West Seattle, Washington
24 Friday
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Click the image to play the video – our temporary fix for previous “autoplay” problem)
11:25 AM: Click the “play” button to watch Mayor McGinn‘s first of two budget-plan speeches, live. [UPDATED: The clip is now his archived speech, recorded live.] He’s at Seattle Central Community College (and will speak to the City Council inside City Hall at 2 pm), following introductions by people including community-college-system Chancellor Dr. Jill Wakefield, familiar to West Seattle as former South Seattle Community College president. According to his website, details won’t be available until 2 pm – here’s the link to watch; we’ll plan on a separate story then, but if any advance word emerges, we’ll add to this one first.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
After Mayor McGinn formally presents his budget plan with speeches at 11 and 2 pm today, it’s likely more than a few groups will start mobilizing to challenge parts of it.
One group of city-service users already has a two-week head start: Those who use city-run community centers that are facing major operational/staffing changes. The mayor came to West Seattle two weeks ago today (WSB coverage here) with City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, who chairs the Parks Committee, and acting Seattle Parks Superintendent Christopher Williams to preview that part of the plan, splitting centers into geographic groupings, each of which will retain one or two full-service centers, while the others see varying degrees of cutbacks/changes (all documented here).
Perhaps the most drastic of all is the plan proposed for West Seattle’s Southwest Community Center, which would no longer be a community center, but instead would be reclassified as a Teen Life Center – which is currently part of its operations. And part of its space would be transformed into a new Neighborhood Service Center for the city – replacing the one on Delridge, which would close (as reported here two weeks ago).
“All of us … are stunned” by the SWCC proposal, wrote the center’s Advisory Council president, Tom Foley, in a letter to the City Council. (Read his entire letter here.)
Among them – a group whose relationship with and use of Southwest Community Center would seem to embody what the city has said it’s seeking, partnerships with community members/groups that maximize use of a facility and bring in revenue.
This group is the Family Learning Program, serving more than 130 kids and their homeschooling families, which has seen major growth since it launched last winter, and was hoping to expand its program to more days – until this proposal put it under a cloud of doubt.
And it’s only one of the programs based at the center, serving customers diverse in everything from ethnicity to age, with regular programs and special events including the annual luau presented by the local Pacific Islander community:
(Photo courtesy Tom Foley)
Read More
(Mallard duck, photographed by Bill Bacon)
No weather alerts in effect this morning, but it’s still expected to be wet and breezy – you can check conditions on the WSB Weather page any time. Meantime, from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
BUDGET DAY: Both Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine are announcing their proposed budgets for next year in speeches set to start at 11 this morning. Both events will be broadcast live on their respective cable channels/online streams – Seattle Channel and King County TV.
CLASSES START AT SSCC: In West Seattle’s Puget Ridge neighborhood, South Seattle Community College‘s fall quarter begins.
COOKING CLUB GOES VEGGIE: Vegetarian recipes are the order of the day when West Seattle Cooking Club meets, 2 pm at Beveridge Place Pub in Morgan Junction.
BINGO AT ALKI UCC: The weekly bingo games at Alki UCC Church (62nd and Alki) are back in session! The Hotline for information is [206]935-5950. Doors open at 5:30, games at 6:30, $7 buy-in, and payouts vary according to the number of players.
FAMILY STORY TIME: 7 pm, Family Story Time at the High Point branch of the Seattle Public Library.
Just heard that the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, environmental/economic/social justice advocate Dr. Wangari Maathai, has died of cancer at age 71 in a Kenyan hospital. Hundreds of West Seattleites have special reason to remember her:
That photo is from four years ago, in September 2007, when Dr. Maathai came here for Earth Summit II. For some of our earliest WSB video coverage, we recorded her helping students from three local schools plant trees at Pelly Place Ravine. (And here’s a great photo of that day, from West Seattle-based, internationally renowned photographer Art Wolfe.) During her lifetime, her community-based-tree-planting advocacy through the Green Belt Movement was credited for more than 40 million new trees.
