West Seattle, Washington
02 Thursday
More new photos from David Hutchinson with the Seattle (Alki) Statue of Liberty Plaza Project, as construction of the plaza enters its final weeks leading up to the September 6th dedication.
The pace has been picking up this past week … The bronze bench and landscape plaques arrived at the beginning of the week and the final pouring of cement took place. Three of the fifteen bench plaques were embedded in the newly poured apron around the front of the seat walls. Work also began on the first three wooden bench tops. The middle of the week saw continued work on the bench tops, work began on the new irrigation system, and holes were bored in the concrete for the step railing supports. The end of the week highlight was the arrival and installation of benches 13, 14, and 15 which were fabricated offsite as a single unit.
This coming week should see continued work on the benches and the arrival of the inscribed pavers which are scheduled to be installed over the next couple of weeks. At this time the new pedestal which is being cast offsite is scheduled to be put in place around the beginning of September with the Statue to be in installed in time for the September 6th dedication ceremony.
Here’s how the site looked Saturday:
You can catch up on this entire project and what led up to it over the past year-plus, in our Alki Statue of Liberty archive.
(8/17/2007 photo by Garrett Burke)
That was the scene at 4132 California SW, on the northernmost edge of The Junction, as a huge fire burned in the early-morning hours of August 17, 2007, exactly one year ago today. The next day, investigators announced the fire had been ruled arson. In the ensuing months, we have received occasional e-mail questions wondering if the case was ever solved; a few days ago, we checked back with Seattle Police to see if any progress had been made in the investigation; Officer Jeff Kappel in the Media Unit told WSB by phone that they cannot comment on specifics, except to say it is an “open investigation.” The arson burned an under-construction live/work-unit building, but Knoll Development did not let the fire stop its plans — shortly afterward, as we showed you in this report last December, rebuilding resumed, and today the building is almost done:
We took that photo today. Meantime, if you have any information that might help investigators close this case, you can call Seattle Police (non-emergency line is 206/625-5011) or the national Arson Hotline, 800-55-ARSON.
We showed you a couple photos while Picnic at the Precinct was in full swing Saturday afternoon – but that was just in-progress coverage, for anyone checking here who hadn’t been yet. Today, the full report.
First – you see his name here all the time – but we don’t recall having shown you a photo before – that’s Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen at right, with Segway-riding traffic-enforcement officer L. James, who explained the two-wheelers are not just used because they’re cool:
Her face-painting, by the way (which was offered free to picnicgoers), said ‘Beep-Beep.’ Of course.
The event really was all about people – and your chance to meet the ones who work hard to keep you safe – better to meet them, oh, say, handing out free ice cream, than showing up in your neighborhood chasing baddies:
That’s Officer Brian Ballew from the Community Police Team. It was a perfect day for ice cream, but the nearby hot dogs tasted pretty good too (or so the Junior Member of the Team tells us). More pictures, including the Arson Bomb Squad robot unit, ahead:Read More
That’s the $13 million High Point Neighborhood Center that should be up and running by fall of next year; an unconventional “groundbreaking” ceremony and community celebration on Saturday moved the project to its next stage, even as fundraising continues (leaders from the parent agency, Neighborhood House, revealed that $10.6 million of that money already is in hand). One speaker had a slip of the tongue and almost called the event a “groundbaking,” appropriate enough given the sizzling midday heat at the Commons Park Amphitheater, where ceremony attendees were summoned with the rhythms of African group Naby Camara:
(video no longer available because of blip.tv shutdown)
The actual groundbreaking itself didn’t involve the traditional dignitaries with shovels; instead, it involved stones, handed out to attendees beforehand, with pens, for them to inscribe the stones with their hope/dream for Neighborhood Center. See how that worked – and hear short highlights from many of the speakers — just ahead:Read More
One week after WSB broke the news of signature-gathering for a city referendum to cancel the disposable-bag fee (see last Sunday’s report here), we have word of a counter-offensive: The sustainability-oriented moms’ group CoolMom.org 
is planning pro-bag-fee demonstrations citywide, including one at West Seattle Thriftway in Morgan Junction – same place where we found that paid signature-gatherer with referendum petitions last weekend – on Monday, 3-5 pm. West Seattle CoolMom leader Abby Suplizio says anyone who backs the bag fee is welcome to participate; CoolMom is being joined in the citywide pro-bag-fee effort by groups including BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag), Foam Free Seattle, People for Puget Sound, Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation, Washington Toxics Coalition, Earth Ministry, Seattle Audubon Society, Seattle Rainforest Action Group, Sustainable West Seattle, WASHPIRG, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, and King County Conservation Voters. CoolMom also is suggesting its members show support by talking to management at independent grocers (whose advocacy group Washington Food Industry is partly behind the anti-bag-fee drive) such as Thriftway and Metropolitan Market, to reiterate support for the fee and the emphasis on using reusable bags. Meantime, WSB’er Diane Vincent noticed new disclosure text at the bottom of the anti-bag-fee website StopTheSeattleBagTax.com (which we mentioned here and here): It now says:
Paid for by the Coalition to Stop the Seattle Bag Tax.
