West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
On the night when the family should have been celebrating the anniversary of Hussein Khazaal‘s marriage to wife Inaam – exactly 40 years earlier – rather than celebrating his life after his too-early death, his daughter Nadia (left) said she’s sure he is the “happiest man in heaven right now.” Tributes to, and memories of, that man – gone suddenly at just 63, after spending more than half his life at the helm of a cherished restaurant, known most recently as Phoenecia at Alki – surrounded a photo on one of several easels at last night’s memorial.
A burst of evening sunshine broke through the clouds as hundreds of friends and family members – including Phoenecia customers – gathered on the Alki waterfront a few blocks west of the restaurant:
Among them, Jason Grotelueschen, who described Mr. Khazaal as “an amazing man with an amazing family” and sang the “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”/”What a Wonderful World” medley in his honor:
For both those who considered him “a second father” and for the family he and Mrs. Khazaal created, he was remembered as someone who believed “nourishment for your children is number 1 in life” – and that meant much more than food, though the analogy ran through other open-mike tributes like these:
-“I do know (his) secret ingredient – gratitude, love, joy and passion.”
-“The restaurant, and food, were a vehicle for him, to teach how to be, in life.”
And so, the guests who came to the beach to celebrate him, were invited to join in a meal:
Other restaurateurs joined to help feed those in attendance – the names we saw included Husky Deli, Puerto Vallarta, Luciano’s.
Though the tables were draped in black, the mood was anything but mournful. The laughter that rippled through the crowd as some of the stories were told seemed to honor one observation in particular: “He was celebrating life, his entire life.”
More than 80 tributes to Mr. Khazaal were posted in the comments following our first story last Sunday about his passing; read them here.
That’s one of many fan-created tributes you can find on YouTube in appreciation of Johnny Depp‘s three star turns as Captain Jack Sparrow in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies. Tonight in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor; 4410 California SW), you can see the movie that started the frenzy, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl.” Gates for this West Seattle Junction Outdoor Movies on the Wall presentation open at 7, and we’ve seen some wall-to-wall crowds, so you are advised to stake out your spot early. Since it’s getting darker earlier here in late summer, the preshow zaniness — described by Hotwire’s Lora Lewis as “‘swabbing the deck,’ where people race across the ground ‘curling’ a Frisbee with a broom” — may start earlier than the usual advertised time of 8:30 pm; the movie’s at dusk. While the series itself has a long list of sponsors, including WSB, each movie has screening-specific sponsors who are on hand to meet, greet and often offer treats, and tonight they include one of our newer sponsors, Endolyne Joe’s, selling barbecue sandwiches, as well as Liberty Bell Printing and Snap Fitness. (You’ll also be able to buy classic movie concessions like popcorn and candy, provided by West Seattle Christian Church with proceeds to charity, and bring some money for nonprofit-benefitting raffles, with prizes including gift certificates to local restaurants.) This is the second-to-last Movies on the Wall show of the summer; our coverage of the earlier movie events, including preshow fun from tin-foil-hat-making to go-go dancing, is here.
Two reminders: The Duwamish Longhouse is scheduled to be the site of the Duwamish Community Garage Sale today, and you’re welcome to be a seller as well as a buyer – first-come first-served for table space, 10 percent of proceeds go to the legal fund for the tribe’s federal-recognition fight. Tribe chair Cecile Hansen‘s famous fry bread is promised, as is the tribe’s famous salmon lunch. 9 am-6 pm, Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center in West Seattle (4705 West Marginal Way SW; map). And if you’re looking for random garage/yard sales to shop, be sure to check the WSB Forums‘ Freebies/Deals/Sales section, which is where anyone can post sales for free – at least three so far for today, see ’em here. (P.S. Shoppers may also want to check out C & P Coffee‘s arts/crafts fair, 9 am-3 pm, 5612 California SW.)
