West Seattle, Washington
12 Sunday
Fundraisers for Haiti earthquake relief are high on the weekend list this time around, including cash/check donations accepted at tonight’s free Seattle Symphony concert presented by the West Seattle Kiwanis, a car wash (rain or shine) at Keller Williams in The Junction on Saturday, WSUU soup lunch and “Dogs for Docs” at Beveridge Place Pub on Sunday (silent auction/raffle items needed), ongoing checkstand donations at West Seattle Thriftway, and more. As the weekend goes on, there are also music, dance, art and nature events – just the start of what’s up tonight through Sunday night – more than 40 events/activities in all, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food:Read More
At left, a sunny scene from last summer – Pete Spalding getting ready to drive the West Seattle Food Bank van in the WS American Legion Grand Parade. The Food Bank itself has a big event coming up before the next parade rolls around, and they could use a little more help – here’s what Pete (its board president) wants to share:
We are getting all of the final details worked out for our 3rd annual Instruments of Change fundraiser. It will be held at the Hall at Fauntleroy on Friday, April 30th. We are currently lining up table captains and sponsors. The response so far has been tremendous but we do need a few more table captains. Our prior two events have sold out and we would love for the third time to be a charm as well. In addition, we are still seeking sponsors for the event whether it be an individual or a business. Sponsorships range from $500 to $10,000. If anyone would like further information, they can contact Fran or Anna at the West Seattle Food Bank office.
Phone number and e-mail addresses can all be found on this page at the Food Bank website.
This cat has meme potential. We caught a photo of him/her outside Alki’s Spud Fish and Chips two weeks ago; just now, someone sent us this sighting via cameraphone. Smart kitty!
Out of the WSB inbox, from West Seattle High School principal Bruce Bivins – news of a student’s big achievement this week:
Fatima Ruiz Villatoro won three top DECA Awards at the DECA Marketing Club Regional Competitions (Test Scores, Role Plays) at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. Fatima will be going on to compete in the DECA State Competitions in March, 2010, and if she places at State, Fatima will go on to compete at the DECA International Competitions in April, 2010.
(DECA’s high-school division helps students develop “marketing, management and entrepreneurship” skills.)
Share the good news about your school/students/group/etc. any time! Here are all the ways to get the info to WSB.
Today, we welcome a new WSB sponsor: Limber Yoga and Seattle Integrated Martial Arts, offering an open house tomorrow (Saturday) at the studio at 4711 42nd Ave. SW in The Junction (map). The studio offers a wide range of martial-arts classes, and on Saturday from noon until 4, you’ll be able to experience viniyoga along with introductions to Muay Thai kickboxing, Filipino Kali, and Jeet Kune Do, the fighting style that was developed by Seattleite Bruce Lee. Along with the free classes and demonstrations, there’ll be drawings for free classes, sales on equipment, and special offers on upcoming sessions.
Limber Yoga and Seattle Integrated Martial Arts are owned and operated by Aubrey and Bob Heinemann, seen above with their son Oliver. Inspired by their new role as parents, they wanted to create a space that would allow them to pursue a meaningful quality of life for their family and community. The motto for their space is, “One location for a total growth experience!” Limber Yoga and Seattle Integrated Martial Arts are both non-contract schools. Limber Yoga offers a variety of classes including classes for all levels, pre-natal, mom/dad & baby, early morning immersions, and kids’ classes! Seattle Integrated Martial Arts offers a mix of martial arts including kickboxing, grappling, kali, and JKD in a non-competitive and ego-less environment. Find them online at limberyoga.com and simamartialarts.com (where you’ll also see schedules, including the classes for Saturday’s open house).
We thank Limber Yoga and Seattle Integrated Martial Arts for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.
Story and photo by Johnathon Fitzpatrick
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Last night the Seattle Parks Board took its first official look at a compiled list of potential rules designed to regulate the public’s behavior in parks.
The proposed Code of Conduct (see it here) includes explicit bans on smoking, spitting, cursing, and entering restrooms that are for the opposite sex, as well as more ambiguous language banning any “conduct that unreasonably deprives others of their use or enjoyment of the park or park facilities.”
“We’ve had to deal with these situations one by one and we thought we’d gather it all together in one place,” explained Parks spokesperson Dewey Potter. “We’re trying to suggest good behaviors that make the parks more enjoyable for everybody by putting one little extra piece of trash in the can or by refraining from swearing in front of a 2-year-old.”
