West Seattle, Washington
31 Sunday
ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:12 PM: Until 3 pm, you are still welcome – actually, we’d say encouraged! – to join the volunteers busy right now with something you just don’t see that often, captured for posterity in our 15-second Instagram video clip above: De-paving! The historic, nearing-a-century-old Highland Park Improvement Club is greening its grounds (with help from Sustainable Seattle) and taking out old asphalt to (un)pave the way for that; HPIC’s Rhonda Smith told us more about the rendering shown in our preview the other day, with not just a reconfiguration but also new planting planned next month. A donated catered lunch is on the way and work will continue today until 3 pm – just go stop by at 12th/Holden. As Blair Johnson quipped, as is done during so many volunteer work parties, they’re removing invasives – just that in this case, it’s invasive asphalt.
(P.S. We’ll be adding photos later tonight.)
ADDED 7:42 PM: As promised:
They were starting toward the south side and moving north – lots of square footage to de-pave!
A trailer filled up with pieces of removed asphalt:
The de-paved area won’t all be greenery and dirt – see the plan here. Part of the HPIC lot already had been “de-paved” for a raingarden, and this is a continuation of the theme.
Big event under way all weekend at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) – the annual Communications Academy for volunteer emergency communicators, though, as evidenced by what we spotted outside, you’ll find lots of professionals there too. They include today’s keynoter Bill Schrier, the West Seattleite who is the former Seattle city IT boss and now works in the state’s CIO office – he tweeted from the event:
I'm about to speak to Comm Academy 2014 in Seattle about #FirstNet and @WAOneNet – great turnout here! pic.twitter.com/hzihI4WXjQ
— Bill Schrier (@billschrier) March 22, 2014
After a few months on the market, the Heartland Café and Benbow Room in The Admiral District have new (and also local!) owners: West Seattleites Allison and Ian Hill. Here’s the announcement from Jay Wergin, who opened the Heartland four years ago (March 2010 WSB photo at right):
After a memorable four years serving Midwest-inspired comfort food to the people of West Seattle’s Admiral District, the owners of the Heartland Café announce that we have sold the business to new owners Allison and Ian Hill, effective in April, 2014.
We are grateful for the community’s support over the past four years and thank everyone who took the time to stop in and patronize our business. I’m thrilled that we had the opportunity to resurrect the Benbow Room bar and launch a family-friendly café in the Admiral District. As longtime residents of the area, we knew our neighborhood needed an establishment like the Heartland. It took us almost an entire year, back in 2009, to breathe new life into a building that had been abandoned and neglected for five years.
One of West Seattle’s biggest book-sale benefits is just two weeks away – at Sanislo Elementary School, 10 am-2 pm on Saturday, April 5th – and you have a chance to help beyond going to buy books: You are invited to donate them, starting now. Lynette Jeung from the Sanislo PTA explains:
This sale benefits the 4th grade class and their upcoming camping trip to Camp Sealth! We are needing lots of book donations so please dig through your shelves, closets, kids rooms for books that you no longer need. We could use all kinds of donations. Specifically, we are looking for both children’s and adult books (both nonfiction and fiction). No instruction manuals or old textbooks please. :) For more info, please e-mail ell1970sab@gmail.com – Go Sanislo!!
Lynette even says she’ll consider picking up donations, so e-mail to ask her about that too, if it would be helpful.
Thanks to James Bratsanos for the photos of Friday’s sunrise and sunset that we’ve sprinkled through this list of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar! Great Saturday ahead too, though we start with a traffic-alert reminder:
VIADUCT/HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE: If you’re heading out of West Seattle, don’t forget that Highway 99 is closed today, for projects including the followup inspection of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and restriping/realignment of the almost-complete Spokane Street Overcrossing rebuild. The closure is scheduled to continue until 7 pm; if it ends earlier, we’ll publish an update here, as well as via WSB Twitter and WSB Facebook.
