West Seattle, Washington
19 Tuesday
(At right in our video, Donn Weaver directing the WS Big Band at 2013’s Concert in the Park)
By Randall Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
“A change is brought about because ordinary people do extraordinary things.” – President Obama
When Donn Weaver, the 2015 recipient of the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community, received as a seventh grader the gift of a trumpet from his older brother, he certainly could never have imagined he would someday be honored for sharing his love of music with the West Seattle community.
Yet, honored shall he be, at tonight’s Hi-Yu Concert in the Park featuring the West Seattle Big Band, an organization for which Weaver served as director from its inception in 1996 until stepping down this past winter, and then he’ll carry the trophy in this Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade, whose committee chooses the honoree.
The band initially was formed as a collection of a “baker’s dozen” of band alumni brought together to play at a West Seattle High School reunion.
“They asked for a band to play, so we contacted as many former members as we could. We had a rehearsal and played the reunion,” recalls Weaver. “At the end of the reunion, they got together in a huddle in the lunchroom and they told me they decided they wanted to have the band keep going. So I thought, “Well, we’ll just make it into a swing band,” and it’s been going ever since.”
The all-volunteer band quickly grew into the 18-piece unit that has been entertaining crowds throughout West Seattle ever since, while also raising thousands of dollars for the music programs of local public schools.
Born in Onalaska in southwest Washington, Weaver first arrived in Seattle to attend the University of Washington. where he earned his BA in music education in 1954. His career eventually brought him to West Seattle High School, where he taught from 1966 until 1978.
When Weaver first started at WSHS, there were just eleven students in the band. By the time Weaver moved on to new challenges, taking him to Franklin, Rainier Beach, and Ingraham high schools, the program was flourishing with more than 80 members.
“It was phenomenal how it blossomed,” says Weaver, downplaying his own role in helping build the school’s program. “High-school kids love a challenge.”
One person who does not underestimate Weaver’s contributions to not only the WSHS program, but also to the community at large, is former student Jim Edwards, who worked closely with Weaver in the West Seattle Big Band before succeeding his mentor as its director (he’s also a Rummel Trophy recipient, with wife Barbara Edwards, in 1998).
“Donn’s years at West Seattle High School, while a paid position, are not representative of your normal band director,” says Edwards. “He had a record of building strong programs wherever he taught. In 1978, his last year at West Seattle, his combined instrumental performing groups had a total of 72 performances out of a 180-day school year.”
It was Edwards, a member of the West Seattle Parade Committee and longtime co-coordinator of the parade, who nominated Weaver for the Orville Rummel Trophy before recusing himself from the decision-making process due to the long-term personal ties between the two men that has spanned several decades.
“When I first knew Jim, he was in elementary school and in the summer music program,” says Weaver. “I used to get a kick out of him because the trombone he played was bigger than he was!”
While there may be no more-fitting testimony to Weaver’s legacy than to have a former student nominate him for a prestigious community award while also continuing his work with the Big Band, Weaver always defers to the power of the music to move young and old alike, as seen repeatedly at his many performances.
“Music is worthwhile,” says Weaver. “If someone asked me to prove it was worthwhile, I wouldn’t know what to tell them, but I have seen it.”
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You can applaud Donn Weaver for his decades of community service at tonight’s Concert in the Park – again, 7 pm, east lawn of Hiawatha (2700 California SW, but the concert’s on the Walnut side), free! – and when he rides in the West Seattle Grand Parade on Saturday, starting 11 am from California/Lander and proceeding southbound along California to the south end of The Junction at Edmunds.
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ABOUT THE ORVILLE RUMMEL TROPHY: It’s named after the man who founded the parade in 1934, Orville Rummel – lots of background in the story we published the year we were honored with it, in 2010. The award was first presented in 1984. Click ahead for the full list of recipients from 1984 through 2015:
Read More
It’s the busiest community-council meeting in West Seattle – once a quarter, lots of talk about – so here’s an advance agenda alert for the Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting tomorrow (Wednesday, July 15th), 7 pm, at The Kenney (WSB sponsor):
7:05: Special guest, Debbie Goetz from city Office of Emergency Management
7:25 MoCA Minute Updates
• 35th Ave SW Safety Design meeting July 16 at ** Library
• MoCA in the Hi-Yu Parade – July 18
• Morgan Bike Rack update
• Nazarene Church Rezone Update
• 2015 Morgan Junction Festival Wrap-up7:30 Old Business
Murray CSO Briefing
Morgan cut-through traffic study
Morgan Junction Business Mixer
NPSF Morgan Junction Sidewalk Improvement Grant
Nazarene Church Comprehensive Plan Amendment status8:10 New Business
SW Precinct Focus Group Interest
KAWS (Kulture and Arts on the West Side) Endorsement Request
Morgan Neighborhood Plan Update
SWDC Budget Recommendation
Land Use Updates
PICK A DATE Morgan Festival 2016: June 11 or 18 or 258:45 By Laws
Voting on Proposed By-Laws Changes
MoCA meets in the lower meeting-room area at The Kenney (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW), all welcome.
Check out the sea lion hitching a ride on a southbound ship between West Seattle and Blake Island on Monday! The photo, just texted to us, was taken from a tugboat escorting the ship; the texter says the ship was traveling very slowly and that the sea lion eventually jumped back into Puget Sound, no harm done. Thanks for the photo – editor@westseattleblog.com or 206-293-6302 any time.
