West Seattle, Washington
10 Wednesday
The scene at left was likely replicated in many family histories … a journey at sea to a new home far away. Some come by sea, some by land, some by air, and the stories are told in “Becoming Us – Through Immigrant Eyes,” produced by students from two West Seattle high schools, Chief Sealth International High School and St. Christopher’s Academy (which is on the Seattle Lutheran campus). Gary Thomsen (who shared the photo) sent news of the exhibit’s opening this Saturday, 2-3 pm, at History House of Greater Seattle, 790 North 34th (map) in Fremont; no admission charge. It’ll be on display for about a month; the announcement says the project “documents how Immigration has helped make Seattle the city that it is today. … from the unique perspective of those who have immigrated into Seattle and details the challenges immigrants face when moving into a new country.” It includes a documentary clip, a historical timeline dating to 1850, a photo display, and an exhibit of photos and arts by students.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Usually, word of a new restaurant operator coming to town is met with excitement.
When we learned in December that food-truck stars Marination would be taking over Seacrest as their second bricks-and-mortar … what ensued was something of a mini-uproar.
Granted, this is not your usual restaurant transition. Instead of a seamless sale – or a shutdown, followed by a period of vacancy, followed by someone new moving in – this was a Seattle Parks concessionaire contract, with longtime operator Alki Crab and Fish seeking to keep it, but Marination getting it instead.
With the transition just a few weeks away, 
we asked Marination’s owners for a chance to sit down and talk about their plans. Co-owner Kamala Saxton came to West Seattle – where she used to live – to talk with us over coffee last Friday.
Of the uproar, she says, after being a little startled at first, she and co-owner Roz Edison (who was out on deliveries Friday and couldn’t join our chat) realized it was ultimately a good thing. “I was thrilled that people cared. It meant that people were interested, vocal about what’s happening in their community. It’s now our job to work at building those relationships with people who were upset at the decision that was made – this is what they were accustomed to for ten years, and we can spend the next ten years winning them over.”
One big thing won’t change:Read More
It’s not on 911 – no injuries, apparently – but a multiple-vehicle fender-bender crash is blocking SW Oregon between California and 42nd. So avoid that area for a while, if you’re heading that way.
4:05 PM UPDATE: WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli has just been at the scene and says traffic’s flowing fine now (aside from the usual afternoon backups) while the drivers exchange info.
West Seattle will be the site of one of five meetings just announced regarding creating a “comprehensive arts plan” for Seattle Public Schools. The local meeting is at 6:30 pm Thursday, March 29th, at Chief Sealth International High School. Read on for the full announcement of what the district is hoping to do:Read More
Driving northbound on Delridge this afternoon, we noticed the Boren campus, which the district is reopening this fall for a new elementary school, had been hit again by a particularly prolific wave of tagging. Then we spotted the district paint-over/cleanup crew, so we stopped for a photo. Community volunteers painted the bright mural panels that cover the school windows, which were boarded up a year and a half ago, hoping to discourage taggers, but a drive around the school suggests the vandals have hit most of the non-mural surfaces.
Next chapter in the saga of the shuttered, fenced-off gas station at a very prominent spot, Fauntleroy/Alaska in The Triangle: It’s now officially up for sale, asking price $1.4 million. Back in August, its former owner told us – months after closing it while in the process of changing brands – that he expected it to be taken over by a bank, and the new listing confirms that (“property is being sold as-is through receivership”). They’ve put out a “call for offers” with a March 21st deadline. (Here’s the brokers’ website, photos and all.)
Last night on partner site White Center Now, we reported that Highline Public Schools had offered its superintendent job to Dr. Susan Enfield, who’s been serving as interim Seattle superintendent but didn’t want the permanent job. This morning, Dr. Enfield announced she’s taking the job in Highline – the district that includes White Center and Burien – pending contract finalization. Details from our partners at the Seattle Times.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Fauntleroy-based writer and community advocate Judy Pickens is not only a local school volunteer, she also kindly gathers information about volunteer help needed at local schools, to share here, in hopes you can pitch in too. Here’s her latest list.)
By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog
Because of the generosity of a West Seattle Blog reader, students in after-school reading and math clubs at Highland Park Elementary are receiving extra help that wasn’t available just a few weeks ago. I can guarantee that they are benefiting from the tutoring, enjoying a fresh face, and learning that how well they do at school is important to a total stranger.
