West Seattle, Washington
31 Monday
(Alki Tavern file photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Just got word from Alki Tavern (and confirmed it with a phone call to be sure) – they’ve decided at the last minute to have a memorabilia auction TONIGHT, before closing for good this weekend:
Sorry for the late notice but today Wednesday March 13th at 7 p.m. we are having an auction for all of our of memorabilia, neon signs, mirrors, etc.
Registration starts at 6 p.m. auction is at 7 p.m. at the Alki Tavern, 1321 Harbor Avenue Southwest. Live auction please bring cash. Last day we are open is March 17th.
(Proposed massing for the development; rendering courtesy Nicholson Kovalchick Architects)
Just got word from a spokesperson for the 166-apartment 3210 California SW development that its Early Design Guidance meeting, scheduled for tomorrow, has been postponed because of an error – “when the notice was published, one of the property parcels was not included.” Area residents confirm to WSB that they had sent the Department of Planning and Development a letter this past Monday asking for the postponement because of the error:
The February 21, 2013 Bulletin shows the development terminating at the southern edge of 3234 California Ave SW. In contrast, the design packet shows that actual boundary of the development is the south edge of 3240 California Ave. SW. This is a difference of 95 feet and 9675 square feet. The drawing of the project site on the Bulletin is more than 20% smaller than what is actually proposed. According to the Bulletin, several parcels on 42nd near the south end of the proposed development do not appear to share a boundary with the new building. In reality, the proposed five-story building will directly abut their property lines.
The Seattle DPD must provide proper notice that accurately reflects the size and share of the proposed development. The existing notice misrepresents the size of the development by more than 20% and does not comply with code.
The meeting cancellation is confirmed on the city website, but the new date is not listed yet; the development team expects it to be March 28th – already scheduled for the next meeting on the 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW megaproject – but we’re waiting to hear confirmation from the city. The “packet,” they say, will remain the same. If you still want to show up tomorrow night, 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, the development team plans an “informal briefing” but with the caveat that “the board is not required to attend, there is no public comment taken, nor does (city) staff provide any guidance.” We’ll update this story when we hear back from the city about the new date for the official meeting
(Lauren Englund in photo from May 2012 WSB story)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
When we first introduced you to Lauren Englund in May of last year, she had an idea – saving honey bees through education, by setting up an educational/observational hive – and needed help to make the dream come true.
It’s a dream with an underpinning of urgency – without bees, our lives are at risk.
Now – after community meetings, and a blossoming group of helpers (including Christine Bartels, at left in our photo above with Lauren on the right) – the dream is close to reality, in the form of the West Seattle Bee Garden, set to launch next to the High Point Commons Park P-Patch with a parade this May.
Right now, though, the next stage needs even more help – and that’s where you come in.
Part of it involves crowdfunding, through an IndieGoGo campaign that’s under way, to augment the Department of Neighborhoods matching-fund grant that’s helping fuel the project, as well as rallying volunteers for upcoming work parties.
We talked with Lauren at the Bee Garden site one recent gray, chilly day. The bees’ future home was only timber in the ground, but she painted a bright picture of the pollination garden that will bloom in this area east of the future bee enclosure:
And she rhapsodized about the expected visits from students and community members finding out about bees’ crucial role in our ecosystem.
The framework that’s there now will house the bees’ home as well as observation areas and informational features. They might even have webcams so people can check in online. The entryway to the garden will have a two-sided mosaic.
The stars of the show of course will be the bees themselves, which will come from local beekeepers, will arrive in style, with a community parade. There will be two hives for starters – “local genes, local DNA, no chemicals, no pesticides.”
What the West Seattle Bee Garden needs right now is “dollars, and bodies,” says Lauren – help in the form of work-party participation in April and May, starting April 6th – sign up here – and donations to the IndieGoGo campaign – do that here. You can get in on pavers to be placed in the garden, at a certain donation level, as well as other contribution rewards, as is typical in the crowdfunding world. (Check them out on the right side of the IndieGogo page.)
The High Point Neighborhood Association is sponsoring the picnic and parade that will celebrate the bees’ arrival at 11 am May 19th – with a marching band leading the way! The bees will be marched in, in a sealed container, as part of a festival-like atmosphere – Lauren expects games, arts, crafts, even food trucks all around the park.
