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Gatewood power outage: City Light says they’re working on it
November 14, 2009 11:17 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Gatewood | Utilities | West Seattle news

Got a note about an outage in Gatewood that’s been under way since about 8 this morning. Just checked with Seattle City Light‘s on-call media rep – no estimate yet when it’ll be fixed; they say it’s affecting about 53 customers, in the northern Gatewood Hill residential area east of the Morgan Junction business area so far as we can tell from the boundaries.

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Happening today: Toy Swap, Seal Sitters jewelry, and more
November 14, 2009 6:30 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Added: Toy Swap photo from about 10 am)
coolmomgrab.jpgSAVE MONEY, SAVE THE EARTH: That’s the slogan for CoolMom‘s second annual Toy Swap ‘n’ Sale, 9 am-1 pm. CoolMom’s Terri Glaberson tells us some deal-hunting earlybirds were even waiting when the doors opened last year. This time it’s at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW; here’s a map). 9 am-1 pm, proceeds benefit WestSide Baby as well as CoolMom. On to another of today’s many sales:

(Photo by Robin Lindsey)
ALL THAT GLITTERS … HELPS SEAL SITTERS: Neptune the seal pup is just one of many helped by Seal Sitters in their few short but acclaimed years of existence. Today is their first-ever fundraiser – and in addition to more than 500 pieces of estate jewelry on sale, there are a few additions to the plan – Seal Sitters founder Brenda Peterson — an acclaimed author — will sign books purchased between 11 and 2; a framed photo by Robin Lindsey and a specialty Italian wine basket will be offered for silent auction; and they’ll be raffling items including plush toys and what’s described as “an amazing artisan seal bread.” Cash, credit and debit, 10 am-2 pm at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor), 2326 California SW, across from the Admiral Theater. Now on to an outdoor highlight:

GET OUT AND GET GREEN: Thanks to Cindi Barker for forwarding a photo from last Saturday’s Orchard Street Ravine work party during Green Seattle Day. This morning, like most Saturday mornings, you have multiple chances to get out and dig in during volunteer work parties – Delridge Natural Area, West Duwamish Greenbelt and Roxhill Park, this time around, details in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup along with MULTIPLE other events today/tonight!

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Alki Homestead future: Restoration or reconstruction?
November 13, 2009 11:40 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Alki Homestead | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

That’s the question members of the city Landmarks Preservation Board will want to see sorted out, as became clear during this morning’s meeting of the board’s Architectural Review Committee. This was the first public meeting at which Tom Lin, owner of the fire-damaged landmark, and his consultants have discussed its status and its future since a comprehensive presentation before the Alki Community Council two months ago (WSB coverage here). The meeting also provided a reminder of the fact the historic building’s future is of interest outside West Seattle – those who offered comments included representatives from the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, which five months ago declared the Homestead among the state’s most endangered buldings, and Historic Seattle; the Southwest Seattle Historical Society was represented as well. Read on for details on what was discussed and what the landmarks board – which has jurisdiction over the site’s future because of its landmark status – will do next:Read More

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Firefighter followup: Highland Park’s tasty thanks for Station 11
November 13, 2009 9:17 pm
|    Comments Off on Firefighter followup: Highland Park’s tasty thanks for Station 11
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news

As promised when a team from Seattle Fire Department Station 11 (map) visited last month’s Highland Park Action Committee meeting (WSB coverage here), HPAC put together a delegation to bring the station a home-cooked dinner tonight, and we dropped by to catch the good deed in progress. From left, firefighter Dan Peterson, HPAC chair Dan Mullins, firefighter Shane Casillas, HPAC treasurer Shawn Mazza, Colette Napoli, SFD Lt. Russ Wiseman, firefighter Sean Williams, and standing tall behind them, HPAC vice chair Nicole Mazza, who organized the whole thing. (HPAC’s also organizing a Station 11 tour a week from tomorrow.) What’d they bring for dinner, you ask? Lasagna, salad, chips ‘n’ salsa, pickles, plums, cookies, chocolate, ice cream. Hopefully they got a chance to enjoy it; it was delivered just after 6, and the 911 log shows Engine 11 didn’t have an emergency call till almost 8:30.