Jumping into Tuesday, (mostly) on land:
LOW-LOW TIDE, WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: Today’s low tide is -1.8 feet at 10:26 am, and Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are out until noon at Constellation and Lincoln Parks.
OPENING RECEPTION AT SSC: “Sightseeing through the Eyes of Northwest Landscape Artists” is the new exhibit at the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) gallery; its opening reception is noon-2 pm today – more info in our calendar listing. (6000 16th SW)
PORT COMMISSION: At the commission’s public meeting at 1 pm today at Pier 69 on the downtown waterfront, the agenda includes an item related to the modernization project for Terminal 5 in West Seattle, authorizing the Port’s CEO to spend $5 million more “test piles.” Details are linked from the agenda. (2711 Alaskan Way)
KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY-AND-LEARN: 1:30-3 pm at High Point Library, for kids 3-5 – explained here. (35th/Raymond)
PLUTOPALOOZA PHONE HOME! Also at High Point Library, today’s the day – the New Horizons spacecraft will “phone home” after its historic Pluto flyby, and that’s expected around 6 pm – this event with West Seattle’s own NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen includes activities for kids (added: she’s prepping them now!) …
Sciencing my Pluto activity for this evening… #PlutoFlyby @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/0R1zH140gc
— Alice's AstroInfo (@AlicesAstroInfo) July 14, 2015
… as well as information for all ages while the “phone home” moment is awaited. (35th/Raymond)
TRAFFIC SIGNAL COMPLETION CELEBRATION: As previewed last week, the Admiral Neighborhood Association and SDOT are hosting a 6:30 pm event to commemorate the completion of the 47th/Admiral/Waite traffic signal/crosswalks project. (SW corner of 47th/Admiral)
JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle – see the agenda in our earlier preview. (Oregon/California)
CONCERT IN THE PARK: 7 pm on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, enjoy the West Seattle Big Band‘s annual Hi-Yu Concert in the Park – free; BYO chair/blanket – and come cheer as WSBB’s longtime director Donn Weaver receives the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Community Service in advance of this Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade. (2700 California SW)
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Because of the traffic-signal event mentioned above, ANA’s regular 7 pm meeting will be at a different location, Alki Mail and Dispatch. (47th/Admiral)
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm FCA board business meeting – all welcome – at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse board room. (9131 California SW)
EVEN MORE HAPPENING TODAY/TONIGHT … see for yourself on our calendar!
West Seattle’s most populous elementary school, Schmitz Park, is getting three more portables for the coming school year, and Seattle Public Schools says they’ll be delivered later this week. One single portable classroom, transported in two sections, is scheduled to arrive around 4:30 am Friday (July 17th); the next day, Saturday around 5:30 am, two single portable classrooms, moved in four sections, are due. SPS says they’re coming from Olympic Hills Elementary in the north end and the route/date/time are all determined by SDOT for city streets, WSDOT for the I-5 portion of the move. You’ll see “No Parking” signs placed today where they’ll be needed.
According to the most-recent enrollment projections we found online, SPE is expecting 642 students this fall; that’s up more than 30 from last year and just a few under the capacity for which its new campus is being built on Genesee Hill (scheduled to open in fall 2016). Meantime, SPS also says portables will be moved to Pathfinder K-8 and West Seattle Elementary next month – more on that when it gets closer.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! We start, as we do most days, with transportation-related information:
TONIGHT – 47th/ADMIRAL/WAITE SIGNAL ‘COMPLETION CEREMONY’: As mentioned here last week, the Admiral Neighborhood Association and SDOT are hosting a 6:30 pm event to commemorate the completion of the 47th/Admiral/Waite traffic signal, which has been in operation for almost a week.
TOMORROW – 35TH SW PLAN: After years of concerns followed by months of controversy, what has the city decided to do with 35th SW? 7 pm Wednesday at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way SW) is the first of two presentations.
SATURDAY – WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE & FLOAT DODGER 5K: We’re reminding you all week that the West Seattle Grand Parade is Saturday (July 18th), preceded by the Float Dodger 5K, and California SW will be closed from Lander to Edmunds that day until early afternoon while it’s all under way -watch for transit info later this week, and watch for parking restrictions on the streets to which Metro will be diverting traffic – parade organizers tell us Metro will be diverting earlier than usual, so the parking restrictions will start earlier (6 am).
Meantime, we’re on traffic watch; if you see a problem affecting West Seattle through/outbound traffic/transportation, but it’s not reported here yet, we appreciate tips when they can be made safely/legally (if you’re riding, or if you’ve arrived where you’re going) – 206-293-6302, text or voice – thanks!
5:30 PM: See comments for two alerts – a stall on the southbound Viaduct, and backed-up traffic on southbound Fauntleroy north of the ferry dock. Thanks for sharing the info!
West Seattle Grand Parade co-coordinator Dave Vague joked that it must be like watching sausage being made, or paint drying, to sit in on the annual lineup meeting at which parade entry forms go from paper to pixels to a plan. Nonetheless, they let us sit in on it anyway (best place to get parade-preview info) – and tonight at Pershing Hall in The Triangle, (from left in the photo above) he, Doreen Vague, Michelle Edwards, and Jim Edwards crafted the tentative running order for this Saturday’s parade.
