West Seattle, Washington
06 Monday
(Song sparrow at Lincoln Park; photo by Mark Ahlness, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Five highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar, where you’ll find even more of what’s up today/tonight:
WINE TASTING: 1-4 pm at Northwest Wine Academy on the South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) campus, 6000 16th SW, details in our calendar listing.
‘BOBCAT BOB’: The popular musician is back at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) tonight, 6-8 pm.
ON A ROLL: Alki Community Center‘s Friday night skate session runs 6:45-8:45 pm; details on the calendar.
‘NEXT FALL’ AT ARTSWEST: The first week of the Seattle premiere run of the Tony-nominated play continues tonight at 7:30 pm at ArtsWest in The Junction (4711 California SW).
BREAST CANCER FUNDRAISER: Tonight’s slate at the Benbow Room in The Admiral District (4210 SW Admiral Way) is an all-female lineup with half the proceeds going to fight breast cancer. Details here; music starts at 8:30 pm.
(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:07 AM: No classes today for Seattle Public Schools, so traffic might be a bit lighter if some parents are staying home as a result. No major closures this weekend, but here’s the roundup of events that might affect you in and around downtown today through Sunday.
6:24 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Paul for the pic – he reports a RapidRide bus is stuck on southbound California just south of Findlay:
(Photo by Don Brubeck)
One last time, motorcycles lined the street outside Alki Tavern on Thursday night. A sign set aside the parking just for them:
(Photo by Cami MacNamara)
A wider view shows how many had arrived even before sunset, for one last tribute:
(Photo by Russ Walker)
One last … taco:
(This photo and others below by Cami MacNamara)
With the tavern closing after Sunday night, it was one more tradition to say farewell to.
3 reader reports in this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup. First, from a Gatewood resident who didn’t want to be identified:
The night/morning of March 13/14, our car was prowled in our driveway– 3700 block of SW Elmgrove. We may have accidentally left the doors unlocked; however, a Club was locked on the steering wheel. We found the glove box and middle console open, as well as items in the trunk area disturbed. Items were taken and some strewn down the street.
Second, we received a brief note from a Fairmount Park-area resident about a tire-slashing overnight, Wednesday into Thursday, in their driveway.
Next, we have two reports of suspicious behavior involving people in vehicles – Bill reported this from Lincoln Park:
Noticed a suspicious vehicle (dark Chevy SUV, tinted windows, license 723-Y–) pull up in front of a neighbor’s house and park (near 46th Ave SW near Monroe). It’s an odd, out-of-the-way place to park, unless you live in one of the houses or are visiting someone there. Male passenger got out and walked toward a mailbox, then returned to the car. He and female driver lingered around the car, then got back in and started to drive away. I was able to get the plate and, as a precaution, decided to call 911.
About an hour later, I got a call from an officer saying they had located the vehicle and briefly questioned them. They say the male passenger is a known burglar. While they couldn’t find any evidence a crime had occurred, they were appreciative of the call and encouraged me to spread the word to neighbors. The officer reiterated to call 911 every time you see suspicious activity like this. I didn’t get a good look at them, but the male appeared to be late-20’s, medium-build, caucasian with a shaved head. Female was also late-20’s caucasian.
And this one from an anonymous Seaview resident:
My neighbor reported a suspicious white panel van casing the 5400 block of 49th SW this afternoon just before 2:30 PM. She reported it to the police to advise them.
This is after a reported stolen car just off of Genesee Hill a few days ago. Our neighborhood has been fairly anxious because of the numerous reported burglaries recently.
This month’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting is just days away – next Tuesday, March 19th, at the Southwest Precinct. Graffiti is the featured topic, but all issues/questions are welcome.
Two scenes from The Junction during Thursday night’s West Seattle Art Walk – above, artist Michelle Salazar (left) at Wallflower Custom Framing (4735 42nd SW; WSB sponsor) with proprietor Courtney Sievertson. Wallflower is a fun stop on Art Walk night, not only because of the variety of artists showcased, but also because it’s a comfortable venue for the Art Walk reception-style experience, a sip, a snack, a chat with the artist … You can read about Michelle and her work here.
