West Seattle, Washington
01 Friday
Two West Seattle summer-festival notes:
WESTWOOD VILLAGE STREET FAIR: Though the Westwood Village shopping center has changed owners since last year’s Street Fair, the festival IS on again for this year. The date’s set for June 16th, 10 am-7 pm. Inflatables, live music, and more. According to the Facebook event page set up for the daylong extravaganza, the musical acts will include Gunn and the Damage Done and West Side Sally. The date is a few weeks later than last year’s street fair, which fell on a cool, cloudy day.
SUMMER FEST MUSIC: Susan Melrose of the West Seattle Junction Association says it’s looking like the music lineup for this year’s West Seattle Summer Fest will be out late next week, and doesn’t have any booking info till then. But the Seattle Weekly‘s Reverb site says it knows of one act that’ll be playing Summer Fest – the reunion of Alcohol Funnycar, a ’90s grunge band, per the Weekly. Summer Fest is July 13, 14, and 15. P.S. The website says that while the deadline’s past for vendor applications, there’s room in Art Dive and Green Life.
Washington State Ferries says it won’t have to have a second day of two-boat service on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run after all – the Tillikum has been repaired, and will rejoin the route first thing tomorrow morning.
Rain or shine, investigator Eyob Mazengia from Seattle-King County Public Health was scheduled to sample water off Alki for health testing at midday today, and that he did – three containers, three samples. Out on the beach with him, a team from the state Department of Ecology, getting out the word that this is the start of water-sampling season. The BEACH (Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication, & Health) program – which includes regular testing at Lincoln Park – isn’t new, but the idea of scheduling a multimedia photo op is, according to Sandy Howard, who was out at Alki wrangling camera crews with whom BEACH program manager Julie Lowe was doing interviews. We asked her about the value of testing at beaches where people don’t swim much (like Alki):
The state team says that if they find high levels of bacteria at a beach, they will not only post signs, but also:
*Send a note to an e-mail list you can sign up for (here)
*Tweet, via the Ecology Department account
*Post on Facebook, where the BEACH Program has its own page
… so you can check out any of those channels to make sure the water’s safe!
West Seattle Art Walk organizers are putting out the call to local businesses today:
The time has come to get signed up for participation in 2012’s 3rd Quarter West Seattle Art Walk!
We continue our fight to make each Quarter bigger and better that the last, so we’re looking for excited, art-loving, local merchants to join us in featuring artist(s) at your business on Art Walk night, July through September. 3rd Quarter is always an great time of year to be a WSAW business, as there are so many fun things happening around West Seattle and the sunshine really gets people out walking the streets!
WSAW happens the 2nd Thursday of every month, 6-9 pm. 3rd Quarter WSAW dates are July 12th, August 9th, and September 13th.
The fee to be part of it, and be on the Art Walk list/map/website, etc., is $30 for the quarter – and businesses can sign up online, here.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The Kenney is announcing today that its CEO, Kevin McFeely, is leaving for a new job, leading The Hearthstone in North Seattle.
He has led the continuing-care community north of Lincoln Park for almost a decade, and told us, in an interview at The Kenney (WSB sponsor) this morning, that he has “mixed feelings” about leaving his “extended family” there – both the 200 residents and the staff, including his dozen-plus-member leadership team, but the move feels like “the next logistical step” for him.
One thing they’re doing at Hearthstone that is not happening right now at The Kenney: Expanding.
In case you missed the story late Friday about an emaciated dog found in West Seattle and the reward “up to $2,500” offered for any information leading to who’s responsible – we just talked with Seattle Animal Shelter director Don Jordan to ask some followup questions. Read on for what we found out:Read More
Though the development slowdown has meant not many Southwest Design Review Board meetings the past few years, the board now has two on the calendar.
