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Spotlight Stories

Chief Sealth hosts 2nd annual kickoff for Unified Soccer tomorrow
March 30, 2012 9:49 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Athletes from three West Seattle schools are participating this year in the Seattle Unified Soccer League, part of the Unified Sports program in conjunction with Special Olympics Washington, and the kickoff event, with an opening ceremony, is set for tomorrow morning at Chief Sealth International High School (last year it was in Interbay). Unified Sports includes players described as being “with and without intellectual disabilities,” bringing them together to train and play. This year, there are 23 teams around the district – as listed on the official flyer – including two teams from West Seattle High School as well as one each from Sealth and adjacent Denny International Middle School. You’re invited to cheer them on as a “march to the match” heads from Sealth to the Southwest Athletic Complex at 9 am, followed by the opening ceremony at 9:15. More info about this year’s season is here.

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West Seattle Friday: Family Movie Night; music; tastings…
March 30, 2012 8:02 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Friday: Family Movie Night; music; tastings…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

From the recently revamped WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

WINE TASTING AND FOOD PAIRING: At Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor; 2320 42nd SW), Washington wine, paired with Kurobuta ham, roasted lamb, and Columbia king salmon. Tasting 5-7 pm.

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT: Little Pilgrim School hosts “Family Movie Night” tonight at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), 6-8 pm. The newest “Winnie the Pooh” movie will be shown, free (games, concessions, and a raffle are planned – details in our calendar listing).

‘BOBCAT BOB’ AT C & P COFFEE: A favorite at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) (5612 California SW), “Bobcat Bob,” performs tonight, 6-8 pm.

BIN 41’S ‘ALMOST 2ND ANNIVERSARY’: Tonight – The Bin’s own wines, two vintages of both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and releasing their first-ever Cabernet Sauvignon, as they get ready to celebrate the shop’s second anniversary. 6-7:30 pm (4707 California SW), full details here.

FINAL WEEKEND FOR ‘LITTLE VOICE’: 7:30 pm at ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery (4711 California SW), second-to-last performance for “The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.”

JAZZ AND BLUES AT KENYON HALL: Casey MacGill and Orville Johnson play the hall (7904 35th SW) tonight at 7:30 – more info on the KH website.

LIVE MUSIC AT SALTY’S: Singer/songwriter Barbie Anaka performs at Salty’s on Alki, 8-10 pm.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AT HEARTLAND: 9 pm, live music at Heartland Café/Benbow Room in the Admiral District, during the second night of a five-day second-anniversary celebration (here’s our preview story).

LATE-NIGHT TEEN PROGRAM TEMPORARILY MOVED: Since the Southwest Teen Life Center is closed for maintenance till mid-April, tonight’s programs will be at High Point Community Center.

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West Seattle businesses: Seamart store reopening after a year-plus
March 29, 2012 10:12 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news

Story and photos by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Highland Park’s Seamart convenience store will reopen at 16th/Holden Friday, with new property owners, more than a year after the former building and convenience store’s owner was foreclosed on (as reported here in December 2010), which led not only to the store’s closure but also to the shutdown of JoJo’s Fine Espresso and the relocation of Zippy’s Giant Burgers.

The new owners, partners Saejin Lee and Yungie Sun [above], say they saw a “unique” opportunity in the Highland Park business property. Lee’s family sold their previous Central District store on Jackson (Seven Star) to purchase here in West Seattle. They expect to attract both new and previous customers to their store, and to the new neighboring tenants, Athena’s Gyros (their plan to take over the ex-Zippy’s space was first reported here in mid-February), and an as-yet-to-be-determined coffee stand vendor.

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Reader report: 2nd Design Team meeting for K-5 STEM at Boren
March 29, 2012 9:37 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The Design Team for the new K-5 STEM at Boren option school opening this fall in West Seattle has now met twice. We covered its first session (here’s that story) but were unable to go to the second one last night; a community member who did, Kathleen Voss, offered today to share her notes, and we took her up on that offer. Here’s her report:

The design team for the new STEM Elementary School at Boren met for the second time on Wednesday at the John Stanford Center in SODO. With the exception of the new incoming principal, Dr. Shannon McKinney, all design team members were present. Also in attendance were eight community observers who represented parents of prospective students, teachers from a local elementary school, as well as some who described themselves only as “interested community members.”