Not far away, at Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor), metal/jewelry artist Sarah Loertscher was in the spotlight:
Click! shared the photo of Sarah, whose unique work is described here. It’ll be on display at Click! for two months, so if you missed Art Walk night, you can still view (and purchase!) the art – many of the participating venues keep the displays up all month.
Tonight, the first big Election 2013 event in West Seattle – King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s re-election campaign kickoff filled The Hall at Fauntleroy, where he kicked off his State House campaign 17 years ago. He was introduced by County Councilmembers Larry Gossett and Joe McDermott (Constantine starts speaking about 7 minutes into the video):
We’ll add a few more photos later. This year’s primary is August 6th, and the general election is November 5th.
ADDED: Some other sightings from the event – and what public records show about who’s running:
So beautiful tonight just before sunset – if you looked west, golden sunlight started to overtake the clouds, as a misty shower passed through, and looking northeast, you might have seen the view above, a rainbow over downtown along with the golden glow. Thanks to Stephen Bergenholtz for sharing the photo, taken outside Marination ma kai (WSB sponsor) at Seacrest. Might have a chance for sun/showers mix again in the days ahead, judging by the forecast.
SDOT has shared one of their trademark weekend-traffic heads-up notes most commonly seen in the summertime – because there’s a lot happening that might affect how you get around and through the heart of the city in the next three days. That includes Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade downtown (with two local schools’ marching bands, as previously mentioned) and more – Read on for details:
Don’t know how many days ago this happened, but we just noticed it today while turning around in the SW Yancy dead-end adjacent to Longfellow Creek, across from Allstar Fitness – the asphalt-topped parking lot installed after an old industrial facility was torn down has been torn out. Now the lot is just dirt. Checking the city’s online file, repeated violation notices were issued because the parking lot (“more than 2,000 square feet of impervious surface”), the city says, was installed without a permit. The removal was done with a permit, which was “finaled” by a city inspector yesterday (and there also was a permit for last year’s demolition of the buildings on the site). There have been previous proposals for new commercial buildings on the site, but none appears to be active right now.
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Most business-fixture auctions are anti-climactic … days or weeks after the shutdown, with the business space a near-empty echo of its past. But Alki Tavern, ending its 38-year run this Sunday, decided not to do it that way. Tavern owner Gill McLynne (above) decided to auction off the memorabilia last night – in a raucous atmosphere among friends, with the tavern still open and rocking. WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams was there. No surprise, it drew a crowd:
Adam Price served as auctioneer:
Any winning bid was cause for celebration – here’s Marshall Thomas to celebrate:
Ahead, some of what was bid on – no, not all beer signs!
Two notes this afternoon from Seattle Public Schools HQ:
PARTIAL HIRING-SPENDING FREEZE: The district says that because of an expected $18 million budget shortfall for next year and uncertainty over how the Legislature will handle school funding, SPS is “implementing a non-critical hiring and spending freeze until further notice. This freeze is expected to save at least $2.5 million, which can be carried over to assist in building a balanced 2013-14 budget.” The district announcement stresses, “Critical positions that are needed for either safety or classroom instruction are excluded from this freeze.” (Full announcement here.)
STRATEGIC-PLAN MEETINGS: As the district updates its “strategic plan” – we recently linked to an online survey – it’s planning five community meetings. Here in West Seattle, there’s one at 6:30 pm Tuesday, April 2nd, in the auditorium at Chief Sealth International High School (interpreters will be available for Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog, Amharic). Read about the strategic-plan process here; the School Board is expected to get a first look at the proposed plan for its June 19th meeting.