Story and photos by Bill “Hutch” Hutchison
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
We had a chance today to catch Mulugeta “Mulu” Abate and his sister Ruth Abate as they put the finishing touches on their new West Seattle venture, Pan Africa Grill, two days away from opening in the former Ho-Win space at California/Juneau.
“The renovation is pretty much complete and we will be ready on Tuesday,” Mulu said. Here’s a sneak peek inside the Pan Africa dining room:
As mentioned in previous coverage – we first reported on this new restaurant back in May – Mulu and his family also own Pan Africa Market in the Pike Place Market area and hope the new West Seattle eatery will be another successful venture.
See more of the renovations, plus a peek at the food, and even the art, ahead:Read More
As noted here previously, including this report yesterday, seal-pup season is at its height, on beaches all around West Seattle. Wildlife watcher/writer/photographer Trileigh Tucker saw this one today – and mentions this sweet encounter:
There was another seal pup on a West Seattle beach this morning, and a kind passerby named Barbara was caring enough to wait with it until Robin Lindsey of Seal Sitters arrived. I was so touched by how respectful and considerate all the Sunday morning walkers were of this little seal’s need to rest.
I was particularly moved by a little girl, accompanied by her parents, who spontaneously sang to the pup, a wake-up song just like her mother apparently sang to her. If her parents see this, they should know that their daughter gives me hope for our future!
Trileigh’s website Natural Presence tells a longer version of the tale.
(Photo courtesy Kris Wilder)
They’re veteran karate teachers at West Seattle Karate Academy (35th/Roxbury) – and they’re authors. Kris Wilder (left) and Lawrence Kane are about to release what Kris says is the 10th book between the two of them, “How to Win a Fight.” He says the book “helps you understand what’s worth fighting for, how to win when you must, and how to walk away when you should.” Penguin Books is publishing it, and its release date is October 4th – one week from Tuesday (it’s available for Amazon pre-order now). He says they’ve even been “assigned a promotional team” and might have a couple of book-signing events. Their previous co-authored book, “The Little Black Book of Violence,” came out two years ago, and Kris says it “was a finalist in both ForeWord Magazines’ Book of the Year award and USA Book News’ Best Books award.”
Thanks to Michelle Shillings for sharing the photo of 9-year-old Seahawks superfans (left to right) Roman Saladino and Gabe Clark, before they headed to the game that’s under way right now at CenturyLink Field. “They are true fans, and West Seattle needs to see these two awesome kids,” she writes. Michelle explains that they’ve been up since 6 this morning, pumped to go to the game, and asked her to paint their faces! She is Roman’s mom; she says the boys are at the game with Gabe’s dad Jeff (whom we saw just yesterday as he showed off his brand-new school).
As we publish this, the Hawks are down 10-6 (vs. Arizona) starting the second half, but if anybody can cheer them to a win, it’s these two.
4:23 PM UPDATE: And the Hawks pulled it out! 13-10.
(President Obama at the Paramount; photos courtesy Cindy S)
11:58 AM: According to our friends at KING 5, President Obama has just arrived at Boeing Field – which means you might encounter motorcade traffic. (Watch their coverage here.) He’s scheduled to head first to a fundraiser on the Eastside and then to another one at the Paramount Theater downtown. According to Seattle Times (WSB partner) political reporter Jim Brunner via Twitter, the president’s welcoming party at Boeing Field includes King County Executive Dow Constantine as well as Mayor McGinn and Governor Gregoire (among others).
1:03 PM: Roads are open right now since the President is in Medina for fundraiser #1, but he’ll be heading back across the lake before too long, and on to the Paramount event. For minute-by-minute traffic updates, check this KING 5 page; also remember we have an array of West Seattle-and-vicinity “live” cameras on the WSB Traffic page.
3:21 PM: Per KING, the President is headed back to Boeing Field right now, after finishing his speech at the Paramount downtown. (Added above – Cindy S’s photo of NBA Hall of Famers Bill Russell and Lenny Wilkens, who introduced him.)
