West Seattle, Washington
07 Sunday
From her family:
Esther Faye Franks, 94, died of natural causes in West Seattle on July 10, supported by her extended family and friends.
Faye was born February 10, 1918, in Lakeview, Kansas, a small farming community. She was the second of five children born to Mattie and Ebon Anderson. Faye graduated from the University of Kansas in 1941 and taught high-school home economics, where she met Kermit Franks, teaching at the same school. They were married in February 1942, ten days before he was drafted into the Army. His service was in Alaska, and when the war ended the couple decided to live in Seattle. They started a family and Kerm began a 30-year career with Seattle Public Schools. Faye spent many years involved in PTA, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Euthenics – an organization for Home Economics graduates.
From 1961 to 1975, Faye and Kerm co-managed the Seabeck Conference Center on Hood Canal. They are remembered fondly as “Auntie Faye” and “Uncle Kerm” by the many former staff members, who were high-school and college youth at the time.
For more than 25 years beginning in 1963, Faye and Kerm hosted a series of exchange students from Europe, Asia and Central America. She was the regional International Christian Youth Exchange coordinator and served on the national board. They also traveled to a number of countries, visiting the families of their student guests.
The couple built a cabin at Lake Cushman, near Hoodsport, Washington, in 1976. They spent summers there, encouraging visits from family and friends. Faye enjoyed square dancing, hiking, swimming, and berry and mushroom picking well into her 80s. She was skilled at sewing, rug-making and other needle arts. She was our bread-baker supreme and taught bread baking classes for many years.
Faye was an active member of Tibbetts United Methodist Church in West Seattle. One of her favorite volunteer jobs was helping oversee the annual church rummage sale. She was known for “rescuing” many sale items to ensure they would have a good home, even if it meant in her home. Faye taught the AARP safe driving course for many years and also served as course coordinator.
Faye and Kerm celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with family and friends at an open house on February 26 at The Kenney residential community in West Seattle.
She is survived by husband Kerm; daughters Marsha (Mike) and Candace (John); sons Dean (Cynthia) and David; sister Doris Stubeck; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; four nephews and three nieces.
A memorial service will be held in September. Donations may be made to Seabeck Conference Center or Tibbetts United Methodist Church.
(Thanks to Robert Spears for sharing the Saturday double-eagle sighting from Alki, via the WSB Facebook page)
OK, so it’s cloudy, misty, breezy. The fun must go on.
WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST, FINAL DAY: Rain or shine, the festival carries on – once things get under way for the day at 11 am (an hour later than Friday/Saturday), we’ll start our “live” coverage, and we’ll have updates if the weather leads to any changes in scheduled events. Scheduled closing time today is 5 pm. Here’s the live cam courtesy of SDOT:
Vendor list and map: 3 ways to view – searchable list, PDF list, zoomable map – and if you haven’t shopped the year-round Junction merchants’ sidewalk sales, last chance!
Music schedule: Here (first performance at noon, Black Bangs on the California Stage)
Alaska Stage schedule: Here (first performance 1 pm, Duwamish Dixieland Jazz Band)
GreenLife schedule: Here (first event 11 am, with a food-preservation presentation by Christina from Sustainable West Seattle)
We’re reporting live again throughout the day, based out of the Information Booth, where we and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce volunteers also have free WS Art Walk buttons plus flyers with handy info about other summer events including the full schedule for West Seattle Outdoor Movies (co-sponsored by WSB, as is Summer Fest), which start next weekend in the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor).
WEST SEATTLE GARDEN TOUR: It’s happening right now! All the info about the nine open gardens and the noon lecture are in the ticket books – which you can get at the locations listed on the right side of this page. The self-guided tour is on till 5 pm today, and we can affirm from last year’s tour, umbrellas welcome. Remember, there’s an indoor event included in the ticket price too – the noon lecture at The Kenney (WSB sponsor).
YES, THE FARMERS’ MARKET IS ON: The West Seattle Farmers’ Market is always a popular feature on the final day of West Seattle Summer Fest – 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska as always; just remember, if you haven’t been to The Junction during the festival, California SW is closed between Edmunds and Oregon (and part of the block between Oregon and Genesee), while SW Alaska is closed between 44th and 42nd. The Junction parking lots accessible from those streets themselves are open.
