West Seattle, Washington
17 Wednesday
Yes, those geese AGAIN, though with a dramatic background this time – West Seattle photojournalist Matt Durham from mattdurhamphotography.com shares the photo, looking south toward Salty’s. (Personal aside: We are just back from there, where tonight we helped celebrate the wondrous wedding of our dear friend Shep, a West Seattleite who we’ve known since the year he, and we, arrived here, 1991. Mazel tov!) Now, from outside to inside:
The Kenney hosted its annual fundraising brunch today – that’s CEO Kevin McFeely circulating in the photo above – the main goal was to raise money for a fund that helps residents stay at The Kenney even if they outlive their financial reserves.
It’s not on the Camp Long website yet, and it’s not available in print till sometime next week, but you can see the summer brochure for Camp Long (and other Seattle Parks Environmental Learning Centers) right now — Sheila Brown from Camp Long sent it via e-mail today and we’ve uploaded it here.
Five of the six candidates for Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival (meet all six here) posed for us on Seacrest Pier this morning as the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club Kids’ Fishing Derby was in its final moments, just yards away. Once again this year, brilliant sunshine for WSSC members to host a temporary fishing pond at the pier for kids 12 and under – we caught two catches on video:
The next scheduled Hi-Yu event is the American Legion Candidates’ Reception on June 11th; the Hi-Yu float, meantime, fresh off its award-winning Sequim appearance last weekend (WSB coverage here), was scheduled to be up north again today, at the Rhododendron Festival Parade in Port Townsend.
(Sen. Joe McDermott at left, Rep. Eileen Cody at right)
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
After a particularly brutal legislative session, lawmakers meeting with a friendly and appreciative audience at Jim Wiley Community Center in White Center said this morning they were really happy to be home from Olympia.
Lawmakers from the 34th District — Sen. Joe McDermott (D-West Seattle), Rep. Eileen Cody (D-West Seattle) and Rep. Sharon Nelson (D-Maury Island) — invited their constituents to a Town Hall meeting to review the wins and losses of the session, some of which they had also discussed at the 34th District Democrats‘ meeting last Wednesday (WSB coverage here).
While budget cuts were the theme for most of the session, there were some wins, including $1.4 million for the Greenbridge Early Learning Center project, and $2 million for the High Point Neighborhood Center.
Six weeks after two city councilmembers joined a Delridge delegation on a tour of problem properties – long-vacant houses used by squatters, or otherwise threatening neighborhood health and safety (WSB coverage is here and here) – we have two updates. First, 4117 Delridge (map) – where we got the above video clip during the April 3 tour, with North Delridge Neighborhood Council‘s Mike Dady talking about the frustration that site has caused him for years – now has a demolition permit, issued just yesterday. (We saw a work crew at the site earlier today, though no backhoe in sight.) The permit says demolition will resolve a DPD case. Meanwhile, one of the councilmembers who joined in the tour, Sally Clark, mentioned her action plan in her monthly newsletter that’s just been e-mailed out:
… As a result of the neighborhood’s advocacy we will be looking at a change in the land use code to allow quicker demolition of a single family house. Right now you can’t demolish unless you have a plan and permit to rebuild. This concept makes sense in protecting housing stock and should be retained for multi-family areas. In single-family zones the requirement prevents owners who want to do the right thing from removing derelict homes. It’s not a perfect solution. I would rather see these houses reclaimed and lived in, but for some neighbors the wait for the perfect solution has already been too long. Watch for PLUNC to take up this idea this summer. If you’d like more information or have feedback about the idea of allowing demolition of single-family homes without a new building permit in hand, please contact me.
Here’s Councilmember Clark’s contact info; PLUNC is the Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee that she chairs — track its meetings and agendas here. Councilmember Tim Burgess was on the tour too and promised at the time to pursue a proposal to make property owners more accountable, though it hasn’t come up yet before the Public Safety (etc.) committee he chairs.
There’s a lot more to being a good landlord/property manager than collecting the rent checks. With that in mind, Seattle Neighborhood Group joined WSB as a sponsor to get the word out about its one-day workshop for landlords/property managers – coming up this Wednesday in West Seattle. Here are the details:
Property manager or landlord? Searching for practical tips on managing your rental property? On May 20, an affordable, effective workshop is scheduled in West Seattle.
