West Seattle, Washington
27 Friday
From WSB’er Buddsmom:
This morning at approx. 7:20 I found a pile of stolen mail behind the bus shelter at 35th AVE SW and SW 108th [map] in Arbor Heights. The addresses are from four separate houses in the vicinity of SW 106th and 107th between the 3100 block of 106th to 35th Ave SW. Anything that appears to be of a financial nature had been opened. The Westwood branch of the post office has been notified and will turn the items over to the postal inspector for investigation.
TRAFFIC ALERTS: All that activity on and around the section of The Bridge between 99 and I-5, known as the Spokane Street Viaduct, starts happening today. The 4th Avenue South offramp from the westbound side closes forever; westbound lower Spokane St. closes from 6th to 1st for many months; the northbound I-5 ramp to The Bridge and the Columbian Way ramp to The Bridge both close around 10 tonight for the entire weekend, till early Monday. Lots of details, detour maps, etc. at seattle.gov/spokane.
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY CENTERS: Fun night at three of them – Family Skate Night at 6:45 at Alki CC, an MLK celebration with arts, crafts, music and spoken-word performance at 6 pm at Hiawatha CC, and Leo the Clown at Delridge CC at 7.
PEOPLE’S PLACE FUNDRAISER: Call it a startup for helping the homeless – “communal transitional housing,” founded by two volunteers including West Seattle’s Christi Stapleton. (We wrote about People’s Place here.) 6:30 tonight at El Centro de la Raza on Beacon Hill, they’re having a fundraiser reception and silent auction (items include “lunch, coffee or drinks with Mayor Mike McGinn“).
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL (INCLUDING HAITI FUNDRAISER @ SEALTH): All three high schools in West Seattle are playing host to visiting teams tonight. At West Seattle High School, Cleveland HS is the visitor, girls’ varsity at 6:15 pm, boys’ varsity at 8 pm. At Chief Sealth High School, Nathan Hale is the visitor, same times – note that a bake sale to raise $ for Haiti relief is planned during the Sealth games. At Seattle Lutheran High School, Tacoma Baptist is the visitor, 6:15 girls’ varsity, 7:45 boys’ varsity.
More on the WSB West Seattle Events page.
(October 2009 photo courtesy of Greg Whittaker from Mountain to Sound Outfitters [WSB sponsor] and Alki Kayak Tours)
Story and photos by Jonathan Stumpf
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
As promised, the Alki Community Council introduced new webmaster/Alki News Beacon editor Glynnis Vaughan Thursday night in its new meeting location at Alki UCC.
But before the introduction of Vaughan, the council was treated to a presentation by United States Coast Guard Auxiliarist Lyn McClellan (left). The room of about 20 clearly enjoyed the half-hour discussion about the history of the Alki Point Lighthouse.
The USCG is thrilled to have it open to the public during the upcoming summer weekends (Memorial through Labor Day weekends) from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, and although the light is automated now, and the neighborhood side is veiled from it, the established-in-1887 lighthouse and its history are still worth the visit, with visitors from 68 countries stopping by during the last two years. You can read lots more about it here.
By Johnathon Fitzpatrick
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Big plans for the still-new year, as Sustainable West Seattle (SWS) held its annual meeting this week at the Senior Center in The Junction, with a guest appearance by new City Councilmember Mike O’Brien.
Think your neighborhood needs a park? There’s more than one way to get it. That’s what the Morgan Community Association heard from a Parks Department manager during its quarterly meeting Wednesday night. Read on for the toplines on that, and other updates including plans for this year’s Morgan Junction Community Festival:Read More
Every month, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce invites a local elected official (LEO) in for a brown-bag “Lunch with LEO”; today City Councilmember Jean Godden came to the WSCC’s office for a turn at the table (at left, with Chamber Board president Jerome O. Cohen, one of the half-dozen people who also joined in. The topics usually range far and wide for these roundtables; since Godden chairs the Budget Committee, money talk dominated this hourlong session. This year’s the city’s “big budget year,” as she put it, working toward a 2-year budget, and that’s why the Citizens’ Budget Conference is being held later this month (January 31; here’s the invitation again). She expects the mayor and most if not all councilmembers to be there, and says those who show up will get a chance to have their budget concerns heard long before the actual plan is assembled. She also talked about the council’s reaction to Mayor Mike McGinn‘s proposal for a special election in May on a property tax to fix the Alaskan Way seawall; she was one of 8 councilmembers (all but Mike O’Brien) who sent the mayor a letter this week voicing skepticism about the proposal. She said the measure seemed “premature,” while also stressing she is not questioning the need for the seawall to be replaced. Also discussed: With the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project soon to close off direct access to the West Seattle Bridge from SODO, Chas Redmond pitched for the city to again try to get the Coast Guard to agree to limit openings of the low bridge during rush hours (a previous attempt was rejected in October 2008). Godden, vice chair of the Transportation Committee, said she’d look into it. The topic of White Center annexation came up as well; we’ve reported that discussion on partner site White Center Now.
