West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
We went to the east shore of the Duwamish River this morning for a city-led event marking the start of a major phase in pollution cleanup: The city is beginning cleanup at Slip 4 (location explained/shown here), described as one of five major “hotspots” that “collectively account for about half the chemical contamination on the river.” The city’s official news release (read it here) explains that this was a “pier and berthing area for industrial vessels” where “storm drains and emergency sewer overflows historically were routed.” Contaminants there include PCBs, metals, and petroleum products. The city bought the site to convert to habitat, and will be removing contaminated sediment/soil, “capping” the dredged site with clean sand, gravel, and rock, and demolishing an old concrete pier. Mayor McGinn, Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition‘s James Rasmussen, and others held a media briefing there this morning.
(DRCC advisor B.J. Cummings and coordinator James Rasmussen with the mayor pre-briefing)
Here’s Seattle Channel video of the entire briefing:
This part of the cleanup is expected to be completed early next year. P.S. You can do your part to help the Duwamish heal and stay healthier – the annual fall Duwamish Alive! multi-site cleanup/restoration event needs plenty of volunteers, and it’s just nine days away, Saturday, October 15th. Here’s how to be part of it. And to stay in touch with cleanup plans and efforts, DRCC’s site has the latest – find it here.
(Click to see larger image)
Sandy Watkins from Arbor Heights shares the photo and what she offers as a “feel-good story about (her) husband,” Tony Watkins:
On September 1, 2011 my husband was diagnosed with stage 4, non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He works as an assistant service manager at BMW Seattle in downtown. They have been very supportive of Tony during this difficult time. Tony started really losing his hair this past week and decided to shave his head. He went into work today and 23 of his co-workers had shaved their heads in support of Tony. … I thought it was pretty neat. Tony is 4th from the left in the lower row.
ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: Just found out that our friends at KING 5 followed up on this. You can see their story here.
At tonight’s community meeting in West Seattle about Seattle Public Schools “capacity management” – mostly dealing with overcrowded schools – you are likely to hear about the possibilities that the district is already circulating, to deal with overflowing elementaries on the peninsula. And they include this tentative proposal for West Seattle: Reopen Boren on Delridge (originally a junior high) and “possibly reopen” Hughes in Sunrise Heights (originally an elementary), to handle a projected surplus of up to 1,100 elementary-age students in the next several years.
That might be something of a surprise to those who thought the former Fairmount Park Elementary, closed four years ago, was the most likely building to be reopened. Boren is in its second year of emptiness, after most recently serving as Chief Sealth International High School‘s temporary home for two years, through June 2010; Hughes is in its second year as the leased, renovated home of independent Westside School (WSB sponsor). We contacted West Seattle’s school board rep (and board president) Steve Sundquist for some context, and have also just spoken with administrators at Westside – read on:Read More
(Old pier near Jack Block Park, by LikeOnATree, from the WSB Flickr group pool)
A sampling of highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
CHEESE CEREMONY: 3:12 pm, 100-pound Stilton cheese will be cut at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) as part of the “For the Love of Cheese” festival.
HELP LAW ENFORCERS’ FAMILIES: Tonight is the annual Dine Out to Remember Our Fallen, with local participants contributing part of tonight’s dinner proceeds: Puerto Vallarta, Duke’s on Alki, Talarico’s, Rocksport. There’s also a silent auction at Puerto Vallarta. Proceeds help WAStateCOPS, which assists the families of fallen officers.
TACO THURSDAY, FOR CHARITY: Taco Thursday at Alki Tavern, 5-10 pm, with proceeds this week benefiting Family Promise of Seattle and the West Seattle Food Bank. Organizers say Chris Carpenter, the newly appointed regional director of Church World Service, will be there between 6:00 and 7:00 pm “to enjoy some tacos and shoot the breeze with us about hunger, homelessness, and whether the Huskies’ defensive line is for real.”
BROKEN? DON’T TOSS IT – FIX IT! The Fixers’ Collective @ the West Seattle Tool Library (at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW), 6 – 8 pm. Love to tinker? Come check out the group.
SCHOOL ‘CAPACITY MANAGEMENT’ MEETING: Meeting about Seattle Public Schools “capacity management” – how to deal with school crowding – Madison Middle School, 6:30 pm (more info here – detailed preview coming up shortly on WSB).
