West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“It’s going to be hard,” acknowledged Liberty Bell Printing owner Michael Hoffman, talking with WSB this evening to announce the closure of his Junction storefront after December 22nd.
He wants to stress that he is NOT closing the business itself – Liberty Bell Printing and Design will continue serving customers, just not from a retail storefront.
Liberty Bell Printing is The Junction’s fourth-oldest business (after Husky Deli, Menashe and Sons Jewelers, and Terjung’s House of Gifts), says Hoffman, who has owned it for 10 years (out of the 38 total that have passed since it was founded). He says the decision to close is simply financial – “economic changes, technology changes; we don’t need to have a storefront any more.”
(WSB photos by Ellen Cedergreen)
What’s in the box? Part of the more than $400 collected by West Seattle Brownies who gathered tonight at Holy Rosary School. The money’s going to Union Gospel Mission, where it’ll buy more than 200 hot meals to feed people in need. The centerpiece of tonight’s event, which gathered five troops of 2nd and 3rd graders from all over West Seattle, was exchanging and decorating cookies:
And that gave them the chance to make new friends – celebrated toward the end of the event, as they sang their “Friendship Song”:
Coming up, local Girl Scouts will deliver birthday-cake-making kits to local food banks in honor of the 150th anniversary this fall of Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low.
1:30 AM UPDATE: Rosina Geary just sent word of the final totals from Monday night’s event:
We had 5 troops (60 Brownie Girl Scouts) in attendance tonight. We will donate 60 dozen cookies to the Union Gospel Mission. And the COMBINED TOTAL spare change collected from all 5 troops was $479.60. This will provide 250 hot Christmas Meals at the Union Gospel Mission.
The spare change, she adds, took three hours to count! The participating troops were #40890, #40699, #43253, #42472, and #40681.
Big competition tonight at the West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival‘s combined monthly membership meeting and holiday party. Main order of business: Pitches and voting for next year’s float theme. Junior Court Princess Riley Fredericks had the winning idea, and even made a model for her pitch: Sparkling Seattle, celebrating some of the best and brightest in our city.
That was one of six proposed themes, and the competition was so close, three rounds of voting were needed to come up with a winner (and even then, it was close). The others included a space concept, a flight theme, a space-aliens-signifying-everyone’s-welcome-in-WS theme, a circus motif, and the “wild, wild Northwest.” Next step: Sketches by float designer Steve Fisher, who was among the two dozen or so people at the meeting inside the St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church Hall. Also tonight, a Hi-Yu tradition: The plaques and trophies from the previous parade season are given to individual royalty members for caretaking; this year, the “Dreams Do Come True” float won five awards, at the
(Photos courtesy Hope Lutheran School)
That’s Tracy Dart, West Seattle breast-cancer survivor and activist, high-fiving a Hope Lutheran student at the end of the fifth-grade class’s special journey. Hope’s Bil Hood explains:
Last fall the Fifth Grade Class at Hope Lutheran School decided to do what they could to help out Team Tracy as they participated in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for breast cancer research. It started with writing encouraging letters that the members of Team Tracy could read while they were participating in the walk and grew from there.
The students wanted to walk as well. They decided that they would not be able to do 60 miles, like the members of the 3-Day did, but they could walk around the block. And for the last several weeks, they hit the street in all kinds of weather aiming to walk 60 laps.
Last Friday they were joined by Tracy herself and other members of Team Tracy as they completed their 60th lap around the block.
By the way – tonight’s the night that Team Tracy is the beneficiary of the first-ever fundraising Monday Night Scrabble tournament at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor) – starting at 7:15 pm
Two notes came in over the weekend asking about what appeared to be an FBI SWAT team raid early Friday at a home on Genesee Hill. We have finally confirmed what that was about. It’s a case you might already have seen in regional/national media, though the stories published so far did not mention the “Seattle” arrest was in West Seattle. Agents arrested a suspect, 40-year-old Arkansas resident Mark Krause, who was visiting someone here who by all accounts has no tie to the case. Krause is accused of placing a homemade explosive device six months ago at a church in Osage, Arkansas, that was serving as a polling place (which is why this is a federal case). The device was inside a soda can, and that’s what several people thought it was when they picked it up at the church and moved it around in subsequent hours until someone noticed it had wiring.
