West Seattle, Washington
28 Tuesday
Will the third time be the proverbial charm for West Seattle-based musicmaker David Miles Huber, when the Grammy Awards are announced tomorrow? He’s been nominated for the third time – this time, “Chamberland” is up for Best Surround Sound Album. The video above shows Huber’s in-studio performance of “Emerald,” one of the album’s cuts. His previous nominations, also in the Best Surround Sound Album category, were announced in 2009 and 2010.
Log House Museum volunteers Bonnie and Andrew were among those enjoying free chili and cornbread on the museum’s porch this afternoon, during the Neighbor Appreciation Day celebration. (They turned out to be something of a Valentine’s Day story too – their love of West Seattle brought them together online, and now they’re married – as well as expressing their community caring through volunteering!) Right before serving chili, the Museum had hosted one of its monthly volunteer briefings, and new Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director Clay Eals reports another good turnout. He mingled with museum visitors and volunteers this afternoon:
You don’t have to wait for a special occasion to visit the museum – it’s open noon-4 pm, Thursdays through Sundays, 61st and Stevens.
West Seattle’s Sheila Lengle is one of the artists showing and selling work right now at the “pop-up art gallery” event under way at the Technology Access Foundation’s center in White Center’s Lakewood Park. Last year, Sheila’s work was seen all over West Seattle after she won the WS Garden Tour’s poster contest. Also there, Jave Yoshimoto:
He’s exhibited internationally and is currently a teaching artist at West Seattle-based ArtsCorps.
Second from right in the photo above, that’s Vera Johnson, owner of Village Green Perennial Nursery, who’s showing photographs tonight. The event organized by Menrva Labs continues till 8 at 605 SW 108th.
Out of the WSB inbox, from DC:
We live on the 3800 block of 17th Ave SW. There were several cars on our street broken into last night around 3:30 am. They went up and down our street and smashed passenger side windows and opened unlocked doors.
Our neighbor’s dog was barking and woke their owners up, which made them spring into action and call the police. They caught a glimpse of the prowlers and yelled out to them, which prompted them to flee.
The police arrived here around 3:45 a.m, and left their business card with an incident number on our front seats. Our cars had minimal damage, broken window’s, and open glove compartments, they rummaged through papers and stuff.
We just thought our West Seattle neighbors should be aware and be safe.
P.S. Not related, but if you wondered about a helicopter just east of West Seattle last night – it was a search in South Park; we have the story on partner site The South Park News.
It’s Neighbor Appreciation Day around the city, and one highlight was a chance to tour some of the Seattle Fire Department‘s stations for a couple hours at midday. We stopped at Fire Station 11 at 16th and Holden in Highland Park, which is currently home to not only Engine 11, but also a numberless backup ladder truck. We’re told it’s one of the few straight-frame ladder trucks still in service, as the two-driver tiller trucks are now preferred. Changes are ahead for Station 11, where upgrades including earthquake-safety work will start this spring, and an on-site trailer will take the place of the permanent quarters for a while.
Though the station tours are over, other Neighbor Appreciation Day events continue. A free swim is under way at Southwest Pool till 2 pm, and the Log House Museum is celebrating with free chili and cornbread on its expansive porch. You’re welcome to stop by 61st/Stevens till 4 pm – photo to come.
Filmed at, and premiered at, West Seattle’s own Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), that’s the new video for the second single by the on-the-rise Van Eps, “Save Yourself.” The band members include West Seattle resident Matt Strutynski. On the heels of last night’s premiere party, the video’s West Seattle-based director Jamie Burton Chamberlin just sent the clip.
Youth-sports signup season continues with an event today for Southwest Little League, whose area stretches southward from SW Juneau and westward from 1st Avenue S. From 11 am to 1 pm in the Log Cabin at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center (15th/102nd), they’ll sign up prospective players in person – so if you live within the aforementioned area, bring your child’s birth certificate, three proofs of residency, and the registration fee. Check out the residency requirements, fee details and more on the SWLL website.