Two updates tonight on West Seattle help for Haiti. First, artist Todd Martin – shown at left while participating in last November’s West Seattle Art Walk at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) – wanted to send out a challenge to his fellow artists:
Hello West Seattle art lovers; with the help of the West Seattle Blog, I am issuing a challenge to all West Seattle Artists.
We have all seen the suffering in Haiti and the lack of medical help and supplies so far in the country. My name is Todd Martin and I am a local Alaska Junction artist and photographer. Since November I have been raising money using my photography. I have raised money for The Woodland Park Zoo and now it’s time to raise funds for Doctors without Borders. Many of you may have seen my work at Hotwire Coffee in November of 2009. My collection was “Head Shots” if animals were celebrities … what it would be like if the paparazzi chased animals instead of people. I will be donating 65 percent of all proceeds to the cause. My website: headshotsifanimalswerecelebritie.shutterfly.com/
If you are interested in knowing more about the challenge or want to buy…call me at 206-817-1784 or chillynhot@msn.com
Everything on the site is available. I have many framed items in stock right now as well as some smaller items and cards. Artists, let’s all join together so we can give weekly updates. My Goal myself is 1000 dollars. I would like to do a lot more. If we could all get together to raise 10,000 dollars in 5 weeks (end of February) It would put us on the art map and also help those less fortunate. I feel so fortunate when I see the news stories of Haiti. I have been unemployed since last May from my full-time job, but I still feel fortunate for all I have and still feel I can afford to give and help out. Please buy some art and encourage your artist friends to join in too. Artists, whatever portion you wish to donate is fine. Let’s just band together and help out our brothers and sisters in Haiti…
Also, an update from West Seattle-based filmmaker Jamie Chamberlin on the ROCK4RELIEF concert coming up January 28 at Showbox SODO (here’s our report from yesterday) – with an art component here too:
Tickets will go on sale tomorrow Friday the 22nd @ www.showboxonline.com and www.ticketmaster.com. 100% of all proceeds from this event will be sent to the American Red Cross.
A raffle is being planned the night of the event to raise additional donations. Laura Boos, a local West Seattle artist, and others will be approaching local businesses for event support.
Any and all contributions will be greatly appreciated.
If you’d like to help, please contact: info.rock4relief@gmail.com
P.S. While at Chief Sealth High School for tonight’s open house, we saw signs for a bake sale during Friday night’s basketball games, raising $ for Haiti relief.
That map just sent around by Delridge Neighborhoods District Coordinator Ron Angeles; it expands on the map published here last night when SDOT sent out its latest news release about the upcoming construction-related closures on and around the Spokane Street Viaduct (aka the section of West Seattle Bridge between 99 and I-5). As you can see, this one includes some other closures right outside the general area covered by the original map/info. This expanded list can be found on the city website here – along with a larger, more readable version of the map. Most immediately, as mentioned last night, tomorrow’s the day that the 4th Avenue S. exit from the westbound SSV closes forever, and a longer stretch of lower westbound Spokane Street closes too; plus the West Seattle Bridge ramps from northbound I-5 and Columbian Way on Beacon Hill both will close for the entire weekend, 10 pm tomorrow through 5 am Monday.