Sometimes, it’s not what you see that makes the story, it’s what you don’t see. In this case, we noticed the “for sale” sign is finally gone from outside the long-vacant, often-vandalized Shoremont Apartments at 2464 Alki SW, 6 months after two notes brought first word the sign had gone up. We checked with agent Steven Chattin, who confirms a purchase deal has closed. However, he says, the client requested no discussion of the details – rather than listing it for a certain asking price, after a bank had taken possession, they put out a request for offers. King County records show a deed of trust granted a few days ago to two people with a Mercer Island address. ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: Further research reveals that at least one of the buyers already has West Seattle property holdings, including apartment properties on California SW in south Morgan Junction.
We don’t randomly check the commercial-real-estate listings as often as we used to – many multimillion-dollar listings have been up a long time, no surprise given the market – but we just found a new one of note: The “strip mall” at 6540 California SW in Morgan Junction is listed for sale. That’s the one with New Teriyaki and Wok, Domino’s Pizza, a freestanding BECU ATM, and the Shell station/minimart. Everything on the site but its billboard is one-story, but it’s zoned for up to 30 feet. Asking price: $2.5 million. See the listing here. (The most expensive public commercial listing for West Seattle right now: $8.1 million for the six-acre 4500 West Marginal Way SW site that includes Gray Line’s bus yard – which just signed a new 5-year lease, according to the listing.)
WSB lost/found pet reports are usually handled via the Pets page – but we’re showing this photo, shared by Susan via Facebook, here on the main page because we received so many calls/notes about these two yesterday, it seemed half of West Seattle had spotted them. They were reported to be wandering Admiral/Alki, and many were worried; we even heard police-scanner reports about them again this morning. Finally, Susan caught them a little while ago, and took them to the VCA Animal Hospital at 5261 California SW – where, she says, they couldn’t find chips, so their ownership remains a mystery. They’ll likely be headed to the Seattle Animal Shelter next, so if you have any idea whose they are, now that you’ve seen a photo (our listing from yesterday didn’t include one), now’s the time to come forward.
Here’s an option for dealing with all those corks left over from your holiday party: As bin 41 (WSB sponsor) wine-shop proprietor T. Frick McNamara puts it, “We’re on a roll for recycling corks!” Since starting their program this summer, they’ve recycled 500 pounds – a quarter-ton! – of corks. She explains, “Often folks put these either in garbage or the garden compost can, not realizing there are options for reusing this valuable renewable material. We’re teamed up with ReCORK of Amorim in California. They work with a company called Sole, who by spring of 2011 have vowed to use all recycled cork material instead of virgin cork to make the soles of their shoes. ReCORK is also working with a company in Portugal to replant new cork trees to help end the cork shortage.” You can bring your natural corks (no synthetic) to bin 41 in The Junction any time (maybe during Wednesday’s tasting?) and put them in the recycling box (shown above). Questions? bin41@me.com. (Also check out the store’s holiday hours in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Shopping/Business Guide – now with a new feature enabling you to share/e-mail individual deals from the page.)
From the WSB Events calendar and West Seattle Holidays list: AAA West Seattle is having its holiday open house all week – stop in, 4701 42nd SW, 10 am-4 pm … It’s “Open Mike Monday” at Senior Center of West Seattle at 3 pm (call to sign up) … Bingo at Alki UCC church, doors open 5:30, 1st game at 6:30 (6112 SW Hinds) … West Seattle Hanukkah party co-sponsored by Seattle Kollel and West Seattle Torah Learning Center, 6:30 pm (call for location – contact info here) … As previewed here, two school events are also at 6:30 pm: Find out about the new Westside School middle-school program (7740 34th SW); get a design update on the Lafayette Elementary School playground project, school library (2645 California SW) … Monday night Scrabble, raising $ for local causes, starts tonight (previewed here) at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), 7 pm registration, 7:15 pm game (3803 Delridge Way) … High Point Library Family Story Time tonight, 7 pm (35th/Raymond).