The meeting began fairly shortly after the 6:15 scheduled start time and opened with an opportunity for public testimony. It was stated that in future meetings, the public testimony portion of the meetings will occur at the end, rather than the beginning, of the allotted meeting time. Only one observer stood to offer commentsm which consisted of a reminder to the design team that there are many interested and committed individuals who are eager to assist the design team in whatever way possible. She suggested that a volunteer coordinator might be helpful in connecting skilled volunteers to some of the extraneous tasks that will emerge and lighten the load of the design team members. The team was also reminded of the fully functioning Yahoo group (groups.yahoo.com/groups/K5STEM) that currently boasts more than 70 links to local STEM resources, numerous research articles, as well as an events calendar.

Public comments were followed by a report from assistant superintendent Dr. Cathy Thompson regarding the Steering Committee’s recent walkthrough of the Boren site.

Thompson said all were pleasantly surprised by the current state of the building after years of hearing horror stories regarding its disrepair. As stated in earlier public meetings, all of the flooring will be replaced and walls will be freshly painted. Discussion is ongoing regarding a space that can be utilized for before- and after-school child care. The school will contain two computer labs (with one located in the library) and two science labs (most likely configured for K-2nd and 3-5th grades). The extra space in the administrative office area may lend itself to a family resource center.

The majority of the meeting was spent identifying and discussing the Key Program Features of the school. While the core values and mission statement will wait until Dr. McKinney’s arrival in early April, the design team took on the task of identifying the “Big Ideas” and big tasks to be accomplished before September.

The first priorities for the next two months are hiring faculty and choosing curriculum materials. Materials needed in September will have to be ordered in May. This timeline includes any waivers needed for non-district endorsed materials.

After hearing a multitude of ideas, Aurora Lora, the Executive Director of Schools for West Seattle, was able to identify seven key areas of focus for the team going forward:

Curriculum
Role of technology
Staff
Community/family engagement
Diverse learning community
Teaching the whole child
Becoming a leader in STEM education

Other items of discussion:

What is project-based learning? Is is the model we want to use?
Subcommittee needed to focus on grants to assure deadlines do not get forgotten.
List of questions to ask when visiting other STEM schools.

Kathleen says the district promised its notes will be up on its website by the end of the week (sometime tomorrow). She also says the team has added a Saturday meeting, 8:30-noon April 7th, and that several members will tour the state’s only currently operating STEM-focused public elementary school, in Bremerton, on April 27th.

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West Seattle traffic alert: More Spokane St. Viaduct (etc.) closures
March 29, 2012 5:47 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Spokane St. Viaduct project | West Seattle news

That’s a recent view of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project work zone, with the new 1st Avenue South on/offramp on the right, courtesy of Gatewood pilot/photographer Long Bach Nguyen. Tonight, we have the latest SDOT update on closures planned as part of the project:

The westbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct between I-5 and SR 99 will be closed three nights next week, Monday through Wednesday, April 2-4, from 10 p.m. each night until 5 a.m. the following morning. This will close direct access to West Seattle via the Spokane Street Viaduct from both northbound and southbound I-5. (Motorists traveling southbound on SR 99 will still be able to access the off-ramp to the West Seattle Bridge.)

Southbound traffic from I-5 wishing to travel to West Seattle should detour by exiting I-5 at S Forest Street, turning right (northbound) onto Sixth Avenue S, then turning left (westbound) at S Lander Street, turning left again (southbound) at First Avenue S, turning right (westbound) at S Hanford Street, turning left (southbound) onto East Marginal Way S, and finally turning right (westbound) onto the lower S Spokane Street roadway and across the swing bridge to West Seattle. Northbound traffic from I-5 wishing to travel to West Seattle should exit the freeway at Sixth Avenue S, and then follow the same detour route outlined above.