The festival is only the beginning – then, the first summer of bee-watching, bee-tending, pollination, and education will begin. Lauren hopes the West Seattle Bee Garden will teach people about pesticides, and how they affect bees (among other beneficial insects) – it’s not as simple as it seems when you grab a product off the shelf at a store. And it’ll be an opportunity for people to learn other things about bees – why they swarm, for example.
Nearby West Seattle Elementary is already involved in the project and other schools are welcome to join, she adds – including being part of the parade.
P.S. Here’s the plant list so far for the pollination garden; Lauren notes that it’s “specific to good pollinators for honey bees,” but they hope to incorporate plants that also are conducive to “butterflies, mason bees, hummingbirds, bumblebees, etc.”
Hellebore (late winter)
Crocus (late winter)
Witch Hazel (late winter)
Iris (spring)
Oregon Grape (spring)
Alpine Strawberry (spring)
Japanese Snowbell Tree (summer)
Chives (summer)
Lupine (summer)
Echinacea (summer)
Bee Balm (summer)
Black Eyed Susan (summer)
Geranium Sanguineum (summer)
Borage (summer)
Asters (late summer)
She hopes that eventually, there will be plants to bloom year-round. But again, it’s time now to jump in and help – work-party signups here, contributions here, and if you have questions or ideas – e-mail westseattlebeegarden@gmail.com, and check the website, which includes a photo gallery, FAQ, and updates.
Today we officially welcome Bird on a Wire as one of the newest WSB sponsors. Haven’t been there lately? It’s become much more than a coffee shop, as proprietor Heidi Herr explains:
“I opened Bird on a Wire (BoaW) in 2002 after many years in the espresso business. I literally got to the point that I knew more than someone who was about to hire me for their coffee shop … this got me thinking I should give it a whirl myself! We have been open now for almost 11 years in a amazing/small/supportive neighborhood at the south end of West Seattle – an often forgotten area of WS. With a good product and a loyal following, we celebrated our tenth year in June 2012!
“There wasn’t much down here in 2002. The ‘hood was hungry (thirsty) for something and we provided a consistent, quality product, a friendly environment, and a hub for neighbors to meet. Our quality and coffee are #1; our staff is always friendly and we keep things new and fresh. You meet people and make friends here – it’s always been that way. Their trust in me and my staff’s coffee skills has given room for us to introduce more food options – soups, sandwiches, small plates – all made IN HOUSE, as well as beer and wine!
“I support local vendors and believe in a sustainable/no-waste approach to business/life. I willingly (for free) provide coffee grounds to the local P-Patches. I believe that we need to support brick and mortars in order for our economy to be strengthened. I have lived in West Seattle since 1998 and grew up in North Seattle (Roosevelt High School). I am a retired founding member of the Rat City Rollergirls and currently coach for Tilted Thunder Rail Birds, Seattle’s only banked-track roller derby league. I am on the advisory board for Theatre Off Jackson – an indie theater in the International District.”
Did we mention outdoor seating as well as indoor?
Bird on a Wire is at 3509 SW Henderson (map), online at birdonawireespresso.com, and on Facebook here, where you’ll find frequent updates on food and drink highlights and also The Bird’s hours – till 9 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays, till 4 pm Mondays and Sundays.
We thank Bird on a Wire for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
.
(Red-breasted merganser photographed near Alki by Danny McMillin; shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Five highlights for the rest of today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BOOK FAIR: All West Seattle families are welcome at a book fair under way till 4 pm to help boost reading skills for school success. It’s at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way).
CO-WORKING IN WEST SEATTLE: WS Office Junction invites you to Mind Unwind (2206 California SW), noon-1 pm today, to talk about ongoing plans, work parties, and more as they advance toward a long-term co-working space in West Seattle.
JOB SEARCH WORKSHOP: Today 3:30-5 pm at South Seattle Community College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor), take a look at whether starting your own business might be your best option for working and making a living. The workshop’s free; details in our calendar listing.
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: West Seattle’s largest political organization meets tonight at 7 at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW), with the agenda (see it here) including an initiative to require labeling of food containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the formal endorsement of King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s re-election campaign.