Topics include:
· Screen applications legally and effectively
· Create strong, enforceable rental agreements
· Attract and retain reliable tenants
· Prevent unwanted activity
· Motivate residents to report problems to you before they escalate
· Enhance physical spaces to make them safer & more secure for people who use them
· Recognize signs of drug and criminal activity
· Work with police and other resources to address trespass andillegal activity
· Recent changes in landlord/tenant law
· Crisis resolution, notices and evictions
The workshop is scheduled 8-4:30 Wednesday May 20 in West Seattle, at 2300 SW Webster (at Delridge Way SW), in the community room of the Southwest Precinct. At 8 AM, participants begin signing-in and pick up materials and a continental breakfast. At 8:30 AM, the workshop will start. Cost for the day is $25, including manual. Lunch: BYO or in the neighborhood. The workshop will end at 4:30 PM. Participants will receive certificate of completion. To pre-register, go to: www.sngi.org/landlord_register.html (through PayPal). For more information, contact SNG. E-mail lois@sngi.org or call 206-323-9666 / 206-323-3150.
The online brochure for this workshop can be seen here.
If you have a little more time to browse WSB this weekend and don’t routinely go off the main page, a couple things of note … In the WSB Forums, Wilson writes to let everyone know about the Good Samaritans seen in action, and Rockergirl kicked off a discussion that has nothing to do with West Seattle but has drawn lots of replies, looking for a “great place to stay in Las Vegas.” Other areas of our site off the main page with frequent updates include the More page (WS-relevant news links from citywide/regional sources PLUS the newest WS links from almost all Craigslist categories), the Blogs page (pointing to the newest updates from 100 WS-based writers) and the Twitter page (recent “tweets” from people mentioning West Seattle, plus a direct link to our “tweets”). All three of those pages automatically fetch updates from their sources continuously, so there’s always something new.
That’s a photo from last year’s West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club Hi-Yu Kids’ Fishing Derby; this year’s edition happens this morning at Seacrest, 8 am-11 am. Kids through age 12 are welcome – it’s free – and you get to keep your catch. Or — perhaps you and your family are in the market for a pet?
That’s Riley, a “senior dog” who needs a new home. Animals First Foundation is scheduled to bring Riley to the Furry Faces Foundation plant sale today (raising money for animal rescue), 10 am-4 pm (tomorrow too) along with info about other pets AFF has available (more into cats? they’ll be at the plant sale tomorrow). Lots of info about the sale and the pets can be found here (and the book-signing!). That’s one of THREE big plant sales today, by the way, along with the sale at Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor) to benefit the American Cancer Society and the sale at Tibbetts United Methodist Church. Not interested in plants, pets, or fishing? LOTS more happening – including state legislators’ Town Hall in White Center (which has a big community cleanup today too) at 10 am, The Kenney‘s big brunch fundraiser at 11 am, and many entertainment options … click here to go directly to the Saturday section of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
That’s the subject line of e-mail just in from Betsy Hoffmeister of North Delridge — sent not only to alert folks to possible trouble ahead, but to explain what many might not find out about till morning:
Any friends on 26th Ave W/Graham SW area [map] or possibly Snake Hill area or even up in High Point who wake up to property crime, vandalism, or broken windshield/windows are invited to join our police report. At 1:30 a.m. I was awakened by loud voices. My husband had watched a group of young people walking south on 26th yelling at each other. This group was on the bridge across Longfellow Creek yelling, hitting, and carrying on. We reported it to the police who despite my directions were there in seconds; when we went outside we saw that they had jumped on our windshield and shattered it. I wouldn’t be surprised if every windshield on the street is in a similar condition; we didn’t see them do it, so there’s no proof, but if the cops care they could measure footprints cause there’s a huge one in the dew on our car.
Lest you have any doubt – if you hear or see something/someone suspicious, police have reiterated at recent meetings, it IS the right thing to do to call 911 as soon as possible.
ORIGINAL 1:57 AM REPORT: Every so often, somebody e-mails to ask what the deal is with Cavvy’s, the never-open (yet not-empty) West Seattle store shown above in Google Street View, 5251 California SW, between Ephesus restaurant and Rick’s Barber Shop. Just half an hour ago, we got the tip from Rick himself – that Cavvy’s is supposed to open at 10 am today “after a mysterious 13-year hiatus … Everything will be on sale so shop early and shop often.” (Yes, we love 1 am news tips, or any time 24/7 …
editor@westseattleblog.com … 206-293-6302 …)
10:40 AM UPDATE: Sign on the door as of a few minutes ago says “Not open yet.”