Other upcoming closures in the immediate vicinity include:

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West Seattle businesses: Why Twilight Artist Collective is open late
March 29, 2012 5:19 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Besides the shops participating in the Spring Fashion Fling, there’s somewhere else you can shop late in The Junction tonight – Twilight Artist Collective in The Junction. Cheryl Robinson sends word they’re staying open late through the end of the week because the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts conference is in town,and their current group ceramics show “Chimeras” – curated by Eva Funderburgh – is linked to the conference. You can stop by Twilight till 9 tonight and 10 am-9 pm tomorrow.

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Seattle Public Schools’ BEX IV levy possibilities: Merge Roxhill and Arbor Heights? Move Schmitz Park?
March 29, 2012 3:31 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

One week from today, Seattle Public Schools will bring its touring meeting about the BEX IV levy to West Seattle. That levy is meant to generate construction money – as BEX III did (with its projects including the Denny International Middle School rebuild and Chief Sealth International High School renovations). Some of the ideas proposed for West Seattle are new, as first reported in Melissa Westbrook‘s coverage of a School Board work session yesterday on saveseattleschools.blogspot.com.

From the presentation, which you can see here, possibilities include building a new school at Arbor Heights Elementary and merging Roxhill Elementary and Arbor Heights there; building a new school for Schmitz Park Elementary on the Genesee Hill campus; reopening Fairmount Park Elementary (maybe as a permanent home for the school opening this fall as K-5 STEM at Boren); reopening E.C. Hughes (also a possible home for K-5 STEM), which is currently leased to Westside School (WSB sponsor); building an addition to West Seattle Elementary.

No one possible “scenario” includes all of the above; the district is trying to settle on a philosophical direction for the levy. Of the scenarios currently on the table, the cost range for voters would be between half a billion and $855 million dollars. We have a message out to West Seattle’s school-board director Marty McLaren to ask about the briefing.

In the meantime, if you are interested, the BEX IV feedback meeting for West Seattle is next Thursday, April 5th, 6:30 pm, at Denny International Middle School (see the original announcement in our events-calendar listing). Whatever form the levy takes, it will go to voters next year.

ADDED 11:38 PM: We haven’t heard back from Marty McLaren yet, but a WSB’er did forward us a post on her public e-mail discussion list in which she addressed the BEX IV proposals (we didn’t know about the list but we’re subscribing now – subscription info is here). Read on for the entirety of her post, which includes a little more background on the AH/Roxhill merger rationale, and dates/times for her 3 upcoming community conversations:Read More

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West Seattle 5-year-old, musicians, scenery star in music video
March 29, 2012 2:17 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

“Mor Yay” is the first video by Branden Daniel and The Chics, released in advance of their debut album “Keep ‘Em Flying,” which comes out in early May. And the video has lots of West Seattle flavor. First – if you watch it, you’ll see Alki backdrops and other West Seattle scenery (plus a few other Seattle spots). Second – five-year-old Hayes, who’s in almost every scene, is a student at Holy Rosary; his proud mom Kelly – who also happens to be married to the young star’s dad, lead singer/guitarist Brendan Daniel – e-mailed to let us know about the video. She says lifelong West Seattleite Matt Winter, The Chics’ drummer – produced and edited the video. In a news release about the video, Brendan explains, “When Hayes was 2 years old, some of his first words were ‘mor yay.’ This is what he called the music I played on my guitar, because people would clap and say ‘yay’ after a performance.” You can preorder the album online, by the way.