Students at other area schools are having a similar experience as ordinary folks volunteer a few hours every week or once in awhile to reinforce classroom teaching. Read on for timely volunteer opportunities at three local schools – ones that would appreciate even a sliver of your time – and it’s not just for tutoring!Read More
(This morning’s sunrise, from Debra Salazar Herbst)
Highlights for Tuesday afternoon/evening, from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
ORCHARD TOUR: Tuesday’s the day for Health and Harvest Tours at Community Orchard of West Seattle (north side of South Seattle Community College campus), 2-4 pm on Tuesdays, details here
FREE SWIMMING LESSONS: Southwest Pool and Southwest Teen Life Center start a new session of FREE lessons for ages 11-19. Every Tuesday, 3-4 pm. Call 206-684-4115 to check if there’s still room.
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK: The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce launches a new type of mixer tonight, 5 pm at West 5, with a scotch tasting as part of the event – details in our original preview.
FUNDRAISING ZUMBA: Presented by West Seattle High School ASB, a fundraiser for the class of 2012 – two more Zumba classes, 5-6 pm tonight and Thursday night in the WSHS gym. The classes cost $7 each or 2 for $10.
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS: Back in action after last week’s midwinter school break – new musicians welcome too; rehearsals at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle) – find out more at wsorchestras.org.
HOW TO THWART AUTO THIEVES: Learn about fighting auto theft! That’s the new agenda for tonight’s West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network, 6:30 pm, Southwest Precinct, details here
NIGHTLIFE: Skylark Café and Club acoustic open mic night, starts 7 pm … Rock music/pop culture trivia at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm … “Geeks Who Drink” pub quiz at The Wing Dome in The Junction, 8 pm … Trivia at The Bridge, $2 registration beginning at 8 pm and play starting at 8:30 pm. … Free pool at Beveridge Place Pub, plus discounts on bottled Belgian beer … Starlight songwriter showcase at Shadowland, 9 pm.
(Photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand, added 8:27 am)
What Seattle Fire crews are handling in the 9200 block of 17th SW right now isn’t a big fire – so far, it’s described as a chimney problem that’s mostly just filled a residence with smoke – but the scanner says 17th SW is blocked between Barton and Cambridge, so if you’re in the South Delridge area, that’s a traffic alert. We’re en route to check it out.
8:27 AM UPDATE: After checking to make sure the problem hadn’t spread, crews wrapped up, and things should be getting back to normal in the area. No injuries reported.
3 dates in the next 2 weeks if you’re on 2 wheels – from Stu Hennessey and West Seattle Spokespeople. This Thursday, the West Seattle Tool Library launches a “fixer collective” for bicycles, first Thursday every month, more here; on Sunday, the monthly WS Spokespeople ride, described as a “leisurely” 20 miles, will travel from West Seattle to the Portage Bay Grange – here’s more on that. A week after that, if you’re in White Center, south West Seattle, or South Park, DubSea Bikes is back with free bicycle repair at the White Center Food Bank (8th and 108th), 2-4 pm on March 11th.
(Photo by Travis Tyler, t_ravtyler on Flickr, via the WSB Flickr group pool)
Two weeks ago, West Seattle’s County Councilmember Joe McDermott sounded the alarm about the state’s proposal for renovating the main ferry terminal downtown, Colman Dock, without a spot for passenger ferries, including the West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxis that now dock on its south side, at Pier 50.
Tonight there’s an update: Word from 34th District State House Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon is that the House has a “proviso” in its supplemental transportation budget – other news organizations had pointed out this was in the works – requiring WSDOT to continue to accommodate passenger-only ferries at its dock. That language is NOT in the State Senate’s budget, so, talks are under way between Senators, House members, and WSDOT to work something out before it all gets to the governor. Rep. Fitzgibbon says he worked on the “proviso” as a member of the House Transportation Committee. Fitzgibbon says it’s not just a matter of making sure the passenger ferries have someplace to dock – it’s a matter of making sure “that our state’s most important ferry terminal continues to connect with our passenger ferries and King County Metro buses.” Whatever winds up in the final plan, Colman Dock renovations are expected to start in about two years.
You have two more weeks to tell the state what you think about its future – as explained here.
The occasional “can you identify this …” reader photos we publish tend to be birds. Tonight, we have … bones. Jana and her kids found them while out on the beach south of Alki Point in the sunshine. Guesses?