Followup on last weekend’s news about three teams from the West Seattle Soccer Club winning their district championships and heading into the Recreational Cup statewide tournament: All three played so well this weekend, they’re in the state championships! WSSC’s Tim McMonigle says that, for any or all of the teams, “A win would mean they are the best recreational team in the state for their age bracket.” All games are at Starfire in Tukwila – on Saturday, the BU-11 Crush plays at 11 am on Field 9; and on Sunday, the GU-14 Cheetahs play at 11:15 am on Field 2, the BU-19 Sambas at 1:30 pm on Field 1.
WESTSIDE SCHOOL MIDDLE-SCHOOL INFO NIGHT TONIGHT: One month after announcing they’re expanding to add middle school, Westside School (WSB sponsor) is having an informational meeting tonight for interested families. 6:30 pm at Westside’s new campus (former Hughes School in Sunrise Heights, 7740 34th SW).
LAFAYETTE PLAYGROUND PROGRESS REPORT TONIGHT: The “Play It Forward” project to match a $100,000 city match-it-or-lose-it grant has a community meeting tonight about the playground improvements’ design, 6:30 pm, school library (2645 California SW) – and a fundraising auction this Friday, too.
NEED MONEY FOR COLLEGE? INFO EVENT AT WSHS West Seattle High School invites you to learn how to get it, at a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) information session this Thursday, December 9, 6:30-7:30, in the West Seattle HS Theater. WSHS invites you to “bring all your financial aid questions. Go home with answers!” (3000 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE ELEMENTARY SELLING ‘ENTERTAINMENT’ BOOK: Special deal from West Seattle Elementary, in its first year of a high-stakes, high-intensity improvement effort that’s gained regional attention: They’re raising money by selling Entertainment coupon books, $25. Stocking stuffer, perhaps? Stop by the WSE office in High Point, 6760 34th SW, during school hours, or call Diane Stuart in the WSE office, 206-252-9450.
Congratulations to the fall/winter 2010 West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Award winners! A ceremony this afternoon next to West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Headquarters honored the four winners (more than four people in the photo, since one is a group award) of the twice-yearly awards, which are sponsored by the Southwest District Council, the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council, and WSB. The winners this time around are Sawyer Coe (youth), Patrick Dunn (environment), Roxanne Simonds (community), and West Seattle Be Prepared (group). Here’s our unedited video of the entire 6-minute ceremony (held on a busy streetcorner, so a bit noisy/bumpy), emceed by Erica Karlovits, co-chair of SWDC and president of the Junction Neighborhood Organization:
No time to watch? Read on for a closeup look at each honoree:
Along with the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays festivities we covered earlier (more next Sunday – and during WS Art Walk/Shop Late Thursday in four nights!), we checked in on some of today’s other holiday happenings. Above, the Keller Williams Realty team from The Junction had their annual holiday party at West Seattle Bowl – including an ugly sweater contest! The “winner” hadn’t been chosen yet when we stopped by, so everyone gathered for a group shot. Keller Williams has a Salvation Army Giving Tree in their office at 4452 California SW this season, and you are invited to participate by stopping by, choosing a tag, and bringing back the new, unwrapped gift before 12/20 pickup.
A few blocks north, West Seattle Christian Church is hosting a gingerbread-house-building competition tonight:
That action shot just in via cameraphone; we expect to be able to show the winner later! Two other events this afternoon, both by WSB sponsors, featured elegant spreads – the hallmark of the holiday open house – this one was for the dessert reception after the annual remembrance celebration at Forest Lawn:
And there were treats among the treasures at Wyatt’s Jewelers at Westwood Village:
Wyatt’s is now along the central WV driveway, while its former location on the breezeway by Bed Bath Beyond is home to Santa’s House again this year – Santa’s back at Westwood next Saturday and Sunday, noon-4 pm, one of the ongoing (as well as one-time-only) events listed on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page.