WS STOPS ON WHITE CENTER GARDEN TOUR: The WC Garden Tour has several stops in south West Seattle. 10 am-4 pm; info on our partner site White Center Now.
ROCKSPORT’S LAST DAY: After two nights rockin’ with Hell’s Belles, the Rocksport Bar and Grill is scheduled to close after today – one of the businesses closing/moving at California/Alaska/42nd because the Equity Residential (formerly Conner) two-building apartments/retail development is about to get under way. Unlike most of the other businesses on the block, they are *not* moving to another location; their fixtures and other items will be auctioned off on July 24th.
UPDATE – ROCKSPORT ALREADY CLOSED: There’s a sign on the door that says they sold out of food and liquor last night (we’ll add a photo to our Summer Fest coverage), so they’re not opening today – last night was it.
A few more happenings are listed on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar.
(Photo added: Christopher Boffoli caught Ladder 11’s crew as they too prepared to roll away)
The call’s at California/Genesee. En route to check it out. (added) Our first crew there says it looks like a false alarm – the crews have been canceled.
One week from today, California Avenue SW will be lined with spectators and filled with floats, marchers, and more, for the West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade. 
And today, we learned that WestSide Baby executive director Nancy Woodland will be Grand Marshal, just one day before her organization’s big annual Stuff The Bus diaper-donate-a-thon (10 am-2 pm Sunday, July 22nd, in the AmericanWest Bank parking lot). The diaper drive’s signature bus will be in next Saturday’s parade right behind the convertible in which she’ll be displaying a well-executed parade wave (we saw a preview in the West Seattle Summer Fest Info Booth today). Note that this year’s parade timing will be a bit different for reasons including the first-ever Float Dodger 5K – which will start at California/Lander, the start of the parade route, around 9:45 am. The parade will begin with the Seattle Police Motorcycle Drill Team as usual – and then between the SPD motorcycles and their Vancouver, B.C., counterparts, you’ll see the Seattle Police Pipes and Drums with some guests from back east. In The Junction, the Rotary Club of West Seattle Kiddie Parade will precede the main part of the parade as usual (click the linked title to sign up now) – more parade previews here all week.
(WSB coverage of 2012 Summer Fest Friday is here and here)
FIRST REPORT, 1:31 PM: The fog’s gone, the afternoon sun is shining in full force on West Seattle Summer Fest’s second afternoon, as you can see on the SDOT “live” cam that’s right over our HQ in the Info Booth (southwest corner of California/Alaska) with West Seattle Chamber of Commerce volunteers. We’re launching continuous coverage in a moment – but first the quick links for info before you go (or while you’re there!) –
Vendor list and map: 3 ways to browse – searchable list, PDF list, zoomable map
Music schedule: Here
Alaska Stage schedule: Here
GreenLife schedule: Here
(added) The Alaska Stage is where Rat City Brass kicked off today’s performances:
GreenLife is on the west side of the south end of the festival zone, just south of Bikram Yoga (WSB sponsor) – and Sustainable West Seattle president Christina Hahs just came by the Info Booth to tell us they’ve got COUPONS you might be interested in – including discounts on Cedar Grove Compost, and 10 percent off the just-moved Greendepot in SODO.
GreenLife is one place where Summer Fest exhibitors are educational as well as fun. Then there’s the community booth along the east side of California SW south of Alaska – where West Seattle Be Prepared‘s Deb Greer and Karen Berge are on duty now, talking with folks about preparedness:
Once again today, the kids’ activities are a big focus of Info Booth questions – if you’re here with little ones, be sure to check out the rides on the west end of SW Alaska as well as everything in the Wells Fargo lot – you’ll even find this – not exactly the Seattle Great Wheel, but perfect for little ones:
2:34 PM UPDATE: The “Guns ‘n’ Hoses” Wing Dome three-alarm-wing contest is over – and the winners are:
That’s the Seattle Police team. They won, four to one, in individual matches like this:
They won $250 – and there was a $125 prize for the Seattle Fire Department team, whose members, we’re told, were from nearby Station 32:
Also here at the heart of the festival, live painting’s happening with artists from Seattle Mural Art, outside Twilight Artist Collective (just around the corner from Easy Street Records):
Twilight also organizes the Art Dive, north of Oregon – don’t miss it! That’s also where you’ll find the West Seattle Hi-Yu float (this year’s theme, “Secret Garden,” preview it before next Saturday’s WS Grand Parade!) Meantime, Hi-Yu royalty and volunteers have been wandering the festival selling buttons ($1, and it supports the program that includes Seattle’s last community parade float!) – and then if they spot someone wearing one, they’re handing out random prizes! Here’s Queen Kayli with one of the winners, Cherie:
More to come!
