Radio’s a rough business. Your editor here spent a few years as a DJ long ago and experienced the classic case of getting fired after your show, with no good explanation except “we’re making a change.” According to this story published tonight at seattletimes.com (WSB partner), that’s what happened today to well-known DJ Marty Riemer, a West Seattleite, along with his on-air partner Jodi Brothers, who told The Times, “”The Marty Riemer Show has temporarily relocated to Alki, where Marty and I will be drinking coffee in the morning.” On his Facebook page, which is full of comments from outraged fans, Riemer replied to one of them, “You are so right about Facebook being able to soften the blow of a radio ending. There was a time when from one day to the next a radio personality would disappear and you’d never know what happened to them. Silver lining :-)” He’d been with the station a dozen years, which is a remarkably long tenure in radio.
Several people have e-mailed us recently to ask why the city’s West Seattle Bridge cameras – including the one we’ve had linked in our sidebar for a long time – just don’t seem to show the traffic any more (example above). We in turn asked SDOT‘s communications chief Richard Sheridan, and also threw in an inquiry about the status of additional cameras that had been in the works for West Seattle. Here’s his reply, including news of 4 new cameras on the way (we had reported plans for 3 more in May but looks like one’s joined the list):
The (bridge) structure’s north and south side cameras are controlled using wireless operation and have proven to be unreliable. The south side camera will be upgraded with a fiber optic control system as part of a larger project that starts next week. So your readers will be able to see bridge images shortly. We also want a fiber optic system for the north side and are trying to find money in this year’s budget for it.
With the work underway next week, we will install two other West Seattle cameras beyond the south bridge camera. They will be at Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Cloverdale (near Lincoln Park/Fauntleroy Ferry) and at the West Seattle Bridge near the pull-out by the [Walking on Logs] sculpture (east of the pedestrian overpass.)
Two other cameras will be installed in early- to mid-October and will be operational in November (along with several other locations not in West Seattle.) Those cameras will be located at SW Alaska St and 42nd Ave SW, and SW Alaska and California Ave SW.
From left, that’s Callan (5th grade) and Trent (3rd grade) from West Seattle’s Boy Scout Troop 284 (celebrating its 94th anniversary this year!) stationed outside West Seattle Thriftway till 6 tonight, selling popcorn and trail mix. We went over to check out the sale after Suzannee-mailed WSB to let everyone know it’s time for this fundraiser (which will be happening for the next few weeks all over West Seattle):
It’s that time again. You’ll see a whole bunch of Scouts selling popcorn, caramel corn, chocolate covered popcorn, cheese popcorn, unpopped popcorn (both airpopper/stove top and microwave varieties) and trail mix at various grocery store locations throughout West Seattle. Don’t like popcorn or can’t eat but still want to support your local scouts? You can make a donation to buy popcorn for the troops and have your popcorn sent to those serving our country. Popcorn sales last for the month of October. Thank you West Seattle for your support.
Though he won’t be in office next year, Mayor Nickels is still charged with presenting a budget proposal – and he’s doing that right now before the Seattle City Council; watch it live online via Seattle Channel. 2:35 PM UPDATE: The speech is over; it was more of a farewell address and list of accomplishments, than a detailed budget presentation (all that will be in the documentation – which you can find here). Among a few mentions: 446,000 potholes filled (and a plug for continuing to report them to 206-684-ROAD), 21 more patrol-officer positions to be added to Seattle Police, and six reservoirs covered or being covered (including Myrtle and West Seattle/Westcrest). As noted here yesterday, three budget hearings are coming up, all listed here.
Sorry for the short notice – we just found out the memorial is today: Dean Fraker, longtime operator of Fraker’s Market on SW Alaska near what is now Ercolini Park (noted here in a then-and-now story last year), died recently in Pierce County, less than a month after his 87th birthday, and his memorial is at 2 pm today at Trinity Community Church, 3807 Reith Road in Kent (map). We’re working on a longer story about his life and times and a unique slice of West Seattle history, but wanted to get quick word out now (and thanks to Dale for the original tip).
FAUNTLEROY/CALIFORNIA SIGNAL: You may recall our story from last week, in which the city’s project manager for the now-virtually-complete Fauntleroy Way road rebuild/repave/rechannelization, Jessica Murphy, said crews would be out this week to fix the Fauntleroy/California signal timing. According to longtime WSBer and nearby resident Mike, looks like they have been (we’re checking to see if SDOT will confirm12:26 pm – just got confirmation from Murphy, “Fauntleroy and California has been restored to normal operation”).