(Photo by Don Brubeck)
Long list of things you can do today – and there’s even more on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, beyond these highlights:
TRAFFIC ALERT, ALL WEEKEND: Yet another reminder that the Delridge/Henderson section is completely closed this weekend so that the Delridge repaving project work can focus there. Here’s the detour map.
OPEN HOUSES: Community School of West Seattle (9450 22nd SW) is adding a fourth preschool class this year and has room – 10 am-2 pm open house today (parents/guardians only) – and at the same time, same location, the new K-5 Taproot School is having an open house, too.
SALAMANDERS, BEETLES, SPIDERS: Nature Walk at Camp Long, 10:30 am, with West Seattle naturalist Stewart Wechsler. Details on his website.
VOLUNTEER TRAINING AT THE LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Show up at 11 am today (61st/Stevens) and find out how to get involved with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. (Note followup event at 1 pm below …)
FIRE STATION OPEN HOUSES: As part of Neighbor Appreciation Day, three West Seattle fire stations are having open houses 11 am-1 pm – 11 (Highland Park), 32 (Triangle), 37 (Sunrise Heights). Details here.
VALENTINE’S DAY STORYTIME … at Barnes and Noble/Westwood Village, 11 am: “We’ll be reading ‘The Perfect Hug,’ as well as two other holiday-themed stories. There will be treats and crafts, as well!”
SIGN UP FOR THE FLOAT DODGER 5K: This pre-West Seattle Grand Parade run is on for its second year; sign up and celebrate (approaching) summer noon-4 pm today at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor; California/Charlestown).
CHILI AND CORNBREAD AT THE LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Starting at 1 pm, come enjoy free chili and cornbread as part of Neighbor Appreciation Day (61st/Stevens).
FREE PUBLIC SWIM: Another Neighbor Appreciation Day event – free swim at Southwest Pool (2801 SW Thistle), 1-2 pm.
TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE: 2-4 pm at Delridge Library – full details in the calendar listing.
POP-UP ART GALLERY … at the Technology Access Foundation‘s Bethaday Learning Space in White Center’s Lakewood Park, 4-8 pm. Artists include Village Green Perennial Nursery owner Vera Johnson; family activities in addition to the art show/sales – full details in the calendar listing. (605 SW 108th)
SOUL JAMBALAYA: Big slate of music – pros and students, multiple genres – at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle), 7 pm, free but donations will be accepted to benefit the Sealth/Denny music programs. Here’s our preview from earlier this week.
SINGIN’ AND SWINGIN’ WITH BOBBY D: The songs of legendary Bobby Darin, 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), details here.
ROY ZIMMERMAN: The satirical songwriter brings his show to WSUU (7141 California SW), 7:30 pm.
AT SKYLARK: Laguna, Summer Aviation, and DJ Hectophonic, starting at 8 pm (3803 Delridge Way SW).
’80s DANCE PARTY: Monthly event at The Benbow Room, 8 pm.
AT THE ALKI TAVERN: Time’s ticking on the Alki Tavern, with five weeks left till it’s closing forever. Go enjoy it tonight with Burley Mountain performing tonight, starting at 9.
THE DEE DEES’ DEBUT: “Their first performance anywhere,” says the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) announcement, describing The Dee Dees as an all-female Ramones tribute band. We also know it’s fronted by Feedback GM Bradi Jones. Be there – 9 pm (6451 California SW).
One more event has just been announced in memory of Jerry Ceis, Thanks to Doug for sharing the announcement:
There will be a wake for Jerry Ceis on February 24 at the American Legion. It will be from 2 pm to 6 pm and include music by Fever — and possibly several other folks. We will have dancing, drinking, and anything that Jerry would have approved of. More information to follow.
Mr. Ceis, remembered by his brother Tim as a man who “lived for the joy of life and adventure,” died January 9th at age 64. His official memorial service was last weekend; friends also have gathered for informal tributes.
