 PM: Looks like the commute has passed without anything resembling this morning. Not great, but not horrific. Nothing on the radar for tomorrow morning … so far!
(Additional update on Wednesday night – Casey’s mom explains in a comment how he was found)
TUESDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Casey’s mom reports in the comment section that he is back home. Original story after the jump:Read More
Seattle Police have published another update on what the Aggressive Drivers Response Team has been up to. This one was a two-parter – one North Seattle, one West Seattle. For the latter, they worked on Highland Park Way yesterday – with the list of citations (see it here) said to include 11 uninsured drivers people driving without proof of insurance.
Congratulations to the West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival team, whose 2011 float “Sparkling Seattle” has won another award! The first one came last month during its season debut, in Sequim; here’s the latest:
West Seattle Hi-Yu traveled to Shelton for another community festival parade this past Saturday. The Mason County Forest Festival – Paul Bunyan parade was held Saturday at 11:00 am. Under gorgeous blue skies and wonderful warm weather the WS Hi-Yu float brought home their 2nd award for the season – Mayor’s Award. The photos show the parental and community members helping out, and the gorgeous Junior court (Queen Taylor, Princess Kaitlin, Princess Riley) and Senior court (Queen Kelsey, Princess Victoria, and standin Princess Veronica) practicing their waves for the community.
Remember to attend some wonderful upcoming Hi-Yu events: For the ladies – moms, aunts, grandmas, sisters, young ladies, interested Junior Court Candidates, past candidates and royalty — The White Rose Reception, 7 pm, WS Fauntleroy Church hall, Tuesday, June 28th, $5 donation. Past royalty are encouraged to wear their tiaras!
For everyone – Pirates Landing, Saturday, July 9th, Alki Beach; Concert in the Park, Tuesday, July 19th, 7 pm; American Legion Parade, Saturday, July 23rd, California Ave., 11 am.
Special emphasis on the Junior Court candidates mention – while the timeline for choosing a new Hi-Yu Senior Court has changed this year, as first reported here in early May, there WILL be a Junior Court Coronation this summer as always, and Hi-Yu leadership tells WSB that applications will be available soon (including at the White Rose Reception event mentioned above).
12:46 PM: Following up on this morning’s traffic nightmare (see our coverage and dozens of reader comments here), the city has issued this advisory for the afternoon/evening:
With major events occurring around Seattle Center, to include the Get Motivated Seminar at KeyArena, the City of Seattle warns travelers to expect higher traffic volumes around the campus area, and on nearby streets and highways from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Commuters are advised to consider an early departure or to delay their trip to avoid traffic related impacts.
Prior to departing their office or home, drivers are advised to check the Travelers Information Map for up-to-date information on citywide traffic flows and to view traffic camera images. If possible, the City recommends using alternate forms of transportation, such as light rail or commuter rail, to avoid roadway-related issues.
Here’s today’s entire Seattle Center calendar – in case you wondered about that first line.
ADDED 2:22 PM: SDOT often issues special alerts about traffic-intensifying events; in summer, they publish one before every weekend. So how did this not wind up on their advance-warning radar? we asked. Spokesperson Rick Sheridan explains:
The City of Seattle has a Special Events Committee that meets to review events that will impact city facilities, services and right of way. That body does take into consideration both large and small scale construction projects, and the scheduling of special events.
However, except for very large events like Bumbershoot, Seattle Center’s activities fall outside of this committee’s work and the center is responsible for them.
SDOT was not aware of the combined magnitude of this and other nearby events. But we will work with the center to ensure their events are appropriately announced to the traveling public.
Hate to bring this up while so many are still dealing with this morning’s commutemare, but WSDOT just sent a reminder about this weekend’s Alaskan Way Viaduct closure (we first warned you 5/26). It’s related to the south-end replacement project, and it’s planned for 11 pm Friday to 5 am Monday (unless work wraps up sooner, as it sometimes does). Details here.