More than 90 entries right now, including ones in which you’ll see people, as they roll down the route:
*Trampolining
*Unicycling
*Bicycling
*Rollerskating
*Kayaking
*Drumming
…and of course dancing, marching, riding on floats, etc. Did we mention cannon-blasting, too? Yes, classic parade stars including the Seafair Pirates are back – along with other Seafair faves (Clowns, Commodores, Scholarship Program candidates including last year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Queen Lorelei McFadden). And this year’s Hi-Yu royalty will be on their “Around the Sound” float.
The parade, presented by the West Seattle Rotary Service Foundation, starts at 11 am Saturday at California/Lander and continues to California/Edmunds in The Junction. But don’t just show up at the last minute – for one, the Vancouver (BC) and Seattle Police motorcycle units tend to start sooner; for two, before all that, you can cheer on the Float Dodger 5K runners (or even better, be one of them – then take your place to parade-watch – you can register here), who leave California/Charlestown at 9:30 am. More parade-day info as the week rolls on toward Saturday, and our morning traffic reports will include reminders about street/parking/bus changes too.
Another of this weekend’s many big events – WestSide Baby‘s “Stuff the Bus” diaper-drive kickoff event! If you can’t make it to the HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) parking lot at 41st/Alaska during the 10 am-2 pm event on Sunday (July 19th), you can drop off diapers there all week long, and at other spots including the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse. The sizes needed most: Newborn, size 6, and all sizes of pull-ups. The reason this is so important, as WestSide Baby points out: Diapers can’t be purchased using food stamps or other forms of government assistance, but cost up to $150/month, and families can’t just go without – besides the obvious health and comfort implications, child-care providers require diapers, and without child care, parents can’t get to their jobs. P.S. If you need a reminder about Sunday, you’ll get it from WS Baby’s “Stuff the Bus” contingent in the West Seattle Grand Parade on Saturday (11 am, California/Lander to California/Edmunds).
(WSB photo from Sunday: Suspect seated at right, face hidden behind officers)
In our as-it-happened coverage of West Seattle Summer Fest‘s third day, we reported on something unscheduled – a robbery, and quick capture of a suspect. Today, we have a followup: The 20-year-old Sunrise Heights man who was arrested for investigation of robbery had a bail hearing this afternoon; the judge allowed him to go free on “personal recognizance,” according to King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe, with another appearance set for Wednesday. In probable-cause documents, police say he is the robber who “forcefully grabbed” a bag containing $4,500 from the hands of a vendor on the west side of the food court and took off running. The vendor yelled for help; people ran after the suspect and tackled him a short distance south of the food zone. Police working the festival took him into custody shortly thereafter. We’ve checked King County records, and the suspect does not appear to have a felony criminal history.
We’re counting down all week to this year’s West Seattle Grand Parade – 11 am Saturday (July 18th), rolling southbound on California SW from SW Lander to SW Edmunds – and this afternoon, parade organizers have just announced this year’s Grand Marshal: West Seattle born-and-raised King County Executive Dow Constantine.
(Constantine in another parade of sorts – with Schmitz Park students headed to Log House Museum totem-pole dedication June 2014)
He’s a graduate of West Seattle High School – the campus is steps from where he’ll ride onto the parade route Saturday as Grand Marshal – and is midway through his second term as King County Executive, which was preceded by service on the King County Council and in the State Senate and House, to which he was first elected in 1996. He and wife Shirley Carlson are raising their 1-year-old daughter Sabrina in the same neighborhood where he grew up. (added) His reaction to the Grand Parade Grand Marshal news: “The West Seattle Parade has been a highlight of our family’s summers my whole life. I’ve walked the parade as a Scout, marched in the school band, and appeared as both a candidate and as an elected official. This is the community that raised me, so being asked to serve as Grand Marshal of the parade means a lot to me personally.”
As for the parade itself, a little more background from the just-in announcement:
At this time the parade is scheduled to have more than 80 entries, including parade floats, marching bands, and the only appearance of the Vancouver Police Motorcycle Drill Team, as well as the Seattle Police Motorcycle Drill Team.
The West Seattle Parade Committee is a community service committee of the West Seattle Rotary Club Service Foundation.
We’ll be counting down to the parade all week with more information – and remember that it’s preceded by the 11 am Kiddie Parade – just be at California/Genesee and ready to roll southbound! In addition to Grand Marshal Constantine, another parade VIP has been selected, as previously mentioned here – longtime West Seattle Big Band leader and former WSHS music teacher Donn Weaver, who’ll receive the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Community Service at tomorrow night’s 7 pm Concert in the Park with the WSBB on the east lawn at Hiawatha. More pre-parade info to come!
You’re invited to the next meeting of the Junction Neighborhood Organization, 6:30 pm Tuesday (July 14th) at the Senior Center of West Seattle. From JuNO director René Commons:
Please join us for this coming Tuesday night’s meeting at the West Seattle Senior Center – Nucor room, 6:30 pm.
Guest Speakers:
6:35: Kelly Enright, Customer Care Director, Seattle City Light
Topic: Improving Lighting in West Seattle
What is Seattle City Light doing to review and improve lighting in the West Seattle Junction Urban Hub village? Can the city be accountable to address much needed lighting improvements for public safety in our neighborhood7:05 Jennifer Burbridge & Lt. Ron Smith, Seattle Police Department
Topic: SPD ‘Micro Community Policing Plans’
Jennifer & Lt. Smith will explain what MCPP is and lead us in ranking of priorities for improving safety in our Alaska Junction & Triangle neighborhoods. Can we ask for more boots on the ground? What are priorities for improvement?7:20 Miguel Edwards – Sculptor Photographer
Equity / Junction 47 Selected artist
*Miguel will present initial concept for his art installation at the new Equity building in the columns at SW Alaska & 42nd Ave SW
All are welcome – the Senior Center is on the southeast corner of Oregon and California.