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What’s that $100 fee? WSB Forum members ask; Highline explains
March 29, 2012 1:17 pm
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   Health | West Seattle news

Three weeks ago, a WSB Forums member started a discussion there about a $100 fee charged by Highline Medical’s West Seattle Urgent-Care Clinic that was not covered by her insurance. Among discussion participants, much discussion and research followed. The thread was called to our attention, and we sought a response from Highline, as the questions continued to pile up. Today, we have that response from Highline Medical Group’s administrator, confirming that this is a fee charged “for the higher costs of operating an urgent care facility during weekends and evening hours, when there is irregular demand for services,” and saying they are working to get more insurance companies to cover it – with another group coming on board next month, Regence. (Highline is not the only health-care organization with an urgent-care charge, according to one post in the discussion.) Read on for the statement:Read More

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Highland Park Action Committee: Card; crime; greenways; the HP Huddle
March 29, 2012 12:38 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news

Shown off at the Highland Park Action Committee meeting last night – HPAC’s new info-card, which you’ll see at events like the upcoming Gathering of Neighbors – a quick way to find out more about the group and the neighborhood. Also from last night’s meeting, a crime-trends briefing, a “greenways” discussion, and the Highland Park Huddle – read on for the toplines!Read More

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Tracking the apps: 2 more would-be liquor sellers in West Seattle
March 29, 2012 10:41 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS beverages

Another update on something we’ve been tracking for about 2 months – the list of stores in West Seattle planning to sell hard liquor, once privatized sales start on June 1st. Two more applications have just appeared on the state Liquor Control Board‘s website, bringing the total so far to 14 prospective liquor-selling stores in West Seattle, which currently has two state-run stores.

Newest West Seattle applications: Both Rite Aid stores – Westwood Village and California SW south of The Junction.

Previously reported West Seattle applications: Metropolitan Market in Admiral (WSB sponsor), Bartell Drugs (Admiral and Jefferson Square stores), Walgreens (16th/Roxbury and High Point stores), Target (Westwood Village), West Seattle Thriftway, QFC (Junction and Westwood Village stores), Safeway (Admiral, Jefferson Square, Roxbury stores)

Remember, this is NOT the final list of who’ll be selling liquor in West Seattle – sales can’t start before June 1st, and qualifying businesses can apply at any time. (Before last week’s update, we checked with PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor), which hadn’t decided.)

Also checking in on the auction for the current state-store locations’ licenses: Bidding started at $1,000 each, as reported here March 8th – the Westwood-location license is up to $4,050, while the Junction-location license bidding is up to $7,100. Bidding is also open for all locations’ licenses together, and that’s now at $551,100, more than double what it was last week. Bidding continues into April.

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West Seattle Thursday: From baby drive, to burlesque, & beyond
March 29, 2012 8:57 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to David for that view of the work under way this stormy morning in The Junction, as crews continue work on stations and stops for Metro’s RapidRide C Line, replacing Route 54 this September. Meantime, here’s what we’ve dug up from the remodeled WSB West Seattle Events calendar for today/tonight:

DONATE BABY ITEMS FOR ‘MOBILE TWEETUP’ STOP @ NURTURING EXPRESSIONS: WSB sponsor Nurturing Expressions in The Junction (4746 44th SW) is a scheduled stop for today’s “Mobile Tweetup” as KIRO TV’s Jenni Hogan collects donations for babies whose families are in need, 10 am-1 pm. Full details (and Jenni’s Twitter link!) in our calendar listing.

FREE WINE TASTING: West Seattle Cellars‘ weekly Thursday night tasting, 5:30 pm-8 pm, featuring their April Collector’s Club wines and two bonuses. WSC says: “We’ve got a wine with familiar grapes from an unexpected place; a grape we’d never even heard of, but found irresistible; and more.” Details of tonight’s tasting are here.

SEE CAFE ROZELLA’S NEW LOOK: The coffee shop and gathering place at 9434 Delridge Way SW has an all-new look, and is showing it off with a “reopening” party 6-9 pm (though it hasn’t been closed), everyone invited.

HELP CRAFT AN ARTS PLAN FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: The district is touring the city gathering public comments on an arts-education plan, and wants to hear from West Seattleites at 6:30 tonight, Chief Sealth International High School. (Full details on this listing’s page from the WSB calendar.)

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ‘AFTER HOURS’: Joined the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce yet? Tonight’s the monthly “After-Hours” mingle event, this time at Global Diving and Salvage, 3840 West Marginal Way SW, 5:30-7 pm.