(Sketch described as development team’s preferred ‘concept’ – click image for larger view)
4724 CALIFORNIA: We told you 3 weeks ago about the meeting date for this Junction project, so this is just a reminder – Thursday night, 6:30 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), is the first design review for the proposed 100-or-so-unit development at the ex-Petco site in The Junction. Last Thursday, we brought you the first look at concept sketches that the project team has shown to community members in advance of the formal meetings, as well as the “massing” – size/shape – options in the “packet” put together for Design Review (see it here).
9051 20TH: This planned two-phase, 40-plus-unit project in South Delridge had its first Design Review meeting on March 8th (WSB coverage here). It’s now tentatively scheduled for a second meeting on June 14th, 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle.
7:01 AM: At least one TV chopper is over Highland Park. There’s a crash at 15th and Holden. We’re en route.
7:11 AM UPDATE: A Toyota pickup has gone off the road and into a yard. Police have Holden shut down right now between 14th and 16th but the tow truck is already there so it might not be for too long. At least one person is hurt – a private ambulance is on scene.
7:26 AM UPDATE: Police at the scene tell us the truck’s driver was the one taken to the hospital – private ambulance generally means NOT life-threatening injuries – and was alone in the truck. We’re waiting for the tow truck to get the truck out of the yard to check on possible damage to the house, which neighbors say was unoccupied.
7:37 AM UPDATE: It doesn’t appear the house was hit; the damage looks to be confined to the fence the truck went through, and the grassy slope/yard. (Thanks to everyone who texted and e-mailed us about the chopper, which is what tipped us to the fact that what was only a medic call on the 911 log was actually a crash.)
8:55 AM: Went back to the scene a little while ago and SW Holden is completely clear again.
(Great blue heron on Arbor Heights rooftop, photographed by a nearby resident)
Welcome to the week before Memorial Day … summer is in view, despite the weather, which we’re still warned will be rainy and windy today. From the calendar:
SPOKANE STREET VIADUCT CLOSURE AND OTHER TRAFFIC ALERTS: The westbound Spokane Street Viaduct – the West Seattle Bridge between I-5 and Highway 99 – is scheduled to be closed from I-5 to Highway 99 from 10 pm to 5 am tonight, while one lane will be closed on the eastbound SSV 9 pm-5 am. This means you won’t be able to get to the West Seattle Bridge from I-5, but you WILL be able to exit from southbound 99 to the bridge. There are some other closures on the surface – the details are here.
FERRY ALERT: As announced last week, the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth state ferry run is on a two-boat schedule today and tomorrow because of an overlap between one boat being out for inspection and another out for repairs.
AT THE LIBRARIES: Lots going on every week at West Seattle’s branches of the Seattle Public Library – today, that includes an Afternoon Book Group at 2 pm at Southwest Library (reading “The Moonstone” by Wilkie Collins) , and Family Story Time at 7 pm at High Point – find all the info via the SPL Calendar of Events.
GET RAW WITH THE COOKING CLUB: “Raw” is the theme for dishes to make and bring to today’s meeting of the West Seattle Cooking Club, 3 pm, Beveridge Place Pub.
WOMEN’S STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDING: Monday nights at Alki Kayak Tours (Seacrest Boathouse, 1660 Harbor Avenue SW), it’s time for women to get out on the water, starting at 6 pm.
BUDGET CONVERSATION: The third and final edition of the City Council’s three budget conversations – looking ahead to fall – isn’t in West Seattle, but it’s as close as this round of conversation is getting – 6 pm at New Holly.
LEARN ABOUT GROWING ORGANIC FOOD: Seattle Tilth is on hand 6:30 pm tonight at Chaco Canyon Organic Café (WSB sponsor).
SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE’S ENERGY FAIR: No, it doesn’t have to be sunny for solar power to work. Learn about alternative energy of all kinds and whether it might be right for you, as Sustainable West Seattle’s monthly community forum takes the shape of an Energy Fair this month. 7-9 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon).