On the left, with her Scrabble game face on, that’s Jessie SK, proprietor of Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor) in North Delridge. We dropped by last week as she and friends practiced for tomorrow night’s debut of fundraising Scrabble tournaments at Skylark. Every Monday night from here on out, you can go to Skylark to play Scrabble, with the entry fee going to a good cause. Tomorrow night (and every first Monday), the beneficiary will be Team Tracy, the breast-cancer-fighting-and-awareness-raising 3 Day for the Cure team (whose namesake/leader Tracy Dart is a former Skylark employee); other nonprofits are set (or being lined up) for the other Monday nights. The Skylark website has the full story; signups are at 7 pm Mondays, first game at 7:15. (Skylark opens for happy hour/dinner at 3 pm, so you’re welcome to chow down before your wordplay.)
In some places, it’s not Christmas till Santa and his reindeer show up. In the West Seattle Junction, the Belgian draft mules and their carriage are almost as much of a holiday icon. They’re here now (video) and giving rides till 3 pm – just wait by Hometown Holidays HQ alongside KeyBank, which is where you’ll find Pathfinder K-8 with holiday facepainting:
Your holiday helpers in that photo are Lashanna and Jen (whose face is already painted). Pathfinder is also selling wreaths, raising money for outdoor-education programs, just a few steps west along SW Alaska by the West Seattle Farmers’ Market. And of course, Santa has arrived in The Junction today too – with photos raising money for WestSide Baby, which is near and dear to the heart of the young lady with whom we photographed St. Nick a short time ago:
That’s McInnis Woodland, daughter of WestSide Baby’s executive director Nancy Woodland. Donna Ryan Photography is taking professional Santa photos again this year (we took the pic above – hers will be much lovelier!) – your $15 donation today goes to WS Baby. By the way, Donna is having a contest to name the retail shop – including kids’ clothes – that she opened alongside the studio space earlier this year; winner gets a $500 shopping spree – entry details here.
Next up for Hometown Holidays Sunday – West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Awards at HH HQ, California/Alaska southwest corner, at 1 pm!
Monday P.S. – As discussed in comments, Santa photos continue the next two Sundays, 11 am-3 pm, at Donna Ryan’s studio, on SW Alaska south of California, next to Cupcake Royale, as do other Junction festivities, though the mules aren’t back till December 19th.
Saturday’s sunshine brought lots of visitors to West Seattle’s new Myrtle Reservoir Park. These photos show it’s a viewpoint as well as a playground: The top photo, shared by Andy Silber, shows the view toward downtown, looking over the new play equipment; earlier in the week, Val took photos including this next one, showing the place markers at the viewpoint from which the top photo was taken:
The inscriptions are part of what Seattle Parks describes as “an interpretive element” labeling the area’s highest hills – and as Val points out, “We win at 520′!” (The nearby 35th/Myrtle water towers are at the highest elevation within the city limits, which is where High Point gets its name. Park access by the playground/path is at 35th/Willow.) The park’s official dedication is not yet scheduled.
