West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
The city has just announced the latest round of Small and Simple grants – for which organizations apply, promising matching funds/volunteer labor, and three West Seattle events/projects are on the list:
(WSB photo from 2011 Alki Art Fair)
*Alki Art Fair – Volunteer-run since city cutbacks made city-staff resources unavailable. $20,000 grant. (This year’s fair is July 28-29.)
*Castle Park at Roxhill Park – To enhance the city Parks and Green Spaces Levy-funded playground project, $20,000 extra for “a climbing and physical challenge course.” (After getting the city announcement, we checked with project manager Kelly Davidson, who says that the playground/skatepark plans just went to the general contractor yesterday and are in a review period. The playground itself is still on target for a public build, probably in September.)
*West Seattle Community Fruit Harvest – City Fruit gets $6,295 to “organize the harvest of fruit from residential fruit trees to distribute to partner organizations like food banks, women’s shelters, and senior centers within Delridge and West Seattle.”
Just under four months till the first day of school, and families signed up for K-5 STEM at Boren are already organizing a PTA. The first meeting is set for 6:30 pm this Thursday (May 17th) at the Southwest Library, 35th and Henderson, and the topic is whether to form an organization associated with the PTSA network or “an independent PTO,” as Kathleen Voss puts it, adding:
All parents of students currently enrolled at STEM for the 2012-13 school year, families on the wait list, and families interested in learning more about the K-5 STEM at Boren program are encouraged to attend. For those who are interested but cannot attend, questions and comments will be collected on the community forum groups.yahoo.com/group/k5stem for discussion at the meeting.
A representative from the state PTA network will be there to help facilitate discussion of what kind of organization to form. Also, tasks will be identified and assigned.
(2011 WSB photo of ex-Fire Station 37)
When we checked in with Colliers International vice president Arvin Vander Veen last week regarding the sale of 87-year-old ex-Fire Station 37 in Sunrise Heights, he told us the deal would close this week, and to watch the public records. We did, and while checking online records last night, we noted that the sale was registered. The former fire station’s new owner also owns a business in The Junction, where WSB contributor Katie Meyer went this morning to see if she would talk with us about her plans for it. She told Katie that she does not want to comment, nor does she want to be identified. We have a request out to the city to ask about the purchase price, as it was not part of the public document; as reported previously, minimum bid was $250,000, and Colliers requested a second round of offers from the highest bidders in the original round. Since the former fire station is a city landmark, its new owner would have to get city Landmarks Board approval before altering any of its landmarked features; it’s in a single-family residential zone. The city gave final authorization to the sale plan last fall, one year after the new Station 37 opened a few blocks south.
1:03 PM UPDATE: The city says the ex-station sold for $613,000. Minus commission and closing costs, that means $579,807 into the city’s Fire Levy Fund. (added) City spokesperson Katherine Schubert-Knapp explains, “Levy proceeds and other funding, such as the sale of former fire stations, are being used to upgrade, renovate and replace 32 neighborhood fire stations, among other things. Seattle voters approved the levy in November 2003. (It will be funding future WS upgrades at other stations including 32 and 36.)
(WSB photo from October 2011, when Uptown’s “pod” launched)
Another chapter in the ongoing saga of West Seattle’s food-truck scene. The owner of Uptown Espresso, who gave permission for a “pod” of trucks in his Junction lot 7 months ago, is no longer allowing food trucks there before 5 pm. The folks from SeattleFoodTruck.com first mentioned this in a WSB comment last week, after Lucky Devil Doughnut Co.’s short-lived Uptown run; at least one truck, Contigo, alluded to it via Twitter; and we just confirmed it in a phone conversation with Uptown partner Pete Noble. He told us it’s strictly a decision about keeping the parking available for Uptown customers in the morning and afternoon. (Back when launched in October, the pod was described as an “experiment” anyway.)
The website wseattleeats.com had been posting the Uptown-lot schedule, and after the change, it only has one truck on the schedule right now, Rainy Day Gourmet for Thursday nights. That was the only Junction-area “pod”; on weekends, Marination (Saturdays) and Snout and Co. (Sundays) have continued to frequent the Hans VW lot at 35th/Graham, while the Highland Park Improvement Club lot at 12th/Holden has Lumpia World and Sweet Wheels visiting at lunchtime on Saturdays, according to its website sidebar. West Seattle has a few every-day trucks, too – Beloved Mexico at West Seattle Produce (Fauntleroy south of Alaska), and taco trucks El Rey del Taco on SW Orchard north of Home Depot as well as La Playita at Alki Auto. As SeattleFoodTruck.com mentioned in its comment, they’re open to helping find a new site for the trucks that used to be at Uptown.