Coalition Members:
Washington Food Industry
7-Eleven Inc.
Progressive Bag Affiliates of the American Chemistry Council
Do 7-Eleven customers really use that many bags?
Thirty years since 1978? “Baker Street” and “FM” and all that? Gulp. Anyway, 1978 is in the news here tonight because we have a link to pix and info from the “Tour de West Seattle,” a group bike ride today in honor of the West Seattle High School Class of ’78’s 30th reunion. ’78 grad Brian Dirks, the organizer, sent the link to his photo gallery, including the pic you see above, and this description:
Eight riders took to the streets of West Seattle Saturday for the 30-mile, “Tour de West Seattle” bicycle ride … Riders included ’78 grads Brian Dirks (ride coordinator), Cecelia Bellcross and Rosalie Aikin with husband Marc; Ron Badley and Tamara Crawford (who finished at other schools but attended earlier grades with the class); Bryan Clarke, son of ’78 grad Laura Christopherson; and Britt Tinglum of Seattle. The ride took in some of the best scenery of West Seattle, passing by most of the feeder elementary schools, James Madison Jr. High (or Middle School if you prefer), as well as Alki, Hamilton Viewpoint, Sunset Ave. Beach Drive, and many other points north and south.
You can see Brian’s full gallery here.
We got the tip from Jen Cole of FeetFirst while talking with her at today’s Picnic at the Precinct (first report here, more to come later tonight) this afternoon — the sidewalk improvements for West Seattle’s Sanislo Elementary, funded as part of Safe Routes to School (January report here), are almost done, just in time for the start of school (two weeks from Wednesday). In addition to the sidewalk work you see above (mostly stretching eastward from the campus), Cole says improvements for the Delridge/Myrtle stairway are also under way, and that will complete a safer walking connection between Delridge and 16th. Unfortunately, she says, the 16th/Myrtle crossing guard position (a couple blocks east of Sanislo) apparently will not be filled; we reported last spring that a serious illness had taken the previous guard off the job, and the city had not replaced her – nor, according to Cole, will a replacement be forthcoming for the new school year.
Two and a half weeks ago, auctioneers sold off much of what was inside Morgan Junction’s Corner Inn (WSB video coverage here), which abruptly closed in early June. This morning, WSB’er “Rock Steele” spotted a few remaining (big) pieces offered free on CL — separate ads for the Corner Inn’s awning, bar, and stage. All three listings say the items must be removed within one week. Hmm.
Fun, food, free. Also a traffic note — Webster is shut down on the south side of the precinct (Delridge westward) for this event (here’s a map to Delridge/Webster).
From Stephanie, southeast of The Junction:
So I was taking my dog out to do her business about midnight tonight and was waiting for a while. Then looked across the street and saw something moving in the dark. Looked a little closer and saw that it was a Coyote walking up the sidewalk. Knowing that my 4 lb. Yorkie was no match I quietly whispered for her let’s go. As I hurried up the stairs it took off. I was relieved it was not aggressive. Seemed to be spooked by us. I am located at 41st and Dawson. (map) I had seen the pictures on the blog before and it looked identical. Went back inside to get my camera and waited for a while but he was gone.