The Future of the Law Institute is a year-long program for high-school students interested in law careers, intended to help work toward a future when this area’s “Courtrooms and Law Offices reflect the diversity of the community they serve …” (as declared atop the organization’s website). This weekend brought a graduation celebration for its most recent group of participants, and Ted Reed shares the photo with the news that the graduates include two Chief Sealth International High School students: Cecilia Silva, front row/left, and Trevor Reed, third row/left. He says the program “provides students with substantive legal workshops, career counseling, a mock trial, courthouse tour, and opportunities to meet with legal professionals.”
When José Banda, just hired to be Seattle Public Schools‘ next superintendent, visited Arbor Heights Elementary last Thursday (WSB coverage here), the final official stop of his tour was an orchestra rehearsal in the cafetorium, shown in our video clip above. The rehearsal also provided a view into a community partnership that is playing out at schools around this area. Since 2008, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras have provided professional music coaches to several schools in West Seattle and South Park, in hopes that will increase the number of students who go on to play orchestral music with string instruments in middle school and high school. Two SYSO-provided coaches were there during the Thursday practice, according to Kathleen Allen, education/communication/partnerships director of SYSO, a West Seattleite who also was on hand. Earlier in the week, she had circulated a video – see it here – promoting the SYSO/SPS partnership in this area, and she provided this list of 13 school concerts over the next three weeks to which you are welcome (including next Thursday at AH):
May 22, 1:30 pm and 6:30 pm at Highland Park Elementary
May 24, 1:30 pm and 6:00 pm at Arbor Heights Elementary
May 24, 2 pm and 6 pm at Gatewood Elementary
June 1, 1:30 pm and 6:30 pm at Sanislo Elementary
June 6, 6:30 pm and June 8, 1:30 p.m. at Concord International (Elementary)
June 6, 7:00 pm, Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School Choir and Orchestra concert at the Sealth Auditorium
June 11, 1:30 pm and 6:30 pm at Roxhill Elementary
The program is supported by grants and donations, and the collaboration also includes the West Seattle Community Orchestras, Allen says.
(WSB photo from last year’s Grand Parade; Stuff the Bus, by the way, will be on 7/22 this year)
First came the warning the West Seattle Grand Parade was in danger of cancellation without sponsors/donations to cover costs including the road-closure barricades that the city used to bankroll – then came word that enough people stepped up, it looked like the parade was saved – and today, parade co-coordinator Dave Vague sends official final word it’s on for July 21st, along with thanks to donors and sponsors old and new:
Thanks to the spectacular generosity of the West Seattle and Greater Seattle communities we have donations enough to now hold the parade as scheduled on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at 11:00 AM! Inquiries and support came from all over Seattle and even as far away as Chicago.
In addition to the individual donations made by many of you we have three great organizations sponsoring the American Legion’s West Seattle Grand Parade this year:
Our returning sponsor from last year – the West Seattle Y, and two new great sponsors this year – Sound Advertising Group and International Parking Management! A huge thank you for all of your participation, we really can’t do it without you.
Along with the parade rolling forward, we can now also reveal something new this year – the Float Dodger 5K run that will take place up and down the parade route just before the parade. Clowns, pirates, princesses and now sweaty runners! What a day this will be!
We’ve mentioned the new Float Dodger 5K before – but if you haven’t signed up yet, this is a great time to go ahead and jump in – you can do it here or in person at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor). P.S. Sound Advertising Group, if you don’t recognize the name, is the business that’s currently in The Junction’s former Petco storefront.
(Have we ever had a sunny “car-free day”? Our archive check, at end of this story)
The summery weather we’ve seen recently did not stick around for the 2012 edition of Seattle Summer Streets (“car-free day”) on Alki. But if Sarah from the Log House Museum can brave the showers to answer your questions about West Seattle history and museum happenings, you can certainly come down, with umbrella if necessary, and check out what’s up between 63rd and 56th SW, closed all day – right? Here’s the list of events, performances, and activities.
ADDED 1:03 PM: Another reason to come down – bring canned food to donate to the Seattle’s Healthiest Canned-Food Pyramid!