(What was the live-video window, then a placeholder screengrab, is now the archived video of Monday’s announcement)
11:12 AM: Click the “play” button to see the live Seattle Channel webcast that’s about to begin, with Mayor Ed Murray and Councilmember Mike O’Brien leading the presentation of the long-awaited report from the Housing Affordability and Livability Advisory Committee, created almost 10 months ago. The report is live here, and the “action plan” the mayor is announcing is here (and embedded below):
11:20 AM: The briefing has begun.
11:24 AM: Here’s the full text of the news release from the mayor’s office, hailing a “grand bargain” between developers and housing advocates, which includes a requirement for “affordable” units in all multi-family developments, and also increases allowable heights in certain zones:
Mayor Ed Murray and Councilmember Mike O’Brien today hailed an unprecedented agreement that will lead to at least 50,000 new homes in Seattle, including 20,000 affordable homes, over the next 10 years. Affordable housing will be included in nearly every residential development across Seattle as the rate of construction of new affordable homes triples.
“As Seattle expands and experiences rapid economic growth, more people are chasing a limited supply of housing. We are facing our worst housing affordability crisis in decades,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “My vision is a city where people who work in Seattle can afford to live here. Housing affordability is just one building block to a more equitable city. It goes hand in hand with our efforts on raising the minimum wage, providing preschool education for low-income children, and increasing access to parks and transit. We all share a responsibility in making Seattle affordable. Together, this plan will take us there.”
“Since 2013, the City Council has called for a robust, citywide, mandatory affordable housing program to help ensure that the people who work in this city can afford to live here. The combination of Mandatory Inclusionary Housing and a Commercial Linkage Fee will ensure that as Seattle continues to grow, we are creating housing for all incomes,” said Councilmember Mike O’Brien.
At the heart of the action plan to make Seattle affordable is Mandatory Inclusionary Housing, a requirement that developers reserve five to seven percent of units in every new multifamily building to be affordable for residents earning up to 60 percent of King County’s Area Median Income (AMI). Developers could opt to contribute to a fund for off-site construction of the units.
In 2015, 60 percent of AMI is $37,680 for an individual and $53,760 for a family of four. Current market-rate rents in new buildings on Seattle’s Capitol Hill currently average $1,887. In 2015, individuals with incomes of 60 percent of AMI pay $1,008 for income-restricted apartments.
New buildings will have taller height restrictions in existing multifamily residential, mixed-use and commercial zones throughout the city. A substantial portion of the additional development will occur within the existing Urban Centers and Urban Villages, designated two decades ago as the preferred location for denser housing. Only single-family zoning within Urban Villages and along major arterials will be converted to low-rise residential.
A map of the proposal, which was negotiated by Murray, O’Brien, developers and affordable housing advocates, shows where the growth could occur.
Here’s the aforementioned map – the mayor’s news release continues after it:
The action plan also includes a Commercial Linkage Fee on new commercial development, phased in over three years, to fund additional affordable housing for the lowest-income families. The linkage fee will range from $5 to $14 per square foot, based on the size and location of the commercial development.
When fully implemented, Mandatory Inclusionary Housing and the Commercial Linkage Fee will lead to the construction of at least 6,000 new affordable homes over 10 years.
The Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) advisory committee today delivered to the mayor 65 recommendations after 10 months of work. The consensus-driven proposal was crafted by a 28-member committee of affordable housing advocates, community voices, developers and housing experts appointed by the mayor and Seattle City Council last September.
“Many thanks to all the committee members and staff for an extraordinary amount of work over the past 10 months,” said HALA co-chairs David Wertheimer and Faith Li Pettis. “We were asked by the mayor and council to offer bold, new concepts in our approach to solving the affordable housing crisis. We think this plan fully delivers on that request. We were able to complete our task because we approached the challenge with a single, shared goal: to make Seattle affordable for all families. None of us got exactly the solution we may have envisioned at the outset, and every one of us had to give a little to reach this landmark agreement. In the end, we are confident that our collaboration will result in thousands of new affordable homes across our city.”
Murray immediately responded to the recommendations with his roadmap to make Seattle affordable, a path to reach his goal of 50,000 new homes, including 20,000 new homes for low- and moderate-income people, over the next decade. Some items in the action plan could be completed this year, while others will require at least two years to implement. In the coming weeks, the mayor will transmit to council a resolution to formalize the elements and framework of the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program.
Today, about 45,000 households in Seattle spend more than half their incomes on housing. An estimated 2,800 people sleep outside each night in Seattle. Currently, about 700 income-restricted homes are built in Seattle each year.
The increased development capacity across the city will ensure increase supply of housing to respond to growing demand, as Seattle is forecast to add 120,000 residents over the next 20 years.
Single-family zones currently represent 65 percent of all land in Seattle. After the proposed zoning changes, single-family zones will still cover 61 percent of Seattle. HALA proposes code changes that will make it easier to build accessory dwelling units and backyard cottages (only one percent of homeowners have done so), as well as allow duplexes and triplexes, while preserving the character of single-family neighborhoods.
Residential development continues to be excluded from industrial areas under the proposal.
