West Seattle, Washington
27 Monday
Just announced by Greg Whittaker, proprietor of Mountain to Sound Outfitters and Alki Kayak Tours, a new venture right on the beach!
Mountain to Sound Outfitters has finalized a permit for Stand Up Paddleboard Rentals on Alki Beach with Seattle Parks and Recreation.
The concession will be located off of 55th Ave SW and Alki Avenue at the human-powered launch area of Alki Beach. This Saturday, Mountain to Sound Rentals will be open and renting Stand up Paddleboards (SUP) for the sunny weather and to start setting up the season’s program.
Mountain to Sound Rentals will also be providing sit-on-top kayaks, skates, and longboards as the season progresses.
Come by and check out the new expansion Saturday, and hop on a Stand Up Paddleboard, or just swing by and say hi.
Two food/drink notes this afternoon:
CHARLIE’S BUNS CANCELS DELRIDGE PLAN: Veronica Weaver of the Charlie’s Buns ‘n’ Stuff food truck confirms she has scrapped her plan for a bricks-and-mortar burgers/cheesesteaks location at 5214 Delridge Way SW. We checked in with her after a new coffee stand opened in the complex (more on that, to come) and a WSB’er asked us if the coffee place was the space Charlie’s was supposed to be taking. No, says Weaver, she had signed a lease for the space next to that one – but she says she canceled the lease because things weren’t working out – “There were issues having them do the improvements necessary to have the space be a restaurant.” But, she says, “We are currently still looking for a space to occupy, hopefully in West Seattle. We will see, what may come our way.”
$2.50 TUESDAYS AT CHACO CANYON: Just got word from Chaco Canyon Organic Café (WSB sponsor) proprietor Chris that they’re starting something new next Tuesday – “organic beer, wine and cider only $2.50 from 3 pm to close!” Chaco Canyon is the vegetarian/vegan café at 38th/Alaska, on the ground floor of Link.
Just in (thanks to those who forwarded it), a letter from Seattle Public Schools to families at Lafayette Elementary, whose first-year principal Jo Lute-Ervin announced three months ago (long before the investigation that has made news this week) she would not be returning for a second year:
Dear Lafayette Elementary community,
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Shauna Heath as your new principal, effective July 1.
Ms. Heath comes to Lafayette from the Kent School District, where she served as principal of Sunrise Elementary for the past two years. Ms. Heath is not only a great educator, but she lives in West Seattle and will be an excellent fit for the Lafayette community.
Ms. Heath started her career as a special education teacher in King Salmon, Alaska and then as a special education teacher for the Shelton School District in Washington. She was the assistant principal for Tillicum Middle School in Bellevue from 1998-2002, served as an elementary school principal in Clinton, Tennessee, and was a middle school principal in Riverdale, Georgia. Before moving back to Washington state, she was the pre-kindergarten through 5th Grade Instructional Services Director for City Schools of Decatur, Georgia.
Ms. Heath holds a Washington State Administrative Certification from the University of Puget Sound, and a Master of Teaching and a Bachelor of Arts from Evergreen State College. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in K-12 Leadership through Walden University.
Ms. Heath was selected following an interview process that included a school-based screening by members of the Lafayette Building Leadership Team and family community. She was interviewed by the school-based hiring team and also completed an instructional school walk through with Executive Director of Schools Aurora Lora. The selection team was particularly impressed with her knowledge of curriculum and instruction, her years of experience as a school and district administrator, and her dedication to the West Seattle community as a resident and parent.
I know you are all eager to get to know your new principal. She will be available to meet staff and families before the end of the school year. Please join me in welcoming Ms. Heath to the Lafayette community!
Sincerely,
Susan Enfield, Ed.D.
Interim Superintendent
(The website to the new principal’s current school is here.)
(Photo courtesy ArtsWest, whose Kongsgaard-Alhadeff Award honored Ms. Ceis in 2005)
Friends, family, and political/civic leaders around the area are remembering longtime West Seattle activist Margaret Ceis today. She passed away yesterday at the age of 86. Her community service included being a founding member of the ArtsWest board, serving on the Seattle Board of Park Commissioners – for which she was honored in this 1996 City Council resolution – the Alki Community Council, the Harborview Medical Center Board of Trustees, and more.
Her leadership skills and perseverance were legend; when former mayor and current Secretary of State candidate Greg Nickels spoke at the memorial last year for another longtime community activist, Vivian McLean (WSB coverage here), he mentioned Ms. Ceis as, along with Ms. McLean, one of the local activists “you never say ‘no’ to.” Ms. Ceis was the mother of former deputy mayor Tim Ceis. We asked King County Executive Dow Constantine, one of many local leaders that she inspired, for his thoughts:
Our community lost a genuine champion with the passing of Margaret Ceis.