11:58 AM UPDATE: Rick says in comments it’s now looking more like Monday. … And half an hour later, an update: Tuesday.
For more than a few local schools, it’s a tradition to get out of the classroom and walk laps to raise money — and today, perfect weather graced Alki Elementary School‘s annual springtime fundraiser, the Alki-a-thon. Allison Carver from the Alki Elementary PTA explained, “We stagger the grades (from oldest to youngest) and each grade makes a grand entrance with their own unique colorful team t-shirt and theme song!” Music, refreshment, and games – Crabwalk, Limbo, Buddywalk – were part of the fun. (Next week, by the way, Sanislo Elementary hits the ground running with its Jog-a-thon.)
Thanks to Lori Willson of Arbor Heights for sharing these photos, taken just hours ago at Emma Schmitz Viewpoint, across from Me-Kwa-Mooks Park on Beach Drive.
Three days after confirming reports that teachers around the district were being notified of layoffs, Seattle Public Schools has just gone public with the total number of layoffs: “Approximately 172 teachers and other certificated staff (approximately 5% of the total certificated workforce),” according to a news release just sent out. Read on for the full text of the announcement (which does not contain a school-by-school breakdown):Read More
We’ve been tracking this for a few weeks – now it’s down to the final faceoff, and as WSB’er GenHillOne was first to announce in the WSB Forums, Chief Sealth High School is 1 of 2 schools remaining in KIRO’s High School Spirit poll. Voting’s under way now – go here.
Three big plant sales this weekend – Furry Faces Foundation (with a book-signing!), Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor), Tibbetts Church … plus, “A Night of Swing” tonight with the West Seattle Big Band at Grace Church, a busy Saturday slate including the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club Kids’ Fishing Derby at Seacrest … Sunday brings the Walk With Us to Cure Lupus 5K on Alki plus the beer/gardening art event at West Seattle Nursery on Sunday … more than 40 events in the full West Seattle Weekend Lineup, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club:Read More
That’s what 34th District Rep. Sharon Nelson‘s legislative assistant Joe Fitzgibbon just told WSB, when we called/e-mailed to check before publishing a news release announcing Governor Gregoire had signed her payday-lending bill (HB 1709; history, info, documents here). As we reported yesterday, with video, Rep. Nelson had told the 34th District Democrats on Wednesday night that she was waiting to hear if the governor would sign her bill in its entirety. Fitzgibbon just replied to our inquiry with, “In the end, she did sign the whole bill as it passed the Legislature, and we are thrilled.” Here’s the news release, which explains what the bill does:Read More
(2008 Junction Car Show photo courtesy Mark B. Bauschke)
Just got an update from Liberty Bell Printing‘s Michael Hoffman, who’s coordinating the September 20th event: “The car show is an official go. We have had a great response from sponsors and are excited to continue planning the event.” WSB is proud to be among the West Seattle Junction Car Show sponsors again this year; there’s still room for more sponsors – the application can be downloaded here. That page, by the way, is part of the official West Seattle Junction Car Show website, now up and running at wsjunctioncarshow.com. Michael also lists a few of the highlights planned for the show this year:
Antique fire trucks from the Last Resort Fire Department.
SFD teaching Fire safety for kids.
The Oh Boy! Oberto hydroplane on display.
A DJ playing 50s & 60s Music.
Event T-shirts at a great value.
More room for more cars and fun
That last line refers to the fact they’ve gotten permission to close the Alaska/California intersection, as is done during the West Seattle American Legion Grand Parade (July 18 this year!) – not just two self-contained blocks like last year. The show will run from 8 am till 4 pm on September 20th.
It’s been down most of the week – and we know us news types aren’t the only ones who noticed, because more than half a dozen people asked us if we knew what the problem was – but now it’s back: Real-Time 911. Note, as always, this only reflects fire/medic calls, NOT police calls, but we know many find it invaluable for checking “why am I hearing sirens?” etc. (When we called Seattle Fire Department‘s media unit earlier in the week to ask what was wrong, they indicated it was down as part of a larger maintenance/repair issue that affected systems even more critical to their operations than the online log.)