The City is currently engaged in a community process to update its Comprehensive Plan, called Seattle 2035. Over the past two decades, the Comprehensive Plan has been successful in locating 75 percent of Seattle’s new housing in Urban Centers and Urban Villages. The update, to be completed in 2016, contemplates expansion of Urban Villages and denser housing around transit hubs and light rail stations. HALA’s recommendations will be implemented in conjunction with the updated Comprehensive Plan.
Doubling of Housing Levy in 2016
To meet the needs of the Seattle’s lowest-income residents, those earning less than 30 percent of AMI, HALA also proposes to double the existing $145 million Seattle Housing Levy scheduled to expire in 2016. Over the past 30 years, the levy has funded $400 million to build and preserve nearly 12,000 units of affordable housing.
In 2015, 30 percent of AMI is $18,850 for an individual or $26,900 for a family of four.
This year, the City will award a record $42 million from the Housing Levy and the existing Incentive Zoning program for the development and preservation of low-income housing. The Seattle Office of Housing will issue project guidelines and invite partner applications later this week.
The HALA report also urges the Washington State Legislature to allow Seattle to adopt a 0.25 percent real estate excise tax dedicated to affordable housing development, as well as an increase in the State Housing Trust Fund.
To support moderate-income families, HALA recommends expanding the Multifamily Property Tax Exemption Program (MFTE) that is set to expire at the end of the year. Under MFTE, developers receive a tax exemption when they dedicate 20 percent of units in new buildings for moderate-income people, typically between 65 percent and 85 percent of AMI. HALA proposes to expand the program to all areas where multifamily housing can be built and incorporate a new incentive for three-bedroom units to extend program benefits to larger moderate-income families.
In 2015, 80 percent AMI is $46,100 for an individual and $65,800 for a family of four.
HALA recommends a range of tenant protections to ensure better access to housing, prevent housing discrimination and minimize displacement as rental and ownership costs increase across the city:
· Prevent displacement as rents increase across the city through a Preservation Property Tax Exemption and other mechanisms.
· Remove barriers to housing for renters with a criminal history that disproportionately impact people of color.
· Strengthen the Tenant Relocation Assistance paid to low-income renters who are displaced by new development.
· Develop new homeownership tools for Muslim buyers who cannot use conventional mortgage products due to their religious convictions.
· Establish new protections to prevent discrimination against renters due to their source of income.
HALA also recommends that the City continue to review parking policies that contribute to the growth of housing costs or inhibit development in single- and multifamily residential zones.
11:47 AM: We’ve added embedded versions of the key documents/maps mentioned so far. Also of note, but not mentioned in the news release above – the mayor mentioned that, as part of the “bargain,” a lawsuit has been settled. Council President Tim Burgess, meantime, mentioned he’s creating a new City Council committee on housing that will deal with this, starting later this month.
(Photo by Flickr member alextutu1821, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today/tonight:
OPEN-HIVE DEMONSTRATION: 11 am at the West Seattle Bee Garden on the north side of High Point Commons Park – details in our calendar listing. If you didn’t see this in time, or couldn’t make it today, the listing has other upcoming dates for this demo! (31st/Graham)
MEMORY-LOSS CAREGIVERS/FRIENDS/FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP: 1:30-3 pm, it’s this group’s twice-monthly meeting at Providence Mount St. Vincent. (4831 35th SW)
PLANT-ID HIKE WITH NATURE CONSORTIUM: 6:30 pm tonight, it’s your chance to learn about “Plant Identification in Urban Forests.” Free, but please register ASAP to RSVP – details are in our calendar listing. The hike starts from Pigeon Point Park. (1901 SW Genesee)
EVENING BOOK GROUPS: 6:45 pm at both Southwest (35th/Henderson) and West Seattle (Admiral) (2306 42nd SW) Libraries. Southwest is reading “The Orchardist” by Amanda Coplin this month; at Admiral, the July book is “The Art of Fielding” by Chad Harbach.
Today you can expect to hear a lot about housing, construction, and zoning, as the long-awaited Housing Affordability and Livability Advisory Committee report is going public at City Hall at 11 am. We’ll have the details when available. In the meantime, new project proposals continue to surface in city files daily, and we have another one to mention today:
MICROHOUSING ON 36TH SW: A brand-new early-stage plan in the files would replace that 95-year-old triplex at 4122 36th SW (map) with what’s described as a “4-story apartment building” featuring “small efficiency dwelling units” (SEDU), the official name for the studios more commonly known as microhousing. The site is zoned Lowrise 3; the potential number of units is not mentioned in what’s been filed so far. No offstreet parking is planned; it’s not required because of its proximity to what’s considered “frequent transit.”
SIDE NOTE: Two SEDU buildings are under construction in West Seattle right now – 5949 California SW (approximately 40 units) and 3268 Avalon Way SW (62 units), which is next to one of the two already-open SEDU buildings, 3266 SW Avalon Way.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No incidents so far this morning on the routes through/from West Seattle. One alert for today:
LANE CLOSURE AT FAUNTLEROY FERRY TERMINAL: As the Barton Pump Station Upgrade Project wraps up, the north lane at the ferry terminal next door is scheduled for closure until 2 pm today: “Crews will restripe the ferry holding lane and crosswalk, and install wiring for the north toll booth.”
LOOKING AHEAD: The West Seattle Grand Parade is next Saturday (July 18th), preceded by the Float Dodger 5K, and California SW will be closed from Lander to Edmunds that day until early afternoon while it’s all under way (watch for transit info later this week). And next Sunday (July 19th), the West Seattle Farmers’ Market returns to California SW between Alaska and Oregon, so the 7 am-4 pm Sunday road closure resumes.