(Photo taken around 9:20 am, looking north on 35th SW by the Golf Course)
8:42 AM: More than a few WSB’ers have sent word it’s impossible out there this morning. There’s nothing on the West Seattle Bridge and no new closures, but apparently there is a problem somewhere north of on I-5 that has backed things up badly, and this is believed to be a spillover effect. 8:49 AM: Tracy Taylor from KING 5 is blaming – at least in part – the mega-celebrity motivational-speaker event at KeyArena for backing up the Mercer exit on I-5 but that may not be the only factor. So all we can say for now is, if you don’t know this already, it’s a snail’s pace out there. Seattle Times transportation reporter Mike Lindblom, a West Seattleite, tweeted that the signboard on Admiral said “45 minutes (to) I-5” as of about 15 minutes ago. 9:21 AM: Everything with motors and wheels is caught in the gridlock, though Water Taxi and bicycling are touted as running smoothly. Otherwise – Mike J says via Twitter that it took him an hour from WS to SODO, and that’s sounding fairly typical. We have an inquiry out to SDOT to see what the monitors in their traffic center are blaming for the reported mega-gridlock.
9:41 AM: And another potential wrinkle from the KeyArena event: Via Twitter, Joelle reported spotting a motorcade in the Seattle Center vicinity. Potentially for former First Lady Laura Bush, one of the participants? Seattle PD media unit’s Det. Mark Jamieson is checking but says she would definitely merit one (Secret Service protection). And the commute-nightmare stories keep pouring in, both via comments here and other channels like Facebook (facebook.com/westseattleblog) and Twitter, where Travis cites 1 hour, 13 minutes from Our Lady of Guadalupe to Chelan Café (by the low bridge).
10:22 AM: Cameras suggest that it’s finally eased. (Let us know if you experience otherwise.) We took a photo along 35th by the Golf Course after 9 am to capture some of the backup, and that is now atop this story, with the “live” (if you refresh) traffic cams moved down here in case you need a quick reference. No word yet from SDOT on analysis of this morning’s trafficmare. The KeyArena event is scheduled to end at 4:45 pm – so beware the EVENING commute.
(Refresh for latest pic from WS Bridge & eastbound Fauntleroy Way cams, more on the WSB Traffic page)
(Video substituted 6:10 am for original photo)
5:03 AM UPDATE: Fire crews are at a multiplex building in the 5000 block of 38th SW (map). They report the fire is tapped. Neighbors who e-mailed us report lots of smoke. We are on our way to find out more.
(Photo added 5:44 am)
5:19 AM UPDATE: On scene. Still very smoky. No injuries; a medic unit has just been cleared from the scene, as have some of the engines originally dispatched. Investigators also tell us it’s a fourplex, and the fire was in one of the rear units. They say one man was home in that unit when the fire started, and got out safely. They’re working to figure out the cause.
10:11 AM UPDATE: Just checked back with SFD. Spokesperson Kyle Moore says investigators are calling the fire accidental – caused by an “unattended candle.” Damage totaled $75,000, and the Red Cross is helping residents who aren’t able to go back into their apartments right now because of the fire and its aftermath.
(Photos by Bill “Hutch” Hutchison for WSB)
Competition? It was all friendly at the about-to-open Bang Bar Restaurant and Lounge in The Junction last night, as owners Kay Fuengarom and Aom Tiacharoenwat were joined by (at right) Buddha Ruksa‘s owner Anucha Onongard. Before Bang Bar’s planned Friday night “soft opening” (dinner only) to the public – first reported here on Sunday – the new “Modern Thai” restaurant hosted family, friends, and fellow restaurateurs for an invitation-only party. More photos ahead:Read More
Naheed wanted to share this far and wide:
Attention All Former and Current Schmitz Park Elementary Families – Come join us as Schmitz Park Elementary says Goodbye and Good Luck to a GREAT third-grade teacher, Mr. Japhy Whalen. Please join us to say goodbye, good luck and thank you to Mr. Whalen as he continues his teaching journey outside our school and West Seattle. The party will be in the Schmitz Park Elementary School cafeteria on Wednesday, June 15th, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. If you are unable to come but would like to send a message to him, please send your note via e-mail to Anne Weglin, arweglin@mac.com, or Naheed Nizam, nanizam@gmail.com. Also, please contact Anne or Naheed if you have any questions.
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