With the first-ever Seattle International Film Festival showings in West Seattle now less than a month away, WSB is co-promoting an Admiral Theater event to celebrate this major moment in WS cultural history: An opening-night party on June 5. The party is just taking shape – it will be fun but informal, probably something of an open-house format that night, before the 7 pm showing of the ever-so-appropriate choice “The Admiral.” On behalf of Admiral entertainment director Dinah Brein-McClellan, we’re asking you: Got any ideas for who or what should be part of that party (an all-ages, drop-in event)? If you’re a local business or organization, maybe you’d like to be part of it? Leave a comment here or e-mail Dinah, dinah@admiralentertainment.com – and stay tuned for party details. In the meantime, a reminder that tickets for the 25 SIFF movies to be shown at The Admiral June 5-11 are on sale now – ticket sales are all done through SIFF, *not* the Admiral, so you’ll want to snap them up sooner rather than later. The movie slate is here; ticket sales start here; details on special multi-show ticket deals are here.
(entrance and courtyard for new Denny Middle School)
We’ve just received these new renderings of what Denny Middle School — as of next fall, Denny International Middle School — will look like when its new building is complete on the Chief Sealth High School campus nearby. This view is looking west:
They’re from a presentation made to the Denny PTSA this week; you can see the full presentation, with other renderings, including the plan for the current Denny site, here. (While the presentation says the new building will be done in late winter 2011, we’re told that Denny principal Jeff Clark still plans to move the staff that summer and start classes there in fall 2011, as he told us two months ago .)
More on this week’s presentation, and other aspects of the ongoing CSHS renovation/DMS (future) construction project, can be found on this district-maintained website. The site also includes monthly construction updates (with photos).
Earlier this week, we reported on major progress toward construction money for the future Delridge Skatepark — the Skatepark Advisory Committee‘s recommendation that Parks Levy money for a Myrtle Reservoir skate feature move to the Delridge project (future site at right) instead. And this afternoon, there’s word the in-progress skatepark design will go public next week — the agenda for next week’s Seattle Design Commission meeting just arrived, and it includes a review of the Delridge Skatepark’s schematic design, next Thursday, 2 pm at City Hall. (We’re also watching to see if the proposed money move turns up on the next Parks Levy Oversight Committee agenda – the meeting is set for 7 pm May 26, and when the agenda is out, you’ll find it here.)
Aaron’s Bicycle Repair (in Morgan Junction) and BECU (all over) sponsored the West Seattle “commuter station” this morning as part of Bike To Work Day today – thanks to a different Aaron for sharing his photo. West Seattle bicycle commuters tell us a steady stream of riders went by as part of today’s event; stations like this were set up all over the city during the morning commute. Any other West Seattle bicycle commuters with BTW Day photos to share, editor@westseattleblog.com — we’ll add ’em! Thanks, and we wish you a safe ride home. ADDED 5:32 PM: Via Twitter, @greggscycles noted sightings of 150 bicycles while riding from West Seattle to Green Lake. 11:03 PM: Also from Twitter, King County Council Chair Dow Constantine (of WS) reported addressing a BTW crowd downtown. And West Seattle’s @bikehugger DL Byron has posted some of his BTW Day scenes. Final note: Bicyclist Kerry says that upon arrival at the WS commute station – the counter clicked to 599 – and #600 arrived shortly afterward!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Sometimes when the public-comment period arrives midway through meetings of the Southwest Design Review Board – one of 7 such volunteer boards around the city charged with evaluating major development proposals – the concerns and complaints tend to meander away from the topic at hand, the project’s design.
Not last night, as The Kenney‘s redevelopment proposal returned to the SWDRB for a third “early design guidance” meeting (here’s our original as-it-happened update from last night; here’s coverage of the previous meeting in January).
Referring to the six-story “donut” building in the plans — a new formation since The Kenney announced it was shifting the design to scrap the panned plan to tear down the cupola-topped Seaview building — one neighbor declared, “I don’t want to live next to the Pentagon.”
“That’s a perfect design comment,” observed board chair Christie Coxley.
The building in question is envisioned in the newest design documents (see them all here) as actually more of a square, but before recommending that The Kenney move to the next phase of design review, board members had their own thoughts about it and other project aspects too, while architect Gene Guszkowski (from Wisconsin-based AG Architecture) revealed some news since the new design proposal was previewed at a community meeting last week:
| 5 COMMENTS