(Photos courtesy Delridge Grocery Cooperative)
The Delridge Grocery Cooperative is bringing back its weekly farmstand – different day, different location. You can help make it a success. Here’s the announcement with info for everyone from prospective shoppers to would-be volunteers:
The Delridge Grocery Cooperative will launch a ten-week summer farmstand this Thursday, July 16th. The farmstand will feature local, sustainably-grown fruits and vegetables in a festive setting from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Thursdays for the rest of the summer. This year (its second), the farmstand will have a new location in the parking lot of the Super 24 Food Store, at 5455 Delridge Way SW, thanks to the generosity of the Singh brothers who own the Super 24. The Little Red Hen Project has partnered with the Delridge Grocery to co-sponsor the farmstand.
Along with produce, shoppers will enjoy music from local musicians including Squirrel Butter, WB Reid & Bonnie Zahnow, Tim Wetmiller + friends, and Thaddeus Spae. The farmstand will also offer cooking demonstrations, kids’ activities, community organization tables, and possibly prepared food (organizers are still looking for a food truck to vend at the farmstand – food trucks should feel welcome to get in contact if interested!).
“Delridge Grocery will be opening soon, but, in the meantime, we’re bringing back fresh and affordable food to our Delridge community at our Summer Farmstand,” said Delridge Grocery President Andrea Wilmot. “So come shop, bring a friend, and sign up to volunteer.”
The farmstand is seeking a few more volunteers to assist with running the stand. Volunteers receive on-the-job training and free produce. A sign-up form is online here. Musicians and community organizations who would like to table are also welcome to sign up online. Volunteers can also help with outreach following our public meeting this Wednesday, July 15th, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at SW Youth and Family Services, 4555 Delridge Way SW. RSVP for the meeting on Facebook.
The Delridge Grocery Cooperative has always prioritized making healthy local food affordable to all Delridge residents. The mixed-demographic neighborhood is designated by the USDA as a food desert because of its lack of grocery stores, and many residents lack access to healthy food. Support from the City of Seattle has helped enable the co-op to keep farmstand prices low. This summer, clients of the West Seattle Food Bank will be able to spend their Market Bucks on produce at the farmstand. Farmstand organizers also hope to be able to accept EBT (electronic benefit transfer; the modern version of food stamps), although it seems unlikely this will be available by the first day. Until the farmstand is able to accept EBT, EBT users will receive a 10% discount on produce at the farmstand. Leftover produce will be donated to the West Seattle Food Bank and to Cottage Grove Commons, and donations for the food bank will be accepted at the farmstand: bring non-perishable food, or buy extra food at the farmstand to donate.
Potential vendors and others with questions can contact farmstand manager and Delridge Grocery board member Ariana Taylor-Stanley at taylorstanley@gmail.com or 206.660.8958.
The full-scale co-op is projected to open within six months. Permitting for construction of the store interior will begin once our bank loan application is approved. Meanwhile, more members are needed. New members can join on the co-op’s website.
Again this year, while 10,000 people bicycled 200+ miles from the city of Seattle to the city of Portland, a West Seattle group rode the “Little STP” – from SW Seattle St. in North Admiral to SW Portland St. in Gatewood. Don Brubeck of West Seattle Bike Connections shares the photos and report:
We made it to SW Portland and back! 25 people and one dog.
Youngest: 1 year old.
Youngest on own bike part way: 4 years old.
Youngest the whole distance on own bike: 6 years old.
Oldest: into his 70s.One family with three children rode their bikes from Queen Anne to ride with us.
A mother and daughter at SW Portland welcomed us with delicious, frozen Otter Pops! Highlight of the trip.
Especially for these young riders:
Some of the riders proceeded on to West Seattle Summer Fest – including Don, who stopped by our side of the Info Booth to say hi.
A ribbon-cutting today celebrated West Seattle’s newest public art – created by Brownie Girl Scout Troop 40255 at the bus-stop shelter on northbound 35th SW at Cloverdale. It tells the story of salmon, and shows our state’s terrain.
From left in the photo are Molly Gazewood, Marley Strackhouse Parks, Alana Bass, Tannée Heinen, Natalie Aguilar Fox. While inviting us to the event, Marcia Strackhouse explained that it was both a celebration of the art itself and of the people who inspired it:
Most of these young people have grown up along the Fauntleroy Creek Watershed, and in their schools, preschools and day care centers, Judy Pickens (and husband Phil Sweetland) have been there to ensure our youth understood their impact on the environment and our salmon. … As Troop Leaders, we were so impressed with their knowledge at ages 8 and 9. They know the cycle of Salmon, understand the importance of maintaining and
keeping our creeks, rivers, and ocean clean, as do many of our West Seattle youth. They have become environmental stewards.
Judy was there for the ribbon-cutting celebration, and accepted a bouquet:
Judy and Phil have kept the Salmon in the Schools program going locally, from egg deliveries to the creekside events at which fry are released each year.