ROXHILL ELEMENTARY OPEN HOUSE: It’s tonight at 6:30 pm, after an event during which Roxhill Elementary School‘s staff and families will get to try new school-lunch menus the district is testing (staff at 5, families at 5:45), including “butternut squash curry with chicken, served over couscous.
BE ROYAL! Evening informational session for prospective West Seattle Hi-Yu Senior Court candidates, details here. 6:30 pm at Prudential Northwest offices in Jefferson Square.
WINE TASTING: The weekly West Seattle Cellars (6026 California SW) wine tasting runs 5:30 to 8 pm. Tonight, wines from Languedoc-Roussillon and beyond, with Joelle Hand, of Cavatappi.
DRAMA AT CHIEF SEALTH: “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds,” presented by the Chief Sealth International High School Drama Club, 7 pm, CSIHS Little Theater, free.
The traditional weekly edition of “traffic alerts around the city because of big events this weekend” is out. Nothing traffic-affecting is expected in West Seattle this weekend, but in case you’re going to be off the peninsula and don’t like traffic surprises – read on for SDOT‘s newest list:Read More
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Busy year ahead at West Seattle High School – and some accomplishments already.
That was the bottom line of Tuesday night’s first general meeting of the WSHS PTSA, with more than 30 people in attendance, including, true to the name, parents, teachers, and students.
Administrators too, like second-year principal Ruth Medsker and assistant principal Michael Kelly.
“It feels a lot nicer to be starting the second year and have some systems in place,” Medsker said, declaring that the new school year had opened “smoothly” – thanks in part to the Link Crew program deployed for ninth-graders and upperclassmen mentors (here’s our September story about it). “The ninth graders this year are much more confident, no really ‘lost’ kids, they started the year off well.”
As of Tuesday night, WSHS had 998 students enrolled, according to Medsker. She said that’s even more than the total number of potential high-school students in its “collection area”; Chief Sealth (which had 1247 students as of a week earlier) has a “collection area” potential-student population twice the size of the one available to WSHS. Medsker said they recruited students from outside their region. Activities are booming too – a freshman football team has been added and some of the clubs are “huge.”
She and Kelly noted two numbers have dwindled to almost nothing, and that’s a point of pride too – the number of “kids under the influence at school” was 1, compared to 46 the first month of last year; “violent confrontations” among students have virtually evaporated this year. Medsker also offered praise to her staff, which she says “really does want to engage and do hard work.”
“It feels good,” observed Kelly.
“It does feel good,” Medsker agreed. Her next “coffee chat” for interested parents, by the way, will be November 20th, and they will discuss results of the WSHS “climate survey.”
Many more time-specific events were announced during the meeting:Read More
(This is what “Tox-Ick” looks like – diver Laura James‘ photo of a WS storm-drain plume)
You can do all three in the span of a single hour next Monday night at Pathfinder K-8 on Pigeon Point – here’s the official announcement from Sustainable West Seattle:
Help Pathfinder School win $1,000 toward a rainwater harvesting system for its Earth Project!
Sustainable West Seattle will be giving its “Don’t Feed the Tox-Ick Monster” presentation at Pathfinder K-8 Monday, Oct. 10 from 7-8 p.m. and is challenging Pathfinder to bring a crowd.
The challenge: If 40 or more adults show up to learn about protecting Puget Sound, then Sustainable West Seattle will donate $1,000 toward the school’s Earth Project. To help encourage turnout even further, free pizza will be provided. Pathfinder is located at 1901 SW Genesee St.
The list of who’s recorded at Robert Lang Studios in Richmond Beach is long, and star-studded (see it here).
Just as impressive – the studio itself (see it here), and its setting, on a bluffside overlooking the Sound.
And now, more than two dozen students from West Seattle’s Roxhill Elementary have stories to tell for quite some time, as does hip-hop artist Psalm One, with whom they have been working the past three days to create and record a song for an upcoming album. In our clip above, part of the student group recorded their part of the song’s chorus in a session this afternoon, while the rest of the group toured the studios (which impressed the artist too – she tweeted this tonight:)
The Roxhill residency – writing the song the past two afternoons at the school, then recording today – was the second stop of Psalm One’s 9-city national tour with the literacy program America SCORES. And the young songwriters are quite proud – two girls in the first group of singers showed off their handwritten lyric sheets:
We asked America SCORES how Roxhill was chosen – it’s the only Seattle stop on the tour – and the answer was, simply, “It was their turn.” The album will be available online after the tour ends in December.