SCOUTING FOR FOOD: If you received a doorhanger last weekend about this door-to-door collection drive by local Cub and Boy Scout troops (including this one), don’t forget to put out your bag of food. If you are missed or if you didn’t get one, you can still pitch in by taking food donations to the grassy triangle at 44th/Hill, where Pack 793 plans to collect 9 am-11 am.
WHITE CENTER 5K: If you’re not signed up for this benefit run, you can still register on site – signups at 8 am, run at 9 am, walk at 9:10 am, White Center Heights Park. Kids under 10 free. More on our partner site White Center Now. (7th SW/SW 102nd)
GARAGE/YARD SALES: The season has started – check out the listings in the WSB Forums. (And remember it’s only 7 weeks until West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on May 10th; registration starts here on March 31st.)
(added) WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE JAMBOREE: Thanks to Jason for the late-breaking reminder – it’s Jamboree day for West Seattle Little League, and games are under way 9 am-7 pm at Bar-S Fields. (64th/Admiral)
SEAFAIR COMMODORES BOWLATHON: 9:30 am-noon at West Seattle Bowl, it’s the annual bowling benefit for the Seafair Foundation Scholarship Program for Women, courtesy of the Seafair Commodores, as previewed here. (39th/Oregon)
HELP ‘DE-PAVE’ IN HIGHLAND PARK: 10 am until “however long it takes,” you’re invited to come help break up some of the pavement outside Highland Park Improvement Club as part of its greening project. Here’s our Thursday preview. (12th/Holden)
THE SERVICE BOARD GEAR SALE: 10 am-1 pm, The Service Board is selling winter gear at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, where tSB is based – details here. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
FRIENDSHOP POP-UP: At the West Seattle (Admiral) Branch Library, noon-4 pm pop-up shop with Seattle Public Library items you would otherwise have to go downtown to get! (2306 42nd SW)
SHOREWOOD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL AUCTION: 4:30 pm, doors open for this gala – details in our calendar listing. (10300 28th SW)
FAUNTLEROY CHILDREN’S CENTER AUCTION: 5:30 pm, doors open at The Hall at Fauntleroy – details in our calendar listing. (9131 California SW)
DENNY-SEALTH BIG BAND DINNER DANCE: 6 pm tonight at the Chief Sealth International High School/Denny International Middle School Galleria, it’s dinner and dancing to benefit the schools’ music programs – as previewed here. Dance tickets are available at the door and some dinner tickets might still be available – go here for info on how to check. (2600 SW Thistle)
TRANSYLVANIAN GALA: The Partner Church Ministry of Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation and East Shore Unitarian Church of Bellevue has its annual fundraising gala at WSUU beginning at 6 pm tonight; details in our calendar listing. (7141 California SW)
HOLLOW EARTH RADIO BENEFIT AT KENYON HALL: Happening tonight:
We have an amazing lineup of local musicians including, West Seattle’s Peter Fedofsky (Curtains for You), Septimus (Wheedles Groove), Tummy, Portland’s Mufassa and Taft Aro Space. All bands will be introduced by local Soul Legend, Pat Wright. You don’t want to miss this!! In addition to these incredible bands, we are having a RAFFLE for some pretty spectacular prizes. A brand new Jay Turser Telecaster from Trading Musician, gift certificates from Silver Platters, Georgetown Records, Pegasus Books, and a turntable from Radar Hair And Records! The first 10 people to donate $8 at the door get a free raffle ticket! All proceeds benefit the volunteer only run radio station. An all Ages show. Suggested donation is $8. Music begins promptly at 8 pm.
(7904 35th SW)
BE A PUNK ROCKER AT THE FEEDBACK LOUNGE: Ramones tribute tonight, Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9:30 pm. (6451 California SW)
And as always – MORE on our calendar!