It’s public-comment time for another Avalon Way development proposal: The land-use permit application has just been filed for 3050 Avalon, which we’ve been tracking. It’s now described as a 14-unit, four-story “congregate residence” – previously a “boarding house,” with the same developer as a “boarding house” under construction further west on Avalon next to the 7-11. (We’re checking with the city regarding differences, if any, regarding the terminology.) No parking spaces included (optional since the building’s on the RapidRide line). The official notice is here, announced in today’s Land Use Information Bulletin, and it explains how to comment before the March 27th deadline. This is the third land-use-permit application in a week in that block of Avalon, after the much-larger apartment buildings noted here last Thursday.
(Townsend’s Warbler photographed in Fauntleroy Park by Mark Wangerin)
Busy news day already, but before we get much further along, a quick break for five highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today/tonight:
CAMPAIGN KICKOFF: West Seattle’s most prominent politician, County Executive Dow Constantine, is launching his re-election campaign tonight with a kickoff event at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 5:30 pm.
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: 6-9 pm, it’s the March edition of the West Seattle Art Walk, with venues and artists highlighted on the official website. Among your potential stops: Mesmerizing metalpoint by Sarah Loertscher at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor).
RAT CITY ART CITY: White Center’s art walk is moving to the second Thursday of the month starting tonight, also 6 pm-9 pm, so art fans can check out what’s happening to the south, too. Venues and artists are listed here.
DESIGN REVIEW POSTPONED – BUT YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT: As reported here on Wednesday afternoon, today’s Design Review Board meeting for the 3210 California SW project has been postponed because of a notification error. We are told that a development rep and city rep will be at the previously scheduled place/time (6:30 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle) to offer a “briefing” – no board present, no vote, no public comments – in case anyone shows up, since they couldn’t get out official notification.
GENESEE HILL SCHOOL AND GSNC: In the Schmitz Park Elementary cafeteria (5000 SW Spokane), community conversation about the latest design of the new elementary school at Genesee Hill is scheduled for 6:30 tonight, followed by a short meeting of the Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Council around 8 pm.
Much more on the calendar – see for yourself here (and if you haven’t looked lately – our big server upgrade this past Monday brings the calendar page up faster, too).
(One of more than half a dozen law-enforcement cars spread out over search area in Shorewood)
9:38 AM: We’re getting a few reports of the King County Sheriff’s Office helicopter Guardian One over the Shorewood area again. Just checked with KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West and she confirms the helicopter is assisting with a ground search, but no details just yet – so far it does not seem to be related to the recent search in that area. We’re headed that way and will update with new information when we get it.
9:55 AM: The search is centered even further south so at this point unless we receive information of it heading north, we’ll be focusing our updates on partner site White Center Now.
10:36 AM: Again, more details at that link (including 3 Highline Public Schools campuses taking precautions), but bottom line in new info from KCSO: Deputies pulled over a stolen car; someone inside had a car-theft warrant, and bolted.
10:43 AM: As updated on WCN – Sgt. West says the suspect is in custody, so this situation is wrapping up.
(Photo courtesy Tomboy Exchange)
One month ago, we reported on Fran Dunaway and Naomi Gonzalez, the West Seattleites who went to the crowdfunding site Kickstarter in search of $75,000 to launch a clothing line geared to women 40+ called Tomboy Exchange. Today they’re celebrating success, with supporters helping them meet and exceed that goal. Their official announcement says the $76,000 they raised “will launch TomboyX’s first line into full production and help start an online boutique.” The clothing will be made here in Seattle, they reiterate: “It’s an important factor to TomboyX that the clothing is designed and made locally — to keep jobs in America, stimulate the economy, and offer the best quality garments possible.” Keep an eye on tomboyexchange.com.
(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
No scheduled road work today or even this weekend – so here’s hoping for an uneventful day. P.S. if you want to check the weather, sunrise/sunset, moon, tides, etc., it’s all on the WSB Weather page.
Games people play, to help their furry friends: That’s what Catsino is all about, and it’s just a few weeks away, announce the animal advocates of Furry Faces Foundation. 2-6 pm April 7th at Beveridge Place Pub, which co-hosts Catsino with F3:
Hey Furry Faces Foundation Supporters, what do Texas Snip ‘em, Pig Craps, BlackCat 21, and Studless Draw all have in common?