But the proposals weren’t all a hit with board members.
In addition to what’s on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar for today, the King County Courthouse is the site of two court hearings of note:
(From left, Charita Dumas, Joy Anderson, Shelly Williams in court last June; photo by Christopher Boffoli)
COOPER CHALLENGE: According to anti-school-closure activist Chris Jackins, three parents’ challenge to the closure of Cooper Elementary School will be argued at 1:30 pm before Superior Court Judge Paris Kallas in courtroom W-965. In the last round of school closures, Seattle Public Schools closed the Cooper program along with the Genesee Hill Elementary building, moving the Pathfinder K-8 program – long “temporarily” housed at GH – into the Cooper building. Judge Greg Canova denied a motion for summary judgment in the case last summer (WSB coverage here); that meant it would go to a full hearing. Cooper parents Joy Anderson, Charita Dumas and Shelly Williams (shown in the photo above from last June’s hearing on the summary-judgment motion) contend the school was closed without a proper hearing; the district said state law only required hearings for school buildings that were closing, not school programs that were closing in buildings that would stay open.
ADMIRAL ASSAULT CASE SENTENCING: Three months’ work release is the recommended sentence for 23-year-old Jedidiah Doyle. He’s the man arrested after the August Admiral assault (reported here), a pistol-whipping in which Doyle’s gun (for which court documents say he had a concealed-weapons permit) went off once. He pleaded guilty last month to one count of assault. His sentencing is scheduled for 2:45 pm today in Superior Court courtroom E-955. The victim recovered, but according to court documents, he suffered a broken nose and broken facial bones and was left with “stitches in his face that extended from his chin to the top of his head.”
Today, the High Point Neighborhood Association moves into its new office in the two-month-old HP Neighborhood Center. It’s the perfect followup to all the community information shared in a meeting room at the center Thursday night, during HPNA’s quarterly meeting. Among the highlights – word of a new park/playground; a survey about healthy food; and words of wisdom from a West Seattle community builder. Full story ahead:Read More
(WSB camera-phone photo by Christopher Boffoli, added 11:37 pm)
ORIGINAL 11:20 REPORT OF 35TH/AVALON “HEAVY RESCUE RESPONSE”: WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli is on his way to the scene. Scanner indicates it’s a crash at the Starbucks drive-through – and one radio transmission indicated “substantial damage.” 11:32 PM UPDATE: Christopher says three vehicles are involved and at least two people will be taken to the hospital. He adds, “SUV took out one of the columns at the drive-through.” 12:01 AM UPDATE: More info and another photo from Christopher. Police at the scene say alcohol may have factored into the crash. He adds: “The SUV took out one of the two columns holding up the roof that hangs over the Starbucks drive through. The column looked hollow so I’m not sure how much weight they are meant to bear. The roof is holding on the remaining column. SFD is there now shoring up temporarily with lumber.” In this photo, you see the column – and the spot where it was torn from the building:
As for traffic, one lane is blocked but it’s not causing much trouble. A different look at where the SUV tore the column away:
Christopher says there was no damage to the building besides that column area. Police were evaluating the light pole the SUV hit:
As for the store’s status, we’ll check on its status in the early morning. Police had called a manager who was reported to be en route. ADDED 2:43 AM: Video from Christopher – in it, you see the other vehicle that was hit – the third vehicle originally reported “involved,” as its driver notes in comments, was not actually part of the collision.
8:41 AM UPDATE: Went over to check on the morning-after situation. The drive-thru is closed, with repair work under way (and yellow tape across the lane entrance, leading to some U-turns in the lot); the walk-up is open.
1:12 PM NOTE: Christopher, who covered the crash early today, went by a little while ago and says the drive-thru appears to be open again.
During tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk (earlier coverage here), we also stopped by Keller Williams in The Junction, which is distributing flyers for the fundraising car wash this Saturday (reported here last night), aiming to raise at least $1,000 for Haiti earthquake victims. KW was the first West Seattle business/group we heard from, but now the list of local fundraisers is continuing to grow. We are listing them all here – today’s additions include West Seattle Thriftway collecting at checkstands – matching donations up to $3,000 – and tonight, we just got word that tomorrow night’s free Seattle Symphony concert presented by West Seattle Kiwanis (8 pm, Brockey Center at South Seattle Community College [WSB sponsor]) will be dedicated to the Haiti quake victims/survivors, and will collect cash/check donations (they won’t be able to process cards). Note that we also have linked our ongoing list from the top of the sidebar, so you can find it easily. (Also a shoutout to PCC Natural Markets [WSB sponsor], which has announced a $25,000 donation to earthquake relief.) Thanks to everyone for reaching out to help, and for letting WSB know so we can help get the word out.
After getting a note from Laurie with word that West Seattle Cellars co-owner Bear Silverstein has died, we went to the store to confirm it in person a short time ago – and in the meantime received this note from Sue Winter:
The family has asked me to let you know that Bear Silverstein, owner of West Seattle Cellars, passed away this morning after a prolonged illness. A devoted husband and father, Bear was involved with many community organizations, including West Seattle Helpline and Westside School. His family has set up a website at CaringBridge.org: www.caringbridge.org/visit/cheersbear, with a guestbook for posting remembrances [here]. Plans for a memorial service are pending.
Mr. Silverstein and business partners Tom and Jan (shown on this page from the WS Cellars website) have owned the store for almost a decade.
You’ve still got half an hour to get out and see the sights. Like that Barbie cake at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, to celebrate the Barbie photos in Wyn Bielaska‘s exhibition. And at Cafe Osita in Sunrise Heights, Alyssa is one of the West Seattle High School Photo Club photographers showing work:
Adding a bit more shortly. Venues are listed at wsartwalk.com. ADDED 8:53 PM: Another highlight tonight – Twilight Artist Collective is celebrating its fifth anniversary. It started in Pike Place Market, but West Seattle is home base now. Twilight’s Mary, Cheryl and Erin talked with WSB co-publisher Patrick:
ADDED 10:22 PM: One more photo – from Ken Paige‘s opening at Windermere in The Junction – courtesy of Eric Shalit from Box Turtle Design
One week from tonight is a big night at Chief Sealth High School: Prospective students and families are invited to come to Sealth’s temporary location at Boren to learn about the school, with presentations including program information, student testimonials, a few words from Sealth Principal John Boyd, and cultural performances. Dessert too. If there’s an eighth-grader in your family right now, you may find an invite in your mailbox, but even if you don’t, you’re welcome; 6-8:30 pm next Thursday (January 21st), with presentations scheduled 6-7 pm – including information about the renovated campus that Sealth will reoccupy this fall – while tabling, performances and the dessert bar are scheduled 7-8:30. Here’s the official flyer.
We don’t have a lot of details but several people have asked what was happening along southbound 99, with a heavy police response, during the evening commute home to West Seattle. SPD media unit Det. Jeff Kappel tells us a pedestrian was hit – not sure what the person was doing on foot on the freeway. Injuries are described as serious; that’s all the details they have for now. 9:38 PM UPDATE: SPDBlotter has more information now: The victim, now said to have life-threatening injuries, is a 41-year-old man, who was walking across 99 – six lanes with a divider at that point – west to east, when a Honda Pilot hit him. Full writeup here.
If you’re in High Point, there’s still time to get to the HP Neighborhood Association meeting – they’ve started with informal dinner, but the business meeting won’t start till 6:20-6:30, scheduled to continue till about 8 (even if you can’t get here till after 7, 
that’s when they’ll be surveying attendees about healthy food options in the area and what would interest them). HPNA is meeting in the new High Point Neighborhood Center where SW Morgan becomes Sylvan Way. That’s one of the events we’re covering tonight; we’re also dropping by a few stops on the West Seattle Art Walk, which started at 6 and continues till 9. Got late word of a student exhibition as part of it – JH says the West Seattle High School Photo Club is showing at Cafe Osita, the coffee shop on 35th SW just north of Webster. The walking map for this quarter’s Art Walk participants is the second page of this PDF file. WSB sponsors on the Art Walk: Click! Design That Fits in Admiral, Skylark Cafe and Club in North Delridge, Hotwire Online Coffeehouse, Mural and Wallflower Custom Framing in The Junction, Feedback Lounge in Morgan Junction, and Sold Home Decor in Westwood.
Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Popular wisdom holds that it’s best not to combine monetary transactions with friendship. Diane Steele gives the lie to that one. Steele will spend her last day as a teller at the Junction Wells Fargo Bank tomorrow, retiring just a month shy of 27 years at that location.
She’s made so many friends of her customers during that time, one of them, Kayla Weiner, got in touch with us to make sure Steele received the tribute she deserved.
“She is an amazing person who knows the name of everyone,” Weiner told WSB. “She knows about them and their family. Last year she even made a donation for me when I did the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk. She is an institution, as those who know her can attest. I for one will really miss her.”
A visit to Steele’s branch confirms those sentiments. A huge card and message book are filling up with well wishes from devoted customers and coworkers. On Friday, customers and locals are invited to come in during business hours to help Steele celebrate (and grab a slice of cake while it lasts).
Steele is standing in the lobby when customer Andrew Carl enters the bank.
SCAM ALERT: Just got this from Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James (who, as we reported last Friday, has a new role, so you’ll be hearing more from him when news happens) — He says they’re investigating a case of alleged fraud involving rental properties on Craigslist; one person found a listing that described a “super deal” in West Seattle. When the would-be renter e-mailed the contact, the reply came back seeking personal information and saying that the landlord was in Africa but would send the key once the personal info was received. The would-be renter didn’t fall for it but checked around and found two similar listings. Bottom line, Lt. James says, “Just a heads up .. to be aware of this type of scam out there. They need to be aware of deals that are too good to be true and to verify the authority of people who have rental properties available.”
35TH SW PATROL: On Facebook and Twitter, there were a few mentions yesterday of major police presence on 35th SW, apparently watching for speeders. We asked SW Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen if anything special was going on. His reply: “Traffic/Pedestrian safety is one of our precinct priorities. The Traffic Section does enforcement on 35th on a regular basis due to the sheer speed folks travel at and the number of traffic collisions. Given the recent accidents, we requested some assistance. Several drivers were stopped and cited.” (Those recent accidents include this one last Sunday in which a car flipped; no one was seriously hurt.)
Another West Seattle neighborhood group is starting the New Year with some new features: The Alki Community Council has a new logo (at left) as it gets ready for its next meeting. The meeting at 7 pm Thursday, January 21, also marks the debut of Alki UCC as its permanent meeting spot, instead of Alki Community Center. Its newsletter, the Alki News Beacon, also has a new look, under new editor/webmaster Glynnis Vaughan – see the new edition here; it’s now being published 4 times a year instead of 6, but ACC leaders hope a membership increase and reader interest may enable them to return to a more frequent publishing schedule; ACC members get the Beacon in the mail – membership info is here.
(scroll down for info, links, reaction we’re adding after the original report)
(Graphic displayed at the mayor’s announcement)
ORIGINAL 9:55 AM REPORT: We’re at the Washington Street Boat Launch south of Colman Dock, where the mayor has just finished a news conference announcing he will ask Seattle voters in May to approve a property tax measure raising $241 million to replace the seawall, regardless of what happens with The Viaduct. He says current plans call for replacing the seawall in six years, and that’s too long – he wants it done in four. The 30-year property tax proposal will be on the May ballot if the City Council agrees, he says, and would require a 60 percent majority approval; he says it would equal about $48 a year for someone with a $400,000 home. McGinn showed a section of deteriorating seawall wood as a prop and said it runs the risk of failure even without a catastrophic earthquake. He refused to answer questions regarding The Viaduct/tunnel plan itself. He says the Council will be asked next month to approve the May 18 vote, and says he has had “positive” discussions with them so far regarding this proposal. The $241 million would not cover the entire cost of seawall replacement – the price tag would be about $50 million beyond that, he said, with about $30 million of that slated to come from the county. If the ballot measure is approved, McGinn said, it would take about 2 years to design the project, and about 2 years to build. How severely waterfront business and traffic would be affected, he couldn’t say. Side note: McGinn biked down here from City Hall (about half a mile uphill) and has now headed back – we’re heading back to HQ (via car) to add video to the story.
ADDED 11:23 AM: Some supporting documents are linked in the city’s own item on the mayor’s announcement – you’ll find the links (plus Seattle Channel video of the news conference) here. Here’s one of our clips, about a minute and a half, including his use of the aforementioned prop:
1:39 PM UPDATE: A statement from Governor Gregoire:
I congratulate the Mayor for his decision to seek early funding for the seawall portion of the Alaskan Way Viaduct project. I look forward to working with him and the City Council on this vital transportation effort.