All three of West Seattle’s high schools play football tonight, and all three games are at 7 pm: Seattle Lutheran (1-2) is at Concrete (2-1); West Seattle High School (2-1) is at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) against Nathan Hale (1-2); Chief Sealth (1-2) is playing Ingraham (1-1) at the Northwest Athletic Complex (map). Sealth is coming off its win against Cleveland last week; we went to the school this morning to talk with defensive coordinator Ernest Policarpio about tonight’s game:
We’ll have the results of all three games here tonight – our WS Sports coverage archive is the place to check any time for the latest; we’re also planning to tweet the WSHS-Nathan Hale game (check out our “live events” Twitter channel after 7 pm, @wsblive). For even more about high-school sports, check out our collaborative partners at theSeattle Times, with a huge database of info on schedules, scores, rosters and more (this is the starting page).
That’s the crew at WestSide Baby – standing by for another hour or so to accept old carseats for recycling – just take them to 10032 15th SW (here’s a map).
A sign of the development slowdown – the Southwest Design Review Board hasn’t met in 2 months – no projects to review. But now the schedule shows encores for two redevelopment projects that have both been before the SWDRB at least once: The Kenney and Admiral Safeway (each of those links will take you to the official city project page). The city’s scheduling page cautions that this date is tentative, but for now, they’re both on the schedule for a SWDRB meeting on October 22nd at Youngstown Arts Center in North Delridge. The last review for The Kenney was in May (WSB coverage here); since then, its iconic cupola-topped Seaview building has been declared a city landmark. The last review for the Admiral Safeway project was in November (WSB coverage here); last Tuesday, the city announced it’s seeking comments on the request to “vacate” an alley section that goes through the site. If the scheduling doesn’t change, The Kenney is scheduled for a 6:30 hearing October 22, followed by the 8 pm review for Admiral Safeway.
Gatewood hill area behind Thriftway. (Wednesday) night an air compressor was stolen from the back of a pick-up parked on the corner of Heights Ave and 41st Ave SW [map].
He says the item is so heavy that it would have taken at least two people to move it from that truck. Meantime, from a Fairmount Springs resident, a report that’s also a question:
I am writing because I came home (Thursday) night to find an SPD burglary alert flier on my front porch. I live on the corner of 40th and Juneau [map]. It states that a burglary occurred within my block.
However, the resident went on to say, she can’t find any reports about that burglary online – here or elsewhere. So she’s wondering if anybody else knows what happened and where. (You can answer in a comment, or feel free to send us the info and we’ll update.)
Full house Thursday night at High Point Library for Gatewood author Lyanda Lynn Haupt as she discussed and read from her buzzed-about new book “Crow Planet.” From two nights earlier — we forgot to share one of the photos we got during the “Faces of High Point” mural shoot at Commons Park Amphitheater:
With more than an hour to go during the shoot, they’d already had 50 people show up, and more were in line. The photos of High Point residents will be incorporated into a mural at the new Neighborhood Center, scheduled to open November 14th.
Next February, you’ll be asked to approve two Seattle Public Schools levies: Operations and BTA III. Last night at Madison Middle School, district employees gathered to outline the plan and answer questions. Only a handful of concerned/curious citizens showed up (including West Seattle-residing district watchdog Chris Jackins); the planning meeting here last October didn’t draw a crowd either. We did get some information about what’s in the plan for West Seattle: A water-line replacement for Arbor Heights Elementary, masonry reinforcement for Gatewood Elementary, fire-suppression upgrades for Lafayette Elementary, energy-efficient light switches and turf replacement for Southwest Athletic Complex. (That work isn’t due immediately, but, it was explained, money from this levy will be stretching out to 2020, and the turf will need replacing before then.) Also, if the ground-source heat pump that Madison is using now shows significant promise for helping other schools, there will be money in February’s vote to install it elsewhere. One of the district-affiliated people at the meeting, West Seattle’s school board rep Steve Sundquist, said it’ll be important for the district to promote the “green” elements of the levy plan, since local residents are interested in sustainability. Levy-planning info is here; next step, the proposals will be presented to the School Board in early November, which is also when a public hearing will be set, before a board vote in mid-November and then the election next February.
CHIEF SEALTH JAZZ BAND CAR WASH FRIDAY: Just got word that a fundraising car wash for the Chief Sealth High School Jazz Band is happening Friday afternoon. From Monica Kenny:
The forecast for this weekend is sunny, is your car ready? Bring it to the Chief Sealth Jazz Band car wash fundraiser and let us do the dirty work! Friday, September 25th from 3-5PM in the parking lot at Sealth @ Boren (5950 Delridge Way SW).