10:38 PM UPDATE: As noted in comments: Since we published this story, Snout and Co. has told us they’re not planning to return to 35th/Graham on Sundays, and Lucky Devil Doughnut Company has announced via Facebook that they have a new West Seattle spot for Tuesdays. More to come.
Just announced by Seattle Public Schools in a media advisory, José Banda – scheduled to be confirmed as the district’s next superintendent on Wednesday night – will visit Arbor Heights Elementary on Thursday. Banda has been leading a school district in Anaheim, California, but is coming back to Seattle for the board vote Wednesday night, and the AH visit has been announced as one of his two media availabilities for the visit (a photo op rather than a public event, in case you’re wondering) – the other will include interviews after the board vote.
About two blocks of the bumpiest stretch of Beach Drive, in the 6200 block and further south, will get fixed starting today. Our photo’s from about half an hour ago, when we went over to check that the crews were indeed getting going as announced last week by SDOT. The work is scheduled to continue daily, 7 am-7 pm, for the rest of this week, and SDOT says traffic will be allowed through the area (police are scheduled to be there to help). As first reported here a week ago, the stretch that’s being fixed does NOT include the also-rutted lanes alongside the disputed slide zone to the north; that’s been tied up in court for a year-plus, but the City Attorney’s Office tells WSB that mediation is scheduled later this month in hopes of resolving it.
(“Bye Bye Birdie” photo courtesy WSHS Drama)
Lots to do/see/hear tonight, from sports to musical theater to symphonic music to art:
HEALTH AND HARVEST: The weekly tour/work party at the Community Orchard of West Seattle is 2-4 pm Tuesday afternoons (6000 16th SW, north end of South Seattle Community College campus)
LIVE ART BASH: And you can be among the “stars” – bring your project/quest for inspiration to Mind Unwind in the Admiral District for this weekly event, 6-9 pm, explained on the M/U website. (2206 California SW)
WSHS BASEBALL PLAYOFF GAME: There’s only one high-school-baseball postseason game on the schedule in the area tonight and West Seattle HS is in it, facing Liberty at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, 6:30 pm. (1321 SW 102nd)
WORLD PREMIERE ON THE PROGRAM: West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ second of two spring concerts is tonight, 7 pm, Chief Sealth International High School auditorium, with new works including “Fantasies and Fugues” by WSCO conductor Rob Duisberg, Ph.D. Admission free, donations accepted. (2600 SW Thistle)
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: In addition to the monthly police-leadership briefing on crime trends, tonight’s program includes a special guest on victims’ rights. 7 pm, Southwest Precinct meeting room (southwest side of building, off Webster west of Delridge)
‘BYE BYE BIRDIE’ ADDS TONIGHT: You’re invited to the WSHS theater at 7:30 tonight for an added night of the school’s spring musical (last Friday was a last-minute scrub, so this week’s run starts a night early). Ticket information is on the Westside Drama website.
More on the calendar – including what’s up tomorrow, next week, next month …
(WSB photo from 2011 West Seattle Summer Fest)
West Seattle’s biggest party of the year, Summer Fest in The Junction, is only two months away – July 13, 14, 15. And a quick check of the official Summer Fest website reveals that the deadline for vendor applications is today. Find the applications online, here.
Summer starts Sunday! 9 am by the Alki Bathhouse, hundreds of people will be off running and walking for the West Seattle 5K. If you’re not planning to walk/run with them, event organizers would love to have your help for at least part of the time:
West Seattle High School is looking for adult volunteers this coming Sunday (May 20th) to help with the 5K race. If you are able to help Sunday morning between 7:30 am and 12:00, or anytime inbetween, it would be much appreciated. Please send an e-mail with your name and time you are available to wshs5kvolunteers@gmail.com – Any and all help will be much appreciated.
The run is followed by the Seattle Summer Streets street party till 5 pm – the activity/entertainment list is taking shape here.
Admiral and North Delridge have neighborhood-pride gear, and now Fauntleroy does too. The new hoodies marking this year’s 10th anniversary for the Fauntleroy Fall Festival are available for purchase at Fauntleroy Church and were “modeled” last Tuesday, during the monthly Fauntleroy Community Association board meeting. They were also sold that night during the dinner fundraiser at Endolyne Joe’s, with part of the proceeds benefiting the festival, and Judy Pickens reports that $1,820 was raised that night, between dinner and raffle tickets. October 14th is the date for this year’s festival, and proceeds from hoodie sales also go toward keeping it free for festivalgoers.