SMOKE-FREE CITY PARKS? Smoking is one of the “behaviors” that would be banned in Seattle city parks under a new proposed Code of Conduct that’ll be discussed at tonight’s Parks Board meeting, 7 pm, Parks HQ downtown; a public hearing is scheduled for two weeks from tonight. Smoking is one of the “newly prohibited behaviors” proposed for the code; also “newly prohibited” would be (from the briefing paper):
• Conduct that deprives others of their use or enjoyment of a park or facility or disrupts parks business
• Possession of glass containers at athletic fields, beaches and children’s playgrounds
• Improper use of restrooms
• [as noted] Smoking
• Spitting
• Leaving packages, backpacks, luggage, or other personal items unattended
• Blocking entrances, exits, walkways, etc. that interferes with provision of services or use of park property
• Conduct that creates an unreasonable and substantial risk of harm to a person or property
• Entering restrooms designated for people of the opposite sex
• Use of flammable liquids
• Abusive or harassing behavior, including obscene language or gestures; assault or fighting
• Possession of fireworks, firecrackers, explosives, acid, or other articles or materials capable of causing serious harm to others
• Sexual misconduct
Again, the Parks Board is getting briefed on this tonight (full docs here); a public hearing comes Jan. 28, a vote later. Meantime, it’s Art Walk night all over our peninsula:
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WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: That’s the Barbie-inspired art of Wyn Bielaska, the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) featured artist during tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk, 6-9 pm at dozens of venues all over WS (see the list, and learn about the artists, here). Other events happening during the Art Walk – C and P Coffee‘s Wine Club, and M3 Bodyworks (WSB sponsor; 5410 California SW) is having a Holiday Open House featuring photographer Wayne Burger‘s underwater work. (added 2;04 pm – more info on this:)
M3 Bodyworks’ holiday opening will be catered by Chef Kate Thomson of Seasonal Palate (www.seasonalpalate.com) with island themed food and specialty drink. M3 will also be giving away door prizes tonight including a 90 Minute Package of 5 massages. More can be found at www.m3bodyworks.com/events.html
HEALTHY HIGH POINT: Healthier living – including your chance to take a survey about food – is the focus of tonight’s High Point Neighborhood Association quarterly meeting, 6 pm, High Point Neighborhood Center. The featured speaker is Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association executive director Derek Birnie.
THINKING ABOUT REMODELING – OR BUILDING FROM SCRATCH: Tonight is another one of the free workshops presented by longtime WSB sponsor Ventana Construction. Free! It’s not too late to RSVP – 206-932-3009 – 6 pm, 5458 California SW.
See what else is up today/tonight (and beyond) by checking the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.
West Seattle’s new County Councilmember, Jan Drago, paid two high-profile visits to this part of her district on Wednesday: She attended the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce lunch meeting keynoted by County Executive Dow Constantine, whose former seat she’s holding until next November’s election, and then last night’s meeting of the 34th District Democrats – who had energetically opposed seeing anyone appointed to the council seat but State Sen. Joe McDermott. Ahead, what she had to say – and other 34th DDs highlights:Read More
Long, info-packed meeting for the Admiral Neighborhood Association Tuesday night, first one under the new slate of officers elected last fall – president Katy Walum and vice president Jim Cavin (both in the photo above), secretary Catherine Barker, treasurer Ann Limbaugh. (Their predecessors were among the 15+ people on hand.) Some new procedures, some old, and lots of looking ahead as well as looking forward – read on for the toplines:Read More
Just last night, the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s monthly meeting (story still in the works) included a recap of where the Admiral Safeway redevelopment project stands. It was asked at the time if anyone knew the date for the next Southwest Design Review Board meeting on the project – which is supposed to focus on the last point of board concern, the new store’s California SW frontage; the date wasn’t posted last night but it is now, on the city’s Design Review/Upcoming site: February 11th. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center; it could be the last SWDRB meeting on the project if board members give their approval. (Like The Kenney‘s redevelopment on the other end of West Seattle, this project also includes a rezoning request, so it will also require City Council approval along the way.)
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