At right, with volunteers, that’s Fran Yeatts of the West Seattle Food Bank. The pyramid started with donations from Metropolitan Market and PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsors) among other businesses. It’s right in front of Tully’s on Alki. Meantime, if you find the Seal Sitters west of 61st, you can enter the raffle for this little guy:
Summer Streets continues till 5 pm; upcoming events include a bike parade at 2.
2:16 PM UPDATE: The rain has stopped – perfect time to come down. Still overcast but very bright. We arrived back at the beach to find a pickup ballgame in the street:
And then the bike parade!
Music in two places – Alki Arts (where proprietor Diane Venti has artists doing live demonstrations, too).
That’s The Brian and Janie Show – till 3. There’s also a stage in the bike lane at 61st and Alki. And more community groups – we think the Morgan Community Association banner, shown off by president Deb Barker, is the best we’ve seen, given today’s weather:
Just east of 62nd SW, Cindi Barker (no relation to Deb) is at the West Seattle Be Prepared tent – never too young for kids to start learning about preparedness!
2:56 PM UPDATE: At the east end of the closure zone, you’ll find activities including basketball:
At the 61st stage, Sarey Savy is singing, with DJ accompaniment (concluding with a cover of Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend”). And the SPD parking enforcement officers are goofing off by drawing a chalk outline in the street – no wait, it’s something more:
The big yellow MaxMobile is here now, too, by the west end of the 63rd-56th closure zone, with adoptable pets.
4:49 PM: Minutes to go till this year’s event ends. Near the parking officers’ chalk creation, others drew a word full of optimism:
By and by!
5:17 PM P.S. Since the gray, damp weather was the big story, we checked back on coverage of previous years (since we have always published “as-it-happens” coverage for this event), and here’s what our photos show:
*May 22, 2011 – cloudy
*May 23, 2010 – started cloudy, some clearing later in the day
*May 31, 2009 – cloudy till the last hour
*The only truly sun-soaked “car-free day” was the first one – before SDOT changed the name to “Summer Streets” – September 7, 2008 – here’s the proof
(Results link now added. Pre-race coverage here!)
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
The drizzle couldn’t stop the enthusiasm at the fourth annual West Seattle 5K (organized by the West Seattle High School PTSA, with co-sponsors including WSB), wrapping up soon with an awards ceremony. Check out the sea of green above, the color for this year’s official race T-shirt – and the intensity of the first seconds!
Here’s our video of all the runners and walkers as the WS5K began – 1,008 signed up, organizers say:
(Video by Tracy Record)
Kelly Spady (16:56) and Lana Lacey (18:14) were the top male and female finishers. (Added: Full results are now online here.) We caught up with Kelly, who works for West Seattle Runner (WS5K co-sponsor and WSB sponsor), right after the race:
(Photos by Patrick Sand from hereon out unless otherwise credited)
Here’s our video of Lana crossing the finish line:
From further down the course, a look over the crowd:
(Photo by Debra Salazar Herbst)
Then there are the always-fun scenes from the rest of the crowd – strollers, dogs, and more:
(Evening note – we have learned via e-mail, that’s Jennifer and her Briard – a “French herding breed,” she says – named Zorro, who “run together all year and are always happy to be able to race together in the West Seattle 5K.”)
The West Seattle High School Band performed, post-race:
5:25 PM NOTE: In case you missed it added in the story above, here again is the link to full race results.
The warmups are complete and we’re looking ahead to race time around 9:30 at Alki, for the fourth annual West Seattle 5K – but it’s been busy at and around the start/finish line for quite a while already.
