Report #2: What the candidates told the 34th District Democrats
Next time West Seattle’s biggest political group, the 34th District Democrats, meet, they will decide who else to endorse for the August primary — and that’s why more than two dozen candidates in almost one dozen races came to The Hall at Fauntleroy last night for our area’s biggest pre-primary candidates’ forum.
One week earlier, four of the contenders for King County Executive took questions in the InSPIRe-sponsored forum (WSB coverage here) across the street at Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor); with many 34th DDs involved in that group, they urged members to attend that event to get a look at the KCE candidates, but as for everything else – last night was the big night.
The marquee race: Seattle Mayor, which started the night; also featured – four Seattle City Council races, the Seattle City Attorney race, Seattle Port Commission positions, and Burien City Council. Read on for our marathon roundup of highlights (focusing on the city races) – including links to the 34th DD’s own coverage, as well as photo galleries, and a link to what we sent out via Twitter during the event:Read More
Invitation to join – and help – the Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade!
That’s WSB video from last year’s 4th of July Kids’ Parade in the Admiral District – and Sherri Chun has just sent word of the plans for this year, with a request for help to make sure it happens next year (and beyond) too:
Yes, we are having a parade this year! As usual, we’ll meet at 44th and Sunset to kick things off. Start time is 10:00 am. We’re still waiting for confirmation (but are hopeful) that Mayor Nickels will again be able to join us. The parade will end at Hamilton Viewpoint park, with games and bake sale treats courtesy of the Holy Rosary Moms’ group. A huge shoutout to Dave Weitzel at Weitzel Construction [WSB sponsor] for providing our portable toilets. Dave, we couldn’t do it without you! Thank you also to Holy Rosary Parish for underwriting our parade insurance and for providing our PA system, and to all the volunteers who make it happen.
This year we are really, really counting on the community’s support. Several years ago we had a volunteer development director, whose job it was to solicit donations from local businesses. Sadly, this person retired due to a combination of job and personal life changes. This year we are financing the parade using the last of her development efforts. If we are to continue having this parade in the future, we need additional support from the community. Parade and park permits alone are $350. Additional costs include the generator, beach balls (an annual tradition at the park!), printing, and miscellaneous decorations. This does not include the cost of portable toilets, which are very important (and expensive over the holiday weekend!).
This year we are asking each family to donate $1 per child toward future parades. There will be donation boxes by the games table, the concessions stand, and next to the portable toilets. Please help ensure the future of our annual 4th of July Kids Parade! Thank you, and we look forward to seeing all of you and your families on the 4th of July!
Sherri Chun and Jodi Bennett
Parade Coordinators
Today/tonight: Crochet a river; do the Art Walk; congratulate grads
That’s Mandy Greer in a shot we captured on Delridge Day May 30th, as she continued adding to the crocheted river she’s creating as part of Mater Matrix Mother and Medium, art to be installed later this month at Camp Long. And that’s where you’ll find here today, noon-4 pm, as she invites anyone and everyone interested to join her in crocheting more of the rest of her work. That’s not today’s only art event:
WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits is one of the 40-plus stops on tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk, 6-9 pm, with a “fresh” theme – read about it here. For the full list of Art Walk stops, check out the official website; here’s a direct link to the printable map. And while you’re in The Junction, remember tonight is the grand opening for Curious Art Kids and Curious Party Kids at Curious Kidstuff (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm (with cupcakes!) – read more here. Finally, for hundreds of West Seattle teenagers and their families – this will be remembered as graduation night:
That’s a photo from the 2008 West Seattle High School graduation at Memorial Stadium (Seattle Center downtown). That’s where WSHS’s Class of 2009 will graduate at 5 pm tonight; then at 7:30 at the Seattle Lutheran High School gym, the SLHS Class of ’09 has its commencement. (Here’s a full list of West Seattle-linked graduations taking place over the next week.) This is just part of what’s happening today/tonight – check out the WSB West Seattle Events calendar for more (including the Alki Idol finals!).
