West Seattle, Washington
15 Saturday
With the Alaskan Way Viaduct closed for part of the day, it’s a better-than-ever reason not to even bother thinking about leaving the peninsula on Saturday, May 14th. West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day will have more than 250 sales on the map by the time we’re done – what you see at left is a screen grab of the rough-cut map ***with only about two-thirds of the addresses input so far*** (once they’re all in, we number the sales, north to south, west to east).
From Admiral to Alki to The Arroyos to Highland Park to Pigeon Point and beyond, you will find sales in your neighborhood on May 14th – and you will find reasons to go explore West Seattle neighborhoods you’ve never visited. Since West Seattle can certainly be reached without using The Viaduct, we encourage you to invite your friends, relatives, co-workers all to c’mon over. As we go through the list, we are making sublists of the benefits, the block sales, the unusual items, and once we publish the maps – still trying hard to make the promised date of next Saturday! – you’ll want to peruse and preview. One neighborhood’s having what they call a mini-street fair; one school has a sale with more than 100 families participating … This is HUGE.
If you have stuff to sell but didn’t make the deadline … you can still check with the group sites that had tables to offer – Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) plus the Ginomai lot across the alley, lora@hotwirecoffee.com … the VFW Post 2713 Hall in The Triangle (e-mail Commander Ron Zuber at rzuber@clearwire.net) … Cycle University in The Triangle (contact info on their website at cycleu.com) … and C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), e-mail candpco@comcast.net. Plus you can stop by any of the aforementioned sites to see about signing up in person.
Two other things – We are reminded (thanks, Kris!) that May 14th is also Stamp Out Hunger Day, the annual postal carriers’ food drive, so before you go out to sell OR shop, be sure to leave a bag of nonperishable food by your mailbox for your carrier to pick up. And the other events around West Seattle that day include one that’s bought a spot on the map – the West Seattle Kiwanis Classic Car Show and Motorcycle Poker Run, which is offering a barbecue too, 4700 Fauntleroy Way.
Sale hours are 9 am-3 pm; watch here, on the WSB Facebook page, on the Garage Sale Day Facebook page, and on the official WSCGSD website for the announcement of the map, plus other info.
(2009 photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB; during the now-ended process, the cupola-topped Seaview Building became an official city landmark)
It’s been three years since the historic West Seattle retirement complex known as The Kenney first went public with an ambitious – and controversial – plan to redevelop much of its Fauntleroy Way campus and dramatically expand its capacity. (WSB broke the story in August 2008 – here’s our first report.) The plan has undergone a variety of changes along the way – with myriad community meetings, both part of the official process, and part of the organization seeking feedback. Last summer, The Kenney had told us the plan was in “retooling mode”; but now, most of the plan is being shelved, at least for a few years, according to this announcement just in from The Kenney management:
(Today) The Kenney will remove the four Notice of Proposed Land Use Action signs that line the perimeter of their campus.
“There are a couple of issues,” says Kevin McFeely, President and CEO of The Kenney. “For one, there’s a new economic reality we’re facing that people are having a much harder time selling their home; something that’s concurrent with moving into a retirement community. Second, it’s much tougher to find lenders for new building projects. As we looked at this project we realized the need to scale down the redevelopment plan to continue to reach the needs of our current residents, our future residents and our neighbors.”
The focus for The Kenney will be on how to improve their current campus and programs. “The people that are inquiring into The Kenney are of a different mindset than those we’ve seen in the past,” says McFeely. “They want choices of programs and amenities, smaller but more efficient use of space apartments and options for various lifestyles. We’ve decided to concentrate on upgrading the infrastructure of our 100 year old campus, expanding our programs and services, and focusing on how we can reach the needs and wants of the seniors of the future.”
Redevelopment is not out of sight, however. The Kenney has begun the plans for a Memory Care Unit to be open fall/winter of 2011. There’s also more building on the horizon, but it may be a few years away. “We do need to have more people on campus in order to survive as a community,” says McFeely. “Not the original 400 we had once planned, but maybe 275-300. This new project will most likely start in the next two to five years.”