On this date 10 years ago – February 8, 2003 – West 5 opened its doors at 4539 California SW in The Junction. You’re invited to a big party this Sunday night – but before that, co-proprietors Dean Overton and Dave Montoure (center and right in the photo above) commemorated the milestone this afternoon by re-enacting a historic moment: Making a guest appearance as bartender, Dean served a beer and a shot of whiskey to the man who in 2003 was their first customer, Bill Reid (left):
Dave noted that Bill was known as “The Tallest Man in Radio” during stints with KNDD (“The End“) and KJET. Dave and Dean, as pointed out when they announced their 8th-anniversary party two years ago, are “born-and-bred West Seattle natives,” and West 5 has gained fame for its food as well as its cocktails, gaining an especially huge helping of fame for its Astral Mac ‘n’ Cheese. They invite you to be on hand this Sunday night for a “raucous party,” starting at 8 pm.
P.S. Found a party-entertainment hint on West S’s Twitter page:
Happy anniversary to us! Lets have a party this Sunday. twitter.com/Westfive/statu…
— West 5 (@Westfive) February 5, 2013
(They performed outside West 5 on Summer Fest eve last year – there’s video in our report from that night.)
In the West Duwamish Greenbelt, steps away from the south end of the South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) campus, a delegation from Seattle Sounders FC took the field – well, the forest – this afternoon. They were there to help the Nature Consortium in the West Seattle nonprofit’s ongoing quest to help heal and restore the city’s longest stretch of contiguous forest. Their task today: Plant trees that NC obtained through the Forterra C3 grant, in which the Sounders are a founding partner. (From left in our photo, Sounders team members Alex Caskey and Babayele Sodade; Nature Consortium’s Monica Thomas; Sounders’ Andy Rose, and Sounders rep Jessica Hancock)
P.S. You can help out in the forest too – find out how here – and the NC also would love to see you at SODO Park on March 21st for their next gala fundraiser, Deep Roots (with WSB among the co-sponsors) – ticket info here.
We take it for granted, turning or pulling a handle and getting it instantly … but water is no sure bet for so many other parts of the world. That’s why Chief Sealth International High School is about to embark on its third annual World Water Week. The mid-March start is more than a month away, but Sealth staff and students are already getting ready.
In that photo are student leaders who spoke during a staff workshop yesterday afternoon focused on issues related to the lessons and events that will be part of WWW – including global sanitation and wastewater.
Social studies teacher Noah Zeichner, who is in his third year as faculty leader for WWW at Sealth, says this year’s keynoter – with a presentation open to the community, preceded by a Water and Health Resource Fair – will be Jack Sim, founder of the World Toilet Organization, on March 19th. 2.6 billion people in the world have no access to toilets, so it’s a big deal – here’s a preview:
Meet Mr. Toilet | Jessica Yu from Focus Forward Films on Vimeo.
Town Hall Seattle is co-sponsoring Sim’s appearance, as announced here.
Admission will be free – thanks in part to a fundraiser in which they’re partnering with Seavuria, connecting local students with counterparts in Kenya. Zeichner says you’ll be hearing from student “champions” as they “reach out to family, friends, and community to help support these important global programs at Chief Sealth International.” You can chip in by going to their fundraising page.
(WSB photo from 2011’s Hiawatha pancake breakfast)
No need to cook your own breakfast this Sunday – join your neighbors at Hiawatha Community Center (2700 California SW) for an annual tradition – all-you-can-eat pancakes, with proceeds going to cover program costs for those having trouble affording them otherwise. Hiawatha’s Tiffani Melake tells us it all starts at 8 on Sunday (February 10), $6 for ages 13-64, $5 for kids 3-12, $4 for ages 65 and up, 2 and under free.
One more advance traffic alert – this one two weeks away, involving the so-called Timber Bridge project on Highway 99 south of the West Seattle Bridge. We first told you about this impending work back in November, and more recently shared WSDOT’s announcement that work would begin on February 25th. We now have details on a weekend closure immediately preceding that, to reorganize traffic on the structure to make way for the crews, and to move underground utility pipes out of the way, as described by WSDOT’s Broch Bender, followed by details of the changes that then will be in effect during the project:
During the weekend of Feb. 22-25, the project will relocate a waterline under the existing timber structure and shift traffic to the west half of the bridge (where the southbound lanes are today). All traffic on SR 99 over S. Spokane Street will be shifted to the west to allow crews room to safely demolish the timber overpass and replace it with a new, concrete supported structure.