FREE ‘BRING THE SPA HOME’ CLASS AT SHANTI: Tonight, learn how to do at-home hand and foot treatments! 6 pm Thursday, a free class to help you work a little spa style into your home life, at Shanti Salon and Spa (WSB sponsor) in the Admiral District, 2138 California SW.

SANISLO PTA – PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES WELCOME TOO! 6:30-7:30 pm in the Sanislo Elementary library (1812 SW Myrtle). Child care provided.

CRIME TRENDS AND CRIME PREVENTION IN NORTH DELRIDGE: Live between the bridge and Boren? You’re invited to a community meeting with Seattle Police leadership at 7 tonight at the Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster). Our preview from earlier this week explains what it’s about.

SPRING FASHION FLING: Four Junction stores, plus West 5, are teaming up for a night of shopping and door prizes, 7-10 pm – more details on The Junction’s website.

WESTSIDE BURLESQUE AT SKYLARK: 9 pm – West Seattle’s only regular burlesque revue. Ticket info here. Skylark’s at 3803 Delridge Way SW, just south of the West Seattle Bridge.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AT HEARTLAND: 9 pm, live music at Heartland Café/Benbow Room in the Admiral District, as the kickoff to a five-day second-anniversary celebration (here’s our preview story).

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West Seattle schools: ‘Living history lesson’ at Explorer West
March 29, 2012 7:57 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Amy French from Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) shares the story of a “living history lesson” this week: Suma Yagi is an EW student’s great-aunt, and visited the 7th-grade American History classes to read her poetry and talk about what she went through during the World War II internment of Japanese-Americans 70 years ago. Amy writes:

When Suma was 14 and a freshman at Garfield High School, war broke out with Japan and President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the internment of Japanese Americans across the Pacific coast with Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942. After having eight days to pack-up and leave their Central District home, her American-born family faced internment for over three years at two camps.

After her family was released, she moved on with her life as a high school student and her family rarely mentioned their time in the internment camps. Only when Suma was in her sixties and taking a writing class, did she start to capture and share these stories. Suma finished each classroom session by answering a series of questions that the students had prepared. The Explorer West 7th graders had been studying WWII and had completed some background reading on the internment.

The Explorer West community respectfully thanks Suma for so graciously sharing her living history with the 7th grade students.

There’s more about her story and her visit on the school’s website.

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Beach Drive murder: Greggette Guy memorial-fund website
March 28, 2012 9:23 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Beach Drive murder | Crime | West Seattle news

Two and a half weeks after 51-year-old Greggette Guy, a former West Seattleite, was found dead in the water off Beach Drive, there is still no word of a break in the murder case, though we inquired with police again today. The last public statement about the case came eight nights ago, when Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen spoke to the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (here’s our coverage, with video of what he said). Beach Drive residents, meantime, continue to note increased police visibility, and Beach Drive Blog is advocating for more lighting (here’s their latest report).

And today, we heard again from Ms. Guy’s brother-in-law, who contacted us last Friday once they set up a memorial fund (here’s our story from that night). Dennis Guy offered information for donating at bank branches; we asked if they were also setting up a way to donate online, and now, they have accomplished that:

A web page has been created with the Memorial Fund information: Go to greggetteguymemorial.home.comcast.net.

A memorial fund has been set up in Greggette’s name. The fund will be used to erect a memorial, if permitted, at the park where she died and/or to add to the reward for information about her death. If you wish to donate, please use one of the donation options below.

Donation Options:
1. Go to any Bank of America and make a deposit in the account with the following details:

Name on Account: Dwight K. Guy
Account Number: 138100402807

2. For existing PayPal users, please use the Send Money tab on your PayPal page to send a personal gift to greggetteguymemorialfund@gmail.com. This will avoid any fees.

3. For those without an existing PayPal account and wishing to donate electronically, please click on the Donate button on the website.

Thank you to those that have donated so far.