A lifelong community organizer and political activist, Margaret led the 34th District Democrats, the Alki Community Council and the League of Women Voters, among many other groups. She helped to create and promote the landmark 1989 King County Open Space bond issue, chaired the Seattle Parks Board, co-founded ArtsWest, and co-chaired the Three Projects/One Community campaign in Delridge.
It was Margaret who introduced me to grassroots Democratic politics. Her endorsement was without question the most coveted in West Seattle. In 1996 she was the co-chair of my successful campaign for the State House of Representatives. Without the coaxing and mentorship of Margaret Ceis I might never have sought or been elected to public office, and I will be forever grateful to her.
My condolences to Margaret’s family and friends, and to the entire West Seattle community, which she changed time and again for the better.
No word of memorial arrangements for Ms. Ceis yet, but they are expected to be made through Howden-Kennedy. We expect to add more to this story as the day goes on.
ADDED 11:38 PM: The Seattle Times (WSB partner) has published a story tonight about Ms. Ceis, for whom a memorial is planned at 2 pm June 2nd at The Hall at Fauntleroy.
(Springer, photographed in 2002 by West Seattle-based researcher Mark Sears)
It was a wildlife drama with a happy ending, and much of it played out just outside West Seattle waters, in 2002. Now the 10th anniversary of the rescue of Springer the orphan orca will include a celebration on Alki, led by West Seattle-based advocacy/education group The Whale Trail. Read on for details!Read More
Thanks to Bob Bussman for sharing photos of an eagle getting takeout at Lincoln Park. (Several WSB’ers have sent photos lately of eagles dining; a few were a bit gory.) We’ve added one more of his images at the end of this story. But first – here’s what’s on the events/activities menu today:
WEST SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: The WSDW monthly meeting is at midday today – starting with the 10:30 am discussion group. Full details on discussion and lunch, here.
SCHOOL CONCERTS: More orchestra concerts at local schools today, as previewed in our report on Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras‘ coaching program: According to the SYSO list, Arbor Heights Elementary concerts are at 1:30 and 6 pm, Gatewood Elementary concerts are at 2 and 6 pm.
ARTIST RECEPTION AT THE MOUNT: 4-6 pm, Providence Mount St. Vincent‘s Intergenerational Art Show and Sale continues with an artist reception. Details here. 4831 35th SW.
2 WINE TASTINGS: At West Seattle Cellars (WSB sponsor), 5:30-8 pm, German wines are in the spotlight – and the bottles, and the glasses. Free. Full details in our calendar listing; 6026 California SW … At Bin 41 (4707 California SW), 6-8 pm, it’s all about Chardonnay tonight – details here.
4724 CALIFORNIA PROJECT, 1ST DESIGN REVIEW: Five weeks after our first report on this 100-unit project proposed for the former Petco storefront, it goes to the Southwest Design Review Board for “early design guidance.” Public comment is welcome. 6:30 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). Our preview from last night is full of info-links, including our previous reports and even the “Community Guide to Design Review” if you haven’t been to a DRB meeting before.
And now, another eagle-with-fish photo from Bob:
Thanks to everyone who shares photos for potential WSB publication! You can e-mail us any time – or share via the WSB pages on Facebook or on Flickr.
8:27 AM: Thanks to Todd for the text: He says a bus/car problem on an I-5 ramp is backing up the eastbound bridge, and it took about 40 minutes to get across.
8:53 AM UPDATE: SDOT also has issued an alert about this, via Twitter. It’s not on the 911 log so apparently not an incident involving injuries.
(WSB photo of the Metropolitan Market [WSB sponsor] team at Taste of West Seattle 2012)
One week after the well-attended Taste of West Seattle (WSB coverage here), we have the tally from Tara Byrne, executive director of West Seattle Helpline, which organizes and benefits from the ever-bigger event:
At the Taste of West Seattle we net profited about $21,500.
Aside from funds raised by the Taste of West Seattle, Metropolitan Market presented a check for $7,500 and West Seattle Cellars presented a check for $775. Those proceed all came from the generosity of their customers. The West Seattle Helpline feels truly blessed that West Seattle business community and West Seattle residents believe in supporting their fellow neighbor during times of need. Thank you, West Seattle!