‘NEXT FALL’ PREMIERES: 7:30 pm at ArtsWest, it’s opening night for the Seattle premiere of “Next Fall,” a Tony-nominated play directed by Cindy Bradder and starring Christopher Zinovitch.
LOTS MORE FOR TODAY/TONIGHT … on our frequently updated calendar – take a look!
Right after the spring equinox, you can start getting in the summertime mood with the Seafair Commodores – without leaving West Seattle! Their 21st annual Bowl-A-Thon is a week and a half away at West Seattle Bowl, and there’s still time for you to sign up. From chief of staff Kathryn Bohot:
SAVE THE DATE! And join the Seafair Commodores and friends at West Seattle Bowl on Saturday, March 23rd, from 10 am until noon as they host the 21st Annual Seafair Commodores Bowl-A-Thon. The event is held as the primary fundraiser for the Commodores. The proceeds go to the Seafair Scholarship Program for Women. Each year we work diligently to support Ms. Seafair and the Princess Court as they represent Seattle and Seafair at events across the Pacific Northwest.
Young women from the greater Seattle Communities apply for scholarship funds as well as the honor of representing Seattle and Seafair as Ms. Seafair. All candidates are judged on their academic abilities and must support a volunteer platform and be active throughout the year.
Mark your calendars and come out for a day of fun activities; make new friends, and support education.
Where: West Seattle Bowl, 4505 39th SW
When: Saturday, March 23rd
Time: 10 am sharp until NoonContributions: $50 per bowler or $250 for a team. Children under 12 bowl for $20 each
To register a team today or questions e-mail Kathryn Bohot, Chief of Staff at chiefofstaff@seattlecommodores.com.
For more information on the Seattle Seafair Commodores and the Seafair Scholarship Program for Women, go the www.seafaircommodores.com
The Commodores have many other Seafair duties too – they assist with a variety of events including the Seafair-sanctioned West Seattle Grand Parade (July 20th this year, by the way).
(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:03 AM: Welcome to Wednesday. No major alerts for today/tonight so far – not even for the weekend ahead. If you’re a Metro rider, “Eye on Your Metro Commute” features advisories. If you see traffic trouble – call or text 206-293-6302 when you safely/legally can (no texting/calling and driving!) – thank you.
12:09 PM: SDOT says the signboards are finally fixed:
The equipment for the Variable Messaging Signs (VMSs), which provides travel times for drivers coming out of West Seattle, has been repaired and the system operation is fully restored.
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
It was a lesson to remember. West Seattle Montessori teacher Matt Whittemore invited us to stop by as he fired up a hands-on learning experience in his backyard last Saturday. Whittemore’s class (the Horned Owls 1-3) has been studying early man; their culminating project was glazing pottery and seeing it fired in a backyard kiln and pots in the Raku pottery method. WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams captured the scenes.
“Our unit of study coincided with our study of early man and his basic needs and our yearly school auction,” Whittemore explained. “During our class conversations, we talked about basic needs such as eating, shelter, and clothes and where those items came from. The goal was to get the students thinking about what it might have been like to have to discover everything. Humans only had their natural resources to learn, utilize, and adapt from. So, I did some research on the ‘Raku’ style of pottery and took on the project.”
“The kids made the pots in the classroom in small groups. We air-dried them and then Bethany Woll bisque-fired them to remove any moisture and prepare them for glazing.”
As one person put it at Monday night’s monthly North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting, it was “transportation theme night” – starring an explanation of the impending reduction of parking on SW Genesee plus a brief brainstorming round for Delridge Way’s future, also featuring an update on Delridge Grocery, formerly Delridge Produce Cooperative. Read on:
In the 4700 block of Delridge Way SW a few hours ago, a resident apparently rattled the potential burglar who had just rattled her door:
I was by myself and heard the side door being rattled and thought it strange since my husband wasn’t coming home until later this evening. As I came down the stairs, I saw a young (approximately 18 – 20 years old) thin, African American guy with his navy parka hood covering his entire face except his eyes peering into the door. We made eye contact as I was coming down the stairs to investigate, and I turned around and went upstairs to get my cell phone to call 911.