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More West Seattle cleanup work tomorrow – plus, the city’s thanks
November 13, 2009 8:10 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | How to help | Pigeon Point | West Seattle news

Last weekend, we told you about Delridge and Pigeon Point volunteers spending a soggy, breezy Saturday morning making their neighborhood nicer (here’s our story). Tonight, two notes: First, Rose Feliciano (left) will be out raking up leaves again tomorrow morning around 9 am along the bike trail by the bridge. She mentioned this on the Pigeon Point e-mail list; we asked if we could mention it here in case anyone wanted to help out, and she said OK, adding “the way to access the bike path is the north end of 22nd Avenue SW.” (Here’s a map.) Meantime, the folks at Seattle Public Utilities asked if we would publish this public thank you to Rose and everyone else out working last weekend – PLUS all the other cleanup program volunteers peninsula-wide:

I’d like to thank Nancy Folsom, Rose Feliciano, the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council, the North Delridge Neighborhood Council-and all the other West Seattle volunteers who are making a difference in their neighborhoods by participating in Seattle’s Adopt-a-Drain and Adopt-a-Street programs. These volunteer programs continue to grow, showing that we all value the quality of life that Seattle offers. Adopting a street or a drain is a great way to get to know your neighbors. Please give me a call if you would like help getting involved: 684-7647.

Thanks again, folks!

Carlton Stinson
Seattle Public Utilities
Adopt-A-Drain/Adopt-A-Street Coordinator

Both programs have more info online, too – Adopt-A-Street here, Adopt-A-Drain here.

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H1N1 vaccine: Update from King County Public Health
November 13, 2009 5:46 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Health | Swine flu | West Seattle news

Just in from James Apa at King County Public Health, at the end of a week in which people lined up to get H1N1 vaccine wherever it was available (above, one of West Seattleite Brandon Nicholson‘s photos from the line Wednesday outside a Sand Point pharmacy that briefly was the only one in the county offering vaccine to babies and toddlers):

We wanted to give you a quick update on vaccine availability in King County. Due to the national delay in H1N1 vaccine production, the supplies we have in the community aren’t enough to meet the demand right now, and it’s been a challenge for many to find vaccine. With the latest deliveries this week, King County has received approximately 165,000 doses of vaccine total since shipments began, and approximately 90,000 more doses are in the process of being ordered and shipped to King County.

Given the shortage, our current focus is on getting most of the available supplies to health care providers, so that they can vaccinate patients who are most at risk. As more vaccine becomes available, we’ll continue to provide it to health care providers to vaccinate more of their patients, so we encourage people in the priority groups to continue to stay in touch with their health care providers about vaccine availability.

To provide another option for people prioritized to receive H1N1 vaccine, Public Health is also allocating a limited portion of new vaccine supplies for distribution more widely through public venues. The 15,000 doses of vaccine we made available to pharmacies this week is the beginning of our widening distribution strategy.

He also suggested keeping an eye on the pharmacy list on the King County website – linked from our FLU tab atop all pages. We just checked again, and there’s no new availability listed in the West Seattle/White Center area right now.

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It’s not the fox watching the henhouse, but instead, the owl
November 13, 2009 4:01 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

We have been SO overdue for cute owl photos, ever since the charming saga of Wollet over the summer. And now, our unspoken wish is granted, courtesy of Jonathan French, who says his neighbor northwest of The Junction – proprietor of Better Coops and Gardens – has had this little visitor around all day in her carport workshop … watching her build chicken coops!

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Water Taxi scores record year – and dock expansion work begins
November 13, 2009 2:11 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   King County Water Taxi | Transportation | West Seattle news

As the King County Water Taxi‘s West Seattle run sends out the official announcement of another record-setting year (which ended on Halloween), we also have word that work has begun on the expansion of its Seacrest dock – which will enable the foot ferry to go year-round starting next spring. Word from King County Executive-elect Dow Constantine‘s office is that work on the dock components already has begun offsite, and the 12-week expansion project will start onsite within a few weeks. Now, as for that recordsetting traffic – here’s the official announcement:

The King County Water Taxi West Seattle route broke the 200,000 rider mark in 2009, as the 12-year-old passenger ferry connecting West Seattle and downtown Seattle increased its annual ridership by 21 percent over 2008.

During the 2009 summer season:

—The West Seattle route served a total of 203,229 riders;

—Set individual monthly ridership records for each full operational month: May 2009 (31,557), June 2009 (33,865), July 2009 (46,861), August 2009 (43,981), and September 2009 (26,603);

—The 46,861 riders in July set the mark as the top ridership month in the history of the King County Water Taxi West Seattle route;

—August 2009 was the second highest ridership month in West Seattle route history (43,981 riders) and just the third month ever with 43,000 or more riders (43,020 people rode in August 2007), and

—Over the past five years, ridership on the West Seattle route has increased by 90 percent (from 106,316 riders in 2005 to 203,229 riders in 2009).