11:56 AM: The sun’s out and so are hundreds of people, already here at West Seattle Summer Fest in hour 1 of day 3! Above, that’s the view from our side of the Information Booth in the center of the California/Alaska intersection, looking north. Here’s the map of the festival grounds, on California between Genesee and Edmunds (Oregon remains open to traffic, so please use the crosswalks and lights there), and on Alaska between 44th and 42nd:
Up by the stage, on the north end of the festival zone, east side of California north of Oregon, you’ll find the official Summer Fest Beer Garden – where it’s Happy Hour all day today, $1 off. Here’s the music lineup:
1 pm – The Solvents
2 pm – Memphis Radio Kings
3 pm – Stereo Embers
4 pm – Sick Sad World
Here’s who you’ll find in the Community Tent (along the south side of Easy Street, on Alaska west of California) today:
11 am – 2 pm
South Seattle College Parent Cooperative Preschools
See Dogs2 pm – 5 pm
Seal Sitters
Empower Mentoring Program
Also a full slate at GreenLife today – next up, Chef Doug from Salty’s (WSB sponsor) is making desserts from fresh Farmers’ Market produce, 12:15 pm.
And here in the Info Booth – besides answering your questions – our boothmates today are from the Junction Association – buy your Summer Fest T-shirt! (east side of the booth) – browsers and shoppers are stopping by (tweeted photo added):
Shopping for #WSSummerFest t-shirts on the @WSJA side of the Info Booth / festival is on until 5! pic.twitter.com/JG9Lf7o0bz
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 12, 2015
Also, from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society – guess how many Lincoln Logs are in their jar! (west side of the booth) – and from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, offering free copies of the new West Seattle business guide (west side of the booth). We also still have free buttons and schedule cards for West Seattle Outdoor Movies, the six-Saturday-night series that starts next weekend (“Zoolander,” July 18th, dusk, in the courtyard at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse [WSB sponsor]).
Hot question so far remains, “Where’s the Farmers’ Market?” Answer – where it used to be, 44th/Alaska:
It’s on until 2 pm as usual. And next week, it’s back here in the street, on California between Alaska and Oregon.
12:16 PM: Somebody just tried to steal a food vendor’s money bag – and didn’t get far:
Theft attempt at #WSSummerFest – suspect didn't get far – bolted, pursued, tackled, detained. pic.twitter.com/i0hZxSPd4Q
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 12, 2015
Police are questioning the suspect right now in the breezeway north of 4730 California. Lt. Ron Smith says it’s the first incident of that type that he recalls at the festival in recent years. (Added: The suspect, a West Seattle man, was arrested and will be booked into King County Jail for investigation of felony theft robbery, according to Lt. Smith.)
12:55 PM: Music’s about to start up – see the schedule above. (added – Instagram clip of band #1, The Solvents):
Meantime, even if you’ve already been to the festival, you’ll likely find something new today, and deals too; for example, right across from where we are, north of the Info Booth, the QFC booth has discounted its coconuts – $3 today. A few storefronts north, on the east side of California, Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) is continuing its sale – all kids’ goods are 30 percent off, including colorable placemats.
Along with shopping, all around the festival, you can spend a few dollars to help local nonprofits and get a chance at cool raffle prizes – from the Orca Network (booth #26), to the West Seattle Food Bank (booth #111) and the West Seattle Helpline next door (booth #109).
Visit HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) at booth #144 and enter to win a Seahawks piggy bank:
At HomeStreet’s Junction branch, 41st/Alaska, it’s WestSide Baby Stuff the Bus time one week from today (July 19th) – if you can’t stop by next Sunday to donate diapers, visit the branch any time this week and drop your donation off.
3:35 PM: This is the point where the rest of the festival roars by. An hour and a half of fun remains – last band, Sick Sad World, is up at 4 pm (as mentioned earlier, Happy Hour at the Beer Garden by the stage – $1 off). And with the sun finally out today, it’s been perfect for features such as the dog pools up at Pet Junction.
You might find just the perfect thing for your house/apartment/garden … a guy just walked by with metal yard art, a fish made from rusted horseshoes.
Earlier, we mentioned some of the raffles – this one, we previewed before the festival, and here’s one more reminder about your chance to try for this outside the Senior Center:
Lots of #WSSummerFest raffles – $1 for a chance at the quilt outside WS Senior Center pic.twitter.com/PJA3AxU249
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 12, 2015
Or – no need to take a chance at the MaxMobile – just take a new friend home!
MaxMobile is at #WSSummerFest Pet Junction … adopt a friend! pic.twitter.com/8KNG4PGFGY
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 12, 2015
Still throngs of people, with and without pets, here. Sidewalk sales continue outside the year-round stores:
'Magic Tricks For Sale' outside Terjung's #WSSummerFest pic.twitter.com/bI60OtYHFL
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 12, 2015
3:58 PM: Here is the vendor we’ve been asked about most often:
The airplants seem to have a lot of fans.
4:09 PM: Final hour! Things you can do right now –
-Come to the Info Booth and get a free West Seattle Community Resource Guide from Chamber reps
-Watch street performers
-Have an early dinner at the many Junction venues with festival-only outdoor seating, and people-watch until the end
-Last call for fair food – elephant ears, deep-fried PB&J, chocolate-dipped cheesecake…
-Shop! Easy Street has tons of music on sale
-Go see Seal Sitters in the Community Tent and find out about caring for local wildlife
Though an election is coming up – ballots go in the mail this Wednesday – we haven’t seen much campaigning today. We did get an Info Booth visit (our longstanding offer: We’ll photograph candidates who stop by) from School Board incumbent Marty McLaren:
And the folks from the Chamber, next to us in the Info Booth, will also be glad to tell you about the City Council District 1 candidates’ forum they’re presenting at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) this Wednesday night (5:30 pm July 15th)
4:45 PM: Quick Instagram clip from the final band, Sick Sad World:
Sure sign this is wrapping up: The QFC booth has run out of coconuts. Looks like a few fruit kabobs are left. Elsewhere, signs of cleanup and packing up – the festival breakdown takes several hours, so don’t expect the streets to reopen until relatively late tonight (we’ll publish an update when we find out). By our informal observation, Summer Fest has been VERY well-attended! Some who have stopped by the Info Booth have asked how to apply for a booth next year – the West Seattle Junction Association presents the festival, and usually puts out the call in winter, so watch wsjunction.org.
