(Photos by Christopher Boffoli)
The date is set tonight for the return of the West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park totem pole: Next Wednesday morning, just under two weeks before its planned August 10 re-dedication, and almost eight months after it was stolen. Last week, we took you to the Renton headquarters of art-restoration experts Artech for a peek at the pole, post-cleaning, pre-painting (here’s that story); today, photojournalist Christopher Boffoli went to Artech on assignment for WSB, to get a look at the painting in progress. In the photo above, Phil Roach is working on the pole; in this next pole, the brush is wielded by Roger Waterhouse:
Click ahead for more of a look at what’s been done so far:Read More
When you watch the Seattle Police Motorcycle Drill Team during the American Legion Post 160-presented West Seattle Grand Parade this Saturday, here’s something you might not realize: There are West Seattleites on the team! Cynthia shares this photo of Rob Blanco(left) and Drill Master John Bernasconi. As usual, the SPD motorcycles will be at the head of the parade – after the Rotary Club of West Seattle Kiddie Parade, and before the Vancouver, B.C., motorcycle squad – which starts at 11 am this Saturday. The parade route is along California SW from SW Lander (by Lafayette/Safeway) to SW Edmunds (end of the main Junction business district) – note that several side streets are part of the staging areas, with No Parking signs having been up for days now, and some buses will be rerouted that morning and part of the afternoon, too.
Even more online-services news today from the city: Seattle Police now have an online-reporting system for certain “low-level” crime categories. Read about it here. SPD cautions that this is just for certain “low-level” crimes – it doesn’t replace calling 911 for something urgent. Here’s the home page for the new service. (We have also linked this atop the WSB Crime Watch page, in case you need to find it fast.)
Two transportation-funding notes out of Senator Patty Murray‘s office this afternoon: $21 million for RapidRide bus service, scheduled to officially begin in West Seattle in two years (though service increases are expected to start sooner), is now part of a bill that just made it out of a subcommittee and goes on to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. And the same bill, THUD for short (Transportation, Housing and Urban Development), now contains $3 million for the South Park Bridge replacement project; Murray says she’ll support the county’s upcoming application for the federal grant known as TIGER II, which could provide most if not all of the remaining $35+ million the bridge project needs.
(EDITOR’S NOTE:We mentioned earlier that we had assigned a reporter to ride along on Councilmember Tom Rasmussen‘s open-invite bike commute today. Here’s his story, with photos along the way)
Story and photos by Johnathon Fitzpatrick
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Seattle Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, an eight-year West Seattleite, has invited the public to bike-commute in with him all week as part of Mayor McGinn‘s Walk-Bike-Ride initiative. He has been writing online about his experiences; this morning at 7 am, he stood at Weather Watch Park with his Univega (rain bike) waiting for traveling companions.
A low fog clung to the shoreline across the sound as a ferry horn bellowed and seagulls picked their way across the early-morning low tide along Beach Drive. A group of four cyclists rode along with Rasmussen in the slightly chilly morning he considered to be more like October weather. “I sure hope summer’s not done,” he muses.
There’s a brief moment of awkwardness as the group navigates around a trash truck and yet another as a cyclist shouts “on your left! ON YOUR LEFT… (Expletive)!” Yet these are minor annoyances as Rasmussen plays tour guide and discusses transportation issues.
(The story continues, with more photos too)Read More
The day after a celebration of West Seattle’s amazing volunteer power – a new request for you to be part of our community’s volunteer efforts, by pitching in to help with a big project. One month from today, the Arbor Heights Elementary PTSA will lead a project to paint the school playground – they provided the “before” photo and this call for help (which goes to the community at large as well as those already affiliated with the school) – the eventual “after” photo would include a big map of the states, among other things:
The PTSA is working on a project to paint the school playground. The painting project is to include some of the existing covered and outside play areas, but we will be adding some additional games. We are looking for volunteers to help in the process. Currently we need volunteers for 3 different days. We are open to any and all assistance, from parents, staff, and older students. Any day you would be able to help would be useful.
Day one (Saturday, August 21st, 9:00am-3:00pm)
We need help with cleaning, grass removal, sweeping, laying out new line work. We would need shovels, wheelbarrows, brooms, leaf blowers, etc. If a group of artistic volunteers could help with laying out some of the new line work, that would be greatly appreciated. We are adding some very fun, artistic, creative games for the kids.