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Park gun restrictions: One-man challenge planned in West Seattle
November 13, 2009 12:04 pm
|      105 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

4:36 PM UPDATE: From the mayor’s office, which is now handling all comment on this: “If this resident plans to enter a Parks facility with a concealed weapon, he will be asked to leave. If he refuses, he will be arrested.”

ORIGINAL 12:04 PM STORY: Seems like Southwest Community Center and Pool is just the place to be tomorrow, more than usual. First we published news last night of a group renting the pool tomorrow night for a clothing-optional swim (since their first choice, Ballard Pool, is closed for repairs) – now, a man says he’s planning to challenge the city’s park/community center gun restrictions (already targeted in a lawsuit) by showing up at SWCC at noon tomorrow with a concealed weapon. He cc’d us and other media on a “courtesy” letter to the city; his entire letter is ahead – but first, a note: We asked if he chose that time and place for a particular reason; he told us he was hoping to attend the “Dogs in the Hood” show. Read on for the letter:Read More

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West Seattle Volunteer Recognition: Tell the world!
November 13, 2009 11:09 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

trophy.jpgWe’re extending the deadline for nominations in the second round of West Seattle Volunteer Recognition – if you can spare a few minutes today or this weekend – the sooner the better – take this chance to tell the world about somebody you think deserves public props for making a difference. The first six West Seattle Volunteer Recognition recipients were honored last July; if your nominee last time wasn’t one of the recipients, please consider nominating them again, since we’re starting from scratch. This time, the Southwest and Delridge District Councils, along with WSB, will honor:

*2 individual volunteers from community/neighborhood-related group efforts
*2 individual volunteers from youth-related efforts
*2 individual volunteers from environment-related efforts
*1 group award

“Volunteer” means unpaid work, done for a nonprofit-type organization, facility, campaign (etc.), primarily serving West Seattle. And when you send your nomination – please remember that what you write is all the judges have to go on, so don’t hold back on describing the great work your nominee has done! The recipients will be honored in front of a big holiday crowd at the West Seattle Community Tree Lighting December 5th. To nominate someone, it’s a quick all-online process, no stamps, no cost – here’s the online form.

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West Seattle Reservoir’s new park: 1st meeting date finalized
November 13, 2009 9:24 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Photo courtesy Seattle Parks and Recreation, from project sign installation Thursday)
From the last meeting of the Highland Park Action Committee, we reported that Seattle Parks had set a December 3rd meeting for discussion of the West Seattle (Westcrest) Reservoir park design (here’s that story). Today, the official flyer’s out, setting the meeting time for 7 pm Dec. 3, High Point Community Center. Main point of the meeting, per the announcement: “To learn what the community priorities are for transforming the 20 acres of open space” that the reservoir-covering project will create. Here’s the official flyer.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Hang onto your hats
November 13, 2009 6:21 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Weather Watch: Hang onto your hats
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

The overnight “forecast discussion” calls this a “vigorous” cold front – but the wind, with gusts up to 30 mph, is supposed to ease a bit later. One other change in the forecast overnight – that talk of possible wet snow at 500 feet (which could have included the highest hills here) has evaporated, and now it’s back to 1,000 feet, which lets West Seattle (and the rest of the city) off the hook.

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From the people who brought you the Naked Bike Ride …
November 12, 2009 10:26 pm
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(September 2009 photo by Christopher Boffoli)
… two months later, it’s a clothing-optional swim at Southwest Pool, just announced on Twitter. Seems the folks behind the bike ride also sponsor a series of skinny-dipping evenings at city pools – usually at Ballard Pool, but a closure there has just been extended, so this Saturday night’s swim has moved to West Seattle’s only city-run indoor pool. It’s a private rental, 8-10 pm (hours the pool would otherwise be closed), raising money for the World Naked Bike Ride events (like the one in West Seattle two months ago) and the Gardens Everywhere Bike Parade – more info here (ticket prices and a whole long list of rules, regulations and prerequisites) if you’re inclined to join them.

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Video: Tonight’s Chief Sealth Seahawk Spirit dinner/auction
November 12, 2009 9:13 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | West Seattle video

The student musicians of Chief Sealth High School not only were among the beneficiaries of tonight’s Seahawk Spirit fundraising dinner/auction at The Hall at Fauntleroy, they also were the featured performers – above, video of the Chief Sealth Mariachis outside, and here, the Steel Drum Band inside:

Attendees browsed the abundant auction offerings, including the eclectic cross-section in our second photo:

Tonight’s event sold out more than a week in advance, but there are lots of other ways to help, as noted on the Chief Sealth PTSA website.