When the original $150 million redevelopment plan was announced in 2008, there was some community unrest. “I’d like to thank the community for hanging in there with us,” says McFeely. “We’ve gone through a lot of changes in the plan and I know it’s been tough not knowing. Scaling back will really meet the needs of our community.”
Our archive of coverage of that process is here, newest to oldest.
With summer roaring toward us – really! – West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival leaders and members met last night at St. John the Baptist, and we have updates including one big change.
SENIOR COURT SELECTION CALENDAR CHANGE: Coinciding with a change in leadership for the committee that oversees the Scholarship Program – including the summertime coronation of the Senior Court and Queen – Hi-Yu evaluated other festivals’ schedules and has decided to move the Senior Court selection to a fall/spring schedule. Currently, the court that’s selected in summer doesn’t preside over the festival season till the FOLLOWING summer, and then represents Hi-Yu in the Seafair Scholarship Program the year after that, and this among other things will consolidate all that. No exact dates are set yet; new committee members will meet starting May 10th to decide on a timetable – most likely they will start accepting applications in fall, and will coronate royalty in spring. Again, that means NO Senior Court coronation this summer.
JUNIOR COURT TIMETABLE STAYS THE SAME: That said, Hi-Yu has decided to keep the Junior Court timetable the same – chosen during the Hiawatha Fun Festival that’s part of the summertime celebration.
(Float sketch, first published on WSB in February)
FLOAT’S FIRST APPEARANCE: Hi-Yu is continuing to work frenetically on the Sparkling Seattle-themed float, aiming for a debut in the Sequim parade on May 14th. They are still looking for someplace to store it – if you have a suggestion or offer, please contact Hi-Yu.
BUTTONS, SOUVENIR BOOK: They’re planning to make 3,500 buttons this year, since that’s how many they sold last year (see the winning design here). Hi-Yu is also still seeking sponsors before finalizing the souvenir book (which has its prototype cover ready, designed by Elaine Durham).
HI-YU FISHING DERBY DATE: The West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club-sponsored event at Seacrest Pier is the first Hi-Yu event on the calendar, and it’s set for May 21st this year.
(SIDE NOTE P.S. Remember, it’s not the Hi-Yu Parade, it’s the West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade, but since so many think of it as the “Hi-Yu Parade,” these updates might leave you wondering about the date – it’s July 23rd. We expect an update soon on Post 160’s fundraising efforts to cover the street-closure cost.)
(Tiny bushtits nestbuilding, photographed by Trileigh Tucker last Sunday. She explains, “This is the male, who’s just delivered a new batch of construction material to the nest, woven it into the interior, and is getting ready to go get the next batch. You can see that the nest is hung from small branches with material that might include flexible twigs or spider silk, and the nest itself is made of leaves, lichen, mosses, and other forest materials. Both the male and the female work on the nest.)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
ORCHESTRAS IN CONCERT: Tonight’s the first of two Tuesdays with spring performances by groups from the West Seattle Community Orchestras. Tonight, the Westside Symphonette and String Ensemble are in concert at Chief Sealth International High School auditorium (2600 SW Thistle Street), 6:30 pm – see full story here.
CITY BUDGET UPDATE: It’s not in West Seattle but certainly will affect us all – so, you can watch this live online at the mayor’s website if you’re interested: Mayor McGinn‘s 2012 budget briefing, 11 am.
FAMILY STORY TIME: Family Story Time at the Seattle Public Library‘s Delridge Branch, 7 pm.
FEATURED AT SKYLARK TONIGHT: West Seattle musician Stacey Unck (singer/songwriter, acoustic/folk, guitar + cello) has a show at the Skylark Cafe and Club at 8 pm. Scarlet Season plays at 9 pm
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There’s Mother’s Day brunch, and there’s Mother’s Day breakfast in bed … and here’s something new (yet old-fashioned): A Mother’s Day pie social. In case you hadn’t already heard, one is planned at Village Green Perennial Nursery (10223 26th SW) on Sunday, 1-4 pm – with the price of admission a freshly baked homemade pie and a $5 donation for the White Center Food Bank. Village Green’s Vera Johnson is hosting along with Kate McDermott, and RSVPs are requested by Friday. More info on Vera’s “Dig It” website, and/or this Facebook event page.