P.S. Jana also shared a sunset photo from tonight – not one of those wild color-splashed scenes, yet beautiful in its own right:
Side note: Daylight Saving Time is less than two weeks away – we “spring forward” an hour at 2 am Sunday, March 11th.
Today’s sunshine was a tantalizing taste of approaching spring – which also means sale season! Yard sale, rummage sale, garage sale, etc. The two concurrent 
West Seattle church sales with a friendly rivalry are less than two weeks away – Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) on March 9th (9 am-4 pm) and 10th (9 am-3 pm), and West Side Presbyterian Church also on March 9th (9 am-5 pm) and 10th (9 am-2 pm). From West Side, Kristin Pimblett e-mailed to say, “I wanted to let folks know that we also have a Bake Sale area inside the church .It’s like a community coffee shop! We sell lots of wonderful home baked goods; cookies, cakes, bars, you name it.” (Kristin is bake-sale coordinator.) And looking further down the road, West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, coordinated again this year by WSB, is now just two and a half months away – it’s always the second Saturday in May, which this year is May 12th, 9 am-3 pm, and we’ll announce registration details next month. P.S. If you have your own sale, any time of year, you are invited to post it for free in the WSB Forums‘ Freebies/Deals/Sales section – just go here. (2011 WSPC sale photo by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB)
WEDNESDAY NOTE: Since publication, this work has been canceled.
ORIGINAL STORY: Just in from SDOT – this will affect eastbound drivers this weekend:
The contractor working for the Seattle Department of Transportation on the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening project will be closing the intersection of First Avenue S at S Spokane Street this coming weekend in order to repave the southern half of the intersection.
The intersection will be closed to all traffic beginning Friday, March 2 at 8 p.m. and will reopen on Monday, March 5, at 5 a.m. The eastbound First Avenue off-ramp from the West Seattle Freeway will also be closed. Motorists wishing to exit to SODO can still use the Fourth Avenue off-ramp, which provides motorists the option of then driving either north or south on Fourth Avenue S.
Southbound traffic on First Avenue S will be detoured west at S Hanford Street. Northbound traffic on First Avenue S will be detoured east at S Dawson Street, and then north on Fourth Avenue S.
Thanks to Bob A for the glorious view of the Olympic Mountains, Puget Sound, and a state ferry, photographed today from North Admiral. Though we escaped the snow that hit some Western Washington areas over the weekend, the National Weather Service suggests another chance is heading this way – see the latest “forecast discussion” here. P.S. The spring equinox is just three weeks away – 10:14 pm our time on March 19th.
Though they are in White Center, their experimental delivery zone includes part of West Seattle, so here’s what Proletariat Pizza just announced (via e-mail to us, as well as a note on Facebook):
We’re taking a leap of faith and will be trying out delivery tonight. Monday through Wednesday only, rough boundaries are 35th to the west, 4th to the east,
TrentonThistle to the north and 112th to the south (Arbor Heights, just call first, we’ll likely make an exception if you’re just outside the boundaries.) $2 delivery fee. Whole pizzas only (no halves), drinks, salad and dessert, but sadly, no beer and wine delivery. And all this is subject to change as we get it all figured out, which will likely take some time.
The FB version from Proletariat co-proprietor Stefanie mentioned a slightly-further-north border (Thistle), so we have a followup question back out to clarify.
2:55 PM UPDATE: Thistle it is.
That’s Tammy, who, with husband Pete, has just opened Alki Juice and Java across from Seacrest. (The space they have taken over was longtime home to Bubbles.) Tammy e-mailed us to share the news about their new business (she shared the photo too), and says:
The menu consists of fresh organic juice options, as well as smoothies made with frozen fruit and juice, and espresso. We already have an amazing mix of customers, residents nearby, scuba divers, Coast Guard employees, water taxi commuters, and people out for a stroll along the water.
No website yet, but Tammy says it’ll be up soon. Alki Juice and Java is open 7 am-4 pm weekdays, 8 am-4 pm weekends.
ADDED 2:09 PM: For commenter “Coffee” and anyone else who wondered – Tammy says they’re using coffee from Zoka.