Overall, we brought in close to $30,000 on May 17th. These proceeds will help approximately 190 families stay in their homes or keep their utilities on while regaining self-sufficiency after facing an emergency.
You can, of course, help the Helpline any time – here’s how.
The annual seed swap is on at the West Seattle (Admiral District) branch of the Seattle Public Library. They want you to know:
If you have seeds you would like to share with your neighbors, bring them to the West Seattle Branch. Small envelopes will be provided. While you’re at the library be sure to take some seeds to try out in your garden and browse our collection of gardening books. The Seed Exchange is free and will run through Saturday, June 9. Happy spring!
Find the branch’s hours and location here.
(WSB photo from April 13)
Last month, we showed you the Log House Museum‘s totem pole – actually a story pole, we’re told, so that’s the phrase we’ll use for the rest of this story – as restoration experts Artech picked it up and hauled it off for rehab. We caught up with them a few weeks later to check in:
The museum’s pole is at an Artech-leased facility in South King County, where it has been undergoing work alongside a totem pole that belongs to Highline Community College; that pole is scheduled to be reinstalled tomorrow, while the West Seattle pole is awaiting a reinstallation date.
Both poles (the photos above and below show the one that belongs to Highline) have been undergoing the kind of work that Artech did on West Seattle’s Rotary Viewpoint Park pole before its post-theft/recovery reinstallation in 2010 – everything from getting insect-repellent borate, to repairs, repainting, and oiling, to copper caps.
The Highline pole has something else in common with the Rotary Viewpoint Park pole. According to information that the college kindly dug up for us on request, it was carved and installed at Highline in 1977, under the supervision and guidance of carvers including Robin Young, who carved the Rotary pole. Highline provided this photo of the plaque atop the pole:
It was repainted in 1995 under the guidance of Robin Young’s son Joel Young. The pole, along with another one that had renovation work done on-site at the college, is being fixed up as part of Highline College’s 50th anniversary commemoration. Highline found Artech, the college tells us, because a Google search to find experts in totem/story-pole renovations led them to one of our stories about the Rotary Viewpoint Park pole! Back to the West Seattle pole:
Repainting hadn’t begun yet when we checked in. The 20-foot pole, which used to stand at Admiral Way Viewpoint, is destined for a spot on the east side of the Log House Museum, once its “rehab” work is done and the site is prepared.
(Developers’ preferred ‘massing’ proposal, which includes to the north the massing of the future Equity Residential development)
Since the proposal for The Junction’s ex-Petco site at 4724 California has drawn so much interest (first report here; followup with development-team leaders here; followup with prospective owner here, first look at concept/massing here), we thought some might want one more reminder that the first Southwest Design Review Board meeting is tomorrow (Thursday) night. It’s scheduled for 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW); if you’re driving, and have never been there, note that its parking lot (accessible from just north of the historic schoolhouse) is not that huge, but there’s street parking along Delridge in front, and alongside the park across the street, with a crosswalk at SW Genesee and a pedestrian overpass further south. Public comment IS allowed and welcomed in the Design Review process, but you will hear the board remind you that it needs to stick to design aspects – to find out more about that, you can read the city’s “Community Guide to Design Review.” You can review the “early design guidance” version of the project proposal by going here (PDF).
Kimberly shared photos this afternoon of three coyote pups “playing in the landscaping in the back of our community.” That’s the City Lights Condos on Harbor Avenue SW (map).
These are the first coyote photos we’ve received in a long time; we’ve been planning to relaunch our coyote-report coverage with an extra element:
The markers on that map represent every coyote sighting published on WSB in the past five years – including the ones that came up in the comment section. WSB contributor Katie Meyer went through every story in our coyote-report archive, and the comments, to make the map. We intend to keep adding to it, and this one from Kimberly will be added soon. As the coyote reports have come in over the years, someone would suggest every now and then that we make a map, so there would be more of an overview look to underscore the point that they have been seen just about everywhere in West Seattle (not just near greenbelts), and here it is. Updates to come.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
After four public reviews in six months, there’ve been none in the past 10 months for the plan to fix/rebuild the city-landmarked Alki Homestead. But the site is back under scrutiny because of tree-cutting that has drawn a complaint to the city, which subsequently posted a “stop work” order so it could investigate.
We learned about this Tuesday afternoon, when a nearby resident called to tell us a tree crew was at the Homestead site (2717 61st SW). She wondered why, asking whether work was finally beginning on the rehabilitation/reconstruction of the site. We went over to investigate; the crew was gone, but in subsequent hours, running late into the night, we obtained information from the city, from a representative of the coalition of historical-preservation groups that’s been watching the site, and from Homestead owner Tom Lin, who also provided photos of the trees before they were cut, and spoke with us about where the project stands, 3 years and 4 months after the electrical fire that closed the Homestead, a historic lodge open for decades as a popular restaurant.