West Seattle High School special-education teacher Alex LaRosa is hoping for a good turnout for a special event tonight (with dinner!) for families of students with IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) – so in case that means you, here’s the reminder:
West Seattle High School is hosting an event for our students with IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) tonight (May 3rd) from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. We have invited various county, state, and community agencies and organizations to provide students and their families with information about options for employment, housing, income, and services for students after they leave high school. Dinner (fried chicken and salad) will be provided, and parents and students will have the opportunity to meet with and speak with agency representatives, as well as hear brief presentations from the panel.
Tonight in West Seattle Crime Watch, the saga of two Acura Vigors stolen and recovered – with certain parts missing. The first part of the story is a followup on the original theft report; the second part is a stolen-and-recovered, all in one – read on:Read More
A busy season of “Salmon in the Classroom” releases at Fauntleroy Creek started today – if you’ve been to a local school and seen a tank of baby salmon, this is usually the next step. Above, students from Pathfinder K-8 were the first to join creek steward Judy Pickens to learn about the little fish before setting them loose into the world. Here’s how the fish arrived:
Here’s how the students arrived – that’s Judy leading the way into Fauntleroy Park:
Ready for a music break? Jim Edwards from the West Seattle Big Band (which is now 15 years old and going strong!) shares a sample of last night’s performance during “Jazz Sunday” at Admiral Congregational Church – photos by Michelle Edwards, music with the help of a digital audio recorder. Next chance to catch them: June 3rd during the West Seattle High School All-School Reunion.
The underground “alley vacation” for the two-building Conner Homes project between Alaska/California/42nd (south side) in The Junction won final approval from the City Council this afternoon on a unanimous vote. The Seattle Channel video above shows the entire afternoon council meeting – this item is 30 minutes in; Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, whose Transportation Committee (with only one member, him, in attendance) presided over the official public hearing last week before recommending approval (WSB coverage here), spent several minutes explaining the project to his council colleagues. Then, they voted 9-0 in favor of it. Next step? The permits will finish going through the system, now that this component of the project (which facilitates a large underground parking garage) is finalized. Then, as developer Charlie Conner told WSB last month, he doesn’t expect anything to happen in terms of construction any sooner than the end of the year – the businesses now on the site have leases till then.
(WSB video from October 2008 rally on 35th SW)
Concerned about safety on 35th SW, a rekindled topic here after the deadly motorcycle-car collision last month, and speeder-targeting police patrols? One of the High Point-area neighborhood advocates who has been working on the issue for years, Denise Sharify, just sent word of a “Traffic Slow Down Rally” planned for Wednesday, May 11th, 4-5:30 pm (weather permitting) – 2 1/2 years after the last one, which followed a crash that sent a student to the hospital. All are welcome to participate in this one; we’re checking on the exact gathering place.
There’s no surer sign of a baby boom in West Seattle than a business boom in services for mothers with babies. Here’s the newest sign: Nurturing Expressions has just opened a store in The Junction. But owner Tracy Corey is no newcomer – she’s been running Nurturing Expressions since 2004, and is a board-certified lactation consultant (as well as a 20-year-veteran registered nurse). The store’s “we’re open!” announcement, however, says it’s not just a store for moms who choose to breastfeed their children: “Whether mothers choose to breastfeed, pump, bottle feed or do a combination, their team of consultants will support mothers and their babies through all stages of feeding.” For nursing moms, they have classes (here’s the current schedule), support groups, and merchandise, including breast pumps and nursing bras. And at the store, they have a private breastfeeding room where moms can get coaching and support. The store’s in Junction Tower – the same building as longtime WSB sponsor Westside Dermatology – 4746 44th SW (on the second floor). You’ll also find Corey and her coaching online – not just on the Nursing Expressions website, but also on Twitter as @theboobiecoach. (Photo courtesy Nurturing Expressions)
(See 2:06 pm update at bottom of story, with bus info from Metro)
New information about the Alaskan Way Viaduct lane reduction that starts May 16th, according to WSDOT’s announcement this morning (here’s our earlier story). The media briefing wasn’t a presentation type of briefing but rather a Q/A opportunity availability with Viaduct project boss Ron Paananen. Here’s what we learned beyond what this morning’s announcement included:
*KEY POINT – THIS IS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME: The “2013” mention in the announcement is NOT the actual expected end date for this. Barring something unusual like a project stall, 99 will be down to two lanes each way, at least for this stretch, till the Central Waterfront replacement opens. If that’s the deep-bore tunnel, possibly late 2015. (And if the tunnel is tossed, Paananen warned, that would add at least 2 years to the replacement process.)