The police responded immediately and after making sure he was no longer around, I showed the officer a large piece of concrete that was on the ground close to the door that wasn’t there when I got home. After some discussion, I showed the police officer the back door to where the would-be burglar could have exited via the alley since the other police officers did not find him on Delridge. And it was there that the officer found a pile of concrete debris (from which) the suspect had gotten the piece he was going to use to break the glass on our door with.
I just wanted to let you know, since it is still pretty bright out at 6:20 pm and this guy was pretty audacious to attempt this.
We checked the police-report map – no other burglaries shown in that area in the past week.
7:09 PM: We’re at Alki Bathhouse with more than thirty people as Seattle Police start their first meeting about the surveillance-camera system originally reported here on WSB. Leading off the meeting, Assistant Chief Paul McDonagh, who we interviewed about the system back on February 1st. Also here, Det. Monty Moss, who has led some of the briefings, and a full complement of citywide media, plus other SPD personnel (including from the public affairs/media relations office, Sgt. Sean Whitcomb and Det. Jeff Kappel). Moss is making a background-information slide presentation, similar so far to the ones he gave to the City Council’s Public Safety, Civil Rights, and Technology Committee on February 20th as well as to the Alki Community Council the next night. (Added: Unedited WSB video of the entire hour-and-a-half meeting:)
7:12 PM: Det. Moss says they should be “done with the installation by the end of this month” and are continuing to work on policies regarding the cameras’ usage. He says two cameras are being installed “as we speak” in the Ballard Locks area, and they’re still seeking a location along Seaview, “but it will not be in Golden Gardens Park.” Closer to here, he says the Terminals 5 and 18 cameras are now installed. After discussing the camera locations, he’s showing the video demonstration about how the “privacy masking” will work, and noting that the frame rate for the video will be 5 to 7 frames per second, about a quarter of what TV broadcasts use. He says the video is recorded with the masking, and that it cannot be removed afterward – no matter what the cameras wind up picking up.
He also describes the antenna arrays for the “wireless mesh” portion of the system, which is expected to be used by other agencies from Metro to Seattle Fire, which will use it in some areas as its primary means of communication, according to Det. Moss.
The crowd continues to grow – probably closer to 40 now.
**CONTINUING AHEAD, THE REST OF OUR AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE, PLUS NOTES FROM AFTERWARD**Read More
Just announced by Seattle Parks, via their Parkways website:
Seattle Parks and Recreation will close all recreational facilities tomorrow, March 13, from 12:30 to 2:30 so that Parks employees can meet with their leaders and talk to Parks management about the shooting that took place at Parks’ Densmore Ave. N facility on Friday, March 8.
This meeting will give the recreation staff time with their management team and with counselors. Affected facilities are community centers, pools, environmental learning centers and the Amy Yee Tennis Center.
Starting tomorrow, you can help the West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) celebrate its 25th anniversary by buying a ticket for a unique raffle: The winner gets a four-minute shopping spree to gather up to $500 in house-brand Western Family merchandise. Tickets will be sold tomorrow through March 27th for just $1 each, and the proceeds benefit West Seattle Food Bank. The store has a lot to remember and celebrate; staff member Michele Grasso is quoted in the announcement: “I have never worked anywhere else that has been so involved with its community. So many of us are locals, or have worked here for so long that it’s like we’ve grown up with West Seattle. We’ve been through a lot with you – we even survived a fire!”
That fire happened in March 1997 and destroyed the building previously housing West Seattle Thriftway, founded in 1988 by Paul and Connie Kapioski. While it was closed for rebuilding, they even ran a weekly bus to then-Admiral Thriftway for senior citizens who needed help to get to the store.
Before it burned, the store faced Fauntleroy Way SW; now, while it’s on the same site, it faces California SW, with an in-store Chase Bank branch as well as an in-store dining area next to its deli, bakery, and Chinese food counter. Notes the announcement:
West Seattle Thriftway supports their local Food Bank on a daily basis with food donations, and in this economic environment with so many in need they hope to see this event as an additional way to help the surrounding community and have some fun at the same time. In the last fiscal year, families visited the West Seattle Food Bank 37,943 times.