Just got word of this – Friendly Earth will be at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) in the Admiral District this Saturday, 10 am-3 pm, for dropoff electronics recycling. Here’s their basic guidelines:
This may include but is not limited to; appliances, metals, computer equipment and components, home and business electronics, batteries, machinery and electronic accessories. Speakers, light bulbs, alkaline batteries, vacuums, paints, wood based products and small miscellaneous plastics will not be accepted at this time. Fluids must be emptied from all machinery before they can be accepted.
… Friendly Earth is a non-profit electronic recycling organization based out of Seattle. Our commitment to providing alternative ways to dispose of electronic waste helps us to protect the environment and effectively recycle and reuse electronics to sustain communities and other organizations in need. One hundred percent of the items we receive are reused, recycled, refurbished or salvaged for parts.
Metropolitan Market is at 2320 42nd SW. Questions about what Friendly Earth will take? www.Friendlyearth.org, or 206.367.4111.
Just spoke with Leon Capelouto, the longtime Junction entrepreneur/property owner, who confirms he will run the soon-to-be-former state liquor store in his Capco Plaza, without much change – for starters – from its current operations. 
The state branded it Premier Liquor Store before opening it nine months ago, and that’s the signage/name that Capelouto tells WSB he is keeping for now. He says it’s “still going to be a premium liquor store, going to carry a lot of items that people can’t find elsewhere – it’s one of the most complete liquor stores in the state of Washington.” He says he is “hiring all the people who worked there, so the personnel will be the same.”
We followed up with Capelouto after reporting the state’s announcement yesterday that it would close most stores one or more days before the official transition to privatization next Friday. The last day for both West Seattle liquor stores will be next Tuesday, May 29th. Capelouto says he is one of a handful of new liquor-store owners who then will be opening their stores the first day possible, Friday, June 1st – as building owner, he said, he was able to “get a jump on” the process. (The state’s auction – in which Capelouto bid $225K for licensing rights – did not guarantee all bidders the right to the locations; they had to negotiate with property owners.)
He has plenty of retail experience, after all – as owner of the Shafrans clothing store in The Junction for more than 40 years, just steps away from Capco Plaza, which also is home to QFC and Petco stores and Altamira Apartments, as well as smaller storefronts on the building’s east side. He also was high bidder for a state liquor store he will operate in Issaquah.
Bottom line for the Junction location, he says, “West Seattle needs a fine liquor store. … I know the community wants to keep that store.” Though it will be open June 1st with, for starters, the same hours as the state has kept, he says it’ll be a work in progress and that there will be an official “grand opening” somewhere down the line.
Other West Seattle retailers planning to sell liquor include eight of the nine grocery stores (PCC Natural Markets [WSB sponsor] still hasn’t decided) and all four drugstores. (We’re checking on the Westwood state-store site.)
(Photo courtesy WSHS)
A West Seattle High School teacher/administrative intern is crossing town to become an assistant principal at Chief Sealth International High School. The hiring of Andra Maughan was announced by Sealth principal Chris Kinsey, who made the announcement in e-mail to the school community. He tells WSB that she will succeed Bob Hunt, who has worked this year as substitute assistant principal. Maughan’s background also includes work as a special-education consulting teacher for the district and as a special-education coordinator for a school on the Eastside. He says they’re working now on a transition plan so she can “begin to acclimate herself to our community” before officially starting work for next school year.
The list of scheduled events is thinning out as the holiday weekend approaches, but there are a few to note, from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar and elsewhere:
SPOKANE STREET VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION: *No* bridge closure scheduled tonight, but some surface closures/changes continue – here’s the SDOT rundown.
STUDENT WRITERS READ AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY: Again tonight, student writers from Seattle Public Schools are reading their work at the downtown library HQ (6-8 pm) and we are told that one of tonight’s readers is Chief Sealth International High School student Emily Sjostrom.
‘ONE LESS TRUCK’ AT HPAC: Tonight’s monthly meeting of the Highland Park Action Committee will include information on the city’s upcoming every-2-weeks-trash-pickup pilot project, which – as reported here a week ago – will include 200 HP households. HPAC meets at 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club, 12th/Holden.
DOUBLEHEADER AT SKYLARK: Trivia at 7 pm, open mike at 9 pm at Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge Way SW).