*FEWER LANES, SLOWER SPEED: The speed limit will drop as well as the number of lanes – to 35 mph. Heading north, toward downtown, the lane reduction and speed reduction will kick in, WSDOT says, just as soon as you get off The Bridge and get onto 99. It continues until roughly Royal Brougham Way (the street between the stadiums) before opening to three lanes each way again. Heading back south toward West Seattle, approximately the same stretch – Royal Brougham to the north, until Lander (which is a bit north of Spokane, the street The Bridge parallels).
*TRANSIT LANE DOESN’T RUN THE ENTIRE STRETCH: The mentioned-earlier northbound transit lane will NOT be through the actual work zone – it will be a partial stretch enabling buses that use The Viaduct to get a bit of a jump on traffic, but once they get to the actual work zone, it will be two lanes for everyone. (See the map atop our earlier story.)
*WHY DO THIS NOW? The reason one lane is being lost – on the west side of The Viaduct, in both directions – is because a few pillars for the new southbound replacement structure actually have to go through the footprint of the current one. So there will be pile-driving work right next to the travel lanes. How will that affect Viaduct stability? Paananen says they will monitor it carefully – the southern stretch has not had settling trouble in the past, but on the other hand, it’s technically more vulnerable, since the “fill” that changed the area from tidelands decades ago is deeper than it is under the rest of the viaduct.
We have a few other notes to add shortly. And if you have a “how is this going to work?” question that neither our coverage nor the WSDOT website is answering – PLEASE ask in comments, and we will do our best to pursue answers; WSDOT has a large and responsive media-relations team who (regardless of your view of the actual project merits) whom we are sure will pursue the answer for us/you.
2:06 PM UPDATE: Checked with Linda Thielke at King County Department of Transportation regarding Metro and the upcoming AWV lane reduction. For one – she says they will be out later this week with some information specifically targeted for bus riders whose routes will go through the construction zone. In the meantime, here’s the latest on bus-service increases past and possibly future as part of the “viaduct mitigation”:
To date, WSDOT has funded an additional 31 trips on routes: 21X, 56X, and 121. These trips were added a while back to make transit a good alternative for folks during the construction. Metro has seen ridership increase 11 percent on those trips (fall 2009 compared to fall 2010).
Right now, there is a proposal (not finalized yet) that would add more trips in October 2011. This would increase trips on the Rt. 120 funded by WSDOT and the Rt. 54 funded by Metro. And, the additional trips on the 21X, 56X, and 121 would continue.
Also, we’re seeing an uptick in inquiries about vanpooling and vansharing from the West Seattle area.
Here’s where you can find out more info about that.
Just sent by Heath, with the observation, “How true.” (The structure on which the impromptu sign is duct-taped is along the Beach Drive waterfront, across from Me-Kwa-Mooks. It’s the framework for another of the wayfinding kiosks that are going up around the area – this one has been awaiting its permanent map and artwork inserts, as of our most recent drive past. A stretch south of this spot is in pretty good shape after a rebuild a few years ago, but further down, it’s arguably one of West Seattle’s ruttiest stretches.)
As part of the south-end Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project – the major work that’s under way now and is proceeding regardless of whatever happens to the Central Waterfront section – weekend closures and longterm lane reductions are coming up starting in less than two weeks. They’ve long been part of the plan, but with two weeks to go, the alarm was sounded this morning by the state Department of Transportation, which is summoning media to a briefing in a few hours.