Thanks to Bill Schrier, the 34th District Democrats‘ webmaster, for photos from tonight’s big annual fundraiser at West Seattle Nursery, the Garden Party – just two nights after the group made headlines by hosting a largely nonconfrontational health-insurance-reform forum featuring a congressmember and an overflow crowd. Tonight’s crowd — all fun, as you can see by the photo above (most exuberant, in the blue shirt, is Chris Porter, who chaired the party-planning effort). Media personality New York Vinnie (who lives in Gatewood) served as auctioneer:
If you’re wondering about the bright colors – there was a Brazilian theme tonight – including music from Grupo Amoroso. Plus candidates and elected officials in attendance – center and right, here’s State Sen. Joe McDermott and State Rep. Eileen Cody, with State Rep. Sharon Nelson‘s legislative assistant Joe Fitzgibbon at left:
In addition to the group’s expenses, the money it raises from events and dues goes toward everything from charity donations to campaign contributors for the candidates it endorses.
If you’re heading toward West Seattle soon – or know someone who is – note that a crash has led police to close off the West Seattle Bridge, westbound, near the Fauntleroy end – traffic is being diverted off at the Admiral exit. No details so far on how serious the crash is.
That dragon “guards” the new MacArthur Lane Community Garden/P-Patch in High Point, where volunteers have recently finished assembling its beds and decorating its framework, culminating in a neighborhood party tonight:
Julie Bryan told us the plots will be assigned soon – as will P-Patch plots at High Point Commons Park (scheduled for the 20th), a long-awaited event. Here’s a closer look at the dragon:
The park’s outer fence is festive too:
(ADDED 10:35 PM – Joni’s sharing many more photos via Whrrl – she’s been working on the project all along, and her photos include the ribbon-cutting celebration and check presentation that happened tonight after our brief visit:)
Meantime, a couple miles north, early-evening sunshine graced the second of four Summer Concerts at The Mount (WSB sponsor) at Providence Mount St. Vincent:
Maia Santell and House Blend headlined – these are free concerts, but if you bring a few dollars, you can buy food/bevs – we took a closer look at the dinner options this time around – check out this Philly sandwich:
A special feature tonight, Jeanne H. Nordquist was doing caricatures.
Next Friday night’s Concert at The Mount: Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana, 6 pm. (And the night before that, it’s another Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented Summer Concerts at Hiawatha presentation, the Brian Waite Band, 6:30 pm Thursday.)
That’s the message tonight from West Seattle Crime Prevention Council president Dot Beard – she asked if we would remind you that the group is NOT meeting this month (they meet on third Tuesdays, so that would have been coming up next week), but they urge everyone to attend tomorrow’s Picnic at the Precinct at the Southwest Precinct (map), 1-4 pm. Next WSCPC meeting will be September 15th, and King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg is scheduled to speak.
We’ll have a full report later with highlights of memories shared tonight, “open-mike” style, before guests shared “something special” to celebrate the life of Phoenecia at Alki restaurateur Hussein Khazaal, who died suddenly last Saturday. But if you couldn’t be there, we wanted to show you the crowd first – we estimate around 250 people. Some sat, some stood, some were out of our camera’s view, up on the sidewalk. Some memories were tearful, but many brought laughter. More later.
That’s the team you’ll find at the Delridge Produce Cooperative “Mobile Market” set up outside Watts Electric, east side of Delridge south of Henderson (map), till 7:30 tonight (with different locations along Delridge the next three days, repeating the series of four stops this week and the next three). They’re actually not selling, but rather giving away fresh fruits and vegetables:
Tiny’s donated most of what you see in that photo – except for some vegetables, including chiles, dropped off by someone that DPC president Galena White (right side of the top photo) said read here this morning that they accept produce dropoffs too. This is a pilot project to show how people might respond to a co-op selling fresh produce in Delridge, which has no grocery store of its own, let alone some place to regularly buy fresh, healthy food. So when you pick up your free produce, you’ll be asked to fill out a super-fast four-question survey.