POOL AT ROCKSPORT: Wednesday nights are pool tournament nights, 8 pm at Rocksport in The Junction.
One Lafayette Elementary parent e-mailed us, puzzled about a PTA e-mail that arrived last night, addressing a situation that, as the note said, some had been following closely, and some knew nothing about. We hadn’t heard about it before the Seattle Schools Community Forum website published a report last week headlined “The Lafayette story.” As that site’s main writer Melissa Westbrook reported, it started with an accusation that a student had sexually harassed other students, and escalated into an accusation that the principal had mishandled the investigation. Now, the reason more are talking about it – including a Seattle Times [WSB partner] story published last night – is that the district has concluded its investigation, and says it found no evidence of wrongdoing. The resulting memo was provided to news organizations including WSB. It is the first independent corroboration we have had of this investigation. For those who would like to see it in its entirety, read on:Read More
The long-languishing, almost-complete building on the southeast corner of 35th and Avalon not only has a new contractor, as the banner says, it has a new owner.
The Daily Journal of Commerce reported today (thanks to Diane for the tip) – and online records confirm – that it was purchased a month ago by an entity of Chicago-headquartered Randolph Street Realty Capital, whose website touts its expertise in buying “distressed,” “unfinished,” and otherwise-challenged sites.
Four and a half years have passed since work started at the site that was once to be part of the eventually killed Seattle Monorail route. It was owned at the time by fugitive developer Michael Mastro; the project stalled in 2009, as Mastro’s money troubles mounted. Two years ago, a Bellevue company bought it for $4 million and announced it would finish the mixed-use building; the new owners are paying almost $7.3 million. According to a webpage for the project set up by its previous owner, the building has 60 apartments and 122 parking spaces.
It’s the second Chicago-based firm to recently buy into West Seattle development in a big way, after Equity Residential bought the former Conner site on the southeast corner of California/Alaska, and in fact, both of Randolph Street’s principals are former Equity Residential managers. Meantime, the potential completion of that building isn’t the only change ahead for that area; there are signs of work starting soon on the 120-unit 3261 Avalon Way project, and right across the street, three apartment buildings are for sale: Terrace Villa (36 units for $5.3 million), Westridge (26 units for just under $4 million), and Avalon West (same size/price as Westridge).
Another school fundraiser to mention tonight – a car wash to raise money for those who need scholarships to join in West Seattle High School‘s Grad Night celebration (less than a month away!) is coming up on Saturday. The announcement we received via e-mail notes, “With several graduation ceremonies occurring in the area on June 16, the Grad Night committee believes that it is extremely important to offer as many WSHS students as possible, a safe and chaperoned event to celebrate their HS accomplishments.” The car wash is planned for 10:30 am-3 pm this sun-forecast Saturday (May 26) at West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor), 7501 35th SW.
Tom Wyrick from Alki Arts caught those jumping silver fish on cameraphone video this evening and is wondering what they are. We have googled like crazy (and checked WSB archives) and we don’t know either. Do you?
(WSB photo from 2011 tournament)
With a week and a half to go till the second annual Chief Sealth Athletics Golf Tournament, organizers are ready to see the final spots fill up so it’s a full lineup when everybody tees up. June 1st is the day, Rainier Golf and Country Club the place. Sealth athletic director Sam Reed explains, “The goal of the Chief Sealth Athletics Golf Tournament is to become the prime method of fundraising for our student-athletes. The inaugural event in 2011 raised over $5,000 which went directly toward supporting athletic efforts including transportation, uniforms and equipment, and building quality lower level programs (JV and C-teams).” There are also some specific needs, from buying banners to celebrate past championships – previous banners were lost in the remodel – to funding a certified strength coach who can design programs to help the students best utilize Sealth’s state-of-the-art weight room. If you can swing it, it’s a great excuse to take that Friday afternoon off – and you can register online right now, with the fees including food and beverages as well as golf.
Only two months till you can bring your glowstick, picnic, whatever, to West Seattle Outdoor Movies in the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse – and we have first word of this year’s planned movie lineup, just decided at a WSOM planning meeting:
7/21 – Pretty in Pink
7/28 – Young Frankenstein
8/4 – Lion King
8/11 – Iron Man
8/18 – Yellow Submarine
8/25 – Top Gun
Thanks to everybody who offered suggestions, both here on WSB – we’re a co-sponsor again this year – and on the WSOM and WSB Facebook pages. The movies are always free, and they start at dusk; there’s still a lot to be determined, including pre-movie activities, and other fun stuff – updates to come!
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