(2009 photo of mule carriage in The Junction)
HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS: Today and the next two Sundays are full of Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB) excitement in The Junction. Starting at 11 am, you can get a photo with Santa Claus at Donna Ryan Photography ($15 donation goes to WestSide Baby) and ride a mule-drawn carriage (free – catch it by Hometown Holidays HQ outside KeyBank), plus face-painting courtesy of Pathfinder K-8 (purveyors of the famous handmade wreaths). The West Seattle Farmers’ Market is open for business 10 am-2 pm as always. And at 1 pm, join us at Hometown Holidays HQ to honor the latest recipients of the West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Awards (as announced here). While you’re in The Junction, you can enter the $4,600 Hometown Holidays Raffle – with more than two dozen participating merchants (listed here).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS TODAY: 3 WSB sponsors are having open-house events: Savor “The Flavor of the Season” with special food tastings/demonstrations at Metropolitan Market, noon-5 pm … Wyatt’s Jewelers in Westwood Village has an open house 1-4 pm … And Forest Lawn invites you to a holiday celebration starting at 4 pm, with a string quartet and catered goodies … Also: The community is invited to the annual Christmas Party at Alki Masonic Hall (4736 40th Av. SW), 3-5 pm – free Santa pictures, magic show, food, games, gifts for the kids … Watch a gingerbread-house-building competition at West Seattle Christian Church, 5 pm … Gingerbread houses are also part of the plan this morning at Fauntleroy Church, where the annual Advent Pageant is part of the 10 am service; Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) has a special holiday service too, 10 am, with the “Hanging of the Greens” … Westwood Village‘s Santa House is open again today, noon-4 pm (bring food-bank donations for photos, and diaper donations for WS Baby, too) … Details, and even MORE holiday happenings, on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page (updated at least once daily, with more events and services as we get word of them)!
(WSB photo of Tony, from January 2010, as he prepared to reopen the market post-holidays)
We have just received word that Tony Genzale, longtime operator of Tony’s Market in Westwood, has died. He had fought a long battle against cancer. From his niece Renee Vacca:
As a former West Seattle resident myself, I know how many people loved to shop from him and have known of his battle with cancer this past couple of years. We are so sorry to inform them that he passed last night at his home of many years in Burien. I’m sure they would want to know that he passed peacefully with his wife in his arms and both of his children at his side. He was doing so well until the last couple of months and then his cancer took a dramatic turn and his condition worsened rapidly. Needless to say, we are still a bit in shock but please know that he was ready to go and his family had come to terms with this before he passed.
Arrangements are currently being made and the family will post service announcements on the website we set up for him with caringbridge.org. At their website, enter “anthonygenzale” in the “visiting” section of the homepage and read the updates. For anyone that would like to help, please post a comment for the family and share your feelings for uncle Tony as I know how loved he was. Don’t forget that his son Joey is running the tree lot and would love to hear your kind words about his dad. He has been there every day and even worked there all day today.
I know that he got up every day and put his work boots on to go see the customers that he loved so much! You all gave him a purpose and he told me many times, “Renee’, West Seattle is the best!! and he meant it with all his heart. I always said, “told ya so!” Please tell all your friends that this would be a great place to buy a tree in uncle Tony’s honor and display it proudly! He loved those selling Christmas trees every year!
Tony Genzale was 61. Here’s a direct link to the webpage that Reneé mentioned.
That’s the official lighting of the newest West Seattle Junction Christmas Tree about half an hour ago at brand-new Junction Plaza Park, with a countdown from local online/on-air personality Marty Riemer (see his event-opening mini-monologue here) and his tree-lighting assistant Ruby, chosen from a clamoring crowd of kids by the stage:
The lights went on after a 40-minute program including the Endolyne Children’s Choir:
Speakers included Todd Carden of Elliott Bay Brewery (West Seattle Junction Association board president):
The crowd also heard from Erica Karlovits, president of the Junction Neighborhood Organization, who helped shepherd the park to completion:
Also speaking: West Seattle Christian Church pastor Dan Jacobs, with reflections on the warmth of community, and newly elected King County Councilmember Joe McDermott (introduced humorously by Riemer):
(His appearance reminded us that the last West Seattleite to hold that council seat – now-County Executive Dow Constantine – was the emcee the last time the tree-lighting ceremony was held at the site of the now-park, back in 2006 [WSB coverage here].) There were many goodnatured jokes about the tree’s newness – it was planted in the park just a few months ago – but you have to admit, it looks lovely with lights.