4:07 PM UPDATE: After a very brief rainshower, which required a tarp for the chalk-art project we’ve been watching for two days …
… it’s dry – with filtered sunshine. The rain didn’t seem to chase anyone away – it’s a steady stream of people. And besides music on the California Stage, there are also lots of performers along the sidewalks, in the middle of the street … and at venues like Red Cup Espresso just north of SW Oregon:
(Thanks to @youngsgtweet for the photo!)
5:08 PM UPDATE: Another hot topic in the info booth: Festival food. Yes, there are fair-style traditions like deep-fried peanut-butter sandwiches, strawberry shortcake, etc:
Some Junction restaurants are also taking it outside their regular spots – Matador and Bang Bar both have a presence in the food zone on SW Alaska, west of California. We spotted Nadia in the crowd; she’s performing at Bang Bar at 6 pm:
Tonight’s official fair hours are till 8, although some booths do close earlier – the music continues till 11 tonight, with The DTs at 6, The Tom Price Desert Classic around 7:30, Alcohol Funnycar around 8:30, and Pierced Arrows last up, at 10 pm. We hear the beer gardens are rocking today, too – they’re by both stages, the Alaska Stage by Junction Plaza Park, and the California Stage on California north of Oregon. We mentioned earlier that there’s music outside the stage, too – Sarah e-mailed to share a photo and more info about something to look for toward the south end of the festival zone:
A fun highlight from the West Seattle street festival was free drumming lessons for kids at Nana Yesman’s African Crafts Booth across from Northwest Art and Frame. Nana Yesman (Aminu Adamu) is a resident of West Seattle and works at PCC Natural Markets. He makes and sells jewelry using beads from his native country Ghana. He also sells other handmade arts and crafts from Ghana, including djembe drums … tomorrow (Sunday) at noon, he is offering free drumming lessons to kids.
5:46 PM: Just a note, if you’re coming tomorrow (or if you’re in the area tonight), if you stop by here at the Info Booth, we have lots of info about other summer activities. That includes tomorrow’s West Seattle Garden Tour – 9 am to 5 pm! – and White Center Garden Tour – 10 am to 4 pm. And since there’s a big West Seattle Outdoor Movies banner hanging in the back of the booth, we’ve gotten plenty of takers for the WSOM schedule flyers – they start Friday night (July 20th) with a special benefit event for Thrive Through Cancer (the movie is “50/50” – not recommended for young kids) and then the first of six Saturday night movies (July 21st) – “Pretty in Pink,” with Bob “Bobcat Bob” Rice as the opening act. The movies are on the wall in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor).
7:15 PM: Booths are starting to close up; sun from the west is intensifying. Above, the view a few minutes ago from our perch. We’ll be back in the Info Booth tomorrow for day 3, when Summer Fest opens an hour later so everyone can recover from Saturday night – 11 am.
ADDED: A few more Summer Fest Saturday scenes. At GreenLife, Occupy West Seattle presented an open-mike speakout on whether the economy is sustainable. A gallery was shared with us by Dina Johnson, who also spoke:
Dina says she talked “of the massive and skyrocketing gulf between the richest one percent of households (red line) and the rest, creating an unhealthy imbalance in economic and political power – in favor of the super-rich.” She reports 21 speakers in all.
On the main festival ground, WSB contributor Nick Adams shows us a closer look at the mentioned-earlier street art that’s been under way all festival long outside the Verizon megabooth (steps away from our spot at Info Central):
And a vendor with his wares: Hatterdashery’s owner Michael Loeffler, making a hat during the festival:
One more chance Sunday to check the sidewalk sales, see friends and neighbors, enjoy the music … see you there.
Rick R is wondering if you can help find that missing buoy:
Our neighbor’s mooring was last seen on Sunday, before the lightning storm. It normally rests in the small bay just South of Brace Point, around the point from Fauntleroy Cove.