From left, that’s Cathy, Denise, Lisa, and Cheryl from the West Seattle High School PTSA, which created and benefits from the WS 5K. WSHS principal Ruth Medsker was on hand early, greeting arriving runners/walkers:
WSB is proud to be a co-sponsor of the WS 5K, as we’ve been every year since its inception. Others sponsors include WSB sponsor West Seattle Runner, whose Tim and Lori McConnell are of course running this morning:
More coverage to come. Remember, Harbor and Alki are entirely closed from Don Armeni to 63rd till about 11 – then traffic is restricted to 56th, with 56th-63rd completely closed to traffic, 11 am-5 pm for Seattle Summer Streets – lots of activities this year.
(“Live” image from traffic camera over the Alaskan Way Viaduct, looking north)
ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT STILL CLOSED: It’s scheduled to reopen by 5 tomorrow morning; it’s been closed all weekend for reinforcement work looking ahead to tunnel construction beneath it.
WEST SEATTLE 5K AND SEATTLE SUMMER STREETS: The no-parking zones along the beach are already in effect; the 5K walk/run starts just after 9, and the Summer Streets activities just after 11, both of which mean traffic advisories and bus detours for Alki until 5 pm. Links – including the full list of activities/events during Summer Streets – map, and more, here.
FURRY FACES’ PLANT SALE, DAY 2: Above, just some of the plants on sale at 3809 46th SW during Furry Faces Foundation’s annual plant sale, continuing today, 10 am-4 pm.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Here’s what’s new, according to the WSFM Facebook page: “Puget Beach Shellfish is back for spring! Rockridge Orchards has JAPANESE CUKES. And Alpenfire Cider will be sampling their local fizzies!” 10 am-2 pm at 44th and Alaska in The Junction.
SUPER DELI MART ANNIVERSARY PARTY: The store at 35th and Barton is celebrating its third anniversary and inviting the community to a free barbecue, 11 am-6 pm.
CELEBRATING PEONIES: That’s what’s happening today at the Seattle Chinese Garden on the north side of the South Seattle Community College campus, noon-4:30 pm.
MUSIC AT C & P: Jamtime performs, 1-4 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW.
GLEE CLUB IN CONCERT: Never mind the clouds, the songs are about sunshine and summer as the Seattle Metropolitan Glee Club performs at 4 pm at Peace Lutheran Church (39th/Thistle).
ECLIPSE, THOUGH IT’S NOT LIKELY TO BE VISIBLE: The radar suggests virtually no chance of this, but in the “anything can happen” spirit, that partial solar eclipse is happening late today – here’s the preview we published the other day.
FRANK FEST! Celebrate the music of Frank Sinatra with Tony La Stella performing after dinner (6 pm) tonight at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor). Details here.
SHOWCASE OF NEW PLAYS: Final night for this three-night showcase at ArtsWest, 7 pm. Whose plays are up tonight, you ask? Info here.
(Saturday photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
The bonnets worn by Arbor Heights Elementary first-graders Lynn and Lucy on Saturday afternoon might look familiar – two days earlier, they and their classmates wore old-time farmers’ gear to greet a distinguished visitor to their school, newly hired Seattle Public Schools Superintendent José Banda:
(Thursday photo courtesy of AH parent volunteer)
We had reported before on their tomato-growing adventure in teacher Marcia Ingerslev‘s class, and the plan to give away tomato plants at Roxbury Safeway on Saturday; by the time we checked in toward the end of their four-hour stint outside the store, hundreds of plants had new homes, they told us, and as you can see in their table decoration, they had a healthy-food message to go along with it.
(Till the morning preview is published, this reminder will stay atop the home page)
One more reminder – Harbor and Alki Avenues will be closed from Don Armeni to 63rd SW all Sunday morning because of the West Seattle 5K (co-sponsored by WSB), and then afterward, starting around 11 am, traffic will remain restricted to residents from Don Armeni to the start of the actual Seattle Summer Streets closure at 56th. That lasts until 5 pm. And the city now has an extensive list of what activities you’ll find tomorrow and where – see it here (PDF). There’s also an Alki bus detour map – see that here (PDF). And even if you’re not signed up for the West Seattle 5K, just show up at the Alki Bathhouse starting at 8 am for last-minute registration.