3:58 PM: After four hours on the ground, Air Force One has taken off and President Obama is off to the Bay Area.
Reports on today’s visit: Seattle Times here; LA Times here
A few highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
FERRY SCHEDULE CHANGE: The fall schedule for Washington State Ferries takes effect today (overview here).
FARMERS’ MARKET: Till 2 pm in The Junction (44th/Alaska).
RUMMAGE SALE: Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation’s Fall Rummage Sale, day 2, till 2 pm (7141 California SW).
MEET THE AUTHOR: Amy Pennington, author of “Urban Pantry” and “Apartment Gardens,” at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, 11 am-1 pm (more info here)
NEW GAME GROUP: Forming a new “European strategy board game” group at Uptown Espresso in The Junction, 1 pm – read this story for details, contact info, and a group to join online.
STAIRWAY WALK: Jake and Cathy Jaramillo lead another stairway walk in West Seattle, a loop from Longfellow Creek up to Pigeon Point and back. Free! Meet up at 2 pm at the south parking lot at 26th SW and SW Yancy.
AUSTRIAN-AMERICAN DAY AT THE LONGHOUSE: You’re invited to celebrate Austrian-American Day at the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center, (4705 W. Marginal Way SW), 2 – 4 pm. Longhouse tour, Princess Angeline film, Austrian Zither Music by Fred Mitterndofer, Linzertorte by Richard Williams. Coffee and cake. $6 adults/$5 children.
LIVE MUSIC: Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) hosts a lively concert for all ages featuring the Ama Trio’s folk-style music from exotic places, 6 pm. More details.
Thanks to Cluny and Debbie for e-mailing to report a power outage caused by a fallen tree. Seattle City Light‘s status map says it’s affecting at least 27 customers (homes/businesses), in stretches both west and east of the Delridge/Orchard intersection, where Debbie says the signal’s out as a result, and to the south. City Light lists the estimated time of power restoration as 11 am. (Though the wind’s relatively calm at the moment, we have multiple reports of blustery conditions in the 4 am hour, when the tree came down, so this may be the first effect of the storm systems that brought the alert noted here last night.)
9:24 AM UPDATE: Just back from checking it out – adding photos. The entire 4-way intersection of Delridge/Orchard is marked with signs since the signal is out; Orchard/Dumar is closed east of Delridge, since that’s where the City Light crews are working.
The National Weather Service says more blusteriness is on the way.
11:18 AM UPDATE: The City Light map shows two more small outages – one that had been mentioned in comments on our earlier weather report, in the Admiral area, cause “unknown,” and the other further south on Delridge, at Kenyon, listed as “bird/animal”-related.
11:53 AM UPDATE: Just checked the Delridge/Orchard intersection – the traffic signal’s working again, but the road east of Delridge is still closed. Commenter from Admiral says that outage is over too.
EVENING NOTE: The road to the east is fully open again, too.
(Photos courtesy Janet and Bryan Jones)
On Saturday, dozens of new Seattle Pacific University students converged on West Seattle and White Center worksites as part of SPU’s City Quest day of community service – an annual tradition on the Saturday before classes begin. Hundreds more worked elsewhere in the metro area. The volunteers in these photos were among 23 who pitched in to help on the campus of closed Genesee Hill Elementary, which the Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Council has worked hard to keep from becoming rundown. Today, they had help!
Bryan Jones says the volunteers were treated to Husky Deli ice cream as a reward for their labor:
Other local City Quest volunteer sites included Lincoln Park, the West Duwamish Greenbelt (with Nature Consortium), and Hicks Lake in White Center.
The week’s final high-school-football game is in the books: Seattle Lutheran High School beat Darrington HS at West Seattle Stadium tonight, 40-13. Summary and video to come.