(From left, Breanna, Eric, Samir, and Tricia)
A change of ownership at one of The Junction’s independent coffee shops, Red Cup Espresso. Now-ex-owner Tricia DiBernardo sent the photo above, plus the following note of thanks, as well as an introduction from the new owners:
Hey West Seattle!
Eric and I would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being supportive and loyal to our business and friends to our family. We have enjoyed this time at Red Cup immensely, but our tides are shifting and we’re moving our pursuits in other directions. It is with a happy heart, we have passed the steam wand over to long time Red Cup barista, Samir and his wife, Breanna. Please continue to support this great business and wonderful couple. See ya around the neighborhood!
Love,
Tricia, Eric and Nina
And from the new owners:
Five years ago Breanna and I moved to West Seattle and fell in love with it. Both her Mother and Grandfather have deep roots in the community, and have history throughout the area. When I first began working at Red Cup, i could tell that this is the right place for me. We are both honored to have been passed this torch & are both humbled by the kind words and positive energy sent our way by the neighborhood. She and I are excited to bring a new approach to the cafe experience, and promise to continue to provide top notch service, and delicious beverages. Thank you West Seattle and thank you Tricia, for making both of our dreams a reality. Red Cup, Repra’Zent.
Samir & Breanna Baillie
Not only are Brenna and Samir now entrepreneurs – they’re still relative newlyweds, too.
So says Seattle City Light, with whom we checked after we – and two WSB’ers who e-mailed us – noticed a sudden stretch of streetlights in the dark on the Fauntleroy Expressway end of the westbound West Seattle Bridge. SCL spokesperson Suzanne Hartman checked it out; we also noted an SCL truck near Walking on Logs this afternoon; and tonight, Hartman says crews fixed a “blown fuse” and that should have the lights on again.
The Seattle Police Aggressive Drivers Response Team has been in major school-zone-enforcement mode the past two days, according to an update tonight on SPD Blotter, and most of it’s been done in West Seattle. For the numbers – including some non-school-zone enforcement, too – read on:Read More
The first full day of the Alaskan Way Viaduct shutdown, WSDOT is setting aside a half-hour on the love-it-or-hate-it span for a contest winner and two dozen of her/his friends. It’s an essay contest – read on for details (and for what you might call a consolation prize that is available even if you don’t enter the contest) :Read More
The city has taken the next step toward putting historic ex-Fire Station 37 (at 35th SW/SW Othello) up for sale, as authorized by the City Council last month. It’s just sent out a “request for proposals” (RFP) from real-estate brokers interested in marketing the former station, among other vacant properties. Read on for the full announcement:Read More
Today we welcome a new sponsor, Spira Power Yoga, at 2332 California SW, across from the Admiral Theater. Spira is operated by Dora Gyarmati. 
Her dream was to create a space where people get a strong workout, but in a fun, easy-going environment that also supports the wisdom and teachings of yoga tradition. Dora hopes to open up yoga to a wider audience by using English terms, and teaching mindfulness, concentration, and relaxation while providing a full-body exercise. The studio is bright and spacious. The lobby area looks more like a living room, so students feel comfortable lingering and talking to friends. The artwork in the lobby was created by Dora’s mom, all in the spirit of love and support; that is exactly what she hopes to give to Spira Power Yoga students – love and support.
Dora feels happiness and community are the best route to health. This is why on October 7th (this Friday), starting at 8 pm, Spira is featuring a dynamic yoga class to the soulful sounds of Correo Aereo, playing live in the studio. Yoga class is from 8-9 pm, then a short break, and a party with more live music, plus wine and chocolate tasting. Students and visitors are welcome to attend the class and the post-class party, or they can purchase tickets just for the party with wine, chocolate, and live music. For more information, go to Spira’s workshop webpage and scroll down to “Yoga Lush.” The class and party represent one way that, as Dora says, “We teach a very physical and challenging practice, but we have fun doing it. The idea is to find grace and balance in life with lightness and a sense of humor. We teach yoga as a western art. We translate the eastern art of yoga to a Western audience, make it accessible and fun and open to all spiritual and religious paths.”