Read ahead to see what they need for days 2 and 3, and how to sign up:Read More
Meet the latest recipients of the West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Awards – sponsored by the Southwest and Delridge District Councils and WSB – honored last night during intermission at the West Seattle Hi-Yu Concert in the Park (concert coverage here). On behalf of the councils, Cindi Barker from the Morgan Community Association (which meets tonight!) presented the awards, along with a summary of why the winners had been nominated – read on for individual photos and Cindi’s summaries of their volunteer achievements (and P.S., watch WSB for word of the next nomination cycle this fall!):Read More
(WSB photo from August 2007, watching the Blues’ takeoff from the Museum of Flight)
Almost that time of year when longtime WSB’ers know we go a little crazy for the Blue Angels during their Seafair visit. The not-too-far-away Museum of Flight is their home-away-from-home while they’re here – a great place to watch the takeoffs and landings (and you can glimpse some of the maneuvers too) – and they’ve just sent their official announcement of “Blue Angels Week” activities. Read on if you’re a fellow fan (or if you want to know when to get the earplugs out):Read More
Not sure if anybody’s reported that burned-out streetlight yet? Not sure how soon it’s going to get repaired? Seattle City Light just unveiled an online tracker (incorporating a Google Map) – which you can use to report one, as well as track one. It’s explained here.
West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussenjust wrote about Day 3 of bicycling to work (as part of the Walk/Bike/Ride Challenge) – 2 people showed up to join him (as did reporter Johnathon Fitzpatrick, a transportation bicyclist we’d assigned to cover this morning’s ride). Rasmussen writes that as they pedaled along, somebody swore at them – NOT a driver! Read about it here (and look for Johnathon’s story on WSB later). P.S. The councilmember won’t be riding tomorrow, but will on Friday, and you’re welcome again that day to join him, meeting up at 7 am at Weather Watch Park (4035 Beach Drive SW).
(“Side Show” dress-rehearsal photo by Edgar Riebe from Captive Eye Media) OPENING NIGHT FOR ‘SIDE SHOW’: The newest production at ArtsWest in The Junction opens tonight: “Side Show” is a presentation of the Musical Theater Apprenticeship program (16-21 year-olds), described as a “beloved cult musical.” Read more here. It plays through August 1st.
CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT AT DELRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL: Tonight the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council‘s monthly meeting (7 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center) features Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin as its special guests. Besides opening remarks from him, there is always Q/A time for these types of appearances, so if you have something to bring up – no shortage of hot topics these days! – this is your chance. Also on the agenda, two Department of Information Technology reps talk about the city’s newest online/open-data initiatives. (Preceding this meeting is the 6 pm “Strategy Delridge” discussion, to which you’re also invited.)
PRODUCE AND SOCCER IN HIGH POINT! Two events this afternoon/evening in High Point – First, it’s the next weekly edition of the High Point Market Garden Farm Stand, 32nd/Juneau, 4-7 pm; second, Seattle Sounders FC defender Taylor Graham joins HP Community Center‘s “how to play soccer” session at 6 pm at Commons Park – and they’re inviting EVERYBODY to come out and play!
(“Live” eastbound West Seattle Bridge camera moved up from earlier stories)
As you know if you’ve already gone to work – it was even more of a mess this morning and not just because of the Spokane Street Viaduct lane closure: A crash on Highway 99 in the 4 o’clock hour shut down all northbound lanes for a while. One lane was open again by 7 am, and the whole thing was reopened as of about 20 minutes ago. If you haven’t left yet, here’s the eastbound West Seattle Bridge (high-rise, looking toward 99 and beyond) “live” camera for reference. ADDED 8:34 AM: Here’s the KING 5 story about the crash that caused the 99 trouble:
According to SPD Blotter, the 70-year-old man driving the overturned car is in the hospital with injuries described as “serious.”
Thanks to Josh Rogers for sharing his video of a startling scene right next to The Hole on Tuesday night – big flames from a short-lived incident that was on the 911 log as a “brush fire.” We headed that way from Alki after getting a text about it, but it was long out when we arrived – the location was obvious, though since even in the dark, the blackened street sign and burned plants were clearly visible. This is the “mini-park” recently unfenced as part of some work around The Hole, the long-stalled 39th/Fauntleroy development site once known as Fauntleroy Place. We’ll be checking with Seattle Fire Department later this morning to ask about the cause. 2:38 PM: According to SFD’s Helen Fitzpatrick, the firefighting crew didn’t detect anything suspicious about the fire, so a marshal wasn’t called out, and the report only boils down to, brush fire, quickly extinguished. Here’s what the site looked like this morning:
(WSB photo from July 2009)
While at American Legion Post 160 in The Triangle last night to sit in on the West Seattle Grand Parade lineup meeting, we were glad to hear that Art and Gloria Peters will be back for another year, riding in the parade. Our “behind the scenes” parade-planning story isn’t ready to publish just yet but there’s certainly still lots more to preview as Saturday’s parade (11 am, California/Lander to California/Edmunds) gets closer. The long-wed veterans are among the heroes, if you will, among the 75-plus parade entries. That category also includes the law-enforcement motorcycle drill teams – both the hometown heroes from Seattle PD, and the visitors from Vancouver, B.C.:
And unless there’s a last-minute emergency, you’ll see a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter like this one fly south over the parade route right around 11:
(July 2009 photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Again, the parade starts at 11 am this Saturday – and while the official route is California SW between SW Lander (Lafayette/Safeway) and SW Edmunds (end of The Junction’s main business district), you’ve probably noticed “no parking” signs on more than a few other streets – the parade staging zone, and bus re-routes, cover many more blocks. One more reminder – All kids are welcome in theRotary Club of West Seattle Kiddie Parade, which travels California SW from SW Genesee to SW Edmunds right before the main parade, starting at 11 am (sign-ups at 10).