(Photo by WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli)
When we published that photo from WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli last November, as part of coverage of Beato’s closure, little did we know it would wind up in court – where he just won a victory on behalf of intellectual-property rights. We strongly believe in those rights and protections here at WSB — for example, when we are asked for permission to use a photo, if it’s not a photo that was taken by one of us co-publishers, we tell the requester that we do not have the rights to the photo, and we forward the request to the person who provided us with it, whether amateur or pro. Same goes for written work – if we link to someone else’s story, unless there are unusual circumstances (and involving permission), we don’t pull a chunk of the story; we provide the link because we believe you should go read it on the writer’s own site. And we have a notice at the bottom of our pages pointing out that photos cannot be used without permission. Sometimes, though, either we, or someone who has contributed photography, discovers a picture used without permission, as happened with the one you see above. Read on for the full story of what happened and how the small-claims court case turned out:Read More
By 8 pm Tuesday, your ballot needs to be either in the mail (make sure it’ll get postmarked August 18th or earlier) or in a drop box (here’s the list – there’s one in North Delridge and one in White Center). If you’re having trouble, haven’t received your ballot, etc., you can get help in person tomorrow, 10 am-5 pm at King County Elections HQ in Renton. Read on for the official announcement, which also includes details on Accessible Voting Centers:Read More
… but it’s not likely to be suspected of extraterrestrial or supernatural links. West Seattle Crop Circle is a new group that Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle is organizing in West Seattle to follow up on the success of the Edible Garden Fair and Edible Garden Tour – and the growing popularity of edible gardening. The first meeting is a little more than a week away – read on for the full announcement from Susanne at CHoSS:Read More
Last night at Twilight Artist Collective in The Junction, during the August edition of the monthly West Seattle Art Walk, art literally happened inside and out – despite the thunder-and-lightning cloudbursts in the hour before WSAW kicked off. What you see above was created on the sidewalk outside Twilight – a surprise, its proprietors told us, by “traveling artist” friends Christopher and Erica, who dropped by. (Those are crabapples in the center of the piece.) Inside, DJ Joel was at the turntables for the promised dance party:
Among the creations on display was Mark Gunderson‘s work, which appears to be looking back at the viewer:
While Twilight’s home turf, The Junction, remains the epicenter of the ever-growing Art Walk, it’s now passed 50 venues, and the map reaches far and wide to all corners of the peninsula, like Fauntleroy:
Near the south end of the WSAW map, that’s Janet Price with Southwest-inspired art at The Kenney; near the north end, here’s Gail Howard at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) in the Admiral District:
Even if you missed the Art Walk last night, most of the featured displays will remain up in the participating businesses throughout the month of August – check the official West Seattle Art Walk website for the full list of venues and for previews of spotlighted artists. Save the date for September’s Art Walk – second Thursday, as always – that’ll be September 10th.
Followup to Thursday’s update on The Junction’s “Big Bonanza” end-of-summer multi-merchant sale a week from tomorrow: In addition to individual businesses’ planned deals (many of which are listed here) – look for a red-and-white checked tablecloth signaling who’s participating – you’re invited to the West Seattle Junction Association‘s tent at California/Alaska to pick up “festive bandanas and sheriff stickers,” enter a $100 Junction gift-card giveaway, and, at high noon that day, to get a “squirter” to join in a water-fight showdown. (That’s just one of 2 big events in The Junction in the next six weeks – September 20, streets close for the 2nd annual West Seattle Junction Car Show, which we’re co-sponsoring again this year – if you want to enter a car, registration details are here.)
The West Seattle Food Bank needs pet food, and CityDog Magazine is going to collect donations — unopened dog or cat food — during its “Cover Dog Search” event at West Seattle Thriftway, noon-3 pm this Sunday. As for the “Cover Dog Search” itself – last time CityDog photographed prospects at Thriftway, one of them turned out to be the winner — Cohen! (That’s his CDM cover at left.) Find out more about how to participate by going here; another reminder, Thriftway is raising money for the Seattle Humane Society with its 11 am-4 pm barbecue tomorrow, and Sunday also will feature the Humane Society’s MaxMobile bringing adoptable pets there, 11 am-3 pm (the MaxMobile calendar shows it’s in West Seattle on Saturday, too, in The Junction at Next to Nature, 2-5 pm).