We thank Spira Power Yoga for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
Today is International Walk to School Day – and among those celebrating this morning were Rachael Wright, David Bader, and a crowd of Highland Park Elementary students and parents. They had a special celebration before classes started, with food and prizes. Since it’s also Walk to School Month, you’ll see other events at other schools as October continues.
(Photo courtesy Beach Drive Blog, used with permission)
10:37 AM: Seattle Fire Department is responding to a “water rescue” call off the 4400 block of Beach Drive, and that’s what the choppers are about. We’re en route.
10:51 AM: Most of the big response you might have seen on the 911 log was canceled before they even arrived, according to SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore, because the rescue happened fast. He says Seattle Police reported a woman in her 30s in the water, “maybe hypothermic,” and SFD first responders used a ladder to get her out of the water and safely to shore. She’s been taken to Harborview Medical Center.
1:41 PM: SFD confirms that, as a commenter had noted reading elsewhere, the rescued woman was believed to be suicidal. Moore says, “We transported her to Harborview with a possible overdose and psych evaluation. She was about 15 feet in the water and we lowered a firefighter on a ladder to rescue her.”
(As we always note in stories mentioning suicide, which takes more lives than homicide but is not nearly as reported/discussed, there is help available 24/7 for those who need it – the Crisis Clinic hotline is 206.461.3222.)
Bill shares word of a break-in attempt on Genesee Hill with a “unique” getaway car that you might want to keep an eye out for – read on:Read More
Our daily preview always starts with a featured photo/video, and this one is a sight to see:
Lest today’s grayness get you down – that clip shows rain from a new perspective – underwater, with a moon jelly! Diver Laura James says she found it just off 64th SW. Now, a few notes from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
LIBRARY TALES FOR TOTS: Two Preschool Story Times at local library branches this morning – 10:30 am at West Seattle (Admiral) branch, 11:30 am at Southwest branch. More info via the Seattle Public Library events calendar.
LATEST VIADUCT INFO, #1: If you want to be on the leading edge of what’s new with the Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct project, at a meeting that’s open to the public but seldom attended by any member of it, this is your day – the Alaskan Way Viaduct South Portal Working Group meets 4-5:30 pm at the Sound Transit Board Room, Union Station downtown (401 South Jackson). The Oct. 21-31 closure will be discussed, as will “initial construction activities for the SR 99 tunnel and preview the north portal construction simulation tool.”
LATEST VIADUCT INFO, #2: From there, it’s on to the Southwest District Council meeting, 7 pm, South Seattle Community College board room, where the AWV project’s deputy director Matt Preedy will provide the latest closure details to an all-West Seattle group. Public welcome here too. Full list of agenda toplines is on the WSB Events calendar.
TONIGHT’S PTSA MEETING: Highland Park Elementary, 5:30 pm.
KENNEY MEETING: Updates on the Memory Support Unit under development at The Kenney (WSB sponsor) are planned at a meeting there tonight, 6:30 pm, all welcome (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW).
FREE WAY TO HELP TEACHERS/STUDENTS: DonorsChoose cards available today, free while they last, at Starbucks stores, so you can use them to make $10 donations toward classroom projects. (Please let us know if you discover any West Seattle store is out of them.)
That’s Sadie, 6 1/2. You might remember her from our story about Southwest Community Center users – including the Family Learning Program she attends – concerned about the big changes ahead for SWCC if the mayor’s 2012 budget goes forward unchanged. The day we visited Sadie’s program, she showed off the donations brought in by her new weekly food drive. Tuesday night, she and other SWCC supporters went downtown for the first of two City Council public hearings on the budget. It wasn’t an overflow crowd, but did include supporters of other community centers facing changes.
As first announced last month, the budget proposes changing SWCC into a Teen Life Center and Department of Neighborhoods’ service center (basically relocating West Seattle’s lone remaining NSC from Delridge to the SWCC building). We’re awaiting the Seattle Channel‘s video of the hearing, to link here. (added midday Wednesday – here’s that video)
The next one is same time, same place, October 26th (more on the council’s budget page).
But that wasn’t the only budget event of the day. The City Council is well into its schedule of presentations from individual departments, and Tuesday’s lineup included the Seattle Police Department presentation. Among its line items of note: “Maintain current number of Crime Prevention Coordinators …” which is good news for neighborhoods (though still not the former level of one coordinator per precinct). We also are checking on whether the proposal to add six more red-light cameras and relocate two would affect West Seattle. The budget also would keep the West Seattle-headquartered SPD Mounted Patrol Unit officers, as PubliCola reports here.