Our coverage of the case is archived (in reverse chronological order) here. If you have any information that might be related to the case, call 911 or the Seattle Police Homicide Tip Line, 206-233-5000 (police say anonymous tips are welcome).

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West Seattle community service: LaFarge crew hits the street
March 28, 2012 7:05 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

We frequently feature photos of people from West Seattle nonprofits, schools, and churches out doing good deeds – but this is a reminder that businesses do, too. Thanks to LaShanna for sharing the photo of LaFarge workers along West Marginal Way SW today, during what she says is an ongoing bimonthly cleanup project. (Let us know – either with advance word or with a photo afterward – what community service YOUR business is up to.)

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As raingardens approach reality, trepidation grows on a Sunrise Heights block
March 28, 2012 4:41 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Sunrise Heights | West Seattle news | Westwood

(7900 block of 30th SW)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Tonight, Sunrise Heights/Westwood residents are expected to find out if the county thinks the planting strips in front of their homes are the best prospective sites for raingardens to reduce sewer overflows miles away.

The plan has been two-plus years in the making, as the county’s preferred solution to the problem of Puget Sound overflows from the Barton Pump Station near the Fauntleroy ferry dock – but only now is it becoming less abstract, more real, as final decisions get closer. And that is worrying the people who live in the 7900 block of 30th SW, who have asked County Executive Dow Constantine to stop the project.

After the county announced two meetings for tonight and Saturday morning, resident Sabrina Urquhart sent a “media advisory” to make sure the meetings would be covered.

We asked if she and her neighbors would be willing to talk in advance about their concerns. So a small group gathered in her living room Monday evening – joining Sabrina were neighbors Heather, Jim, and Kevin.

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West Seattle schools: Chanda Oatis is Alki’s permanent principal
March 28, 2012 3:52 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

More big news from Alki Elementary School (in the wake of last night’s big win) – after five months as interim principal, Chanda Oatis is now its permanent principal. Here’s the letter families are receiving, from interim district superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield:

Today I am delighted to announce that I have appointed Chanda E. Oatis as the principal for Alki Elementary. She has been serving as Interim Principal since October and has been a great fit for the community.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Charges filed in Alki gunfire
March 28, 2012 3:19 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

That is WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli‘s photograph of police arresting 26-year-old Nicholas Jae Bowman early Sunday on Harbor Avenue SW, for allegedly shooting at people in the Alki business district. WSB policy is to usually not publish names/faces until someone is charged – and now, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office confirms, Bowman is charged in the case.

He is due in court April 11th to answer one count of second-degree assault. Court documents say it all started late Saturday night when several 911 callers reported a man pointing a gun at people outside the Bamboo Bar and Grill; he ran away, but then was seen driving in the area, and firing his gun at a man behind nearby Cactus Restaurant. No one was hit or hurt. A description of Bowman and his car enabled police to stop him a short time later (as we reported in ongoing Sunday morning coverage); court documents say he told them he had a .45-caliber handgun in his glove box, and officers found a .45 bullet and brass knuckles when they arrested him. Investigators say three guns, including a semiautomatic .45, are registered to Bowman. Prosecutors are asking that he be required to give them up while the case is pending. Though he has no known criminal history, they write, “his actions in the present case warrant extreme caution,” and that’s why they also are asking the court to keep his bail set at $100,000.

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Happy anniversary: Heartland Café/Benbow Room turns 2
March 28, 2012 3:07 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

When Heartland Café proprietor Jay Wergin sent this anniversary announcement, we asked him if he had any photos to go along with it – not just an exterior, but something with Heartland people. He says the resulting photo, atop this story, shows his staff from the Christmas Party – and he says everybody in it is still working there. So here’s what’s in store for the celebration, starting TOMORROW (Thursday 3/29):

Monday, April 2nd marks the Heartland Café and Benbow Room’s 2nd year anniversary.