5:05 PM: It’s a wrap! Thanks so much to everyone who came to Summer Fest (which we co-sponsored again this year) to shop, browse, wander, explore, dine, drink, dance … and thanks to everyone who stopped by the Info Booth to say hi. Stay tuned to WSB for info on all the summer fun yet to come.
#WSSummerFest 's icy aftermath! pic.twitter.com/3RH6G43GdK
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 13, 2015
MIDNIGHT NOTE: Traffic cameras show Junction streets still closed as cleanup continues.
From left in the photo are Sam Carballo, Cole Carden, and Thomas Mensing – when they get back home to West Seattle, you can congratulate them on being national champs! They’re part of the <strong>Pacific Northwest Soccer Club‘s ’98 Blue team, which played for the National Youth Soccer Presidents’ Cup U-16 title in Kansas this morning (as previewed here last night), and won a heartstopper, according to Cole’s dad Todd Carden – 2-1 over Virginia, with the winning goal scored in the last seconds of double OT!
Thanks to everybody who messaged us about a crew setting up this morning on the beach on the west side of Seacrest. Here’s what they’re up to: It’s a car commercial, for Ford. They even brought their own “lifeguard station”! Greg Whittaker at Alki Kayak Tours told us they’re using some of his equipment, too. The “No Parking” signs in the area are for 8 am-1 pm, so the shoot is likely to wrap by early afternoon.
Good morning and happy Sunday!
This is it for West Seattle Summer Fest – the third of three days for the street festival in the heart of The Junction. The basics:
FESTIVAL HOURS
11 am-5 pm for vendors
11 am-5 pm for kids’ rides (ticket purchase required)
11 am-5 pm for free kids’ activities
11 am-5 pm, events on the GreenLife stage, starting with info about organics, then a cooking demo at noon and a full afternoon slate including The Whale Trail at 3
1 pm, first band (The Solvents); 4 pm, last band (Sick Sad World) – see the full schedule here
Also happening in West Seattle today:
MINI “STP” BIKE RIDE: 9:30 am, as previewed here, meet at Hamilton Viewpoint Park to join in the third annual “Mini STP” – concurrent with the “big” Seattle To Portland ride – this one travels between SW Seattle St. in North Admiral and SW Portland St. in Gatewood, and on to Summer Fest. All ages welcome.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm today, you’ll find it where it was before its mid-June move into the street – in the lot on the southeast corner of 44th/Alaska – just this one “retro” time, because of Summer Fest, and then next weekend it’s back in the street.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM REOPENS: Regular hours today at the home of West Seattle’s history, noon-4 pm. (61st/Stevens)
ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: The summer tour dates go by fast – snag the chance to visit the historic lighthouse on Alki Point 1-4 pm (last tour starts at 3:40 pm) – details in our calendar listing. (3201 Alki SW)
SEATTLE GREEN SPACES COALITION: 3 pm meeting at Delridge Library. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
10:31 PM SATURDAY: Three West Seattle soccer players have a huge game hours from now – they’re on the Pacific Northwest Soccer Club’s ’98 Blue team, shown above, set to play a national championship game tomorrow morning. They’re in the U-16 finals of the National Youth Soccer Presidents’ Cup in Overland Park, Kansas – the PacNW club’s first team to advance to a national title game.
Thomas Mensing (outside back), Sam Carballo (goalkeeper), and Cole Carden (center back) are the local players, comprising “the defense that’s been tough to score on,” says Cole’s proud dad, Todd Carden. They made it into the championship after tying Florida 1-1, beating Virginia 2-0, and tying Wisconsin 1-1; Virginia is who they’re facing tomorrow. He says the final is at 8 am our time; you can watch the live stream here.
10:31 AM SUNDAY UPDATE: They won! Separate story later.
Next week, King County Elections mails the ballots for the August 4th primary, and yours will include the nine candidates in the historic first-ever District 1 (West Seattle/South Park) City Council race. One forum remains before the voting begins – next Wednesday night (July 15th) at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), which is partnering with the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce to present this forum, focused on business, jobs, and education issues. It’s set for the Brockey Center at SSC (6000 16th SW), and the Chamber describes it as follows:
The event will begin at 5:30 pm with a meet and greet between the candidates and the attendees of the forum. At 6 pm all candidates will have an opportunity for an opening statement, and then we will begin the next phase of the forum. This will consist of “candidating” with the attendees. After the opening statements, all candidates will be sent to a table of attendees for 8 minutes. At the end of 8 minutes, the candidates will move on to the next table of attendees. We will continue this process as time allows. There will be time allowed at the end of the “candidating” portion for all candidates to give a 30-second closing statement. We plan to conclude the event by 8 pm.
The candidates in the at-large Positions 8 and 9 races have a concurrent forum outside West Seattle but if it finishes sooner, some might drop by toward this one’s end. While there is no admission charge for the forum, the Chamber is hoping you will pre-register so it knows how many people to expect – you can do that from this page.
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