The store supports many other community charities in ways including summertime benefit barbecue lunches outside the store, like this one for WestSide Baby last summer:
Along with buying raffle tickets starting tomorrow, you have two more ways to help West Seattle Thriftway celebrate its silver anniversary: Next Monday, March 18th, they’ll commemorate the grand reopening post-fire, including a celebratory cake from Creme de la Creme Bakery – customers get a slice! And on Saturday, March 30th, at 9 am, it’s the annual Easter Egg Hunt, which usually draws quite a crowd:
(WSB photo from 2012 Easter Egg Hunt)
If you’re new in town and don’t know – West Seattle Thriftway is in Morgan Junction, on the southeast corner of California and Fauntleroy (with a parking entrance from 42nd on the east side, too).
(Photo courtesy Sharon Bang)
Almost four months after announcing new plans for the former Beachside Café/ex-Alki Bakery at 61st/Alki, its owners say they’re hoping to open next week – Wednesday, March 20th. They’ve changed the new name a bit; now it’s Bada Bistro. “We will open for dinner the first week, add happy hour the following week, lunch will follow, and brunch to be added for weekends in April,” co-owner Sharon Bang tells WSB. Dinner will start at 5 pm; happy hour at 3 pm. She adds, “I realize that many were wondering what is going on in the space with no updated news for a long period of time. We really wanted to bring something special to the location, and it took more time getting things ready.” Here’s a notice Sharon says they’ve posted on the door, announcing their chef, and more about their menu and beverage plans:
John and Sharon Bang, local family restaurateurs, knew they wanted to open a Pacific Rim inspired American bistro with Chef John David Crow in mind. John David, a graduate of the California Culinary Academy, is a native Seattleite with an impressive and eclectic background. He spent years as the Executive Chef of the Space Needle as well as the Executive Chef of the Union Square Grill. He also opened The Brooklyn with Alvin Binuya, chef and partner of Ponti Seafood Grill, a mentor from whom Chef John gained much of his early knowledge of Pacific- Asian cuisine.
Most recently, John has served as Corporate Executive Chef at The Moorings Resort in the Florida Keys in addition to opening a popular Nashville restaurant, 360 Bistro, before returning to Seattle to start Bada Bistro here on Alki Beach. We describe our food as a beachside bistro, Seattle in flavor, with a definite Pacific Rim influence.
Bada is also a craft bar; we are the only scratch bar on Alki. We infuse our own spirits, use only fresh juices, and make our own syrups and bitters. Our wine list is well balanced and eclectic. We don’t chase labels, and we don’t serve merlot. We support our local brewers, while promoting global peace with a diverse line-up of tap handles.
At our Bistro we want to provide you with the opportunity to try new things, travel outside your comfort zone and enjoy a new seasoning, hop or grape. We want to make varietals the spice of life; we want to mix and match ingredients that have crossed all seven seas as well as those born and raised right here in the Northwest. The world is our oyster, and we have the best oysters on the beach.
It’s been two years since Sharon and husband John Bang, who also own Alki Café across the street, took over the ex-Alki Bakery space, whose former ownership closed it abruptly in November 2010.
(Click image to get PDF with full-size view)
Phase 2 of the yearlong Delridge Way SW repaving project is about to begin (as first noted here March 1st). Just in from SDOT, the detour map (above) that takes effect next week when work moves to the Thistle-to-Trenton stretch for two-plus months. Here’s the official announcement:
Starting the week of March 18, southbound Delridge Way Southwest traffic will be detoured at Southwest Thistle Street in West Seattle to facilitate roadway reconstruction and storm drain installations. This work is Phase 2 of the Seattle Department of Transportation’s Delridge Way Southwest Paving Project that is rebuilding much of Delridge Way Southwest between Southwest Orchard and Southwest Roxbury streets.
Traffic will be directed:
· West on SW Thistle Street
· South on 35th Avenue SW
· East on SW Trenton Street
· South on Delridge Way SWThe detour is expected to be in place until early June 2013. Northbound traffic on Delridge Way Southwest will be maintained. Local access and access to businesses will be maintained during project work.
This is a five-phase project. At the completion of Phase 2, the construction activity will move to the Phase 3 section of Delridge Way Southwest between Southwest Thistle and Southwest Holden streets.