It isn’t the best looking buoy around, but it has a lot of sentinmental value. If the chain broke, it could have ended up anywhere from The Arroyos to Alki Point..or beyond.
If seen, please send me a note at fr7001@gmail.com.
12:09 PM: We’ve learned that a man killed in a one-car crash near the Southworth ferry dock on the Kitsap Peninsula yesterday was a 20-year-old West Seattleite. Ben Huppe graduated from Garfield High School just two years ago. According to this Kitsap Sun report, his car veered off the road around 7:30 am Friday and went down a 30-foot embankment. A friend who e-mailed us with the sad news describes Mr. Huppe as “a truly amazing young man.”
ADDED 6:38 PM: As commenters have mentioned, Mr. Huppe was a coach at the Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club, where a memorial is growing. C.D. sent the photo we have added above, explaining it’s “a little memorial that we set up on the Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis courts; we encourage members to write their thoughts and prayers.” The AHSTC website has this tribute:
Ben has been the heart of the tennis team for years, joining the team at age 9 and twice voted “most inspirational” by his teammates. Ben coached for 4 years and has been a great role model for all the kids at the club, teaching them to love the game of tennis. He will be greatly missed and our hearts go out to his family
ADDED 9:54 PM: A story in The Seattle Times (WSB partner) has more details about Mr. Huppe’s achievements, including how he helped found Technology Services Corps.
(Recent Lowman Beach aerial photo, by Long Bach Nguyen)
Next week, a month-long project is starting at King County’s Murray Pump Station in Lowman Beach Park, and it means reduced park access and parking, according to county spokesperson Annie Kolb-Nelson, who explains:
King County contractors will begin work during the week of July 16 to replace the wet well grate in the County’s Murray Pump Station located in Lowman Beach Park. The work is not part of the CSO project but necessary for the maintenance of the facility. The project will take about a month to complete and will reduce parking on Beach Drive Southwest and access to the southeastern corner of Lowman Beach Park (see attachment). Public access to the swing set, tennis court and beach will be maintained.
The pump station transports West Seattle’s sewage and stormwater for treatment at the County treatment plant in Magnolia. The new grate will allow County operations and maintenance staff to continue working safely in the pump station. The old grate has been corroded by sewer gases over the course of the pump station’s 55 years of service. Park users and neighbors can expect the following:
· Work hours typically 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday
· More noise and activity at the site
· Construction fencing and boom truck on site
· Reduced access to southeastern corner of the park
· Three closed parking spaces on Beach Drive Southwest
Again, she says this is NOT related to the upcoming megaproject to build a million-gallon underground storage tank (the houses/apartments in the center of the photo, “above” the park – east of it – will be demolished for that), but there is a related meeting coming up:
Also, the next Murray CSO Control Facility DAG meeting is Tuesday July 17, beginning at 6:30 at the Fauntleroy Church.
Meeting topics include:
· SDOT review of 60% design
· Facility landscaping, architecture and art
· Site fencing and art
Again today, we begin the daily preview with the “live” SDOT cam at California and Alaska, serving this weekend as Summer Fest Cam, as West Seattle’s biggest party of the year continues. Our base is the Information Booth, which would be just offscreen in the lower left of the camera’s view. WSSF is the BIG event today, but not the ONLY one …
WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST LINKS: The official hours are 10 am-8 pm again today, with the beer garden and music continuing for a few hours beyond that. Here again is the festival-zone map:
The “California Stage” is on California SW north of Oregon; the “Alaska Stage” is on SW Alaska east of California. The kid zone is near Wells Fargo, north of Alaska and off 44th SW; GreenLife, with a focus on sustainability how-to’s and demonstrations, is on the south end of the festival zone, west side of California, just north of Edmunds.
Vendor list and map: 3 ways to browse – searchable list, PDF list, zoomable map
Music schedule: Here (first performance at noon, Gunn & The Damage Done)
Alaska Stage schedule: Here (first performance noon, Rat City Brass)
GreenLife schedule: Here (first event 11 am, Connie Wurm from West Seattle Nursery talks “Backyard Chickens” – we photographed Sustainable West Seattle president Christina Hahs with a chicken at GreenLife yesterday:)
One more Summer Fest preview note – the “Guns ‘n’ Hoses” police-vs.-firefighters hot-wing contest is at 1:30 pm on the Alaska stage (details on The Wing Dome’s Facebook page).