Friends of the Southwest Branch Library are getting the word out that it’s signup time for the 20th annual Southwest Community Art Showcase. Artists of all ages, working in any medium, can sign up by Saturday, October 15th – just a week and a half away; work will be displayed at the SW Library (35th/Henderson) October 16-November 12, with a meet-the-artists reception at 2 pm November 6. To sign up, just stop by the branch, or call 206-684-7455.
5:54 PM: You are likely to hear/see helicopters shortly – at least one news chopper is tracking Amanda Knox and her family as they drive from Sea-Tac to West Seattle. She spoke very briefly when her family met with the media at Sea-Tac a short time ago:
(Photo of Amanda Knox and mom Edda Mellas, by STEVE RINGMAN/Seattle Times, used with permission)
Video of her emotional minute-long remarks, courtesy of KING 5:
“Welcome home” signs are waiting in her family’s Arbor Heights neighborhood – here’s the sign that neighbor Jim and his family have up:
(added) And another sign, photographed by Jennifer:
TV trucks await as well (thanks to the anonymous WSB’er who shared the photo):
6:12 PM: They’ve just arrived home, according to live coverage we’re monitoring on KING.
6:39 PM: …family members arrived in Arbor Heights, anyway. Amanda herself is reported to be at an “undisclosed location.”
ADDED AT MIDNIGHT: A few final notes on the night: From our partners at the Times, Erik Lacitis takes a look at the international media-mania that briefly took over Sea-Tac. Speaking of the airport, WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli happened to catch Knox’s British Airways flight passing West Seattle on its way in:
Around mid-afternoon, we learned that Easy Street wasn’t the only marquee-bearing business with a “welcome” sign:
WEDNESDAY MORNING P.S. Thanks to Lisa for mentioning this in comments. Four regional-media organizations have agreed to honor the Knox family’s request to be left alone for now.
5:33 PM: Police/fire/tow crews are blocking eastbound Thistle at 30th, 2-car crash.
5:48 PM: Police actually were blocking eastbound Thistle at 31st, a block west of the scene, till the cars are towed. No serious injuries – one private ambulance responded. One tow truck was already there before we left a few minutes ago.
Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Radar Pest Management. Here’s what they’d like you to know about their business:
As summer transitions into fall and the weather continues to get colder, rodents and pests are looking for warmth and shelter – and they love our West Seattle neighborhood! Radar Pest Management is here now too – and their arrival couldn’t come at a better time.
Radar specializes in pest and rodent removal and regular treatment, and has many options to serve our locals and their various needs. As an added bonus, one of Radar’s top technicians, Angela Osbourne, is a local herself! “I live on a well-traveled road in West Seattle, so you will likely see my Radar truck in the neighborhood,” chuckles Angela. Full of energy and humor, her laugh will make you smile every time. “Angela is one of our most experienced technicians. Combine that with her wealth of knowledge and her engaging and bubbly personality, and you’ve got a real asset in Angela. We are happy to have her on board,” said Tim McCafferty, operations manager. Radar brings dedication to every task performed, quickly inspecting, identifying, and treating the home for a variety of pest infestations. The primary mission at Radar Pest Management is to be the #1 provider of services in the greater Seattle area, with an utmost commitment to customer satisfaction and service.
When you call Radar Pest Management, you can rest assured you will receive the very best extermination service in the area. They bring the strongest, most-effective pest-control methods in the industry to your home, while still trying to be as environmentally conscious as possible. Plus, with Radar you’ll receive on–time service, frequent communication with their service experts, and an excellent experience, every time.
Best of all, Radar Pest Management is offering all West Seattle Blog readers a FREE home inspection, for a limited time! With the rodents looking for somewhere to keep warm as the fall and winter approach, there’s never been a better time to take advantage of this $120 value. Customers praise this local company’s responsive, knowledgeable staff and around-the-clock emergency care. So give them a call, welcome them to the neighborhood, and ensure your home will be pest- and rodent-free all season long. For more information or to take advantage of the WSB Free Inspection Special, contact Radar Pest Management at 800-710-1567 or www.radarpest.com.
We thank Radar Pest Management for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
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