The closures will happen during the weekend of May 14-15. Longterm lane reductions kick in right after that. WSDOT announcement highlights ahead:Read More
(Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, photographed this morning)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
CONNER PROJECT, TUNNEL MEASURES ON CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: When the City Council meets at 2 pm, it will consider final approval of the “alley vacation” for the Conner Homes two-building Junction project (Alaska/California/42nd), following last week’s hearing before the Transportation Committee (WSB coverage here). Also on the council agenda (which you can see here in its entirety) are two of the measures that might go to a public vote regarding the Highway 99 tunnel, as well as reappointment of Southwest Design Review Board members Rob Murphy and Norma Tompkins, among other measures. As always, the council meeting will be live on Seattle Channel, seattlechannel.org or cable channel 21.
HI-YU MEMBERSHIP MEETING: With festival season fast approaching, West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival membership meets at 6:30 pm, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church hall.
FREE DANCE CLASS WITH BALORICO: 6 pm, try a free dance class with Balorico at Kenyon Hall – more at balorico.blogspot.com
EVENING BOOK GROUP: The monthly Evening Book Group meets tonight at Southwest Library, 6:45 pm; this month’s title is “Cloud Atlas” by Liam Callanan.
MONDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: Karaoke with Kelli at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), 9 pm
FOOD DRIVE CONTINUES: All month long, you can drop off food donations at PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor). Details here
It happened over the weekend in Interbay, but it was a big occasion for teams from both Chief Sealth International High School (above) and West Seattle High School (below):
They are making history as two of eight Seattle Public Schools high schools that have launched soccer teams for the new Seattle Public Schools Unified Soccer League in partnership with Special Olympics, which describes the international Unified Sports program as being for teams that include players “with and without intellectual disabilities,” training and playing together. On Saturday, all eight schools met for a series of round-robin games at Interbay as part of a special event dubbed The Kickoff. The games were preceded by opening ceremonies including a March to the Match. (Sealth’s band was originally scheduled to play, but it turned out that noise regulations didn’t allow that so early in the morning!) The other schools involved are Rainier Beach and Cleveland, in the “South Division” with WSHS and CSIHS, and Nathan Hale, Ballard, NOVA, and Ingraham, comprising the “North Division.” We also found the West Seattle area represented early Saturday morning by School Board president Steve Sundquist:
Joe Hampson, director of sports programs for Special Olympics Washington, explains that soccer is the pilot program for Unified Sports locally; elsewhere in the U.S., he says, basketball and golf are played too. They’re starting with soccer since it is now widely played by kids before they get to high school, it seemed like the perfect sport with which to begin. Competition for the new league continues next Saturday at Interbay.
If you’re still up, you’re probably watching cable news or checking national/world news sites for updates on the stunning announcement tonight that U.S. troops have killed Osama bin Laden, less than half a year short of the 10th anniversary of 9/11. (If you missed it somehow, the official White House recording of the president’s late-night statement – late Eastern time, anyway – is embedded above.)
Remembering the gatherings at Alki’s Statue of Liberty after the 2001 attacks, we went by a little while ago to see if anything spontaneous had broken out. At least at the time we went by, only a few people were by the statue – but a TV crew had broken out a large light to illuminate the statue as a backdrop for a live report, no doubt on “local reaction.” (Just down the street a block, the usual spring/summer-night Alki crowds watched as a car took off too fast, burning rubber.)
We haven’t seen official comments from local leaders yet, though King County Executive Dow Constantine observed via Twitter, “Good to have @BarackObama – Doesn’t bluster ‘Bring it On” or crow “Mission Accomplished” but patiently, wisely, competently gets the job done.” Also on Twitter, City Councilmember Tim Burgess said, “This is wonderful news for the whole world!”
A thread in the WSB Forums, headed simply “Bin Laden is DEAD,” has drawn a few comments.
Your editor here was working in Seattle TV news when 9/11 happened, executive-producing a morning newscast, in the control booth as the horrifying pictures from back east came in. Relatively quickly, we handed over most of our airtime to the network, as there was little to say locally, for a while. Feels that way tonight, so we’re going back to writing a few stories still left to tell from the weekend – but if there is a related West Seattle story you think should be told, please leave a comment, or let us know some other way.
7:13 PM: Big response to a house fire in the 9200 block of 3rd SW. We’ll be there shortly.