Also discussed at last week’s FCA board meeting was the impending Barton Pump Station expansion project north of the ferry terminal, and Cove Park stewardship afterward; association leaders continued the conversation the next day in a followup meeting with Doug Marsano from King County. Marsano told us at the time that the exact start date for construction, and the closure of Cove Park, was not yet finalized, but it’s expected to be by the time of a community meeting that’s just been announced for May 30th, 6:30 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW).
P.S. If there’s something you’d like to see FCA discuss, there’s a new e-mail address you can use to reach them – fcaagenda@earthlink.net.
The West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network is reminding all captains and co-captains – time to register for your place at the upcoming BW Captains’ Appreciation Dinner. And if you want to support them – it’s also time to sign up to sponsor the event, or to donate money to help with food, gifts, and gift baskets, or to give gift certificates as prizes. Donations will go through the WSBWCN’s fiscal sponsor, the Seattle Neighborhood Group – more details here. As for the party, the group wants early RSVPs to help with planning. The big event is 6-10 pm on June 22nd, at the VFW Hall in the West Seattle Triangle, and every captain/co-captain is welcome to bring a guest. Here’s how to register online. Any questions, on participation OR donations/sponsorships? E-mail wsblockwatchnet@gmail.com.
Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, with this message for you: The West Seattle Nooners is a chapter of Business Networking International Northwest and we are looking for members to expand our referral network. We build business one lunch at a time!
The mission of BNI is to help members increase their business through a structured, positive, and professional “word-of-mouth” program that enables them to develop long-term, meaningful relationships with quality business professionals. The philosophy of this organization is built upon the idea of “Givers Gain®”: By giving business to others, you will get business in return. This is predicated on the age-old idea of “What goes around, comes
around.” Our Chapter passed $243,368 in the past 12 months!
Join us this Thursday (May 17th) at 12 pm for our Membership Extravaganza, and be prepared to network!
Come to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center at 4408 Delridge Way SW in West Seattle with 50 business cards, $10, and a desire to grow your referrals. Discover how BNI business networking groups work, and meet the members of the West Seattle Nooners chapter. Everyone will have the opportunity to network as well as to present their business for 30 seconds during the meeting. Lunch is included.
After the meeting, members will be on hand to answer questions and help you if you choose to apply to become a member of our chapter. We are looking for new members to give referrals to in many professions still available! BNI is non-competitive, so only one member per profession is allowed, so grab yours before it’s gone.
We have openings for key professions including electrician, plumber, credit card processor, graphic artist, event planner, caterer, business coach, moving company, interior designer, locksmith, florist, landscape designer, property manager, computer repair, housecleaning, and many others. New members would be joining our current network which includes real estate, mortgage brokerage, photography, banking, web design and social media management, supplemental insurance, pet daycare, financial planning, personal training, general contracting and much more. To see a complete list of our members, go here.
If you can’t attend our extravaganza, we meet each Thursday at 12 pm at Youngstown and visitors are welcome. You can contact President Rick Beaubelle (206-957-9097; info@seattlecanineclub.net) or Vice-President Cami MacNamara (206-550-7720; cami@webcami.com) if you have any questions about the West Seattle Nooners.
We thank West Seattle Nooners 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.
Police and the Seattle Animal Shelter are investigating a cat death reported north of The Junction this morning. The details are disturbing, so we’re putting this behind a jump from the home page:Read More
Over the past few years, we’ve brought you Guy Smith‘s updates on the saga of the Joy D. Smith Wildlife Raft, named after his wife and (usually) floating within view of their Alki home. The latest chapter a month ago involved the raft getting away, and being rescued with the help of a cast including even Husky Deli proprietor Jack Miller, via boat (photo included in our report). Today, Guy sends word that the raft is afloat again – with something extra (see the left side of the photo above):
As of Mother’s Day, Joy’s raft is out of dry dock and back on its buoy and rebuilt anchor line off Alki Pt. The time in dry dock gave the opportunity to add a modification that might prove useful. Last fall we noticed a seal pup trying for a long time to get on the raft, but it was just too weak and gave up. So in case that happens again, the raft now has a swim step. Could a small pool slide be next?