As reported on partner site White Center Now, a suspect is in custody in connection with the Wednesday night shooting death of a 17-year-old Burien boy at 15th/Roxbury. We’ll continue updating the story there as we find out more, but did want to let you know here too, since the incident stirred some discussion.
That’s one big middle-school orchestra – more than 200 musicians joining together at Madison Middle School on Thursday as Madison hosted Seattle Public Schools‘ districtwide Middle School Orchestra Festival. Madison music teacher Clark Bathum, who invited us to stop by and check it out, explained it’s a chance for the young musicians from middle-school students all around the city to “participate in a joint rehearsal, clinic, and recording session.” Guest clinician was Kim Roy from Seattle Rock Orchestra and the West Seattle Community Orchestras:
The students rehearsed and performed two songs that were huge hits more than 40 years apart – The Beatles‘ “All You Need Is Love” and Adele‘s “Rolling in the Deep.”
Immediately above is our video of one of their runthroughs of the Beatles song; for the Adele song, we have an audio recording – listen to it here. Perhaps in honor of the occasion, a Beatles lunchbox was sighted on the sidelines – we were there right after lunch break:
Final count of musicians in attendance, Bathum told us, was 226.
The date is now set for the memorial service honoring Michael Hoffman, the West Seattle business owner and community supporter gone too soon at just 47. Len Burton-Hardin of Howden-Kennedy Funeral Home says the memorial will be at noon Saturday, April 5th, at the Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds). We also are told that donations in Mr. Hoffman’s memory can be made to Furry Faces Foundation and Pencil Me In For Kids, both of which recall him as an avid supporter. In addition to what we mentioned in our first report on his sudden death a week and a half ago – owning Liberty Bell Print and Design, and founding/organizing the annual West Seattle Car Show – he was part of many other community projects, as noted by some of the dozens of friends and colleagues who shared memories here.
Two sightings on Alki:
SIGHTING #1: Driving Alki Avenue a little earlier today, we noticed those signs along both sides of the Alki Bathhouse block (61st SW vicinity), announcing a temporary No Parking zone for 11 am-10 pm tomorrow (Saturday, March 22nd). The mandatory hard-copy notice attached to one sign explains that it’s for a “production shoot.” No further details so far.
SIGHTING #2: At first we wondered if this were related to #1, but a Twitter conversation threw cold water on the idea: Palm trees arrived today, further east on the beach, tweeted Connie (@EyeOnAlki). At first, that led to memories of 2011, when palm trees were brought in so that Alki could double as Florida during the filming of “Ira Finkelstein’s Christmas” (which has since been retitled “Switchmas“). But after we tweeted that observation (but before we could get to the beach for the photo below), Jen (@hildeborg) tweeted that Parks crew members told her they’ve planted two between 53rd-54th SW to see how they do – with more possibly to follow.
We’ll be checking with Parks for more on the palm plan.
Three development updates:
6900 BLOCK OF CALIFORNIA DEMOLITION: Three days ago, city published its land-use-permit-approval decision for the 30-apartments, no-parking project at 6917 California SW in south Morgan Junction. But the two houses torn down today (so far) are not for that site, but rather mostly (due to a lot-boundary adjustment) for the 4 townhouses and two single-family homes shown in city files as planned immediately north.
On to The Junction:
4439 41ST SW COMMENT EXTENSION: The Hope Lutheran Church/School community has been voicing concern about the 40-apartments, 5-parking-spaces proposal on the site above, which is across the alley from their campus, and the latest community update notes that the city has granted a two-week extension in the official comment period. (That’s always an option if requested before the original comment period on any proposal expires.) If you have something to say about the project, Bruce Rips is the assigned city planner, bruce.rips@seattle.gov.
CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE TOWNHOME-PROJECT UPDATE: The six townhouses proposed on the unofficial “park” site south of, and owned by, West Seattle Church of the Nazarene, now have an informational website, as announced by architect David Neiman, who says, “The website contains links to the plans and drawings that we showed at our neighborhood presentations, a project schedule, and a document outlining how the church intends to spend the proceeds from the development. We’ll be posting a draft of the proposed comp plan amendment by the end of the month, and we’ll post additional info as it develops.” The “comp(rehensive) plan amendment” refers to the zoning change required for the project to get approval; the “neighborhood presentations” include this one we video-recorded.
Looking for past WSB development coverage? It’s all archived here, newest to oldest.
(Chris Jordan on Midway, via Midway Journey photoset on Flickr)
School is almost out for the week at Chief Sealth International High School – and when its students return to class Monday, it will be a special occasion: The start of the fourth annual World Water Week “ideas festival.” You are invited to the keynote presentation Tuesday night by Chris Jordan, who addresses this year’s theme – plastic pollution – via a close-up look at one particular effect of the Pacific Ocean “garbage patch.” Here’s the official WWW overview:
Students, teachers, and members of Chief Sealth International High School community will come together for a week dedicated to raising awareness about global and local water issues during the fourth annual World Water Week. This year’s festival theme is plastic pollution.
On Tuesday, March 25, World Water Week presents keynote speaker, Chris Jordan. For the past few years, Jordan, a Seattle photographer, has immersed himself in a stunning environmental tragedy on Midway Island in the heart of the Pacific: the starvation of thousands of albatrosses who mistake floating plastic trash for food. Jordan will share his journey to Midway through stories, photos, and film, recounting his harrowing and redemptive journey into horror, beauty, grief, love, and — ultimately — healing. The event is co-sponsored by Town Hall Seattle and will take place in the Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium.
Students are currently fundraising to cover festival costs. Online contributions can be made here: http://www.global-visionaries.org/GLClassDonate
The 2014 World Water Week schedule includes:
● Monday/Tuesday, March 24-25: The student body will attend a student-led assembly that introduces the topic of global plastic pollution. The students will also participate in a synchronous all-school lesson about plastic pollution.
● Tuesday, March 25: Resource Fair with local water organizations from 6-7 p.m. with music and refreshments. Keynote lecture with Chris Jordan in the Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. This is the only public component of the festival.
● Wednesday, March 26: School-wide student conference with workshops for students with speakers from NOAA, King County Solid Waste Division, 5 Gyres, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, UW-Tacoma, Waste Management, Product Stewardship Institute, Tox-ick.org and others.
● Thursday, March 27: Students’ families will attend a Multicultural Night program that will feature activities about water and plastic pollution for all ages.
● Friday, March 28: Closing all-school assembly.
This festival is being organized by Chief Sealth International students Tasha Addington-Ferris, Aisaya Corbray, and Paloma Robertson along with teacher and mentor Noah Zeichner. The team works with a hard-working group of over 40 Chief Sealth students and teachers, in collaboration with several local organizations.
These students became interested in water issues after participating in the 2011 World Water Week festival put together by then-Sealth senior Molly Freed. In the summer of 2010, the Bezos Family Foundation selected Freed and Zeichner as Bezos Scholars — two of 12 scholar/educator pairs across the nation — to attend the Aspen Ideas Festival. At the festival, scholars were directed to create their own local Ideas Festival, and Freed and Zeichner developed the vision for World Water Week.
Here’s our coverage of the community kickoff night from that first-ever Sealth WWW; in 2012, we covered outdoor activities including a food walk and garden-building; last year’s focus was on sanitation issues, including a visit by world-famous “Mr. Toilet,” Jack Sim.
Thanks to Gary Jones for the photo: Seen from West Seattle, that’s the USCGC Polar Star (WAGB-10) entering Elliott Bay this morning after completing its ice-breaking mission in Antarctica. According to its infopage (linked to its name in that last line), it’s “one of the largest ships in the US Coast Guard and one of the world’s most powerful non-nuclear ships.” Here’s the USCG news release detailing what the Polar Star and its 140-person crew have done during their 108-day deployment.