WSHS GRAD NIGHT FUNDRAISING BOOKFAIR NEXT 3 DAYS:West Seattle High School Grad Night 2010 will get up to 15 percent of the proceeds of any purchase Friday-Saturday-Sunday at any Barnes and Noble (not online) if you use Voucher 10001295 – this was provided through WSHS but we’re told you can also give the number at the register and it’ll count.
Followup on the search for “Londey,” the beloved bear whose disappearance broke the hearts of a local family because he was a gift from a relative who died this summer (as explained here): He’s home! Just got this note from Rebekah, along with the photo at left. She wrote, “I just thought I’d pass on the update. LONDEY HAS BEEN FOUND! This morning we received a call from Alki Cafe! Please enjoy this photo of Luka slathering her Londey Bear with kisses after they were reunited. Thank you so much for posting our story. We love West Seattle so much.”
From last night’s meeting of the West Seattle Junction Parking Project Committee (photo left): 19 months after first word of the parking study in the greater Junction area, SDOThas one more recommendation (besides the announcement two months ago that pay stations would NOT be suggested: The city is now proposing adding 2-hour zones in several spots, including most of California SW between Edmunds and Dawson, 44th SW between Edmunds and Alaska, a section of California north of Genesee, much of 42nd between Alaska and Oregon, the south half of 41st between Alaska and Oregon, and the south side of Alaska between 40th and 41st. In addition, two blocks of 1-hour zones on Alaska between 36th and 38th would be changed from 1-hour zones to 2-hour zones. A rough-draft map was shown at last night’s meeting as well as a West Seattle Junction Association meeting earlier in the day; project manager Dante Taylor says an official version of the map is in the works right now so it can be shared publicly as soon as possible. He told the group that the message emerging from the Junction parking study was a need for consistent time limits on parking – and this would be a way of achieving that. The city found that most people who come to The Junction are there for no more than three hours. This still doesn’t address the major concern of residents in the residential zones along 41st and 42nd between Alaska and Oregon – daytime parking taken up by workers from nearby construction projects, for example – so they remain interested in Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) deployment; the Junction Neighborhood Organization and Junction Association will need to discuss possible boundaries and hours, it was noted. Next step: The proposal is scheduled to be presented at the Southwest District Council‘s next meeting, 7 pm October 7th, board room at South Seattle Community College; more background info is available on the project’s official website.
Again this fall, three “Blessing of the Animals” events are scheduled in West Seattle – in case you haven’t seen them on the Events calendar yet, we’re mentioning them here since they’re just a little more than a week away: Providence Mount St. Vincent, 10:30 am October 3rd (meet in the front lobby); Alki UCC, special service 10 am October 4th (sanctuary); St. John the Baptist, noon October 4th in the nearby West Seattle High School parking lot. (Photo above is from St. John’s event last year.) All are open to any and all pets and their owners. Blessings are scheduled in many places around the country/world in honor of the feast day for St. Francis of Assisi (patron saint of animals), which is Oct. 4th this year.
That’s the trailer for “Happy Feet,” which is the feature for Family Movie Night outdoors at Schmitz Park Elementary tomorrow – raising money for the 4th Grade Islandwood Program Fund. $3 per person, with kids 3 and under are free (but “no dropoffs,” the school asks). “Doors open” at 6 – bring a chair and/or blanket – and in addition to the admission fee, money for concessions, 50 cents to $2, including hot dogs, popcorn, candy, water, soda and hot chocolate. Here’s a map to the school. (Thanks to Tony for the tip!)
Thanks to Alki photographer Pete R. for sharing photos of a baby harbor seal resting on a float off shore. As we have mentioned here recently, West Seattle-based Seal Sitters say seal-pup season is now in full swing, and ask everyone to be extra careful when these babies turn up – onshore or offshore – taking a break while their moms go off in search of food. Seal Sitters are tracking some of the visitors on their website (read the stories here); that’s also where you can find out what to do if you happen onto a seal that no one’s guarding yet!
With a couple weeks gone by since the one-month Delridge Produce Cooperative “Mobile Market” experiment, DPC invites you to a party tonight to announce results of the survey conducted during the mobile produce-stand pilot project – and to celebrate the community’s support and involvement. A reminder from DPC leader Galena White:
We’re having a party tonight from 7-9 pm at Delridge Community Center to thank the volunteers, attendees, and donors for all their help with the ‘Mobile Market.’ Our main attraction of the evening will be the revealing of the results of our 525-person survey, but we’ll also have a band and dessert and free tote bags. Please let people know to come – it’s free!