When we reported earlier this week on tributes to Bear Silverstein, co-owner of West Seattle Cellars, we noted his memorial service was still being planned. Tom DiStefano from WSC just e-mailed to say that the information is now up on the family’s Caring Bridge webpage along with a full obituary. Service details:
A memorial service will be held at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California Ave SW, Sunday, January 31 at 2 pm with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances to honor Bear may be made to the Mission Folk Festival at Box 3125, Mission, BC, Canada, V2V 4J3 , and tax deductible donations for Anna’s education and Bear’s medical costs can be made through Anna’s church, Friends of the One, Bear Fund, P.O. Box 18646, Seattle, WA 98118.
Mr. Silverstein died last week at age 53.
Today we are welcoming one of our newest sponsors, Sweeney’s Plumbing; as is traditional with new WSB sponsors, we offer them the chance to share information about their business with you:
Sweeney’s Plumbing was established in 1907 by Tim Sweeney‘s great-grandfather. As well as building the home in West Seattle where Tim Sweeney was born, raised and still lives with his wife, His great-grandfather set the tone for a career in plumbing for generations to come. Tim Sweeney has been a West Seattle resident for his entire life and a plumber for 25+ years. He has grown up here, raised his family here and is proud to be a part of this community. He does many different types of jobs, such as service work, re-piping and remodeling. A lot of his clients first hear about Sweeney through word of mouth from his past clients. Most of his clients like the fact that he is local, does great work and has been doing business in West Seattle for over 25 years. They also appreciate the importance of honesty and communication – for every job he does he is readily available to his customers with questions or concerns. He likes to walk them through the process so they can set realistic expectations and be educated from the start. The most common comment from customers is that he is on time, ready to work and finishes the job well. Please give him a call for an estimate, 206.551.6465.
We thank Sweeney’s Plumbing for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.
(Design rendering from last November – note that the design is still being finalized)
The Parks Department says it’s hoping to break ground for the Delridge Skatepark in late spring – and the latest move to enable that, happened minutes ago – the City Council’s Parks Committee (with only its new chair, Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, in attendance) just gave its approval to the $750,000 funding plan for the project. That sets up a vote, likely next week, before the full council. Before voting, Bagshaw heard from supporters including North Delridge resident Nancy Folsom and West Seattle-residing Skatepark Advisory Committee member Matthew Lee Johnston. Both talked about the Delridge community’s strong support for the project, which accelerated after a proposal for a smaller skateboarding facility at the future Myrtle Reservoir Park drew opposition from neighbors. The funding for Delridge is coming from what was earmarked for Myrtle and from money saved on other Parks projects with bids that came in under budget. The site is the northeastern corner of the parkland adjacent to Delridge Community Center.
So are you in for this Sunday’s Special Olympics of Washington Polar Plunge at Alki (with WSB among the co-sponsors)? Among those who already are – the man who leads the Seattle Police Department‘s Southwest Precinct here in West Seattle, Capt. Joe Kessler. We were there for the photo op at Alki this morning as he tested the waters, so to speak, for a last-minute promotional push. You can join Captain Kessler and hundreds of others on Sunday morning – 9 am registration (if you haven’t signed up online), 11 am Polar Plunge, festivities afterward. There’s a special connection for law enforcers and Special Olympic – the Law Enforcement Torch Run – so you’ll see other members of the law-enforcement community braving Elliott Bay on Sunday too. So how was the water today, you might ask?
47-degree water today, in case you were wondering.
Laura Bermes at Family Promise shares the photo and this report on another MLK Day of Service project earlier this week in West Seattle:
Thanks goes out to the University of Washington students who stepped up on Monday to help out at West Seattle’s only homeless shelter for families, Family Promise of Seattle (located at 3626 California Ave SW). The students worked alongside shelter guests, and Family Promise’s employee Mark Zimmerman, and Director Elizabeth Heath. The group cleared out the Day Center’s basement, leveled the floor, and put the basement back togehter again. The newly cleaned and organized space will benefit families by allowing them to store their personal belongings as they work their way through homelessness. For those in our West Seattle Community who would like to know more about how to help families going through homelessness, visit the Family Promise website, or give us a call at 937-2703.
We’ve featured Family Promise here before, including this closer look in October 2008.