Also today/tonight:
BIKE HELMET EVENT: At Roxbury Spine and Wellness (28th/Roxbury) – free helmets for the first 200 kids, with lots more going on at this 10 am-12:30 pm event (as detailed here).
‘SAVE THE POLAR BEARS’ CUPCAKE SALE: West Seattle student Sam is selling cupcakes at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) 10 am-1 pm today to raise money for Greenpeace’s Arctic work.
HELICOPTER AIRSHOW AT MUSEUM OF FLIGHT: West Seattleite Jen Boyer is show director, and shared the photo above, of the Apache that arrived yesterday for the American Heroes Airshow. Here’s our full preview; here’s the info on the MoF website. 10 am-3 pm, free.
SSCC PLANT SALE: Support the Landscape Horticulture Program at South Seattle Community College by purchasing plants today, 11 am-3 pm (details in the calendar listing)
NEIL YOUNG SONGS AT C & P: 6-8 pm, Harvest Moon performs at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW).
SECOND-TO-LAST SHOW FOR ‘XANADU’: Also in The Junction along with Summer Fest – “Xanadu” at ArtsWest ends its run Sunday, and tonight the young performers take the stage at 7:30 pm.
SUMMER FEST AFTERPARTY: Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction has live music again tonight as “the official WSSF aftershow party” venue – tonight at 9:30, it’s ‘One Man Banned’ Aaron Daniel, who defies description – you just have to see him in action.
And that’s only part of what you’ll find on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar.
The photo is courtesy of Master Steve Elmore of Evergreen Tang Soo Do Academy – it’s from 2001, when he and his first black-belt-test students were photographed with a leader who has just passed away and will be remembered in West Seattle today:
On Monday, July 9th, 2012, the Martial Arts world lost one of its most prominent and respected leaders, Grandmaster Jae Chul Shin. Grandmaster Shin passed away on Monday after battling cancer. He was the founder, president, and Grandmaster of the World Tang Soo Do Association which has over 100,000 members in over 38 countries worldwide, making it one of the largest Martial Arts organizations in the world today.
The two member schools in Washington, located in West Seattle, will be having a memorial in his honor at 1 pm (today) Saturday, July 14th, in Hiawatha Park. Students from these two schools, Evergreen Tang Soo Do Academy and Puget Sound Tang Soo Do, will be sharing memories and stories of this great leader, teacher, and mentor. Many high-ranking students and instructors will also be traveling to North Carolina to attend a service in his honor on July 22nd.
The two schools will also be making a donation to the American Cancer Society in Grandmaster Shin’s name and will accept donations from anyone in the community. Grandmaster Shin’s life and legacy will be kept alive by the nearly 250 of his students that train in Seattle today. He was an inspiring, compassionate, and dedicate man with the utmost character and integrity. He will be sorely missed by many.
Six West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports to share, that have come in over the past several days. For starters, two reports of mailbox crime: Above, Gregg says six mailboxes at 22nd SW and SW 104th in Shorewood were broken into on Tuesday. “Two were the security locking type. Did not seem to stop the mail thief.” Also on Tuesday, in the 8400 block of 25th SW, Bill says, “Mailbox block was destroyed by a moron with a rock. They’ve been replaced and reported to postal police.”
Ahead, four car-prowl reports:Read More
(See our 1st ongoing afternoon report here)
Now that we’re into the first evening of West Seattle Summer Fest, the music plays a bigger role – and there’s lots of it. Above, the Dolly Rottens played in the late afternoon. Their first show as an all-girl band, per their Facebook page.
(Photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
Right now, Caspar Babypants is on the Alaska Stage. Before he played, we photographed him with (right) artist Kate Endle and their friend Zoe (left):
(added) Here’s video of CB’s first song, “My Flea Has Dogs”:
And at 8 pm, rising star Star Anna performs (California Stage). Lots of street music as well – we’ve seen drummers, strummers, and more. Big occasions for Junction businesses, too – Elliott Bay Brewing is celebrating its 15th anniversary, and proprietor Todd Carden tapped a keg of special ale:
Along with year-round Junction establishments where you can get something to drink or eat, there are two beer gardens, one near each stage, are open too. We’re still in the info booth at California/Alaska till the vendors shut down for the night around 8 (with the music continuing a few hours beyond).