Maybe the sand-rolling Alki otter will be interested …
If you weren’t at the last Design Team meeting for the new K-5 STEM at Boren school, or missed the mention in the WSB Forums, the official district notes for that meeting are now published online. The notes confirm a major curriculum decision: The Design Team supports seeking a waiver so the new science/tech/engineering/math school can use Singapore Math, which, in West Seattle, has led to major math success at Schmitz Park Elementary. The meeting notes also include an enrollment update:
Three kindergarten classes
One first-grade class
One first/second-grade class
One second/third-grade class
One third-grade class
One fourth-grade class
One fourth/fifth-grade class
Total enrollment as of last Thursday, 233. There has been some confusion over whether people are still being encouraged to apply in hopes they will add another class or two; the meeting notes say “still encourage people to get on the waitlist.” Next team meeting (public always welcome): 6:15 pm May 24th, Madison Middle School. There’s also an ongoing online-discussion group here.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents of note that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block (whenever)?”:
*A 17-year-old was attacked from behind while she waited for a bus at California and Hanford late Thursday. One attacker covered her mouth, walked her to a nearby alley, and slammed her head against a tree. When she fell to the ground, five peoplie began kicking and punching her. She was taken to Highline Medical Center for treatment. The attackers were described as two Hispanic males, 15-17 years old, wearing gray hoodies; one Hispanic female, 15-17, wearing a tank top, dark basketball shorts, with her hair in a tight bun; and two other Hispanic females.
*Around 4 p.m. Thursday, a junior high student was attacked from behind by three people described as older male teens near 35th and Thistle. He did not recognize the suspects.
*A 36-year-old Highland Park mom (described as having an anecdotal history of throwing underage drinking soirees) is facing charges of unlawful furnishing of liquor to a minor after officers responded to complaints about a party in the 7700 block of Highland Park Way SW on Sunday, April 29th. Five juveniles ran from the scene but were caught and sent home to parents. Fifteen others — ranging in age from 18-14, and all showing serious signs of intoxication — were released from the apartment. One officer stated, “I can’t express how strong the smell (of marijuana) was.” Mom copped to the alcohol consumption but had nothing to say about the pot.
Eight more summaries ahead, including dogs rescued from a car, and a theft that happened in a flash:Read More
Though Seattle Public Schools‘ BEX IV levy plan has not yet been finalized, as part of the process, the district has to have hearings on the potential environmental impact of the potential projects, and the date’s been set for the next hearing: 5 pm May 22nd at Roxhill Elementary (30th and Roxbury). “Environmental impact,” in this case, doesn’t just mean ecological, but also noise, traffic, and other potential effects. The district’s draft environmental-impact statement regarding BEX IV can be seen in its entirety here. If you can’t make it to the hearing, you can also comment, until May 25, via e-mail or postal mail:
Noel Treat, SEPA Responsible official
John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence
2445 3rd Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98134Or: jawolf@seattleschools.org
The School Board is expected to give final approval to the levy plan in October, after another round of community meetings in September. What’s currently being discussed was covered in our report on a board “work session” last week.
Two midday notes:
COOLMOM/SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE BENEFIT TEA: This Saturday afternoon at 2 pm, you’re invited to a benefit tea to help “make West Seattle more sustainable and resilient,” as Bill Reiswig put it in his note, by supporting two groups: CoolMom and Sustainable West Seattle. From local food to transportation to toxic runoff to recycling, both groups have led a variety of creative sustainability campaigns in the community, with small budgets and tireless volunteer energy, and this is your chance to help them keep the work going. Tickets are $30; get yours here.
NORTHWEST HOPE AND HEALING’S ‘STYLE ’12’ TALLY: A week and a half after another annual edition of Northwest Hope and Healing‘s triumphant fashion show raising money to help breast-cancer patients (WSB coverage here) – with survivors wowing the crowd from the runway – the tally is in, and NWHH says its $100,000 goal was exceeded, with a total of $114,000 raised. As explained in today’s announcement:
Proceeds from the event benefits the Northwest Hope & Healing (NWHH) Patient Assistance Fund, which provides financial assistance for every day expenses like child care, groceries, gasoline, utilities & emergency rent to women in need who are receiving breast and gynecological cancer treatment at Swedish Medical Center, as well as for Signature Healing Baskets which are given free of charge to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.
You can also help NWHH by registering for the annual Alki Beach 5K – it’s on August 26th, and online registration is open now.
The fire call we covered on SW Kenyon Saturday night turns out to be one of two “suspicious” fires now under investigation by police. After this comment from the homeowners in the 2400 block of SW Kenyon (map), where firefighters handled what was described at the time as burning debris, we checked this morning with Seattle Police, and here’s what they told us: It’s been determined that fire was set in a pile of yard debris, and spread to the house. While that fire briefly drew a full “fire in single-family residence” response, another one about a block away at 24th and Holden at almost the same time drew a much smaller response (and isn’t even on the call log) – it was in a trash can on the sidewalk, according to police, who say the only damage done was to the plastic can, which melted. SPD media-relations Det. Mark Jamieson tells WSB that while witnesses say they believe they saw three young children set the trash can fire, there were no witnesses at the larger fire on Kenyon. No injuries reported in either incident, and no arrests so far; the investigation continues.