DELRIDGE SKATEPARK $: As discussed at last week’s citywide Skatepark Advisory Committee meeting (WSB coverage here), the City Council’s Parks Committee – now led by new Councilmember Sally Bagshaw – takes up a measure this morning that would finalize funding for the long-awaited project. 9:30 am at City Hall downtown; committee members had suggested an in-person show of support might be helpful, but if you can’t be there, it’ll be live via Seattle Channel — online here or cable Channel 21.
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: If you live in the Alki/Beach Drive area, join your official community group tonight at its new meeting location, Alki UCC (map). Agenda items include a special presentation on Alki Point Lighthouse history and an opportunity to meet the ACC’s new webmaster/Alki News Beacon editor, Glynnis Vaughan. (The newsletter’s info-packed new edition is online here (PDF) and on its way to ACC members’ mailboxes.) Meeting starts 7 pm.
OPEN HOUSE (AND MORE) @ CHIEF SEALTH: Tonight’s event at Chief Sealth High School for prospective students and their families has a packed agenda – it will include an update on the Sealth renovations that are to be complete in time for the school to move back to its permanent location this summer, for reopening this fall, plus student cultural performances, and more (detailed here). 6 pm, Sealth at Boren (map). The full list of citywide Seattle Public Schools open houses is here.
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL WINTER CONCERT: 8 pm, WSHS Theater, admission free (donations accepted and appreciated, as the school’s Daily Bulletin notes).
More on the WSB West Seattle Events page.
THE KENNEY: From last night’s Morgan Community Association meeting (full report to come) – A West Seattle consultant working on the retirement center’s redevelopment project says they’re working toward having its next Design Review meeting in early March (no date formally set yet). The latest comment period for the proposal is open until Feb. 3; the consultant says the project team is looking at all the comments as they come in – “We just went (downtown) and picked up another batch (Wednesday), 16 more.” He says traffic and parking concerns are generating the most comments right now.
ADMIRAL SAFEWAY: The lone West Seattle item on today’s Land Use Information Bulletin from the city finalizes the Design Review meeting date first noted here a week ago – 6:30 pm February 11, Youngstown Arts Center. Here’s the official notice.
Story, video and photos by Randall G. Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Brianne Goulet and Anna Hobby combined for 39 of the Wildcats’ 51 points to lead their team to victory over the rival Chief Sealth Seahawks, earning West Seattle (1-7, 3-10) their first Metro Conference victory of the season Wednesday night at West Seattle High School.
(Sealth’s Natalie Mackey guards Anna Hobby)
More highlights – with video – ahead:
Read More
“I wish we could have had a simpler transition,” Seattle School Board President Michael DeBell said, just before the board’s vote about half an hour ago on the transition plan assembled for the new Student Assignment Plan. (And as of this writing, the meeting – almost six hours long – isn’t over yet!) Read on for some of the major West Seattle (and elsewhere) effects – including program changes for several schools:Read More
From tonight’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center: The dates are set for two big Delridge events later this year — Delridge Day is scheduled for June 5th at Delridge Community Center (11 am-3 pm), Gathering of Neighbors is set for November 6th. Planning meetings are under way, first Wednesday each month at Youngstown – they’re talking Delridge Day at 4:30, GON at 5:30. Also at tonight’s DNDC meeting – Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association‘s strategic focus, a presentation about the upcoming U.S. Census, and more – ahead:Read More
Thanks to the texter who let us know about a sizable police response on the east side of The Junction – at the commercial building (check-cashing, car maintenance) at 40th/Alaska. Went over to check, at which time Ladder 11 joined the police, helping officers get up on the roof. Police told us multiple alarms had gone off in the building so they were searching – but hadn’t found anything/anyone yet. (We’ll check back.)
Notes tonight from several local schools:
SEATTLE SYMPHONY AT DENNY INTERNATIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL: Denny principal Jeff Clark shares the photo tonight with news that the symphony – fresh off its Friday night concert hosted by West Seattle Kiwanis – was there today: “Our partnership with the symphony is a part of the ACCESS project (Artistic and Cultural Community Engagement with Seattle Symphony). The orchestra program at Denny has grown substantially in recent years — today’s performance gave our students something to aspire to musically.”