More video to come. Whether you were there tonight or not – hundreds of people filled the park! – come back to The Junction tomorrow for the first Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB) Sunday, 11 am-3 pm, with mule-carriage rides, Santa photos at Donna Ryan Photography next to Cupcake Royale ($15 donation for WestSide Baby), and great shopping at Junction stores (check our guide!).
P.S. Our Lady of Guadalupe lights its tree – highest spot in Seattle! 35th/Myrtle – 7 pm Friday.
(WSB photos by Ellen Cedergreen)
This might have been West Seattle’s hottest (free!) ticket today – the long-awaited community open house at brand-new Fire Station 37 in Sunrise Heights, two months after crews moved in. Outside, visitors got to check out various SFD vehicles; inside, there was face painting, coloring, stickers, beverages, and treats. The next view is from the workout room on the second floor (living quarters are on the ground floor):
One of the big attractions – the sculpture “Lifter” outside the station (discussed here extensively, with a photo of the entire sculpture, in case you haven’t seen it), whose artist Pete Beeman came up from Portland for the occasion:
He helped kids figure out how to turn its crank – and offered prizes to everybody who gave it a try:
Visitors got to meet firefighters from all over the city:
In a nod to history, the Last Resort Fire Department (famous for appearances in parades including the West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade) had an engine on hand too. Bob Carson told WSB he thinks historic engines like this will probably outlast the new ones!
And as much as everyone enjoys meeting firefighters, the goal is to not ever meet them in more urgent circumstances – so educational displays were part of today’s event as well, as were free batteries for smoke detectors (change yours every year!):
Fire Station 37 is at the corner of 35th and Holden, a few blocks south of its predecessor, whose fate hasn’t been determined yet – the city intends to sell it, but since it’s a landmark, tearing it down is not an option.
Many years, a December Saturday spent sampling holiday bazaars might have meant soggy – or even snowy – walks between your car and the front door of the school or church. Not today. The bright smiles inside reflected the bright sunshine outside as we stopped at two of the many West Seattle venues with holiday bazaars/sales today. Above, the Highland Park Elementary PTA presented a bake sale and bazaar to raise money for all the things PTA fundraising covers these days – right now, a big concern at HPE is the playground. Among the participants, a Girl Scout troop that came from outside West Seattle:
They’re raising money for a trip to Japan – in 2013. Their leader says she found an online listing for the bazaar, seeking vendors, so they decided it was the place to be. And in the hallway, a rummage sale to raise money for Highland Park students to go to camp:
HP dad Ryan said they’d already sold an entire table of merchandise earlier in the day and they’ve raised enough for three kids to go to camp – though they have more in need (here’s how to help). Also selling their wares today, artists and craftspeople we found in the social hall at the newly dedicated Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation church in Gatewood:
That’s Rose Sheppard, selling some of the pottery she’s made. And Laura Matson told us sales were going great for her handmade shibori cloth works:
Since WSUU just moved into the onetime Gatewood Baptist Church this fall, this is their first holiday bazaar (if you see this shortly after we publish it, they’re there till 4; enter from the church’s north parking lot along California north of Othello). As listed in the morning preview, today had many events like these – but there are still more to come, so keep your eyes on the bazaars/sales/tastings list toward the top of the WSB West Seattle Holidays page.
Thanks to WSB contributing photographer Ellen Cedergreen for this shot of final preparations under way in Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) for tonight’s tree lighting, coming up at 5 pm – the biggest of the many events today on the ever-growing West Seattle Holidays list. Not only is the location different this year, so is the program – it’ll be shorter, but no less festive, with music from West Seattle’s own Endolyne Children’s Choir. Local Web/radio personality Marty Riemer emcees, and we’re told a child will be chosen from the crowd to throw the switch on the lights on West Seattle’s newest community Christmas tree (brand-new park, so new tree, and as the Junction Association’s Susan Melrose puts it, we’ll get to watch it grow over the years). See you there at 5 – and if you’re going early to shop, note that more than a few Junction businesses have deals in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Shopping/Business Guide.
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