8:05 PM: The booths are now officially closing – you might find some stragglers; we’re folding up the info booth too, but we’ll be back here same hours tomorrow, 10 am-8 pm. We’re off to check out Star Anna (watch for video – and we have one more Day 1 roundup of photos in the works, too, along with a look ahead to tomorrow). Again, the bands and the beer gardens continue for a few hours more – as do your year-round drinking/eating places, several of which have special outdoor zones for the festival.
ADDED: A few more scenes from earlier on Saturday, all photographed by WSB contributor Nick Adams. First, the crowd:
The fun – 3-year-old Peter Ahern, in the kid zone:
And yet there’s always a chance to find a place of your own – Linda Lee found one while listening to music from the California Stage:
Near the stage, the West Seattle Eagles had pulled pork going on a big grill – Frank Wilkerson was tending it:
Looking for bird condos? That’s what Mike Cronk was taking back to his Mike’s Workbench booth:
Also from the vendors roster … Dean Mollen tunes a hand-made cigar-box guitar at Soul Cat Guitars –
If you’re looking up a particular vendor, the vendor list linked on this page of the Summer Fest website has weblinks for many of this year’s participants.
FIRST REPORT, 6:24 PM: Just got this from the victims’ neighbor:
My friend just asked me to e-mail about a possible (burglary) and stolen dog. It happened this afternoon (in the 4100 block of) 22nd Ave, a window was smashed and the dog, a 2 year old male English Setter named Holt, is missing and was likely stolen by the thieves. If you have any information or have seen this dog in the neighborhood please call, its owners are heartbroken.
206-390-5298. The friend is trying to find a photo – we’ll add if she sends one.
ADDED 7:25 PM: The story is now topped with a photo of Holt.
12:12 AM UPDATE: In the comment section, Holt’s owners say he has found his way home.
4:57 PM: Asked about the helicopter that seems to be searching in that area, Seattle Police here at Summer Fest told us there’s a bank robbery in White Center – so we’re trying to find out more from King County Sheriff’s Office.
5:03 PM: Sgt. Kathleen Larson with KCSO says the robbery happened less than an hour ago at the KeyBank on 17th SW in White Center. They’re looking for a man described as white, in his 20s, 5-5, wearing a beanie, gray sweatshirt, light blue jeans. He was last seen running out of the bank. No injuries reported.
Via Facebook, the owners of Marination have announced that they finally have the permits and construction has finally officially begun for their new restaurant/bar at Seacrest Boathouse:
Friends. We have a name, we have the permits, and we have officially (FINALLY!) started construction on Alki at the Seacrest Boathouse. You can expect a full bar, a wicked beer selection, an early barista, and unrelenting aloha on the best patio in Seattle. We cannot wait to invite each one of you to our newest addition in the family: Marination Ma Kai.
That’s Hawaiian for ‘to the sea.’
1:48 PM: Big police and fire response in south West Seattle is headed to an “rescue/automobile” call in the 1700 block of SW Roxbury. We’ll be there shortly.
2:09 PM: Turns out the crash was not as serious as it looked – fire crews canceled fast – it was along the city/county line. King County Sheriff’s Office deputies at the scene told WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli (who sent the photo above) that nobody had to be taken to the hospital. Tow trucks are there already and traffic is getting back to normal.
Thanks to everybody who tipped us to this: Chain-link fencing has gone up around the now-vacated homes that will be demolished to make way for the 3261 Avalon Way residential project, six stories and 120 apartments. (That’s usually the first step toward demolition – second step, “no parking” signs out front, though no sign of them as of this morning.) Here’s our most report on the planned project, from January, when the land-use permit was granted.