“These are just a few of the thirteen crazy Las Vegas-style games we’ll be playing during the Catsino Silent Auction,” says Lora Swift of Furry Faces Foundation. “Local businesses and animal rescue groups are adopting the gaming tables, dealing out the cards, and rolling the dice. Enjoy meeting local rescue groups and bid on unusual, unique silent auction items! All proceeds benefit Furry Faces Foundation, A.A.R.F., Community Cat Coalition, and Regional Animal Services of King County.”
Tickets are just $25 at the door, or save $5 by purchasing your ticket by April 5th at one of our five ticket outlets. Each Catsino Silent Auction guest will receive a door prize ticket, one free drink ticket, and hors d’oeuvres. “Use your ‘Vaccination Record Passport’ as a guide to visit and play at each table,” says Teri Ensley, F3 Leader. “Every time you play for at least five minutes at a table you have not visited before, you will receive a stamp. Play at six different tables, you’ll earn an extra Grand Raffle ticket; play at nine different tables — another Grand Raffle Ticket; play at all thirteen and earn a total of three grand raffle tickets!”
“This is a chance for our community to meet our local business owners in a fun, personal setting and learn more about animal rescue groups,” say Gary Sink and Terri Griffith, owners of Beveridge Place Pub, “and, if you like what you hear ‘n’ see, drop a few dollars into their donation bucket or sign up to volunteer with them! We know that A.A.R.F., Community Cat Coalition, Regional Animal Services of King County, and Furry Faces Foundation folks are looking forward to meeting all of you!’
For more information, please visit: facebook.com/furryfacesfoundation or e-mail furryfaces@hotmail.com
The fine print: Catsino Silent Auction entertainment is a Recreational Gaming Activity; Catsino Bucks have no monetary value and all prizes are non-monetary. Also note: Beveridge Place Pub is 21+.. It’s one of five places where you can buy tickets early and save $5 – along with Hotwire Online Coffeehouse, The Wash Dog, Ventana Construction (all WSB sponsors), and Pet Elements.
That’s an updated detour map for Phase 2 of the Delridge Way repaving project, scheduled to take effect sometime next week – probably not before Wednesday, according to SDOT’s LeAnne Nelson, who thanks commenter Jim P for pointing out a problem with the map sent yesterday:
Your readers bring up a good point regarding the map. It shows the right-of-way routes for both 25th and 26th Avenue SW even though parts of what would be the roadway are unimproved. Attached is an updated map. Thank you to your readers for pointing out the issue!
Nelson also addresses an issue that commenter Breeze brought up:
Comments to your Phase 2 story include a question about why we detour to 35th Avenue SW. We strive to detour traffic along arterials, and the only consistent arterials flanking Delridge are the west sides of Trenton and Thistle (east sides of those streets are not arterials) and 35th Avenue SW to link them north/south.
We cannot disallow vehicles from utilizing public streets, but we can encourage arterial use. If speeding is witnessed repeatedly on the street, let us know, and we could place speed tubes to track the problem and potentially request more enforcement in the area. We also strongly suggest neighbors partner with our Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program team to apply for roadway assessment and possible traffic calming measures. Details are at: seattle.gov/transportation/ntcp_calming.htm
Again, provided weather doesn’t get in the way of Phase 1’s completion between SW Trenton and Henderson, Phase 2 of the repaving will start sometime next week along Delridge between Trenton and Thistle, and that’s when the – revised! – detour map will apply. This phase of the project is expected to last about 2 1/2 months.
Since St. Patrick’s Day is on Sunday this year, it’s a weekend full of festivities, particularly on Saturday. If you’re going to the parade downtown on Saturday, look for two local schools’ marching bands – West Seattle High School and Denny International Middle School. Full parade details are here, including the entire list of participants and the route, described as:
The Parade travels north on 4th Ave, starting from Jefferson [map] to the Reviewing Stand at Westlake Park, and officially ends at the Seattle Center with Closing Ceremonies at 2 PM.