As a new workweek begins, that demolition project in North Delridge is down mostly to the cleanup stage; over the weekend, we photographed what’s left of the old industrial site on the southeast corner of 28th/Yancy (we reported its impending demolition here on Valentine’s Day). Meantime, from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:
OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: As school resumes following the district’s last weeklong mid-winter break, it’s also the start of open enrollment, today through March 9th – information here.
TODDLER/PRESCHOOLER ART CLASS: Daily “Coffee Break” class for ages 3-5 at Mind Unwind, whose announcement explains: “While kids do art, moms or dads have the opportunity to take a coffee break next door at Caffe Fioré, grocery shop at Metro Market, run errands or just use our free wi-fi, for two hours each morning (Mondays through Fridays), we have fun, interactive music and art that engages children’s natural ability to use their creative imagination. All projects are created from recycled household items. Class starts at 9:30 am and goes until 11:30 am. Only potty-trained children, text or email saying you are coming as late as day of. Texting number is 206-849-7222 … e-mail is create@mindunwind.org.” $25/class or 5-class punch card for $100, “art-supply donations welcome!”
WEST TURNS MIDWEST: West Seattle Cooking Club meets today, 3 pm at Beveridge Place Pub, and the theme is “Midwestern.”
FAMILY STORY TIME: At High Point Library, 7 pm.
DAKOTA PLACE PARK DISCUSSION: The Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee meets at 7 pm tonight, Seattle Parks HQ downtown. Agenda includes the project to finish the historic substation building at Dakota Place Park, as well as the timeline for the next round of Opportunity Fund grants (for which individuals and groups can apply).
NIGHTLIFE: Trivia with Brian Calvert at Christo’s on Alki, 7 pm … Karaoke with Kelli at Skylark Café and Club, 9 pm … Also at 9 pm, the “Flat Earth Society” weekly vinyl DJ’ing at West 5 features Dawndra Budd … Talarico’s has karaoke @ 9:30 pm.
Story and photos by Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Exactly two years after the Fauntleroy Community Service Agency completed the deal to buy it from Seattle Public Schools, the old schoolhouse at 9131 California SW is full of new life, and new opportunities – for example, want to host your next meeting in a conference room with a bonafide old-school (literally) blackboard?
Even before the multi-year effort that secured the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse’s longterm future as a community-owned facility, it was already home to an eclectic, if small, assortment of established businesses/organizations – Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering, Fauntleroy Children’s Center, Seattle Civic Dance Theatre/Dance! West Seattle among them. Now they’ve been joined by others, with room still for more.
Education is obviously a natural fit; last year, looking for a new home, Lincoln Park Cooperative Preschool – which is an educational program for parents as well as preschoolers – landed at the schoolhouse.
But you might be surprised by what, and who, else you find if you tour the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, as we did one day recently. Such as – an international game business!
10:10 PM: The National Weather Service has just issued a “special weather statement” to underscore its concern about subfreezing temperatures overnight and potentially icy roads tomorrow morning. See the alert here. SDOT says its night crews will be out to treat roads/bridges “as needed.”
4:34 AM: Iced-over windows on street-parked cars … looks like a scraper morning. Latest official temp reading from Sea-Tac – 30.
So many eagle sightings – and yet, each sighting, each photo, brings something new to notice. From photographer/writer Trileigh Tucker, the photo above – taken this morning – and her explanation:
Lots of eagle activity in Lincoln Park these days: calling back and forth, challenging to and by juvenile eagles, the husband eagle bringing food to impress his wife. Pretty exciting times as the courtship season ramps up!
Trileigh keeps a website with more pictures/words about some of her wildlife sightings, and says it includes a new update on the snowy owls that have been delighting birdwatchers in Western Washington (West Seattle included – remember this November photo?).
Updates tonight on two recent theft reports: A trailer and SUV reported stolen in separate West Seattle incidents have both been found. First – it’s been a month since Ron reported his cargo trailer taken from Gatewood; this past Thursday, he picked it up from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office after getting word it was found in Arlington, “in nearly the same shape as I remember,” and that arrests were made. He says he was told the suspects have a connection to Gatewood, and might be responsible for more than this theft.
Last Thursday was also when an SUV was stolen near Delridge/Holden; Shane told us about it on Friday, noting it belonged to a friend who is an amateur-radio operator and “gives a lot to the community.” The next morning, as he wrote in comments, word came from SPD that it had been found – with the electronics still in it, and only minor damage.
| 1 COMMENT