(Photo by Don Brubeck via the WSB Flickr group)
Sunshine now, weekend on the way – what could be better? As we do most mornings, we’re taking a moment to look ahead at what’s happening today/tonight via the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (which has even more listings for today, tonight, and beyond):
SPA DAY AT WEST SIDE MOPS: 9:30-11:30 am, local businesses and service providers pamper the members of West Side MOPS for a blissful morning at West Side Presbyterian Church, the group’s regular meeting site. Details and participants in our calendar listing.
PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT: West Seattle High School students are raising money for a project to help fight hunger, and tonight they’re offering “Parents’ Night Out” babysitting to bring in some $. 5-10:30 pm – details in our preview, including how to check whether they’re all booked up or not. (3000 California SW)
FREE MOVIE NIGHT AT HPIC: Bring the family to Highland Park Improvement Club – 6:30 pm, doors open; 7 pm, movie time. No admission charge; concessions available for purchase; bring your own pillow/blanket and/or use an HPIC chair. Movie hint in our calendar listing. (12th/Holden)
RESTORATIVE YOGA: 6:30 pm with Milo Minnis at SoundYoga (WSB sponsor) – details here. (5639 California SW)
TONIGHT AT KENYON HALL: Kyleen Austin (guitar) and Andrew Emlen (cello) perform at the historic performance hall – details (including reservation info) in our calendar listing. 7:30 pm. (7904 35th SW)
That’s just a sampling of what’s on the calendar – follow the link and browse!
(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
So far, so good, as the Friday morning commute approaches the peak period. Tomorrow, meantime, is the day for Highway 99 to be closed all day – 4:30 am-7 pm, for the Alaskan Way Viaduct’s “followup inspection” and also for remaining work on the Spokane St. Overcrossing just south of the West Seattle Bridge.
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“We’ve organized this meeting because you requested it. … We’re here to listen and write down your comments.”
That’s how senior land-use planner Bruce Rips from the city Department of Planning and Development opened last night’s meeting at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center about the two-lots-into-eight subdivision proposal for the 42,000-square-foot greenbelt site at 6536 24th SW (map), describing himself as the “project facilitator.” Also on hand, DPD manager Jerry Suder, who has been in attendance at most of these types of meetings.
The two revealed that they’ve already asked the site owner/developer to respond to concerns that have come up during the city review, and are still awaiting answers. The big concerns about this site, as first reported here in January, involve what happens to the wildlife and wetland on the site, and how runoff will affect Longfellow Creek, steps away and already a flooding problem many years because of the area’s drainage woes, as shown in this photo by neighbor Cyndie Rokicki (the proposed-subdivision site is in the background, with the real-estate shingle):
Thanks to NP for the soccer report and photos: It was friendly-rivalry time at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point on Thursday as West Seattle High School defeated Chief Sealth International High School 2-1, “with freshman Akili Kasim in the goal box along with a young team on the field.” NP adds, “It was nice to see a [retired] Sealth teacher (Mrs. C) giving the West Seattle goalie a hug after a great win!”
Next up for WSHS, Franklin comes to play @ Southwest Athletic Complex at 4 pm Tuesday; next up for Sealth, it’s back to Walt Hundley for a 3:30 pm game against Cleveland that day.
(Cameron Slader making the play at third base)
Next up for West Seattle High School baseball – they’re playing at Safeco Field on Saturday! This follows a Thursday pre-season loss to Ballard, 3-1, with photos and summary courtesy of Greg Slader (thank you!):
Pitching and defense did their job Thursday, but the offense still lacks the clutch hits. Ben Wexler pitched three innings as he relied on his defense to hold Ballard to one run:
(Ben Wexler throwing a strike)
Offense struggled again to get going as the Only RBI hit was late in the Game. The Wildcats left plenty of base runners stranded and had plenty of opportunities late in the game.Next game is Saturday 4 pm @ Safeco Field vs. Issaquah. Tickets are FREE, sit anywhere you want. Parking is ½ price. Come support the team!