Just thought I would share it since I did not think anyone saw them in my neighborhood. But it seemed more scared of me then I was of it. I don’t think he was out to harm anyone. Clearly not hostile.
This post was officially the tipping point … we just went back and created a category for all posts about coyotes (which required adding the label to each previous one) … maybe someday we’ll finally get to that West Seattle coyote map! Find the coyote archive here.
In the green top, that’s Alki resident Bri Murray, one of the winners at last summer’s first-ever EVP Pro Beach Volleyball tour stop on her home beach – and she (with teammate Wendy Stammer from Oregon) will try to do it again when the tour returns tomorrow. (Great timing, with beach volleyball in the spotlight at the Beijing Games!) WSB is a co-sponsor of the daylong event — and the finals are being recorded by Comcast again this year, so if you’re there by 3, you’re welcome to be in the official TV audience – the women’s finals are expected around 3, the men’s finals around 4:30 (last year’s winning men’s team also featured a local star, Alki resident Chris Hannemann, and he’ll be playing tomorrow too). Here’s the official news release with full details about tomorrow’s event, which starts bright and early:Read More
Got a note with this photo, saying a demolition crew took down 4103 SW Edmunds (kitty-corner from the southeast side of Jefferson Square) today. As we’d reported previously, townhouses are planned for the site.
In the past day and a half, we’ve received two notes alerting us to a major change in The Junction: Moses the cat is no longer in residence inside Next to Nature. Both notes expressed alarm and concern – is Moses OK? So the ace WSB investigative team stopped by N-to-N this afternoon to find out, and discovered what you see in the photo above – a picture and note that “Moses has left the building. No, he’s not dead. He’s just in retirement. Sightings of him have been reported in Mexico.” Actually, we uncovered the fact that he’s now home with his owners … he just wasn’t happy staying at the store any more. One of our tipsters is relieved to hear that but adds, “I’ll miss him (don’t have a pet of my own, plus he was like a local landmark).” We’ll miss him too; he was definitely a shop fixture, hanging out by the front door much of the time, high enough up that you could try giving his ears a skritch. Enjoy your retirement, Moses!
The concerns about the two major mixed-use (part residential, part commercial) projects on the Southwest Design Review Board‘s agenda last night were similar – particularly, how the projects will affect pedestrian flow once they’re built. But the results were quite different; one project is finally at the end of the process, while the other is just beginning what could be a long journey. Our full report, ahead:Read More
We first told you two weeks ago about some Junction businesses’ petition campaign against Conner Homes‘ request for the city to “vacate” that stretch of the alley between 42nd and California, south of Alaska, so that land under the alley can be included in the underground parking garage for its two-building development. (Read our original report here; read developer Charlie Conner‘s next-day “letter to the community” here.) Opponents including Elliott Bay Brewery and Liberty Bell Printing have continued to gather petition signatures, and the Junction Neighborhood Organization has posted the petition as well; now there’s word that the city’s deadline for comments on the request has now been extended to September 15. That of course means comments in support of it as well as against it; you can comment directly to Moira Gray at SDOT, which is reviewing the request, at moira.gray@seattle.gov. The project itself, meantime, is still in the design-review process. Here’s our coverage of the most recent meeting, in late May; the city has not yet posted a date for the next one.
Michele at West Seattle Thriftway sends word that their “Dog Days of Summer” 
promotion is under way – and as part of it, CityDog Magazine – founded by West Seattleite Brandi Ahlgren – will have a professional photographer at the store 11 am-2 pm Sunday to take pix for the magazine’s Cover Dog Search. (Read more about the search here.) Also this weekend: a barbecue 11 am-4 pm Saturday ($7 for burgers/chips/soda) to benefit the Seattle Humane Society and Doney Clinic, and the SHS MaxMobile returns 11 am-3 pm Sunday with adoptable pets. (Photo above: A pooch we spotted on the beach south of Alki Point Thursday.)