We see the list of participants also includes the Tony Comerford School of Irish Dance, which teaches at locations including West Seattle’s VFW Hall. Anyone else from West Seattle participating? Please let us know with a comment here, or e-mail, so that local paradegoers will know to look for you!
(Alki Tavern file photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Just got word from Alki Tavern (and confirmed it with a phone call to be sure) – they’ve decided at the last minute to have a memorabilia auction TONIGHT, before closing for good this weekend:
Sorry for the late notice but today Wednesday March 13th at 7 p.m. we are having an auction for all of our of memorabilia, neon signs, mirrors, etc.
Registration starts at 6 p.m. auction is at 7 p.m. at the Alki Tavern, 1321 Harbor Avenue Southwest. Live auction please bring cash. Last day we are open is March 17th.
(Proposed massing for the development; rendering courtesy Nicholson Kovalchick Architects)
Just got word from a spokesperson for the 166-apartment 3210 California SW development that its Early Design Guidance meeting, scheduled for tomorrow, has been postponed because of an error – “when the notice was published, one of the property parcels was not included.” Area residents confirm to WSB that they had sent the Department of Planning and Development a letter this past Monday asking for the postponement because of the error:
The February 21, 2013 Bulletin shows the development terminating at the southern edge of 3234 California Ave SW. In contrast, the design packet shows that actual boundary of the development is the south edge of 3240 California Ave. SW. This is a difference of 95 feet and 9675 square feet. The drawing of the project site on the Bulletin is more than 20% smaller than what is actually proposed. According to the Bulletin, several parcels on 42nd near the south end of the proposed development do not appear to share a boundary with the new building. In reality, the proposed five-story building will directly abut their property lines.
The Seattle DPD must provide proper notice that accurately reflects the size and share of the proposed development. The existing notice misrepresents the size of the development by more than 20% and does not comply with code.
The meeting cancellation is confirmed on the city website, but the new date is not listed yet; the development team expects it to be March 28th – already scheduled for the next meeting on the 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW megaproject – but we’re waiting to hear confirmation from the city. The “packet,” they say, will remain the same. If you still want to show up tomorrow night, 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, the development team plans an “informal briefing” but with the caveat that “the board is not required to attend, there is no public comment taken, nor does (city) staff provide any guidance.” We’ll update this story when we hear back from the city about the new date for the official meeting
(Lauren Englund in photo from May 2012 WSB story)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
When we first introduced you to Lauren Englund in May of last year, she had an idea – saving honey bees through education, by setting up an educational/observational hive – and needed help to make the dream come true.
It’s a dream with an underpinning of urgency – without bees, our lives are at risk.
Now – after community meetings, and a blossoming group of helpers (including Christine Bartels, at left in our photo above with Lauren on the right) – the dream is close to reality, in the form of the West Seattle Bee Garden, set to launch next to the High Point Commons Park P-Patch with a parade this May.
Right now, though, the next stage needs even more help – and that’s where you come in.
Part of it involves crowdfunding, through an IndieGoGo campaign that’s under way, to augment the Department of Neighborhoods matching-fund grant that’s helping fuel the project, as well as rallying volunteers for upcoming work parties.
We talked with Lauren at the Bee Garden site one recent gray, chilly day. The bees’ future home was only timber in the ground, but she painted a bright picture of the pollination garden that will bloom in this area east of the future bee enclosure:
And she rhapsodized about the expected visits from students and community members finding out about bees’ crucial role in our ecosystem.
The framework that’s there now will house the bees’ home as well as observation areas and informational features. They might even have webcams so people can check in online. The entryway to the garden will have a two-sided mosaic.
The stars of the show of course will be the bees themselves, which will come from local beekeepers, will arrive in style, with a community parade. There will be two hives for starters – “local genes, local DNA, no chemicals, no pesticides.”