ADDED: Game details, ahead:Read More
The newly opened Challenge Course at West Seattle’s Camp Long is not only a new park feature, it’s also an example of the new type of partnership that Seattle Parks hopes will help it keep and operate its facilities, even in times of budget misery.
The first phase of the course was officially dedicated and opened with a celebration this afternoon – including the distinctively decorated cake shown above. It’s been a year and a half since the project was first mentioned publicly (at the March 2010 Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting; WSB coverage here). As explained then, and along the way, 4-H partnered with Seattle Parks to make it happen, but they aren’t the only organization that will be using it:
That’s Aparna Rae from Neighborhood House, who said she’ll be using it as part of a youth program that includes mentoring and environmental education. West Seattle-based Safe Futures is another program that expects to use the challenge course. As Parks’ Robb Courtney put it, Camp Long was originally known as an “out of the way place,” and while it’s not so out of the way any more, he called it “the premier place for youth to come to learn about themselves, learn about nature, learn about being part of a team.” (There’s more about ropes courses on the 4-H website.)
On the first full day of fall, the season’s first “Special Weather Statement” is already out. The National Weather Service warns of wet, windy conditions the next two days. Not a major drencher, they say, but the wind will get gusty, and you might want to check to be sure you don’t have anything outside in danger of getting blown around. Read the alert here; also take note of the new WSB Weather page, which already has everything from current conditions to 5-day forecast to tides to sun/moon times. Find it here (or click the “Weather” tab or the temp icon under the sidebar bridge cam).
Police are investigating a case of malicious harassment – the official term for hate crime – and vandalism reported in the Genesee Hill area. We just received this report from one of the targets:
My partner and I live in the 4400 block of 50th Ave SW. After midnight on Friday night, we woke up after hearing a noise from the street. We didn’t know what it was, as our first thoughts were, a sprinkler trying to go off or something involving our cat. My partner opened the front door and turned on the porch lights but didn’t see anything odd.
10 minutes later, that same noise again happened, and I quickly moved the drapes to get a better look. I did see shadows running South on 50th Ave but didn’t see any faces. I walked down to our cars and noticed that both had rocks thrown in our windows. (my partner’s back window and my front driver’s side). His car was in our driveway and my car was along the street, directly in front of our home.
I came back to the house and called 911. Within a few minutes of the call, the Seattle Police department arrived. Officer N. Nguyen and his partner were the first to arrive. We then noticed that all 4 tires of each vehicle had been slashed. When one of the officers found the rock in my partner’s car, it was surrounded by a typed hate note. It read as follows…
God Hates F*gs!
Get the f**k out of our neighborhood.
The bible says God forbids men committing indecent act with other men.
Pack up your sh*t and get you gay sh*t out.
– KKKUpon notice of this note, both the Sergeant and Lieutenant were notified and arrived on the scene. Another police officer arrived to take pictures and gather the evidence of the rocks and note. One of the police officers told us that they take these crimes “very seriously” and we were thankful for their presence that evening.
We’re checking to see if police have any leads. If you have tips – call 911.
7 PM UPDATE: Chris (who sent the report and says we can use his first name) says, “After speaking with my neighbors, one was outside around midnight last night. He did witness 2 while males walking up the alley behind our house. He did ask both if they were all right and they responded that everything was fine. He thought it was odd that people were walking the alley that late at night. He didn’t get a good look at their face as the alley doesn’t have much lighting. First was described as around 5’10’ish with a stocky, muscular build. The other was around 5’7″ with a chubby build. Both were wearing black.” Also note, we have corrected the block number from Chris’s original report, after comparing with the police-call map and checking with him.