Two block parties you can visit tomorrow afternoon (and the weather looks promising) – The marquee event will be on SW Webster, just west of Delridge, along the south side of the Southwest Precinct, which is hosting Picnic at the Precinct, your chance not only to hang out with local police and enjoy free food ‘n’ fun, but also to meet neighbors representing more than 20 community groups from around West Seattle. Then if you venture southwest to Arbor Heights, they’re throwing a block party too:
That’s one of our photos from last year’s Arbor Heights Block Party, on the grounds of Arbor Heights Church and the neighboring site where a playground is planned; noon-4 pm tomorrow, it’s happening again, you can enjoy more free food n’ fun. Then tomorrow night, stake out your spot early for the second-to-last (ALREADY?) West Seattle Junction Outdoor Movies on the Wall presentation of 2009, the original “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie:
Saturday’s also the Duwamish Community Garage Sale and C & P Coffee‘s Arts/Crafts Fair (both inviting participation). But it’s not ALL about Saturday – tonight, for example, Summer Outdoor Concerts at The Mount (WSB sponsor) continue with Maia Santell and House Blend 6 pm, which is also when the 34th District Democrats gather for their annual Garden Party at West Seattle Nursery … all in all, 50-plus events ahead in this edition of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup:
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After more than six months of planning, preparation and awareness-raising, this afternoon the Delridge Produce Cooperative launches its biggest project yet: The “Mobile Market.” DPC’s leader, Galena White, explains both the co-op and the Mobile Market, as well as how you can get involved:
Delridge Produce Cooperative is a group of residents in the Delridge Neighborhood who wish to establish a cooperatively-run, non-profit produce stand on Delridge Way SW to furnish the residents with healthy food in what is now a healthy-food desert. To make the community more aware of the issues, we have engaged the Delridge Neighborhood Development Association as our fiscal agents and obtained a grant from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods to host a demonstration project this summer.
At our ‘Mobile Market’ stalls, we’ll be handing out fruits and vegetables to Delridge residents for FREE this weekend, and next weekend we’ll also have free tote bags and tons of information (in 13 different locally-spoken languages) about other free and low-cost local programs to promote health and community:
August 14th, 2009 – September 7th, 2009
All events are on Delridge Way SW
Fridays: 9050 (map), Watts Electric, 3:30 pm-7:30 pm
Saturdays: 6535 (map), Care-A-Lot Learning Center, 11:00 am-3:00 pm
Sundays: Delridge P-Patch (next to Cottage Grove Park on Brandon; map), 11:00 am-3:00 pm
Mondays: 4408 (map), Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 3:30 pm-7:30 pmWe hope that this project will increase community awareness of food sustainability and security, and that there will be a resulting growth of support for organizations like Delridge Produce Cooperative. Neighbors will be able to take part in a survey about what they want in a neighborhood produce stand, and will be able to sign up to be among the first members of the co-op. Once the ‘Mobile Market’ project is finished, we at DPC will begin the work of designing a business model, deciding whether we will be a non-profit, and finding ways to actually fund our startup. EVERYONE is a part of Delridge Produce Cooperative, and we hope that many will join us in creating a new place for healthy food on Delridge.
We still have plenty of need for donations or volunteers for the ‘Mobile Market’, so (here’s) our email address (delridgeproducecoop@gmail.com) or phone number [(206) 271-1880] for those who want to get involved! Volunteer slots are available in three- or six-hour shifts starting and finishing one hour before and after the regularly scheduled hours of operation. If anyone has got any extra garden produce, they can drop it off at the ‘Mobile Market’, and we’ll give it away for free!
With days to go till the official Election Day on Tuesday, but 87 percent of Seattle ballots not returned yet, it’s clear many voters are still making up their minds, so we’re continuing our series of stories looking at City Council candidates, with a few questions beyond the ones you’ve heard them answer at forums. You’ll see the ones we’ve already published in our Politics archive; right now, from the race for Position 8, which Richard McIver is leaving, we look at Jordan Royer:
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Jordan Royer says he wants to give families and small-business owners a voice on the Seattle City Council.
“There aren’t many people on the city council who have kids in public schools. The people who are paying the bills don’t have a seat at the table,” he said.
Royer, a 43-year-old North Seattle resident, is vice president at the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. He has two daughters in public schools in Seattle.
Royer said his main emphasis will be on bringing common sense to government.