12:43 PM: The weather is calmer and the crowd keeps growing at West Seattle Summer Fest, with day 1 well under way – and we’re live in the Information Booth again this year; drop by to say hi, pick up the festival flyer, a free West Seattle Art Walk button, a West Seattle Chamber of Commerce Resource Guide, postcards and mini-flyers for other summer fun (WS Outdoor Movies, Delridge Day, the WS Junction Car Show) … The info booth is on the southwest corner of California/Alaska this year, right outside KeyBank, front row to everything. LOTS of people here so far. Here again are the handy info-links:
Vendor list and map: 3 ways to browse – searchable list, PDF list, zoomable map
Music schedule: Here
Alaska Stage schedule: Here
GreenLife schedule: Here
On the Alaska Stage right now, first event of the day – a West Seattle Hi-Yu presentation, including royalty like Queen Kayli, who had her umbrella handy earlier just in case:
The number one question is always – where’s the kid stuff? Again this year, it’s on the west side of the festival zone, in the Wells Fargo parking lot, under the WF drive-thru (that’s where Pathfinder K-8 and Curious Kidstuff are sponsoring art activities and facepainting). The ticket booth for the kids’ rides is right next to one of them, the scrambler-type ride, on the west side of the western food zone along SW Alaska.
Another area you might miss if you’re not looking for it – GreenLife on the south end of the festival zone – where we found Stefan Hansmire of Ncompass (WSB sponsor) with Chas Redmond and Bill Reiswig of Sustainable West Seattle:
Oh, and this just in – beer gardens open at 2!
2:07 PM: Sun’s out and the activity zones are all in full swing. Some highlights coming up:
Bubbleman (who performed in the street last night) is at the Alaska Stage at 3:45 today; that’s also where you’ll find Caspar Babypants at 6:30 tonight.
3:12 PM: Along with the sidewalk sale outside year-round merchants, the vendor booths in the middle, you’ll also find lots of local nonprofit organizations – like Northwest Hope and Healing, promoting next month’s Alki Beach 5K:
And Seal Sitters:
And speaking of critters … we met Morgan‘s mohawk-sporting Pomeranian, Bogie:
You never know who you’ll see.
4 PM: This is the Summer Fest breakout treat so far (well, besides the deep-fried peanut-butter sandwiches) – coconuts:
Young coconuts, for sale on the north side of the California/Alaska intersection – $3 each or 2 for five bucks. (That’s Jarred Shelton in the photo.) They’ll cut them open for you here – and you can also find them, not cut, at QFC (whose booth they’re in. Steps away, at Cupcake Royale, their ice-cream cart is debuting:
Small scoop about $3, regular scoop about $4. For a more adult type of treat, head to one of the beer gardens – one by the Alaska stage, one up by the California stage:
Feedback Lounge is managing the one by the Alaska stage. Co-proprietor Jeff Gilbert stopped for a photo earlier with West Seattle Junction Association director Susan Melrose:
Summer Fest is on till 8 tonight (with bands and beer gardens running a few hours beyond that) – and of course continuing Saturday and Sunday. We’re in the info booth for the duration … thanks to everyone who’s stopped by to say hi so far – it’s always great to meet you.
7:20 PM NOTE: We have some evening coverage going in a separate story.
Last night’s version of the National Weather Service forecast did NOT include thunderstorms for today – but the 8:15 am update today added a “chance” for this afternoon. Seems to be a bit early, as thunder’s been quite audible for the past 15-plus minutes, and we hear it’s raining on the Eastside. None so far in West Seattle – but let us know what you’re seeing/hearing, because you know what they say about “microclimates”!
(Rendering of potential Fauntleroy Way ‘green boulevard,’ from June 2011 Triangle open house)
FIRST REPORT, 10:05 AM: Thanks to Sharonn Meeks of the Fairmount Community Association for sharing a photo of a postcard she just received in postal mail at her home, so we can share the info with you – we have not seen any other mention of this yet, and it’s less than a week away: The city has scheduled its first open house on the Fauntleroy Way “Green Boulevard” concept – after including $250,000 in this year’s budget to study the idea of turning Fauntleroy Way into a “boulevard,” with a treed median, through The Triangle, between 35th SW and SW Alaska. Love the idea? Don’t like the idea? Want to know more? We’re asking SDOT when some kind of formal announcement is forthcoming, but the postcard Sharonn received says the open house is at 4 pm next Thursday (July 19th) at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon). It also includes a city website address that as of this writing doesn’t appear to be working yet. We’ll update when we get more info from SDOT.