(Photo by Brad Long)
The recently relaunched Joy D. Smith Wildlife Raft played host to a seal pup for a while this morning. But such refuges are few and far between, and many more of them wind up on our beaches this time of year, as we have reported previously. If you keep an eye on Seal Sitters’ Blubberblog updates, you’ll learn exactly how hectic that can be – four pups on West Seattle beaches in just one day earlier this week, for example. During a morning walk on Harbor Avenue this past Monday, we spotted two areas cordoned off for pup protection, almost adjacent to each other. And volunteers asked us to remind you that observing the city’s law against dogs on beaches – leashes or not – is vital this time of year; even if you think your canine companion would never hurt a flea, they can be unpredictable, and even if they’re not too close, they might frighten the pup back into the water, where it will either have trouble finding its mom (who left the pup on the beach so she could find food) or will burn up more of its still-scarce energy stores swimming when it needed to rest … check this yawn:
(Photo by ALAN BERNER/SEATTLE TIMES; republished with permission)
That photo accompanied a story earlier this week by our partners at the Seattle Times. If you see a seal or other marine mammal on a beach – again – don’t get close; report it to Seal Sitters, at 206-905-7325 (905-SEAL).
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports in this afternoon – another stolen car, and a burglary with loot including jewelry you’re asked to watch for. Both reports ahead:Read More
Two notes today from Fauntleroy, related to big events ahead:
FINE ART AND HOLIDAY GIFT FAIR DEADLINE THIS THURSDAY: That’s West Seattle batik artist Ruth Leonard at left in the photo, and she’s been a crowd-pleaser at the fair since its beginnings in 2008. Want to show/sell your stuff this year? The fair isn’t till November 18-20 but volunteer organizers need time to review applications and put together a great event – so they’re asking you to please send yours by the deadline this Thursday (September 30th). You’ll find more details, and the application, at fauntleroyucc.org.
FALL FESTIVAL – THANKS AND REMINDER: One week ago, fundraising flapjack-flipping was under way at The Hall at Fauntleroy, and there was plenty of it, according to this acknowledgment out of the WSB inbox: “A big THANK YOU to everyone who turned out last Saturday (Sept. 17) to enjoy a pancake breakfast in support of the Fauntleroy Fall Festival. The event netted nearly $525, putting the festival on solid financial ground to start planning for the 10th anniversary celebration in 2012!” But first, this year’s edition is only weeks away – 2-5:30 pm on October 16th.
We stopped by Denny International Middle School to see how the open house (till noon) was going, and met four members of Denny’s City Year team in the weight room – above, Stephanie, Ruchira, Megan, and Mary. Outside, we found Denny’s award-winning principal Jeff Clark, talking with School Board rep Steve Sundquist:
Also visiting this morning: Sundquist’s predecessor as West Seattle’s school-board rep, Irene Stewart, with husband Bruce Butterfield (president of the Fauntleroy Community Association):
If you’ve missed earlier coverage, the third phase of the project that built the new Denny and renovated adjacent Chief Sealth International High School is happening a few blocks away on the site of the old Denny, which was demolished, so the site could be transformed into fields and tennis courts.
Thanks to Tom, who photographed the sunrise from Queen Anne’s Kerry Park, for sharing the photo. In addition to the previews from earlier, here are some of today’s other highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
WSUU RUMMAGE SALE: Frogsquatch is the fabled mascot of Westside Unitarian Universalists’ rummage sales, and she/he presides again at 7141 California SW all day today – they’re not certain when they’ll shut down, depends on the traffic, so stop on by, to see among other things, as WSUU’s Kari Kopnick put it, “the ‘Whiskey-Foxtrot-Tango’ table, the ‘Granny’ table, the ‘Retro’ table and thousands, I really mean thousands, of books. … Hope people stop by and say hello even if they’re not in the mood to find treasure!”
NATIVE PLANT SALE: Go Natives Nursery and Mariposa Naturescapes (based in West Seattle) are having a native plant sale till 2 at 3225 – 47th Ave. SW (couple blocks west of PCC). October is the best month to plant our indigenous plants. And a percentage of the proceeds will go to support the efforts of West Seattle’s Community Wildlife Habitat Project.
ANOTHER FIRST IN SOUTH PARK: First-ever South Park Car Show, under way till 3 pm. Details here.