We’ve had an inquiry out for a while to Car2Go, asking for more details of their West Seattle expansion plans. Though they haven’t replied, we do have some new info thanks to the agenda for today’s City Council Transportation Committee meeting, which included their proposed map – here’s how West Seattle looks on it:
The darker blue area is the proposed “home area” – according to Car2Go, you can drive outside it, but you can’t leave a car outside it. They describe it in a letter to Transportation Committee chair Councilmember Tom Rasmussen:
As seen in the map below, we would like to include parts of West Seattle, including North Admiral, North Delridge, Alki, Seaview, High Point, and Fauntleroy Cove. The south boundary would be extended to Fauntleroy Way SW, SW Morgan Street, Sylvan Way SW, SW Orchard Street, Dumar Way SW, SW Holden Street, and Highland Park Way SW. The eastern boundary would be West Marginal Way SW, the West Seattle Bridge, and Harbor Ave SW. The home zone would expand all the way to Puget Sound to the West and North.
So most of southern West Seattle is out of luck for now – except for the sliver by the ferry docks. The main point of today’s Transportation Committee item was that Car2Go wants to increase its fleet to 500 cars – almost 200 more than it has in Seattle now. Brian Hawksford from Councilmember Rasmussen’s office tells us the plan won unanimous approval this morning and goes to the full City Council next Monday.
(P.S. Hat tip to Bruce Nourish for the map tip via Twitter.)
(Photo from King County Assessor’s Office website)
On the west edge of The Junction, the site of that little brick office building at 4535 44th SW is proposed for a new apartment building, 4 stories and 31 units. Here’s the project page on the city website. West Seattle-founded Nicholson Kovalchick is the architecture firm on the project, according to a preliminary site plan filed with the city that uses the term “micros” to describe the project (here’s more on the “micro-apartments” trend). The information on file is very preliminary so there is no mention of parking plans; it appears from an online notation that the project will go through the design-review process, though no meeting date is on the schedule yet. (Hat tip to DJC for first word of this.)
(Anna’s Hummingbird along Elliott Bay – photo by David Hutchinson)
From the long list of events for today/tonight on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar, five major events:
HIGH-SCHOOL SOCCER: Both West Seattle HS and Chief Sealth IHS‘s boys-soccer teams are in action today – WSHS is on the road at Ingraham at 3:30 pm, Sealth is home (SW Athletic Complex, 2801 SW Thistle) vs. Rainier Beach at 4 pm.
SURVEILLANCE-CAMERAS MEETING: The first Seattle Police-presented public meeting about the federally funded waterfront system of cameras whose installation began unannounced in late January. 7 pm, Alki Bathhouse (61st and Alki). Here’s the SPD announcement published on their site last Friday night; here’s our ongoing coverage (archived newest-to-oldest).
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: The monthly board meeting, 7 pm, Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW), public welcome.
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Monthly meeting, 7 pm, basement meeting room at Admiral Congregational Church (California/Hill), public welcome. (Here’s the agenda.)
INFORMATIONAL MEETING AT WESTSIDE SCHOOL’S NEW LOCATION: 7 pm, 2nd of two meetings at Hillcrest Presbyterian Church (10404 34th SW) to explain Westside School (WSB sponsor) plans to buy and renovate the church. Here’s the flyer.
PLEASE SEE OUR CALENDAR for many more events happening today/tonight and beyond – just go here.
Less than two months after longtime Fauntleroy Church minister Rev. David Kratz‘s retirement, an interim minister is on the way. Judy Pickens shares the announcement:
Fauntleroy Church UCC has appointed the Rev. Eric Dale as interim minister, starting on Palm Sunday (March 24).
Ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1981, he has served interim pastorates with the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church, and most recently, an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregation in Elko, Nevada. He has also served as a campus minister. He received his M.Div. from the Pacific School of Religion in 1980.
Rev. Dale will serve the Fauntleroy congregation for 12-18 months, providing full pastoral care as well as guidance through the process of calling a “settled” minister to replace the Rev. David Kratz, who retired at the end of January.