Imagine revisiting your high school AND elementary school in the same day, greeted as a returning hero. That’s what astronaut (US Navy Ret.) Capt. Gregory Johnson has experienced today – after his speech at the West Seattle High School Foundation breakfast (here’s our coverage, with video), he went on to speak late this morning at Schmitz Park Elementary, where a jampacked lunchroom heard him reminisce about – among other things – being on the playground when the 1965 earthquake hit. Johnson was hailed as an example that “you can be ANYTHING you want” really is more than a platitude.
It may have been most noteworthy because so many other Seattle political forums/debates seem rather tame and pleasant, seldom much discernible disagreement, and when disagreement is voiced, it’s voiced relatively softly. But not in the Seattle City Attorney debate that just wrapped up before the West Seattle Democratic Women. This event frequently erupted with disagreement and accusations – with challenger Pete Holmes‘ criticism of incumbent Tom Carr (photo left) often meeting with Carr retorting that what Holmes had just said was wrong or distorted. Points on which they disagreed included the fate of domestic-violence advocates in the City Attorney’s Office – Carr alleged that Holmes wants to cut the jobs, Holmes says they should be “independent” and separate from the office so they can better advocate for the victims; he also expressed concern about “no-contact” orders in potential misdemeanor domestic-violence cases, where he suggested things might be blown out of proportion – after that, Carr said Holmes’ answer “scared (him).” They also disagreed over the need for a new jail to handle city misdemeanor offenders — Carr isn’t sure it can be avoided (but says his office has worked hard to reduce the need for one), Holmes believes it can. We’ll add more details later – you’ll also see stories elsewhere, as reporters from the Seattle Times (WSB partner), Seattle Weekly, and The Strangerwere here as well. Meantime, WSDW members voted on endorsements after the debate, and in the City Attorney’s race, they backed Carr; they didn’t issue endorsements in all races, but in the ones where they did – for County Executive, Dow Constantine; Sally Bagshaw for council position 4; Rob Holland for Port Commission; and they’d already endorsed Jessie Israel for council position 6. ADDED: Video from the closing statements by Pete Holmes and Tom Carr – including some of the aforementioned tension (Carr begins his clip by saying he’s “flabbergasted” at what you’ll hear Holmes say in the first clip):
The Weekly has published its story here, with more on the domestic-violence advocate issue we mentioned above. ADDED SATURDAY: Holmes alleged during the debate that Carr’s office had sent someone to jail for stealing a can of tuna. Carr just sent us a note saying he’d checked into the claim and has published his side of the story on his website.
Renae Gaines, who coordinates the Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership, a community group working to fight drinking and other dangerous choices among young people, forwards news that 15-year-old Nick Barnes, killed by alcohol after a Lewis County party last weekend, had attended Madison Middle School here in West Seattle. Here’s the Seattle Times (WSB partner) story about the incident. A schoolwide note shared by Renae says many at Madison knew Nick well, and asks for thoughts and prayers on behalf of his family. You can get involved in the West Seattle group’s work to help local kids avoid this kind of deadly danger – its next meeting is 6 pm next Tuesday, Sept. 29, at the Madison library (3429 45th SW).
SWINERY FOLLOWUP: Wonder what food writers have to say about The Swinery? Seattle Times (WSB partner) food writer Nancy Leson has a followup on West Seattle’s hottest food news of the week; see it here (she includes WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli‘s video from opening day, too).
DJ’S FOOD DRIVE: Via Twitter, Shawn Stewart from The Mountain radio (@askthemd) wanted to let you know that she’ll be at the new Junction QFC collecting donations for West Seattle Food Bank this Saturday, 1 pm-3 pm, with giveaways including free concert tickets.
BUDGET HEARINGS: The City Councilhas just announced the dates/times for three budget hearings. If there’s something you want to make sure the city spends $ on – or doesn’t cut – or DOES cut, for that matter – be there. All three hearings start at 5:30 pm; none are in West Seattle: 10/7 at Whitman Middle School (9201 15th NW), 10/14 at NW African American Museum (2300 S. Massachusetts); 10/26 at City Hall downtown.
Last night at 
Followup on the search for “Londey,” the beloved bear whose disappearance broke the hearts of a local family because he was a gift from a relative who died this summer (
From last night’s meeting of the 
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