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Happening now: West Seattle Art Walk, all over the peninsula
November 12, 2009 6:13 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening now: West Seattle Art Walk, all over the peninsula
 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

(That’s Primo on the keys at The Kenney tonight)
Now till 9 pm, dozens of venues all over the peninsula – from Alki to North Delridge, The Junction to Morgan Junction to Fauntleroy – are welcoming you to stop in for this month’s West Seattle Art Walk. We previewed a few venues this morning; the Art Walk website has many more previews; and we’ve received a few more notes in the meantime, including word of a “crow” theme at Coffee to a Tea with Sugar in The Junction, with Gatewood author Lyanda Lynn Haupt signing her acclaimed book “Crow Planet” while artist Cara Granger shows crow-themed paintings.

Also, while ActivSpace artists participate in this month’s Art Walk, High Point-residing realtor Wendy Hughes-Jelen is having a reception at her new GreenWorks Realty office in ActivSpace. (Added the photo 11:59 pm – from left, Rhonda Porter of The Mortgage Porter [WSB sponsor], Wendy Hughes-Jelen, jewelry artist Delores Johnston Peck, pottery artist Michael Eric Dennett)

Here’s the Art Walk map – and send pix if you get them (we’ll be out and about too) – here’s our first one, with artist Todd Martin in his safari tent at Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor), just sent by Hotwire proprietor Lora Lewis:

7:48 PM UPDATE: Added video from The Kenney atop this story, and here’s art from Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), sent by co-proprietor John Smersh, observing that it seems to play into tonight’s impromptu crow theme:

That’s by Portland artist Rachel Austin, who will be at Click! for an artist reception 6-9 pm Nov. 21st. 8:33 PM: A few more photos – at Twilight Artist Collective in The Junction, it’s all about ironworkers’ art, like this equine example:

And at Brunette Mix (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, the captivating cutouts of Wil Clark Kerner, a teenage “artist savant”:

Next month’s Art Walk on December 10th is a special holiday Art Walk, and a chance to do late-night, not-so-last-minute shopping.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglarized while asleep, and more
November 12, 2009 5:48 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

2 West Seattle Crime Watch reports to share – starting with a home burglarized while its residents were asleep. We got this one thirdhand, so we checked with the Southwest Precinct, where Lt. Steve Paulsen confirmed the details: The house in the 5200 block of 35th SW (map) was broken into Tuesday night. The burglar(s) broke a basement window to get in; police say the items stolen included a camera, laptop, purse, credit card, and calling card. And one unusual detail: The burglar(s) tried to disable the home phone by jamming a button. One more case ahead – call it a backyard break-in:Read More

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Budget vote: 2 West Seattle libraries to move to 5 days a week
November 12, 2009 3:26 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Following this morning’s vote to raise electricity rates, another high-profile budget action’s been taken by the Seattle City Council: Councilmembers voted to restore $860,000 in funding to the Seattle Public Library budget. According to the Friends of Seattle Public Library website, here’s what that means in terms of library operations in West Seattle: The Southwest and West Seattle (Admiral) branches will remain open 7 days a week, 10 am-8 pm Mondays-Thursdays, 10 am-6 pm Fridays-Saturdays, 1-5 pm Sundays. But the Delridge and High Point branches (South Park too), currently open 6 days a week, will be reduced to 5 days a week (closed Fridays and Sundays) – 1 pm-8 pm Mondays and Tuesdays, 11 am-6 pm Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 am-6 pm Saturdays. Read more here about what the library budget action means.

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Video: Tuskegee Airmen spotlighted at Denny assembly
November 12, 2009 2:08 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | West Seattle video

No classes districtwide yesterday, so Denny International Middle School celebrated Veterans Day today. Our video shows the featured guest speaker, Tommie Lamb, president of the Puget Sound-based Sam Bruce Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, who made history in the 1940s as the first African-American pilots in the U.S. military. His speech was preceded by students talking about the Tuskegee Airmen’s history and accomplishments. Denny student musicians performed at today’s assembly too.

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2 West Seattle school notes: Madison soccer, Chief Sealth dinner
November 12, 2009 12:24 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

MADISON SOCCER: Thanks to Cheryl for sending word that Madison Middle School‘s girls’ varsity soccer team is in tournament semifinals today, playing Washington Middle School at 3 pm at Memorial Stadium downtown (map), and hoping for a big cheering section.

CHIEF SEALTH DINNER/AUCTION TONIGHT: The event tonight at The Hall at Fauntleroy is sold out but a supporter points out that you can still donate to the program – they’re raising money to support the acclaimed Chief Sealth music program (including groups that will perform tonight – Mariachi, Steel Drum, Brass Quintet) and $ donations are welcome through donation forms on the PTSA website.