Details: Court of Appeals hears Satterlee House arguments
While Satterlee House owner William Conner is pursuing his development-rights appeal on five main points, only one of those points was spotlighted in oral arguments this morning before the state’s second-highest court: “Whether the city’s landmarks ordinance is unconstitutionally vague,” as Conner’s lawyer Richard Hill described it. The arguments went quickly – as we noted in the morning preview from the Court of Appeals-Division 1 courtroom at One Union Square downtown, each side gets 10 minutes, and a digital clock tracks the time in glaring red illumination – starting just after 10 am, and concluding, with some questions from the judges along the way, just before 10:30. Read on for details (and backstory if you haven’t followed this case before):Read More
1st report: 34th District Democrats’ candidate forum
This is the epicenter of Seattle politics tonight – The Hall at Fauntleroy, where the 34th District Democrats are hosting their big candidates’ forum — all major races except King County Executive (that race was handled with a separate forum across the street at Fauntleroy Church [WSB sponsor] last week). The major candidates for mayor are all here – including incumbent Greg Nickels, Councilmember Jan Drago, Michael McGinn, Joe Mallahan, James Donaldson, Norman Sigler. If there are any fireworks during the meeting, we’ll add them here – otherwise look for the detailed report later (we’ll also be tweeting from time to time at @wsblive rather than our regular Twitter account). The first few minutes focused on the mayoral race, with yes/no questions – notably, “Do you support parking meters in The Junction?” Nickels no, Drago yes. ADDED 8:05 PM: The mayoral section of the forum is over, no fireworks. Questions included support for labor, philosophy on transportation and helping the homeless. “Nickelsville” only came up when Mallahan alluded to it but said he would only call it a “tent city” because anything else “wouldn’t be fair.”
Happening till 8 pm: Viaduct/Tunnel meeting @ Madison
Lots of state and city experts here waiting to answer your questions and listen to your thoughts regarding the new plan for replacing the Central Waterfront section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct — the sun’s streaming through the west-facing wall of windows at the Madison Middle School compound. Among those here in the early going, two of West Seattle’s three representatives on the South Portal working group that’s hashing out some of the access issues, Pete Spalding (left) and Vlad Oustimovitch:
Also here now, Mark Wainwright of the Admiral Neighborhood Association, who is on the Central Waterfront working group (as is another West Seattleite, Chas Redmond). You can leave a written comment here, or say your comment out loud to a transcriber who is standing by waiting to listen (and type). As Kristy Van Ness from WSDOT explains, they want to hear your concerns about the plan, to help shape the “scope” of the environmental impact studies before anything is built — that’s why this is called a “scoping” meeting. In case you can’t make it here tonight, we’ll add info in a bit on the other ways you can contribute your comments; the draft environmental-impact report isn’t due out till early next year. Also at the event: The campaign to get an anti-tunnel measure on the ballot – still collecting signatures till next month.
New West Seattle Blog sponsor: Darling Skincare and Sugaring
Today we welcome Darling Skincare & Sugaring as a new WSB sponsor. Here’s what they want to share about their business: Vanessa is excited to bring sugaring to West Seattle! 
Sugaring is an all-natural way to remove unwanted hair. It differs from traditional waxing methods in that it is applied lukewarm so it never burns the skin. This gentle application removes hair at all stages of growth (no little prickles the following week!) and caters to sensitive skin while tackling the coarsest follicles with ease. It is simply the best way to say goodbye to hair that you don’t want around! Darling Skincare & Sugaring offers a full range of organic skincare as well. They offer visible results for a variety of skin conditions including acne treatment and anti-aging care, and also features professional relaxation services. Vanessa would like to thank West Seattle for welcoming her to the area, adding that she discovered where the hip professionals have gone! As a Seattle native from Phinney Ridge, Vanessa appreciates the sense of community she found in her new neighborhood. Darling Skincare & Sugaring also provides bridal and permanent make-up services, and offers gift certificates for any occasion. Darling Skincare & Sugaring is located at 3620 California Avenue SW (map), 206-930-0823, and online at darlingskincare.com.