Solicitors still seem to be out in force. Two more reader reports have come in – read on:Read More
The West Seattle Bridge-to-Battery Street Tunnel section of Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct is closed all weekend for continuing reinforcement work, pre-tunnel construction – and that can lead to scenes like this one, shared by Anne from Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor). You can check West Seattle-relevant traffic cams “live” on the WSB Traffic page if you have to head that way before the scheduled reopening early Monday.
The West Seattle High School baseball team fought to get to the state playoffs, but were shut out this morning in Bellevue in their first-round playoff game. Timberline won at Bannerwood Park, 5-0.
The U.S. Supreme Court will uphold President Obama’s health-care plan, 6-3. That prediction today from U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott during a “Coffee with Your Congressman” Q/A session attended by more than 50 people at Dubsea Coffee in White Center’s Greenbridge neighborhood. Rep. McDermott wore a White Center Spring Clean T-shirt in honor of the big event that’s keeping hundreds of volunteers busy in WC right now, including some at Greenbridge Plaza right outside Dubsea. Other topics included the foreclosure crisis, the upcoming presidential election – the president “should be stronger,” Rep. McDermott said, while adding that he has in many aspects been “a very good president.” The congressmember is up for re-election this fall too. We’ll add more toplines plus video of the entire hourlong event later; he had a similar event at West Seattle’s C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) a year ago.
3:25 PM: Video added. Audio quality fluctuates since this event was in a busy working coffeehouse and Rep. McDermott roved a bit.
Just some of what’s happening (full calendar here) on a busy – and so far sunny! – Saturday:
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION HUBS’ DRILL: Two of West Seattle’s “hubs” are activated this morning for a drill in which volunteers are running through a scenario of dealing with the aftermath of a terrorism attack. We just took that photo as the Fauntleroy hub volunteers were gathering for their briefing. The drill, which includes amateur-radio operators as well as volunteers elsewhere in the city, is scheduled to continue till noon.
SPRING CLEAN! Puget Ridge, Highland Park, and White Center have Spring Clean events under way now through early afternoon. If you’re not volunteering – still time to get involved on Puget Ridge! – at least give ’em a thumbs-up as you pass by.
FURRY FACES FOUNDATION PLANT SALE: Buy plants, help animals! 3809 46th SW, 10 am-4 pm (continues tomorrow too, if you don’t make it to the sale today).
TIBBETTS CHURCH BOOK SALE: 10 am-1 pm at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) – go get your summer reading lined up!
COFFEE WITH YOUR CONGRESSMAN: One year ago, U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott came to C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) in West Seattle for an hour-long Q/A session with constituents. This morning he’s at Dubsea Coffee in White Center (8th about a block south of Roxbury), 10 am.
STUDENTS’ TOMATO-PLANT PROJECT: Remember that Arbor Heights classroom, growing tomato plants to give away and sell? Today’s their day at Roxbury Safeway, till about 1:30.
EUROPAKIDS OPEN HOUSE: EuropaKids International Preschool (WSB sponsor) is adding a new location this fall, but today’s open house, 10:30-noon, is at their current location, Southwest Teen Life Center/Neighborhood Service Center, 2801 SW Thistle.
REGISTER FOR TOMORROW’S WEST SEATTLE 5K: 1-4 pm today, you can sign up at West Seattle High School, whose PTSA organizes the walk/run.
WHAT ARE THE LINCOLN PARK OWLS UP TO THESE DAYS? Maybe in the mood for love, says naturalist Stewart Wechsler, who’s leading an owling walk through the park starting at 6:30 tonight.
SHOWCASE OF NEW PLAYS: Second of three nights at ArtsWest features works by five playwrights, 7 pm.
NORTHWEST CHORALE’S FOOD-BANK BENEFIT: 7:30 pm at Holy Rosary – enjoy classical vocal music, free, with free-will offering as a food-bank benefit.
Much more on the calendar!
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