Closure details:
· 10 pm Friday, Feb. 22 to 5 am Monday, Feb. 25 – Both directions of SR 99 between the West Seattle Bridge and S. Nevada Street will be closed around the clock.
o Southbound SR 99 will be closed from the Battery Street Tunnel to S. Nevada Street, traffic will be detoured off the highway at Denny Way.
o Northbound SR 99 will be off-limits to drivers between S. Nevada Street and the West Seattle Bridge. South of Diagonal Street, traffic will be detoured to First Avenue S. North of Diagonal Street, signs will direct drivers off of SR 99 at the West Seattle/S. Spokane St./East Marginal Way S. exit.
Then on Monday, February 25th, after the closures, here’s how the traffic flow will work:
·Southbound traffic: South of the West Seattle/Harbor Island exit, southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane between the West Seattle Bridge and S. Nevada Street.
Northbound traffic: Two lanes of northbound traffic between S. Nevada Street and the West Seattle Bridge will be shifted to the west. The third lane remains the drop-lane for the northbound exit to West Seattle and East Marginal Way S.
· Slower speeds: A temporary speed limit reduction to 40 MPH in both directions of SR 99 will be extended south of the Alaskan Way Viaduct through the construction zone to approximately S. Idaho Street.
A map showing all that – as requested at the South Portal Working Group meeting earlier this week – should be available by tonight, and we’ll add it to the story when it is. The project is expected to last into June of next year, as crews demolish and rebuild the overpass one half at a time; once the east half is complete, it’ll handle traffic so work can commence on the west half.
Metropolitan Market‘s Andrew Borracchini is off to Las Vegas for the second year in a row, representing our state in the National Grocers Association‘s Best Bagger Championship competition this Sunday. We photographed Andrew at the store (which is a WSB sponsor) yesterday as he practiced one more time. What’s new this year? we asked. For one, the baggers are using reusable bags – just like us Seattleites – paper and plastic are out.
Store director Glen Hasstedt told us that Andrew’s been practicing with a variety of items, since last year in his competition debut, they learned the baggers aren’t given any hints about what they’ll be bagging until the moment it all begins – the checkout-stand mockups have the items covered until it’s time to begin.
He says he’s ready – he won the state title back in October – and glad to have his entire family coming along. Sunday afternoon’s bagging battle is at The Mirage in Las Vegas; tonight, Andrew said, he and his dad are going to see a concert at the Vegas Hard Rock Café.
4:03 PM P.S. – Researching a commenter question, we learned the Grocers Association plans to stream the competition live – so at 2:45 pm Sunday, you should be able to watch it here.
11:42 AM: Police initially tweeted there was a report of a robbery at West Seattle Coins at California/Oregon. However, the manager told us at the scene that they were NOT robbed – they had to deal with a disruptive person in the store. The store is open for business.
11:58 AM: We also reconfirmed with Seattle Police public affairs that further investigation revealed *no* robbery.
That’s the trailer for the Van Eps’ new music video, shot at the same West Seattle venue that’s premiering it tonight – part of our highlight list from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SCHOOL TOUR: 10 am at West Seattle’s STEM elementary, 5950 Delridge Way SW, previewed here last night.
CUT-A-THON TO BENEFIT TRANSITIONAL RESOURCES: Ola Salon (2942 SW Avalon Way) in Luna Park is holding a Cut-A-Thon tonight starting at 5 pm, with proceeds benefiting their Luna Park neighbors at Transitional Resources. Full details in our calendar listing.
PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT: At Hiawatha Community Center, 6-9 pm – check to see if any room’s left for tonight, and if not, note that another one is coming up.
INTERSECTION CLOSURE REMINDER: 7 pm is when SDOT plans to shut down the Delridge/Henderson intersection for all-weekend-long repaving work. Here’s the detour map.
‘SHIRLEY VALENTINE’ – second-to-last weekend for the acclaimed ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) show, with tonight’s curtain time at 7:30 pm.
ALKI ELEMENTARY’S “ANNIE JR.” – sold out for tonight at the West Seattle High School Theater, we hear, but check on availability for tomorrow!