We welcome Darling Skincare & Sugaring to the WSB sponsor team; the latest lineup is here, along with information on how to grow your business by becoming part of it!
West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglary with distinctive loot
Kim has posted flyers about this around her High Point neighborhood but also wanted to share the word here:
My home in the new High Point neighborhood was recently broken into and my entire collection of over 35 years of SW Native American turquoise, silver coral and black onyx jewelry (bracelets, earrings, and rings), grandmother’s diamond ring, a queen-size pendleton blanket (creme, red, orange and yellow Native cross design), and four bottles of insulin with ice packs were stolen. A police report has been filed … If you have seen any of these items or have knowledge of possible whereabouts,
please contact nativekulturz@yahoo.com
Remembering JB Webster: A permanent tribute
When new bricks are installed at the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, 
tribute plaques will be installed too – and one of them will feature the inscription you see above, in memory of JB Webster, the local real-estate agent, community volunteer and Seafair Commodore whose death shocked the community in April. (Original WSB coverage, with dozens of tribute comments, is here.) That’s according to his widow Christi Webster, who talked with us recently about it – she says it’ll be next to a plaque honoring Gregory Johnson, who recently piloted the space shuttle Atlantis, and that means two WSHS alums will be side by side. Christi told us the location is perfect because of her husband’s roots:
She says the wording for the plaque was created with the help of a family friend who’s a poet/writer, reworking part of what Christi read at her husband’s memorial (WSB coverage here). The Junction Keller Williams Realty office where she works as operations manager – where JB worked as an agent – will have a private fundraising event July 15 to help cover the cost of the plaque. As she summarizes, “JB’s roots are at Alki. So this is the perfect way to honor his wonderful spirit.”
West Seattle scooter club invites you to All City Scooter Day
(photo courtesy “RogerTango”)
It’s not in West Seattle, but “RogerTango” from the WS-based Westenders Scooter Club wants to extend the invite to all local riders – and potential riders – to scoot across the bridge for this:
Just a quick reminder that All City Scooter Day #2 will be happening at Scoot About! (535 Westlake Avenue N.) this Saturday from 12 – 2pm. This community event promotes scooters as a viable and fun means of alternative transportation around the city! Check out many different makes and models of scooters, learn how a scooter can be an excellent alternative to a car, and you may even go home with a brand new scooter which will be given away during the event! This event is supported by West Seattle’s own Westenders Scooter Club , which had a scooter display at the (Sustainable West Seattle Festival) last month in the Junction!
Congratulations! Graduation dates/sites for West Seattle schools
(2008 WSHS ceremony @ Memorial Stadium, where WSHS and CSHS both graduate this year)
Just in case you were wondering:
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL: 5 pm tomorrow, Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center.
SEATTLE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL: 7:30 pm tomorrow, SLHS gym.
CHIEF SEALTH HIGH SCHOOL: 1 pm Saturday, Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center.
MIDDLE COLLEGE (NON-TRADITIONAL), SOUTH CAMPUS: 7 pm next Wednesday (6/17), Brockey Center at SSCC.
SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE: 7:30 pm next Thursday (6/18), Brockey Center at SSCC
And since of course many West Seattle teens attend other schools; here’s the full list of Seattle Public Schools graduation dates/times/places.
At the Court of Appeals: Satterlee House case arguments
Almost 20 years in Seattle news, and there’s always a first. Today: Our first time in the 1st Division, Washington Court of Appeals, 2nd-highest court in the state, which hears cases at One Union Square downtown. 