7:32 PM UPDATE: The fire is off Olson Place, as it heads downhill toward 509. Massive Seattle Fire presence visible in the right uphill (southwest) lane of Olson.
7:42 PM UPDATE: Fire Department spokesperson Lt. Sue Stangl is at the scene and tells us the fire started in the kitchen, and most of the fire damage is there, but a water pipe in the house has broken as well, so there’s water damage, and crews are working to pump out the water from the break. Nobody is hurt. But Lt. Stangl says the residents had just moved into the house today.
(WSB photo from Seattle Summer Streets on Alki two years ago)
3 weeks from today, we can only hope for this same great weather as Alki’s summer kicks off in a big way – Sunday, May 22nd, starts with the West Seattle 5K, and then segues into Seattle Summer Streets (formerly known as “Car-Free Day”), with Alki Avenue SW closed till 5 pm.
For the 5K (organized by the West Seattle High School PTSA, with co-sponsors including WSB), you have till Thursday to register at the early-bird rate – you can sign up online here; after May 5, the price goes up. For Summer Streets, the Alki Community Council is co-hosting a big slate of entertainment, activities, vendors and community groups (along with SDOT, Children’s Hospital, and Cascade Bicycle Club), primarily between 56th and 63rd SW. We mentioned some of it in our coverage of the ACC’s last meeting, and this weekend, ACC secretary Sandy Payne shared more info:
Plans include live music, a talent show, kids’ games with prizes, face painting, a petting zoo, ultimate frisbee and other demostrations such as magic tricks, dog massage, dance, stand-up paddle board and skating demos, custom T-shirt screening, electric-bike test rides, a surf machine and skate ramp.
There will be opportunities to meet with members of many local community groups such as Seal Sitters, Whale Trail, Sustainable West Seattle, West Seattle Be Prepared, Alki Community Council, Alki Arts Fair, Skate Church, Breathe Deep Seattle …
They’ll have a full list of participants once the registration process is closer to complete – but wanted you to know that the street party will be even more like a party this year than in years past. And of course, all that fun doesn’t happen without a lot of volunteers – if you can pitch in, or participate some other way, here’s an update from the ACC website with information on what they’re still looking for to make the big day happen.
Second story of kindness that we’ve been privileged to receive and share this afternoon. This one’s from Zibby:
This morning I was walking on Alki around 11:30 when I noticed a large, adult glaucous -winged gull sitting in the middle of Alki Avenue, just in front of Pioneer Coffee. Traffic was crazy so I ran into the street and tried to shoo it out of the way – it was obviously injured, so I picked it up and took it down to the water where I watched it wobble and fall over quite a few times before deciding to get it away from the crowds.
I carried it over to Pioneer Coffee where a sweet employee found me a box and a neighbor gave me some material to cover the box with. …
I ended up taking the gull to PAWS wildlife rehabilitation center in Lynnwood. It made it through the long ride in traffic and they said it looked like he/she had likely been hit by a car or injured in some other manner. Anyhow, here’s to hoping the little one makes it and an update for everyone who helped out and was concerned.
From the PAWS website, here’s information on what to do if you encounter injured wildlife.
(Photo by Deanie Schwarz for WSB)
If you drove through 35th/Barton and wondered what the party’s for – West Seattle’s most famous convenience store (better known for connoisseur-level beer than for mini-mart staples like Beer Nuts) is throwing a barbecue/birthday bash today. WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz just stopped by, and reports that Super Deli Mart owner Min Chung is hosting a second-anniversary party to thank friends, customers, and vendors. It’s scheduled to last till 5 pm at 9051 35th SW.
Sarah posted this on our recently relocated West Seattle Blog Facebook page. With her permission, we’re republishing here:
Just saw the BEST good Samaritan act of kindness! A blind man was lost in the middle of California Ave at the bottom of Gatewood Hill. Walking back and forth between all lanes of traffic.
And a man on the side of the road tried to help but accidentally scared the man. So the woman in the car that had stopped opposite of me got out of her car, realized he was scared, put her foot in front of his cane, and helped him to the sidewalk. It was so awesome to see. I just wanted to share. If she happens to see this- thank you!
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