LAFAYETTE ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUND PLANNING: From Janine Bostock:
The Lafayette PTA is in the planning stages for a renovation to our school’s Playground. We want to notify the community of several meetings and events that may be of interest. Our next community outreach and design meeting will be on Saturday, January 23rd, at 10 AM at the playground to meet with the architect. Anyone is welcome to attend. We will be discussing design expectations for the new toy and surrounding areas with the commissioned landscape architect. Several fundraising events will be announced specifically for the playground improvement project in the coming year. One will be a Ski and Sports Equipment swap in April. We will be selling all kinds of kid’s sports equipment including, soccer cleats, ballet slippers, jogging strollers, bikes and more. Items can be donated or sold for a small commission that will go towards funding the playground improvement project. Anyone can attend the swap or bring items to sell or donate. More details will be coming on that event soon. For more information or to get involved please contact Janine Bostock janine@avadesignbuild.com
HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES: We’ve already mentioned the Chief Sealth High School event coming up tomorrow night (details here) at 6; West Seattle High School principal Bruce Bivins shares their invite tonight:
Please come to West Seattle High School’s OPEN HOUSE, scheduled for February 11th from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm, to meet exceptional staff, to see quality student work, and to learn about college-ready programs and course offerings.
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS: West Seattle Montessori School (WSB sponsor) has a Parent Education Night tomorrow, 7 pm, with John Chattin-McNichols speaking on “Why Montessori?”; then it’s the first of two WSMS open houses on Saturday, 1-3 pm. … Cometa Playschool (also a WSB sponsor) has an open house Saturday too, 10 am-noon … Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School sends word of its open house, 9 am-1 pm January 31st.
We’ve been reporting on this for more than a year and a half, and now it’s about to intensify – day after tomorrow, a ramp and road closure kick in for the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project. The city’s sent out a reminder tonight as well as the detour map above – read on for the news release:Read More
Several notes we would have passed along sooner if not for the site trouble (again, sorry, seems to be fixed now):
*9:30 tonight, it’s Karaoke Joe’s fundraiser for Officer Jason McKissack (backstory here) during karaoke at Yen Wor in the Admiral District. This is one of two karaoke benefits in the works – West Seattle’s Willie Murderface hosts karaoke at Goldie’s in Georgetown and plans to collect donations this Saturday night, 9 pm, for the injured officer’s medical fund. (You can donate directly too – go here for the latest.)
*Another concert benefit for Haiti was announced today. West Seattle-based filmmaker Jamie Chamberlin put together Rock4Relief, January 28 at the Showbox SODO. Here’s the lineup he sent us:
Rock4Relief
HAITIAN benefit SHOW
The Fixers-
Seattle’s all star Humble Pie cover band.
http://www.myspace.com/fixers
Andrew McKeag- vox/guitar (Presidents of the United States of America)
Ron Heathman- guitar/vox (Supersuckers)
Kurt Bloch- bass/vox (The Fastbacks)
Scott Giampino- drums (Cash Money)Dusty 45’s-
THE DUSTY 45’S were originally formed in 1997. For over a decade, singer/songwriter Billy Joe Huels ande The Dusty 45’s have gained critical praise and delivered countless exciting live performances. Wrapping up the excitement with Billy’s infamous flaming trumpet, leaving the audience in awe and complete satisfaction. The Dusty 45’s which include some of Seattle’s top roots/rockabilly musicians, were voted Best of Seattle by Seattle Weekly readers 3 years in a row. Huels contines to branch out, most recently starring at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre as Buddy Holly.
www.dusty45s.com
www.myspace.com/billyjoeandthedusty45sThee Sgt. Major III
www.myspace.com/theesgtmajoriii
Featuring
Kurt Bloch from the Fastbacks
Mike Musburger from Love Battery and The PosiesBend-
www.myspace.com/bendisyourfriendVillains of Yesterday –
http://www.villainsofyesterday.com/band.aspxGunn and the Damage Done-
www.myspace.com/gunnandthedamagedone
The music of GUNN AND THE DAMAGE DONE encompass the true emotions of life. Gritty and honest. Not always smooth and pretty, but always pure.Leif Totusek
www.myspace.com/leiftotusekJanuary 28th 2010
SHOWBOX SODO LOUNGE
$15—21 over
Doors at 7 pm
More West Seattle help for Haiti can be found here.
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