The case to be argued within the next hour or so: Satterlee House owner William Conner‘s appeal of a King County Superior Court ruling last October (WSB coverage here) upholding the city decision in April 2008 (WSB coverage here) not to let him proceed with a specific proposal for three 2,000-ish-square-foot homes on the lawn of the Beach Drive house also known as “The Painted Lady” (photo left). We do not have permission to photograph here but can tell you by means of scene-setting: This is homier than the usual courtroom; the gallery where lawyers and spectators are sitting has padded bench seating and windows with natural light. Two cases are on the docket before Conner’s lawyer Richard Hill and city lawyer Judy Barbour – who have been on this case all along – get their turn before the panel of three judges, who are sitting in a raised area reminiscent of City Council chambers. (Both already are here – Hill with Conner – seated, waiting, on opposite sides of the courtroom.) Each side in each case gets 10 minutes for their oral arguments – and there’s no messing around – there’s a digital countdown clock, illuminated in red, in front of where the lawyers stand, and once a lawyer begins, it counts down from 10:00. (Of course, plenty of written casework has been submitted well in advance; this is a supplement to that, and a chance for the judges to ask questions, as we are seeing with the first case under way here this morning.) We’ll report later on what’s said here, and what happens next; the audio from the hearing also should be posted later here. 11 AM UPDATE: Arguments were over by 10:30; full story to come – no rulings today – will be checking on a likely timeframe.
Today/tonight: Landmark fight; tunnel talk; candidates; HPIC
Highlights from the WSB Events calendar:
LANDMARK COURT FIGHT: This morning in the Court of Appeals, 1st Division, both sides in the Satterlee House court fight get 10 minutes each for oral arguments in the two-year fight over proposed homebuilding on the landmark Beach Drive home’s lawn.
TUNNEL TALK: 6-8 pm tonight at Madison Middle School, it’s your next chance to comment on the future of the Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct corridor. Specifically, the city, state and federal governments want to hear what you think should be included in the “environmental” studies before the deep-bore tunnel can be built – but that doesn’t just mean ecological impacts. The open-house format meeting also will include displays of the latest information on the project and people who can answer whatever question you have about what’s on the drawing board and how it’ll affect the way you get around.
CANDIDATES’ FORUM: 7 pm tonight at The Hall at Fauntleroy, West Seattle’s biggest political group, the 34th District Democrats, will host candidates for every major job except County Executive (since they faced off last week across the street). It’s a prelude to their endorsement vote at next month’s meeting, but it’s your best chance this summer to get a look at the candidates in the crowded races that will be narrowed down to two in August.
(added 10:56 am) HIGHLAND PARK IMPROVEMENT CLUB: HPIC meets tonight at its HQ, with potluck/social hour at 6:30 pm, meeting including installation of new officers at 7 pm.
Admiral Neighborhood Assoc., report #2: Pedestrian Plan; park
Our first report on Tuesday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting focused on a progress report regarding the upcoming summer concert series. Now, more from the meeting, much of which focused on a presentation about the draft Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan, an agenda item on many of the community meetings we’ve covered lately – and important because you have until next Monday (June 15) to comment on it. On behalf of the city, consultant Peg Staeheli summarized the plan’s key points; as noted before, the PMP is an online document, and as Staeheli put it, it’s worth taking some time to “wander” through the plan. It’s not only about the walkability of local neighborhoods, however – “maintenance is a huge issue,” she observed, which in turn means education of home and business owners regarding their liability for making sure the sidewalks around their properties are usable. (Did you know that whatever’s growing over your sidewalk needs to be cleared for 8 feet of headroom?) The city’s ideal street is a “complete street,” Staeheli added, saying that Morgan/Sylvan through High Point is an example — with landscaping, pedestrian features, and other components. The pedestrian-planning process was more than document creation, she added, saying that city programs/divisions are working together more than ever, looking for opportunities such as the current Fauntleroy road work, which has been preceded by curb cut/ramp creation along much of the stretch that will be repaved. Also from the meeting, Ann Limbaugh from Friends and Neighbors of North Admiral had a quick update on California Place Park, reminding attendees that a celebration of the just-concluded design process is set for one week from this Saturday. The design report from architect Karen Kiest will be made public then, she said.