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14% Seattle City Light rate increase gets council approval
November 12, 2009 11:18 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

Followup on last night’s story – according to a City Council news release we just received, councilmembers approved the highest proposed Seattle City Light rate hike under consideration – nearly 14 percent over 2 years. Read on for their announcement and explanation (followed by Councilmember Bruce Harrell‘s statement – added 11:32 am – saying he thought a smaller increase would have sufficed):Read More

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Your first look at what’s planned for the Redline (etc.) site
November 12, 2009 9:13 am
|      38 COMMENTS
 |   Development | Triangle | West Seattle news

We first told you on Halloween about a project that’s emerged for the Triangle-area site on 35th south of Avalon that now holds Redline Music and Sports and a vacant lot. Today, one week before the Southwest Design Review Board is scheduled to take a look, the early-design proposal for the project is available online – it’s the source for the sketch you see above. The perspective is roughly the same one in this Google Street View of the site:


View Larger Map

The proposal packet outlines the plan so far as: “100-150 dwelling units on five floors over a ground level floor of commercial and parking with a below grade basement parking structure. Parking for approximately 158 vehicles would be available to support the 100-150 dwelling units and 12,250 sf of street level commercial space” and says developers are looking at building to the maximum height allowed by current zoning, 65 feet. More details to come when the Design Review Board looks at the project, 6:30 pm next Thursday at the Senior Center of West Seattle in The Junction; the city’s project-status page is here.

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Video: Constantine’s thanks, McDermott’s hopes @ 34th DDs
November 11, 2009 11:37 pm
|    Comments Off on Video: Constantine’s thanks, McDermott’s hopes @ 34th DDs
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics | West Seattle video

8 months ago, just weeks into his campaign for King County Executive, Dow Constantine won an early endorsement and donation from this area’s biggest political group, the 34th District Democrats. Tonight, as you can watch in our video above, he gave a triumphant, thankful six-minute speech to the group for its role in helping him win a “long, tough campaign” that at the start, he admitted, seemed like “a long shot.” He also laid out a few priorities in moving toward what he promised would be “fundamental reform,” and invited everyone to a swearing-in ceremony that’ll break with tradition – around 4 pm on Nov. 24th, after the certification of the election (which as of tonight has him up 59%-41%), not in County Council chambers, but likely at the historic First United Methodist Church that he helped save downtown.

Meantime, as you can hear him say at the end of the speech, his election sets off something of a chain reaction, provided subsequent events go the way the 34th DDs hope they will. They passed a resolution tonight urging the County Council to appoint State Sen. Joe McDermott to the District 8 Council seat Constantine is leaving. McDermott made an appeal to the group at the start of what was on the agenda as a legislative preview from him, and State Reps. Eileen Cody and Sharon Nelson (who in turn was mentioned as a likely State Senate successor if McDermott moves to the County Council):

This is no slam dunk for a variety of reasons: The County Council is looking at a process that would mirror what they did with the interim County Executive appointment of Kurt Triplett – seek to fill the job for the remaining year of its current term with someone who wouldn’t be interested in running for the full term next year. (They’re scheduled to take up legislation regarding the process next Monday.) Bad move, in the view of 34th DDs chair Tim Nuse: “The caretaker role doesn’t work,” he declared toward the start of tonight’s meeting. “Our interests won’t be represented as strong as possible in the council. … A year from now, regardless of the decision the council makes, Joe will be our county councilmember – he’s gonna run and gonna win – so it’s a very clear message to (the County Council) ‘let’s do it right the first time’.” That message may be coming from hundreds of voices – the resolution passed tonight called for every supporter to call every councilmember about the appointment.

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Veterans Day 2009: Two more West Seattle scenes
November 11, 2009 10:05 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

First: Our video shows part of a solemn tribute at the start of tonight’s 34th District Democrats meeting (as-it-happened coverage here). After the Pledge of Allegiance, veterans Dorsol Plants and Skip Dreps rang a bell 12 times, both in honor of Veterans Day, and in memory of the people killed in the Fort Hood massacre last week. Next: While at the meeting, we received e-mail from DFC, forwarding a link to a Flickr gallery on behalf of management at the Tug Inn (just west of Delridge/Orchard). Flags and balloons waved in the afternoon sunshine; rather than just picking out one photo, here’s a slideshow of their gallery:

And if you missed it in comments on an earlier WSB Veterans Day story today – this link was shared, showing a West Seattle Cub Scout helping place flags on veterans’ graves at Evergreen Washelli in the north end.

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