Full report to come, but here’s the headline version: The two meetings (“early design guidance” for 35th/Graham High Point mixed-use project, “recommendations” for revised Fauntleroy Place) together lasted 3 1/2 hours. Results: High Point project (see the presentation) needs work, must come back for second round of “early design guidance”; FP (see the presentation) can advance to permit stage but with some tweaks. Details later.
Can’t you just imagine sometimes, that’s the REAL life of some of the more cantankerous seagulls? This imagining is from Brandon M. Baker’s exhibition at Ginomai, one of our stops during tonight’s West Seattle Second Thursday Art Walk. We also dropped by Twilight in The Junction, where we found this blender by Todd Karam:
Many of the works shown on tonight’s 30-plus stops will be up throughout the month, so keep an eye out when you’re visiting these local businesses (here’s the map of participants – they’re in Admiral, Delridge, and elsewhere along with The Junction); next art walk will be September 11th. P.S. Lots of folks out in The Junction tonight, including what looked like a big crowd en route to the second night of Pippin @ ArtsWest.
For months, we’ve seen an ad about a West Seattle restaurant for sale, in business 20 years; it was speculated that the business in question was Angelina’s Trattoria in the Admiral District. However, the ads never included the name — till now; this one turned up on CL this afternoon (hat tip to Lora Lewis from WSB sponsor Hotwire Coffee), and it not only identifies Angelina’s as the restaurant for sale, but also includes a photo. Price: $290,000.
Top to bottom, those are the views of Fauntleroy Place‘s proposed new design – its east side facing 39th SW, west side and southwest corner along 40th SW, and its south side along SW Alaska. Site work has been under way for weeks now but the project’s back in Design Review because of changes; tonight’s Southwest Design Review Board meeting is at 8 pm at High Point Community Center (here’s a map), and the PDF of the presentation is on the city website now (see it here). It’s preceded by the 6:30 “early design guidance” meeting for the mixed-use building proposed in High Point at 35th/Graham; the presentation for that project is not online as of this writing .
Many people have posted tributes to Gregory Hampel among the comments below our Monday night report that he did not survive the 35th/Dawson accident in which a car hit him as he ran into the street to try to catch his dog. The 39-year-old West Seattleite is survived by his partner Ed Swaya and their daughter Vivian; late last night, we received word of two funds being set up for donations in his memory, including one at the school where he taught:
Donations in honor of Gregory Hampel can be made to The Seabury School, where they are setting up a scholarship in his name.
Or, given the family’s commitment to the education of their daughter, donations are being accepted at any US Bank for the education fund for Vivian Swaya.
DONATIONS BY MAIL:
Deposit into “Vivian Swaya’s Account” (educational fund)
US Bank
1436 S. 312th St
Federal Way, WA 98003DONATIONS IN PERSON:
Go into any branch of US Bank.
No account number needed; simply use Vivian Swaya’s name.Sorry, no online donation available
The US Bank branch in West Seattle is at the northwest corner of 42nd/Edmunds (map). 10:09 AM UPDATE: A comment on our previous report includes this information on a service for Mr. Hampel today:
Gregory’s Memorial Service:
Thursday August 14
University Lutheran Church
1604 NE 50thviewing 10-noon
service following
(photo by Dina Johnson)
If you still think the primary election – next Tuesday, or maybe you’ve voted by mail already – is a snoozer, last night’s 34th District Democrats 
meeting would have cured you of that notion. With sometimes-raucous debate and questioning, our area’s largest political organization settled on some endorsements and budgeting decisions, looking ahead to both the primary and general elections. Five of West Seattle’s own elected officials were there, along with one of the most controversial statewide politicians running for re-election, and a city leader – read on to say what was said, decided, and revealed, including their recommendation on the primary’s most convoluted ballot measure:Read More
If you look at the link dates on the WSB Crime Watch page, things were quiet for a long stretch – now that’s changed, at least temporarily. Two more reader reports ahead, along with a reminder about two ways to become a better neighborhood crimefighter:Read More
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