4:41 PM UPDATE: Some more info from SDOT re: the open house:
The open house will provide community members an opportunity to provide input on conceptual design alternatives for the Fauntleroy Way SW Green Boulevard Project. The project itself is between 35th Ave SW and SW Alaska Street on Fauntleroy Way SW and seeks to transform this section of the corridor into more of a gateway into West Seattle. The alternatives could include elements such as a landscaped boulevard, planted medians, better pedestrian zones, lighting and better crossing movements. This is all part of a larger plan that originates from the West Seattle Streetscapes Concept Plan.
We are inviting community members to come to the open house to review the alternatives, share their thoughts on the conceptual design plan and generally let us know what is most important to them about this section of the corridor.
SDOT’s Marybeth Turner also points out that “funding right now only allows for a conceptual design (10 percent) and a proposed alternative to be selected this year. Funding would still need to be secured to move this project into a design greater than 10 percent and then into physical construction.”
In discussion the past two weeks related to the now-scrapped proposal for a commercial zipline/tree-swing/etc. attraction in Lincoln Park (WSB coverage archived here), many said they would happily offer what they could, time and/or money, to help the park. So here’s your chance to volunteer some time – the next work party:
Get your green workout and help make West Seattle an even healthier place! Join Friends of Lincoln Park for a forest restoration and maintenance work party.
Sunday, July 15, 9 am to noon
Meet at the kiosk in the north parking lot (Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Rose St)Long sleeves and pants, sturdy shoes or boots highly recommended. Bring your favorite work gloves or we have extras to share.
We’ve done an amazing amount of invasive plant removal in the park, so maintaining our gains by going back to areas we’ve worked previously is vital! And we get the satisfaction of seeing what great work we’ve done.
Please contact Lisa McGinty, Volunteer Forest Steward, with any questions: 248.506.7155 or lmcginty206@gmail.com.
That’s the “live” city traffic cam at California and Alaska, which we’ll dub Summer Fest Cam for the next three days, in honor of West Seattle’s biggest party of the year, starting at 10 this morning. We’ll be reporting live throughout Summer Fest, while helping out at the central Information Booth (wave at us as you walk by, or stop to say hi!) right at that intersection. But first, to start the day, some handy Summer Fest links *and* other Friday highlights:
WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST LINKS: Today’s official hours are 10 am-8 pm, with the beer garden and music running later. Here’s the festival-zone map:
The main music stage is on California north of Oregon, with a few acts and other community performances/events on the “Alaska Stage” east of California. The kids’ zone is near Wells Fargo, north of Alaska and off 44th SW; GreenLife, with a focus on sustainability how-to’s (tons of demonstrations and presentations!), is west of California, north of Edmunds, on the south side.
Vendor list and map: 3 ways to browse – searchable list, PDF list, zoomable map
Music schedule: Here (first performance 12:45 pm)
Alaska Stage schedule: Here (first event 1 pm)
GreenLife schedule: Here (first event 12:45 pm)
Also today/tonight:
FINAL WEEKEND FOR XANADU: You’re already in The Junction for Summer Fest, why not go cheer the young performers who’ve spent the past few weeks singing and acting the hearts out? “Xanadu” at ArtsWest ends its run Sunday, and tonight it’s onstage at 7:30 pm.
BOBBY DARIN TRIBUTE: At Kenyon Hall tonight, 7:30 pm, Bob De Dea salutes Bobby Darin in Singin’ and Swingin’ with Bobby D. More details on the KH website.
SUMMER FEST AFTERPARTY: Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction has live music tonight and tomorrow, billing itself as “the official WSSF aftershow party” venue – tonight at 10, it’s Gunn and the Damage Done.
And that’s only part of what you’ll find on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar.
Starting today, at West Seattle Summer Fest, West Seattle-based animal-advocacy group Furry Faces Foundation will launch a new campaign called “Tag Your Pet…It Ain’t Graffiti!” to raise awareness about the importance of pet tags, providing tags for $5 to $8 each.
In their announcement, Furry Faces says pet tags are the #1 way lost pets are reunited with their owners. For pets without tags, however, Furry Faces says the statistics are bleak. And even though 80 percent of pet owners believe it is important for their pets to wear ID, only thirty-three percent of them have their animals tagged. So thanks to the donation of a new pet-tag engraver, Furry Faces hopes to improve these numbers. Through their new program, they will engrave and sell pet tags and collars to owners on the spot, with funds from the sales going to provide tags for financially-restricted pet owners. Interested? Then stop by one of their upcoming events – list ahead:Read More
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