Our VW Eurovan is home, much the worse for the wear. (was stolen from our home at the end of SW Othello St 6-30-10). The Kent Police recovered it 7-13-10. Seems the van was in use for criminal activity. They found an acetylene torch, bolt cutters, tool box, etc in the van. Can you imagine a VW camper as a getaway vehicle!!? We think they were depending on the “nerd factor”. We haven’t recovered any of the other items stolen from the house. Service station video (in Tukwila) of someone using my debit card helped nail the thieves. So looks as if the thieves were not from West Seattle.
And from Keith:
I thought I’d send in a message to let you know that 3 telephone poles in our alley on 47th were tagged the other night. Not sure how many alleys or homes were hit. We are on 47th near Andover/Charlestown.
Two weeks from tonight, it’s Night Out – the neighborhood-building, crime-preventing block-party night – if you let us know – thanks!
ORIGINAL ‘HAPPENING NOW’ REPORT AT 7:49 PM: We’re at Hiawatha Community Center’s east lawn with a triple-digit crowd for the West Seattle Hi-Yu Concert in the Park, in what one concertgoer just described as “perfect” weather – not hot, not cool. The West Seattle Big Band is still in the first half of its set, with selections from legendary composers including Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker, and vocalist Elizabeth Hott guesting on classics like “When I Fall in Love” and “Fever.” Shortly, the West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Awards will be presented, and the audience will get to hear from West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty and candidates too, with more WSBB music after that. (Hi-Yu contingent photo added later – this was just steps away from West Seattle High School, where the new Senior Court will be coronated Monday night)
Still lots of time to wander over here if you have the chance, bring a blanket or chair, there’s lots of room on the lawn – and the show’s free. P.S. One Hi-Yu note – new location for the Community Brunch this Sunday morning, Alki UCC, 9 am-noon. More later on the concert and the awards presentation! ADDED 11:11 PM: One sample of tonight’s great music from the WS Big Band:
You can catch the WS Big Band playing Hiawatha again later this summer – they’re the sixth and final act in the Admiral Neighborhood Association Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series (co-sponsored by WSB), which starts a week from Thursday (July 29) – the WSBB plays on Sept. 2. Meanwhile, photos of the volunteers honored tonight will be in a separate story.
The beautiful weather’s back, which means more people heading out on the water. But Seal Sitters has a reminder for you … steer clear of sites where seals haul out, because recklessness – or even simple curiosity – can endanger baby seals’ lives, without you ever touching them or even going ashore. Robin Lindsey‘s latest update on the Seal Sitters‘ website explains.
It’s been almost two years since buildings were demolished on the northwest corner of California/Graham (map), at the time slated for a townhouses-plus-live-work-units development that had been proposed a year earlier. Since the demolition, though, the 15,000-square-foot site has remained empty, and weedy, but apparently not much longer. We’d been checking on its status since its fencing came down a few weeks back. Now, half the lot is fenced again, and a real-estate shingle is up at the corner, in front of the unfenced half, pointing to this listing. A conversation with one of the agents, Bryan Loe, reveals what’s ahead: The entire site was purchased less than a month ago by what he says is a local developer partnership, Morgan Junction, LLC. But the previously proposed project, which had even gone through Design Review, is completely dead, he says. The new ownership is keeping the fenced-in north half and plans to build on it soon, according to Loe (the city’s page for the project describes it as “4 attached townhomes and 3 live-work units”), and selling the now-unfenced south half (with a possible buyer already lined up). He says it’s something like what’s happening on a similarly long-empty lot a few parcels north on California:
That’s a new Knoll Development building on the south half of that lot, with the north half fenced off. The developer for the California/Graham north lot is listed as Soleil. Meantime, the California/Graham site is one of the topics on the agenda for tomorrow night’s Morgan Community Association quarterly meeting (7 pm Wednesday, lower-level meeting room @ The Kenney).