Rev. Kratz had served at Fauntleroy Church for more than a quarter-century, as reported here during his final week on the job. The church itself is more than a century old, having celebrated its centennial in 2008.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Busy day for traffic/transit tips on Monday – we’ll see what today brings. For downtown bus riders, here’s the reminder about a key stop change all week long:
From Monday, March 11 at 9:00 AM until Friday, March 15 at 2:00 PM, the bus stop westbound on Columbia St at 2nd Av will be closed due to construction.
During that time, board the RapidRide C Line and routes 21 Express, 55, 56, 57, 120 and 125 east of the closed stop, at the temporary stop southbound on 3rd Av just north of Columbia Street.
Bus service is not rerouted. All West Seattle service will continue to travel via Columbia St to the Alaskan Way Viaduct during this closure.
Thanks to Robert for pointing out the importance of that alert.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch cases tonight – and three reader reports from earlier. 
First, we have information now from police regarding the reason for a search around the Fairmount Park and Triangle areas – a street robbery in the 4700 block of 40th SW (map) around 8:30 pm. According to Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams, the victim said he was confronted by a white man in his 20s wearing a gray hoodie and demanding money. “The suspect struck the victim on his head with an object that the victim described as a handgun, took some cash, then ran off. Patrol officers and a K-9 unit checked the area but were unable to locate the suspect. The victim did not require any medical attention.”
A few hours later, 911 received multiple calls – and we received a note – about possible gunshots heard in the Gatewood/south Morgan Junction area; our note was from someone near Gatewood Elementary. We have not yet heard if there was any confirmation of gunfire, such as casings or property damage; we’ll check again later.
Ahead, three Crime Watch reader reports, two with photos – a stolen bike to look for; a car-prowling MO to watch out for; and another garage break-in:Read More
Before the day ends, we do want to make note that we are now exactly two months away from West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – Saturday, May 11th, 2013. If you’re new to the area and/or WSB, this is not one big sale, but rather one big DAY of sales all over the peninsula, big and small and inbetween. This year marks the ninth annual WSCGSD, the sixth one that WSB will coordinate/present. We’re already starting to get phone calls, but no, registration is not open yet. We expect to accept signups starting Monday, April 1st. What you get for a nominal fee is a spot on the map, an online “ad” (also listed as text in the map packet), and promotion, promotion, promotion – not just to our audiences/collaborators/followers on the Web and social media, but also to hundreds of thousands of others via promotion/advertising that we seek out around the region. So note those two dates: If you are a prospective seller, April 1st, signups begin; whether you are a buyer or a seller, May 11th is the big day, when West Seattle becomes the Garage Sale Capital of Western Washington (if not beyond). Watch for updates not only here but also on the official WSCGSD website, the WSCGSD Facebook page (as well as the WSB FB page), and the WSB Twitter feed.
More news from the King County Ferry District, including a followup on part of this morning’s report:
The Ferry District board chair, West Seattle’s County Councilmember Joe McDermott, shared the view from his office as the county’s new maintenance and moorage barge arrived from Tacoma – that’s it on the center-left side of the photo. It’s 40′ by 120′ and was built mostly in Portland, then towed to Tacoma for the final phase of work. It has a few more weeks of work to go, hooking up utilities and so on, before it’s ready for use.
This afternoon, the Ferry Board’s executive committee approved the letter we mentioned this morning, officially accepting the transfer of the Spirit of Kingston, no longer needed after a passenger run ended between Seattle and Kingston. It’s an 8-year-old, 65-foot catamaran that was at first proposed to be used as a Water Taxi backup, though, checking Ferry District meeting records, we note Marine Division staff recommended that it become the primary West Seattle vessel. (We’ll check on where that stands.)
The two older boats on the West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxi runs don’t have to hang on too much longer; the executive committee also was briefed this afternoon on the county’s plan to put out RFPs (requests for proposals) by month’s end for two new aluminum catamarans with capacity up to 250 passengers. An earlier step in the process drew qualified responses from Bellingham’s All American Marine and a team led by Seattle’s Kvichak Marine, according to the newest Water Taxi newsletter. If the process proceeds as planned, the first boat may be delivered in the third quarter of next year, with the second one a few months later. The current boats are leased, not owned.
| 10 COMMENTS