Our video shows the special surprise that kicked off Pathfinder K-8‘s Monday morning assembly today – the presentation of a ceremonial oversized $10,000 check from the CenturyLink Teachers and Technology program, to buy more tech equipment for classrooms.
It’s the only Seattle school getting one of nine such grants statewide. It didn’t really just come out of the blue, though – Pathfinder librarian Kathy Egawa, who spoke briefly at the assembly along with principal David Dockendorf and CenturyLink vp Sue Anderson, applied for the grant. She explained that while the state has tech standards students are expected to meet, Pathfinder doesn’t have the equipment needed to meet those standards – but this grant, to get 2 laptops for each classroom in the “Earth Hall” section, will help, as the second- and third-graders embark on a mapping expedition using them.
PATHFINDER P.S.: This Wednesday night is the kickoff for another project – more analog! – and the community’s invited to dinner in the cafeteria at 6 pm Wednesday to talk about how the school can transform its playground into a “creative outdoor learning space.” More info in the calendar listing.
Mid-May has been looking more like mid-July lately; Jody Baker shares the photo of Sunday’s crowd at Alki Beach. Today’s supposed to get into the low 80s, though unless there’s an en-masse sickout, the beach should be a little quieter. Besides the weather, here are highlights for today/tonight from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
WESTBOUND SPOKANE STREET VIADUCT CLOSURE LATE TONIGHT (technically early Tuesday): 2-5 am Tuesday, that short section of the westbound bridge at 99 will be closed again, as explained here. (And looking way ahead, remember NEXT weekend, the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed all weekend.)
BIKE AND BUS? FREE RIDE! As mentioned here Sunday night, if you take your bike on a Metro bus (or Sound Transit lines operated by Metro, including the 560), you get a free ride all week. First-come first-served for the bike racks, though.
STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDING FOR WOMEN: Monday nights at Alki Kayak Tours (Seacrest Boathouse, 1660 Harbor Avenue SW), it’s time for women to get out on the water, starting at 6 pm, and tonight the weather should be perfect.
NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: Their monthly meeting is at 6:30 pm, Delridge Library. The agenda’s on the NDNC website; it’s a busy one, with updates from parks to roads to festivals.
AT THE LIBRARIES: Three events tonight at Seattle Public Library branches in West Seattle, all featured on the SPL Calendar of Events: Evening Book Group at Southwest Library, 6:45 pm, reading “The Reluctant Fundamentalist“; Seattle Reads ‘The Submission’ Book Group at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, also 6:45 pm; and Family Story Time at the High Point Library, 7 pm.
NEW HOURS, NEW MENU AT FEEDBACK LOUNGE: New for spring/summer – The Feedback (WSB sponsor) opens at 4 pm Mondays-Thursdays, 11:30 am Fridays-Sundays (full details on their home page), and a new menu will debut today.
4:19 AM: Big fire response to the 4700 block of California in The Junction. Even as we head that way, SFD has reduced the response, though. More to come.
4:32 AM UPDATE: The address for the call, 4717 California SW, is the Poggie Tavern, and WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand, at the scene, says that’s where fire crews are working – in the back, on the alley. No flames.
4:44 AM UPDATE: The incident commander has just briefed media crews (TV is there too), saying the fire started in a dumpster in the back of the building. The interior isn’t affected but there was some damage to the back.
4:54 AM UPDATE: Crews are also cutting into the roof for ventilation because of the “extension” – the area the original dumpster fire had spread to before somebody called it in.
5:08 AM UPDATE: The crews’ work is winding down. We’ll update later with an official ruling on the fire’s cause. Photo above is the charred contents of the dumpster (as TV crews shone a light briefly).
MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore tells WSB, “The 4717 California Avenue SW fire was started in a dumpster. It was not suspicious. The fire caused $5000 to the roof of the tavern. Fire investigators did not investigate.”
5:13 PM NOTE: We called to check on the tavern’s status; they’re closed and might remain closed for up to a week.
Thanks to Russ Walker for video and photos of a river otter that’s spending a lot of time out of the water at Alki – bet you haven’t seen one take a “sand bath.” (Well, WE haven’t.) Russ notes that the otter’s been crossing Alki Avenue SW, “right around the blue bottle house” – no pic of that, but here’s a pose on the beach:
And yes, what you see in West Seattle are river otters, NOT sea otters like the ones at the Seattle Aquarium. Find out all sorts of fascinating river-otter facts here.
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