New details today about an event first mentioned at last week’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting (WSB coverage here). A so-called “green stormwater” project is one of the three combined-sewer-overflow (CSO) reduction proposals for the “basin” feeding the Barton Pump Station by the Fauntleroy ferry terminal. If that option is chosen, it would change the streetscapes in the area of the “basin” outlined with yellow street lines in the map above – which includes areas of Sunrise Heights and Westwood. The county wants to be sure everybody potentially affected gets a chance to have questions answered, and they’ve now chosen a time and place for the previously mentioned August 5th meeting – 6 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy. In the meantime, if you’re just tuning in to this, here’s more info on the county website. (As for the other CSO project, for the Murray “basin” feeding the station at Lowman Beach Park, citizens’ advisory group meetings continue – calendar here – and discussion is planned at tomorrow night’s Morgan Community Association meeting, 7 pm at The Kenney.)
On Sunday, West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen issued an open invitation to you to join him bicycling to work from Beach Drive’s Weather Watch Park any morning this week (7 am) as part of the Walk/Bike/Ride Challenge. So what happened the first two mornings? Read his vividly written update here. (P.S. Rasmussen really isn’t a biker-come-lately. We have pictorial proof including this February story, when he biked up to Pigeon Point to look into the development-detour dilemma that caused consternation back then.)
The banner at Admiral Way Viewpoint is one of several you’ve probably seen around the peninsula – this Sunday is WestSide Baby‘s biggest diaper-donation event of the year, “Stuff the Bus” – they bring a school bus to the West Seattle Farmers’ Market (10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska in The Junction), you bring the diapers, and by the time 2 pm hits, if all goes well, the bus is stuffed!
(WSB photo from July 2009 “Stuff the Bus”)
WSB is proud to be co-sponsoring the event again this year. There are usually a few satellite locations where you can drop off diapers if you can’t get to The Bus – we’re checking on that – but we just got word of one: West Seattle Nursery is having an Ice Cream Fest on Sunday afternoon, 1-4 pm, collecting diaper donations there too – and money from the ice cream (provided by Full Tilt Ice Cream) also benefits WestSide Baby. So it’s a Sunday doubleheader!
(“Live” eastbound West Seattle Bridge camera moved up to another story)
The first morning commute is in the books, kicking off up to six weeks with a key stretch of the eastbound Spokane Street Viaductt down to one lane, so the new 4th Avenue offramp can be connected. Commuters have been sharing their thoughts in a variety of ways, including this WSB comment thread, a discussion on the WSB Facebook page, and via Twitter. We asked SDOT for their take, and here’s what Marybeth Turner had to say:
With one eastbound lane closed on the Spokane Street Viaduct, we did observe backups this morning in traffic heading for the West Seattle Bridge. SDOT will continue to look for opportunities to make adjustments to traffic signals to improve the flow of traffic.
We expect there will be a period of adjustment while people get used to the viaduct lane closure and as more drivers use alternate routes. We hope that drivers understand that this six-week lane closure is an essential last step for the full opening of the new Fourth Avenue S off-ramp.
In an informal analysis of the reaction, what seemed to be most notable is that the backup lasted longer than the “normal” morning commute mess – a WSB team member had to head toward SODO for a 10 am appointment and reported it was still a slog; same thing tweeted by Rhonda from The Mortgage Porter(WSB sponsor). On the other hand, we have a few reports that it was better than usual in the very early going – Scott C sent a cameraphone photo around 5:15 am to that effect; this comment says 6:45 am was close to the usual speed. ADDED 12:10 PM: Here’s an e-mail report from longtime WSB’er Kevin McClintic, who saw it at two times during this morning’s drive – read on:Read More
Another look ahead to the next big summer weekend – Saturday midday, Fauntleroy Park – another of West Seattle’s green treasures – needs some helping hands. Four of them are above, in the photo shared by Judy Pickens along with this preview:
Steve Hodson introduced his daughter, Georgia, to pulling English ivy when she was just a toddler. Now she’ll be joining her dad and park neighbors and users this coming Saturday in a major assault on the invasive vine in the southeast section of Fauntleroy Park. Steve, a long-time volunteer steward of the park, is coordinating with the Green Seattle Partnership and EarthCorps on the event. Meet at the 97th St. entrance to the park [map] at 9:45 AM and bring a lunch. Work until 2 PM or as long as you can. Contact Steve at noahsark10@msn.com.
(Thanks to all the volunteers who are out in greenspaces around West Seattle every weekend (and often between weekends!) – previews about/reports on/photos from your work parties are always welcome; here’s where to send ’em.) 3:40 PM: See the comments for an update on the new meeting site for this work party.
Even more online-services news today from the city: 
Two transportation-funding notes out of Senator Patty Murray‘s office this afternoon: $21 million for RapidRide bus service, scheduled to officially begin in West Seattle in two years (though service increases are expected to start sooner), is now part of a bill that just made it out of a subcommittee and goes on to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. And the same bill, THUD for short (Transportation, Housing and Urban Development), now contains $3 million for the South Park Bridge replacement project; Murray says she’ll support the county’s upcoming application for the federal grant known as TIGER II, which could provide most if not all of the remaining $35+ million the bridge project needs.
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