HEAD TO MOVING PLANET: Two bike rides to get to Moving Planet event from West Seattle – both listed here, both leave at 11 am. For more information o Moving Planet itself, here’s the official info page.
VOLUNTEERS AT WORK: SPU students are working today at spots in West Seattle and White Center as part of CityQuest, list here – if you see them (or any volunteers at work, say thanks!
CAMP LONG CHALLENGE COURSE CELEBRATION: Grand opening scheduled for new Challenge Course at Camp Long today. Here’s the schedule:
2:00 PM course elements will be open to the public
4:00 PM officials speak/ribbon cutting
4:30 PM Partners of next generation of course will speak
5:15 PM Hot Dogs, chips, cake until we run out!
Live music from members of the Rusty Gate Wood Shed String Band
Festivities located at the EAST SHELTER in Camp Long
Opportunities to make donations to our scholarship fund for the course will be available
Brought to you by the Camp Long Advisory Council
BAKING UP A BOOK SIGNING: Book signing at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) in Admiral: Dani Cone, founder of High 5 Pie and Fuel Coffee signs her new book, Cutie Pies: 40 Sweet, Savory and Adorable Recipes. Dani will sign her book while the Culinary Artist serves a recipe or two from Cutie Pies! 3-5 pm
SHORT FILM FESTIVAL: Manhattan Short Film Festival at Admiral Theater, 7 pm. Full details here.
HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Tonight, Seattle Lutheran HS vs. Darrington at West Seattle Stadium, 7 pm
HOMESTEP DINNER/AUCTION: HomeStep, a program of Compass Housing Alliance, will hold its annual dinner and auction, Tropical Splendor, tonight at The Hall at Fauntleroy. Join Angela Russell, KIRO TV News Anchor, and celebrated auctioneer Graham Crow for a lively night as they raise funds to provide stable housing, supportive services, and advocacy to homeless adults, youth and families in our community. Tickets are $85 and include dinner and complimentary wine. Tickets are available on line at homestep.org.
ROLLING RETREAD REVIEW: Benefit Dance Concert for Garfield Jazz! Date: from 7 – 10 pm Location: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW.
TANGO MEETS CLASSICAL: Music Northwest Concert Series 2011 – Tango Meets Classical, 7:30 pm. At Olympic Recital Hall at SSCC (6000 16th Ave SW). See website for tickets and more information.
KENYON HALL: From Kenyon Hall – Casey MacGill and Orville Johnson, 7:30 pm. More at kenyonhall.org.
LIVE AT THE FEEDBACK: Live music with The Navins and The Fuzz at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm.
Both of these events happening this morning carry incentives!
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ADOPT-A-STREET: Join ANA at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) to spend a little time getting a lot done on area streets – and you get not only free breakfast treats, but also a free sack lunch when you’re finished! Meet at 9 am outside the store (42nd/Admiral).
DON’T FEED THE TOX-ICK MONSTER! Missed the first presentation of Sustainable West Seattle‘s new fun, educational series of sessions to show you how to reduce runoff and help save the Sound? Today at 10 am, you get another chance – and Cate White says there’s a free continental breakfast: “Breads and pastries donated by Great Harvest and coffee donated by Red Cup. It’s also a great opportunity for people to visit the West Seattle Tool Library at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, which is open 9 AM – 2 PM.” Yes, you guessed right, the presentation is at Youngstown (4408 Delridge Way). And prizes totaling $1,000 are up for grabs – water cisterns, landscape consulting, car-wash gift certificates, oil changes, bus passes, and more.
Two and a half weeks after a crowd converged on the new Denny International Middle School for its dedication, you have a chance to tour the school this morning during a community celebration. Guided tours will leave the Galleria – the distinctive structure linking Denny with the renovated Chief Sealth International High School next door – at 10:15, 10:45, and 11:15. Or, just drop by for a quick peek any time during the two-hour open-house event, 10 am-noon. (Remember that Denny’s entrance is on the north side of the campus, off SW Kenyon.)
| 3 COMMENTS