The program for today’s celebration in memory of West Seattle business/community pioneer Helen Sutton described its location, the South Seattle Community College Arboretum, as “one of Helen’s favorite places.” Guests were welcomed with harp music by Pinky Dale, SSCC’s Georgetown Campus dean:
Hundreds gathered underneath a striped canopy, where the celebration officially began with a welcome by SSCC’s interim president Gary Oertli:
Ms. Sutton’s many ties to SSCC and the rest of Seattle’s community-college system were described in the program:
Helen served on the Seattle Community College District Board of Trustees from 1974 to 1985, and was involved with our colleges from the beginning. She was one of South’s earliest and strongest supporters. Helen was instrumental in the establishment of the South Seattle Community College Foundation, and she served as board member for many years, including several as president. She also helped create the Arboretum, where the Helen G. Sutton Rose Garden was established several years ago in honor of her efforts. In addition to her work on the Arboretum Committee, Helen was a member of the Scholarship Committeee.
Helen was fondly known as “Mrs. West Seattle” by many in the community. She owned La Grace Fashion Apparel for more than 40 years and was the first woman president of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. She was also named “Citizen of the Year.”
She also was a Board Member Emeritus for the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) and had been involved with Fauntleroy Church; on behalf of the church, LeeAnne Beres was to share reflections at today’s memorial, as were several others including niece Lori Edgerly of Yakima, the town in which Ms. Sutton was living when she died in June at age 95.
A reminder that tomorrow night is the memorial celebrating the life of Hussein Khazaal, owner of Phoenecia at Alki restaurant, who died suddenly last Saturday at age 63. The memorial is set for 6:30 pm Friday, and e-mail from the Khazaal family, forwarded to WSB, includes a few more details. First, the location is “west of the Statue of Liberty.” Plus:
•We have rented a small stage and sound system for Friday’s celebration. There will be an open mic for anyone who would like to share warm thoughts, wishes, and stories. Just like “papa” would want, we will prepare “something special for you.”
•In addition to food from Phoenecia, many fine West Seattle eating establishments will be preparing food due to the overwhelming attendance we expect. We thank them so much for their support.
We know Hussein would want to share one last meal with you all, and we will make sure that happens this Friday.
We also know many of you would like to pay your last respects, and we wanted to give everyone the opportunity.
We cannot begin to explain how much your kind words have touched our hearts – frankly, they are keeping us going.
William Khazaal – on behalf of the family
Hussein Khazaal was buried in Covington on Tuesday. ADDED EARLY FRIDAY: More details of Mr. Khazaal’s life, and family reminiscences, are in a new obituary by food writer Nancy Leson just published at seattletimes.com.
An update on the 1st Avenue South southbound-in-the-stadium-zone update from earlier this week – SDOT now says:
The schedule for closing the southbound lanes on First Avenue South between South King Street and Railroad Way has changed. The lanes will now be closed on Monday through Wednesday, August 17-19, and possibly also Thursday, August 20, if needed, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The sidewalk on the western side of First Avenue South will also be closed. A detour will be provided to South King Street and then to Railroad Way, back to First Avenue South. (Please note that Railroad Way is divided by a median, so traffic turning left from King Street to head south on Railroad Way must stay to the right of the median.) The closure is needed for the operation of a large crane working on a private building.
Since Maury and Vashon Islands are so close by, this has been closely watched in West Seattle too, so we’re mentioning this breaking story: A federal court judge has just sided with the conservation groups that have been trying to stop the gravel-mine expansion that would build a big new dock. The judge says more federal reviews are required to consider the project’s possible effects on marine life, according to this AP report published by The Olympian. King County Council Chair Dow Constantine, a longtime opponent of the project, has issued a statement – read on:Read More
That’s a snippet of video of rainwater running downhill on a nearby side street. Nothing big, but a sight we haven’t seen in a while. Just in case you’re in a windowless room. In which case you’ve missed the lightning flashes and thunder rumbles this past hour, too. But the forecast says more typical summer weather WILL return soon – by the weekend, in fact. The National Weather Service is even calling for 80s starting Monday (PLUS we just saw a forecast by our favorite meteorologist, Q13’s Walter Kelley, who thinks it’ll be more like 90s next week). 6:40 PM UPDATE: We’re in the Hiawatha gym now, where the Summer Concerts at Hiawatha performance by the Elizabeth Carpenter Trio is starting a bit late to give people time to get here – there are a few dozen here despite the rain, it’s warm and cozy and bound to be fun. But be careful driving: Noticed some serious puddling on Fauntleroy Way, in the paving-project stretch, at least the northbound lanes. ADDED 10:12 PM: Got a photo, pre-dusk, of a truck splashing through one of those puddles:
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