AT KENYON HALL: It’s Bill Evans on the banjo, 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) – details in the calendar listing.
VAN EPS’ VIDEO PREMIERE PARTY AND LIVE PERFORMANCE: Big night of music and video at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), where the Van Eps’ new video was shot (directed by West Seattle’s Jamie Burton Chamberlin – see the trailer above), and where it premieres tonight, along with a live performance by the band, all starting at 8 pm (6451 California SW).
LOW-TIDE BEACH WALK: 8:30 pm at Constellation Park, with volunteer beach naturalists from the Seattle Aquarium. RSVP encouraged but not necessary.
… and even more on the calendar!
A closure-alert sign sparked a question in today’s traffic/transit tracker, which led us to find a couple of major closures scheduled NEXT weekend that you might want to know about before official reminders circulate, especially considering it’ll be a holiday weekend and the closures will therefore last an extra day:
EASTBOUND SPOKANE STREET VIADUCT: The I-5/Spokane Street Interchange Special Bridge Repair project resumes its closures next weekend, and as part of that, from Friday night 2/15 through Tuesday morning 2/19, the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct will be closed at the 4th Avenue South exit – which is where everyone will have to exit. (On the surface, the ramp from Spokane St. to eastbound I-5 and Columbian Way will be closed, too.)
DELRIDGE/TRENTON INTERSECTION: According to the weekly SDOT “lookahead,” President’s Day weekend is also when the Delridge Repaving Project will close another intersection for the entire weekend – this time, it’ll be Delridge/Trenton. Again, that’s NEXT weekend; THIS weekend’s closure is Delridge/Henderson.
These closures and many others for the greater Seattle area are listed on the weekly “construction lookahead” updated by SDOT here.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Happy Friday! Nothing unusual as the commute begins …
But tonight’s the night the Delridge/Henderson intersection closure begins; here’s the detour map. According to the project’s official webpage, the closure is scheduled to start at 7 tonight and end no later than 6 am Monday.
The West Seattle Food Bank‘s first open house of the year did double duty – the Thursday night event also served as the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce’s “after-hours” gathering, first one in a few months. Everyone who visited got a chance to peek behind the scenes at the food bank (p.s. – here’s how to donate).
P.S. Next up for the Chamber – its annual meeting, set for noon February 19th at The Kenney (WSB sponsor) – details here.
Last week’s open house was a full house at West Seattle’s STEM elementary school, in its first tour/open house season, as shown in that photo by Robin Graham from the K-5 STEM PTA. So in case we don’t get tomorrow’s daily preview out in time, just a reminder that the school is having a school tour at 10 am tomorrow (Friday), then 1 pm tours on February 11th and 19th – parents/guardians only. You’ll find them at 5950 Delridge Way SW.
8:39 PM: Just in from tonight’s second playoff game for West Seattle High School‘s girls-basketball team – they beat Holy Names, 33-28.
11:11 PM: Adding photos and toplines, both from WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand, who covered the game at Holy Names (which is on Capitol Hill). He reports that despite the final
score, West Seattle had as much as a 12-point lead at times in the second half; Holy Names got off to a slow start while the Wildcats had a tougher second half when trying to get the ball in the basket. Overall, West Seattle controlled the boards/rebounds better; Holy Names tried a tight press early on, but never turned the turnovers into points. The WSHS cheerleaders, by the way, came along tonight:
Your next chance to cheer for WSHS is Tuesday, and you won’t have to go far – the tournament will be at Chief Sealth International High School that night, and WSHS will play a TBD Kingco team, according to head coach Sonya Elliott.
One person just getting home e-mailed to ask what all the police in the 6000 block of Lanham were there for. Our crew has just come back, and here’s what they learned: The call went out about half an hour ago as an “assault with weapons” – there was a report of a possible stabbing, we’re told. Emergency responders at the scene deduced there had not been a stabbing and they didn’t think anyone had been hurt, but there was a suspected domestic-violence situation, and scanner traffic indicated a knife had been found. One fire unit was kept on scene for a while just in case, but the rest were dismissed. Police are continuing to investigate.
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