Fauntleroy Community Association: From ferries to feet
A few notes from Tuesday night’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting: 
Gary Dawson briefed the board on Monday night’s Washington State Ferries community meeting in Port Orchard. His quick summary of what WSF boss David Moseley told those on hand: Good news, no foreseeable cuts in service in the near future; bad news, with continuing state money trouble, there are no foreseeable improvements in service either. Dawson also discussed the city’s draft Pedestrian Master Plan, which has been a topic at many recent community meetings, since citizen comments are being accepted now; FCA plans to take outreach action to make sure its members let the city know their opinion about where in Fauntleroy sidewalk improvements are and are not needed – deadline for comments on the plan is next Monday (here’s how to comment). Also at the meeting: FCA president Bruce Butterfield shared the letter the group had promised to write in support of Fauntleroy Community Services Agency‘s ongoing work to buy the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse from Seattle Public Schools; Lynn Olson noted that Night Out signup is under way online (as noted earlier in our report on Pigeon Point’s Monday night meeting); and it was mentioned that Arbor Heights Elementary‘s school carnival is this Saturday (3 pm). For more information on the Fauntleroy Community Association and what’s happening in the community, check out fauntleroy.net.
Admiral Neighborhood Association: Concert series takes shape
(video lost due to blip.tv shutdown)
From tonight’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting: The ANA’s first-ever summer concert series (first reported here in April) is taking shape – with two bands lined up, four to go (and 20 possibilities from which to choose!), according to Katy Walum, who’s coordinating the series. The series of concerts on the lawn east of Hiawatha Community Center is set to start July 23rd, continuing every Thursday night through August 27th; the bands lined up so far are Tom Colwell and the Southbound Odyssey – who headlined the recent Pete Seeger 90th-birthday celebration at the Admiral Theater – and the West Seattle Big Band (shown above in a WSB clip from their performance at last year’s summer concert series at The Mount). ANA also is busy lining up sponsors to cover the costs of the free series, and is about three-fourths of the way to its goal (if you’re interested in being a sponsor, you can e-mail katy.walum@gmail.com). The working name for the concert series: Admiral Neighborhood Association’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, and you’ll hear a lot more about it as the summer progresses. (More later on other topics the Admiral group discussed tonight.)
Tomorrow night: Speak out – and find out – about The Tunnel
6-8 pm tomorrow at Madison Middle School, it’s your next major chance to find out — and speak out — about the plan to replace the Central Waterfront section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep-bored tunnel. Reps from the state Transportation Department (which is advertising the meeting on WSB to help get the word out) and other involved agencies/departments will be on hand both to answer your questions and to take your comments, to help shape the environmental-studies process required before tunnel-building can begin. It’s open-house format, so drop by any time between 6 and 8. And remember it’s not just about the tunnel itself – these meetings also offer information about component projects (such as the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project taking shape alongside the east section of the West Seattle Bridge). In the meantime, three working groups continue meeting to discuss specifics regarding how the tunnel and other components of the “transportation corridor” will work — read on for the latest on what they’re up to:Read More
Showdown ahead? “Trespass notice” posted at “Nickelsville” site
Is another showdown ahead at the “Nickelsville” homeless-camp site on the eastern edge of West Seattle (2nd SW and Highland Park Way, as reported here Saturday morning)? We happened to get a photo of the “trespass notice” earlier today (above) and had been checking into its implications – now we’ve received an update from Nickelsville spokesperson Revel Nt:
TODAY Washington State Department of Transportation posted an undated trespass notice at the Nickelsville encampment.
Governor Gregoire’s Senior Adviser Ron Judd visited Nickelsville and talked with campers.
Wa State Attorney General Rob McKenna said state law does not allow temporary agreements regarding state land.
At this time, Governor Gregoire hasn’t decided what is possible or not yet regarding their stay on that site.
Ron Judd is coordinating a meeting between the Mayor’s Office, Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis and Nickelsville. We don’t know whether Mayor Nickels will meet with them directly.
Nickelsville asks that everyone please contact Governor Gregoire at (360)902-4111 or e-mail: govcommoffice@gov.wa.gov, and ask the Governor for negotiations for their stay.
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