The seasons have officially changed – West Seattle’s NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen has carried off yet another successful sunset watch, something she’s been doing for 20 equinoxes and solstices – that’s 5 years of season changes. At Solstice Park, she showed young attendees how to practice telescope/microscope techniques on tissue tubes. And when it was time to demonstrate what the equinox means to our planet, she had an even younger helper:
That’s Alice’s almost-3-year-old daughter Vera, who made a few orbits of the globe that Alice uses as a prop. The sunset, meantime, cooperated, and put on its own show:
Those, Alice explained, are crepuscular rays. The ~20 people who showed up tonight just got lucky with the sunset show.
In addition to her own website Alice’s Astro Info – where the summer-solstice sunset-viewing event is already scheduled for June 21st! – Alice is also our Skies Over West Seattle correspondent, with periodic updates on what to watch for, from comets to eclipses and more.
(Vigor photo)
That’s state Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson breaking a bottle against the new Washington State Ferries vessel M/V Tokitae, during its christening ceremony today at Vigor Industrial on Harbor Island. The $137 million ferry is 362 feet long, the first vessel in the 144-car Olympic Class; the second one, Samish, is also being built at Vigor, and a third one is being planned. Tokitae is expected to start service on the Mukilteo-Clinton route in June. The announcement of today’s christening notes that building Tokitae meant 500 jobs at Vigor and subcontractors in the state, adding that it’s “on budget and on schedule,” as is Samish.
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB, added 9:37 pm)
8:32 PM: On the way home from a meeting, we have spotted Guardian One circling north of High Point. Not sure yet what’s going on, but we’re checking.
8:40 PM: One commenter reports what appears to be a search in High Point.
8:45 PM: Tweet from Guardian One confirms it.
9:18 PM: Found the house on which police had converged, along SW Juneau a couple blocks east of 35th; added a photo. Commenter “Soul Cat“ adds some context.
9:33 PM: New information via WSB’s Christopher Boffoli and Katie Meyer: Christopher confirmed at the scene that it was a narcotics warrant – adding his images shortly. Katie reports that scanner traffic indicated at least two people in custody.
Congratulations to the award-winning West Seattle High School String Orchestra! WSHS music teacher Ethan Thomas shares the photo and report:
The West Seattle High School String Orchestra traveled to Bellingham on March 14th to participate in the Western Washington University Orchestra Festival. The Orchestra had a chance to perform for a panel of college professors and received a personalized clinic by renowned violinist and educator Dr. Chung Park. Our students performed very well and received a silver category award for their hard work.
Lots of city surveys these days, and today there’s another one: This time, it’s focused on the search for a new Seattle Department of Transportation director. It’s a short survey and includes questions about how you think SDOT is doing – what’s going well, what could be better. Here’s the survey link; here’s the info page with more ways to get involved in the process.
Having a rough week? Saturday brings a volunteer project that might be a way to get out your frustrations. It’s happening at Highland Park Improvement Club, where a “greening” is under way, as envisioned in the plan above. Here’s what’s happening Saturday, for the next step toward that “greening”:
We’re building an oasis in the asphalt – a courtyard, replacing a portion of the parking lot with permeable pavers and more gardens. So we have some asphalt that needs to be ripped up and taken away. Bring your muscles and whatever you need to vent this Saturday and help us hoist chunks of asphalt outta here. The asphalt will be prepped, scored and ready to rumble into a big Dumpster that will cart it away.
We will start at 10 am till however long it takes. Lunch will be provided and activities for all ages. And yes, there will be beer and other refreshments after all that hard work.
HPIC is at 12th/Holden.
5:10 PM UPDATE: A little advance depaving is going on today – Highland Park Action Committee co-chair Carolyn Stauffer just shared this photo:
Just a start!
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