We have a jam-packed 4-day weekend planned for this event with a touring band from Portland, Smiley, Get Dressed along with Seattle band The Underwater Tiger hitting the stage on Thursday night @ 9 pm. — On Friday @ 9 pm we have 3 bands playing, Can’t Complain, Swingset Showdown and Animals In Cars. — On Saturday, we have some local alternative/soul/cool jazz playing the Benbow Room, solo artist Scott Concinnity from Letters From Traffic and the Amelia Circle band. On Sunday we will be offering food specials in the main dining room.

On the actual day of our anniversary we will be offering “metal and fried chicken” (21 yrs and older only). There will be a live broadcast viewing of Chris Yardley’s Killzone featuring music from Attackhead and Subject7 via ReebLive! There will also be interviews with band members as well as an interview with Chris Yardley — The best part is, you get to taste our famous fried chicken for free! Yes, you heard it right — come and eat fried chicken from 6-8 pm. Our usual Monday special applies as well: $1 PBR Tall Boys and $2 chili dogs 3-9 pm (bar only).

— Yoo Betcha!

The Heartland/Benbow is in the Admiral District at 4210 SW Admiral Way.

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West Seattle schools: Denny/Sealth Somali Family Night
March 28, 2012 2:07 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

From Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark:

Last night, we held a successful Somali Family Night here at Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School. The event went well with over 65 parents in attendance. Workshops were held on topics including school involvement and supporting your child academically.

We are always so impressed with the results when we reach out to our community — parents shared new ideas that we will use to make our connection with them even stronger.

Principal Kinsey and I would like to extend a special thank you to the following people for their help in making this event a success:

Christine Mattfeld, Leticia Clausen, Mohamed Mohamud, Abdirahman Ahmed, Burhan Farah, Mohamed Roble, Farhiya Omer, Martha Lemberg, Jol Raymond, Vanessa Garcia, Jeff Smith, and many others.

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‘Robust’ discussion needed re: encampments, say councilmembers
March 28, 2012 12:21 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Nickelsville encampment | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

It’s time for city leaders to have a “robust discussion” on city policy regarding homeless encampments, City Councilmembers agreed at a committee meeting that just concluded. As first revealed by WSB Forums member JoB in this post last night, the Planning and Land Use Committee was going to consider an amendment to the city’s Comprehensive Plan that would have suggested the city supports them being hosted by religious institutions, only. That drew opposition in public comment at the start of the committee meeting, and when the item finally came up for discussion, its sponsor, Councilmember Tim Burgess, ultimately withdrew it, after he and other members agreed it’s time for that “robust discussion.” They said Mayor McGinn plans to propose legislation this spring (Burgess said he believes the proposal will open the door for “many more encampments”) that might provide the springboard for that discussion.

This issue is of particular note in West Seattle because the encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville” has been in a sort of limbo on city-owned land here for almost a year; the mayor told WSB after the encampment’s arrival that he would not seek to have it evicted, but the city has not granted requests to allow the encampment to connect to utilities, so it continues to operate with porta-potties and without running water.

ADDED 3:10 PM: We’ve obtained from the mayor’s office a copy of his e-mail cited by councilmembers at this morning’s meeting, expressing concern about Burgess’s amendment and saying he will be proposing city legislation soon. Read it here.

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West Seattle’s landmark Hainsworth House up for sale
March 28, 2012 11:01 am
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

(Historic photo from King County Assessor’s website)
Five years after it last changed hands, West Seattle’s Hainsworth House – a city landmark, at 2657 37th SW, is on the market again (thanks to Fiona for spotting the listing). The 103-year-old, 4-bedroom, 4-bath mansion is listed for $2.25 million. Its significance as an example of “Tudor Revival” architecture is described in the fourth-from-last paragraph on this HistoryLink.org page.

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Followup: California SW paving now set for next week
March 28, 2012 10:17 am
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 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

An update today on the SDOT plan we reported last week – repaving another block-plus of California SW, between SW Hudson and SW Dawson south of The Junction. They were hoping to do it this week, but weather changed the plan to next week, and they have just announced that if the weather doesn’t get in the way again, the work will be done next Tuesday through Friday. At least one lane will stay open each way for the duration. More details here.

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