What the West Seattle Bee Garden needs right now is “dollars, and bodies,” says Lauren – help in the form of work-party participation in April and May, starting April 6th – sign up here – and donations to the IndieGoGo campaign – do that here. You can get in on pavers to be placed in the garden, at a certain donation level, as well as other contribution rewards, as is typical in the crowdfunding world. (Check them out on the right side of the IndieGogo page.)
The High Point Neighborhood Association is sponsoring the picnic and parade that will celebrate the bees’ arrival at 11 am May 19th – with a marching band leading the way! The bees will be marched in, in a sealed container, as part of a festival-like atmosphere – Lauren expects games, arts, crafts, even food trucks all around the park.
The festival is only the beginning – then, the first summer of bee-watching, bee-tending, pollination, and education will begin. Lauren hopes the West Seattle Bee Garden will teach people about pesticides, and how they affect bees (among other beneficial insects) – it’s not as simple as it seems when you grab a product off the shelf at a store. And it’ll be an opportunity for people to learn other things about bees – why they swarm, for example.
Nearby West Seattle Elementary is already involved in the project and other schools are welcome to join, she adds – including being part of the parade.
P.S. Here’s the plant list so far for the pollination garden; Lauren notes that it’s “specific to good pollinators for honey bees,” but they hope to incorporate plants that also are conducive to “butterflies, mason bees, hummingbirds, bumblebees, etc.”
Hellebore (late winter)
Crocus (late winter)
Witch Hazel (late winter)
Iris (spring)
Oregon Grape (spring)
Alpine Strawberry (spring)
Japanese Snowbell Tree (summer)
Chives (summer)
Lupine (summer)
Echinacea (summer)
Bee Balm (summer)
Black Eyed Susan (summer)
Geranium Sanguineum (summer)
Borage (summer)
Asters (late summer)
She hopes that eventually, there will be plants to bloom year-round. But again, it’s time now to jump in and help – work-party signups here, contributions here, and if you have questions or ideas – e-mail westseattlebeegarden@gmail.com, and check the website, which includes a photo gallery, FAQ, and updates.
Today we officially welcome Bird on a Wire as one of the newest WSB sponsors. Haven’t been there lately? It’s become much more than a coffee shop, as proprietor Heidi Herr explains:
“I opened Bird on a Wire (BoaW) in 2002 after many years in the espresso business. I literally got to the point that I knew more than someone who was about to hire me for their coffee shop … this got me thinking I should give it a whirl myself! We have been open now for almost 11 years in a amazing/small/supportive neighborhood at the south end of West Seattle – an often forgotten area of WS. With a good product and a loyal following, we celebrated our tenth year in June 2012!
“There wasn’t much down here in 2002. The ‘hood was hungry (thirsty) for something and we provided a consistent, quality product, a friendly environment, and a hub for neighbors to meet. Our quality and coffee are #1; our staff is always friendly and we keep things new and fresh. You meet people and make friends here – it’s always been that way. Their trust in me and my staff’s coffee skills has given room for us to introduce more food options – soups, sandwiches, small plates – all made IN HOUSE, as well as beer and wine!
“I support local vendors and believe in a sustainable/no-waste approach to business/life. I willingly (for free) provide coffee grounds to the local P-Patches. I believe that we need to support brick and mortars in order for our economy to be strengthened. I have lived in West Seattle since 1998 and grew up in North Seattle (Roosevelt High School). I am a retired founding member of the Rat City Rollergirls and currently coach for Tilted Thunder Rail Birds, Seattle’s only banked-track roller derby league. I am on the advisory board for Theatre Off Jackson – an indie theater in the International District.”
Did we mention outdoor seating as well as indoor?
Bird on a Wire is at 3509 SW Henderson (map), online at birdonawireespresso.com, and on Facebook here, where you’ll find frequent updates on food and drink highlights and also The Bird’s hours – till 9 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays, till 4 pm Mondays and Sundays.
We thank Bird on a Wire for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
.
| 1 COMMENT