West Seattle, Washington
20 Friday
Three major community meetings are ahead this week in West Seattle, all extending an invitation to you, two with speakers/guests bound to be of high interest:
TUESDAY – WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: After a summer hiatus, the grass-roots group that brings together law-enforcement leaders and community members each month will reconvene Tuesday night, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct meeting room (Delridge/Webster; map). Special guest this month: King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg (left). If you have questions about what happens to crime suspects once they’re arrested and why, this is the person you want to hear from – his office decides on what if any charges are filed, and how to prosecute the case.
WEDNESDAY – DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: Reps from key community groups and organizations in the eastern half of West Seattle will gather at Youngstown Arts Center (4408 Delridge; map), 7 pm.
THURSDAY – ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: When the ACC meets at Alki Community Center this Thursday at 7, they’re expected to hear from Tom Lin, owner of the historic Homestead Restaurant, closed since a fire eight months ago. Because of the building’s landmark status, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society has expressed concern about its future post-fire, and brought up the situation at the Sept. 2 Southwest District Council meeting. After ACC rep Tony Fragada told the SWDC that Tom Lin would be briefing the Alki group this week, they tabled the topic to wait and see what’s planned for the property and how best to offer help. The public is welcome at the meeting too, though you have to be an ACC member to vote on anything (membership information is here).
What else is up this week? Check the WSB West Seattle-wide Events calendar page any time.
They’re the fastest vegetables in the West – today, anyway – the zucchini you’ll find converted into racing machines today at West Seattle Farmers’ Market (where we recorded that clip during this event two years ago). Starting at 10 this morning at the market (44th/Alaska), “kids of all ages” (as the announcement puts it) can make their racers out of produce and parts supplied for free. Shopping, too? Here’s today’s Ripe and Ready list.
Hit the Farmers’ Market early, then meander up California to PCC Natural Market (WSB sponsor) for the West Seattle store’s 20th birthday bash – free burgers, macaroni salad and birthday cake, cooking demonstrations, plus samples of other items (even chocolate), plus the ever-fun PCC Kid Picks van … the schedule’s here; party starts at 11 am, 2749 California (map).
That’s also when you can get an hour and a quarter of free yoga at SoundYoga (WSB sponsor), 5639 California SW (map). From there – to the beach! where Cones For Kids will get you Husky Deli ice cream 1-4 pm, presented by the Eternally Joyful Guild supporting Children’s Hospital. This year, you’ll find them by Picnic Shelter #1, west of the bathhouse.
Just as Cones For Kids wraps up, the neighbors of North Delridge will be firing up S’mores in the Park at Delridge Community Center/Playfield (4501 Delridge; map), 4-6 pm. Hot on the heels of the well-attended Ice Cream Social, they’re hoping to draw neighbors from all over the area to meet and share treats.
Then the night wraps up at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW; map), with nationally renowned singer/songwriter Susan Werner in concert at 7 pm – ticket info’s on the FC website.
These are just the highlights – see more on the West Seattle Weekend Lineup list – click here to hop directly to the Sunday section.
That’s the top of a flyer that law enforcers are about to start distributing around Delridge – asking for help from anyone who saw anything the night of a double shooting in May of last year, in which a woman and her 10-year-old son were hit by bullets fired from outside their home. Here’s the flyer – the back of which includes part of a WSB report about the crime. Washington State Patrol Detective Donovan Daly says they’re making one last sweep to make sure they’ve got as much evidence as possible, for the strongest case possible. It’s been eight months since an indictment was announced, as originally reported by KING5 (our followup includes a link to the indictment paperwork) – the suspect, DeVaughn “Buster” Dorsey, was accused of a variety of charges that also related to an alleged “chop shop” in West Seattle; the shooting was allegedly intended to intimidate a witness. According to the new flyer, any little thing you recall from the night of May 18, 2008, could be helpful:
ANY information relating to the events of that night, however insignificant they may seem: loud voices, people running, rumors you have heard on the street, suspicious cars, barking dogs are all important information to the Washington State Patrol.
This is the number to call if you have anything that might help in the case: 425.401.7743.
(WSB photo from August 17)
The second-to-last day of the Delridge Produce Cooperative‘s four-week “Mobile Market” pilot project ended early today because of the stormy weather – but you can check out the (free!) produce stand’s grand finale tomorrow (Monday), south lawn of Youngstown Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way, where we took the photo you see above; here’s a map), 3:30-7:30 pm. After that, DPC founder Galena White hopes you will help plan an event to celebrate the progress so far and talk about what happens next:
The ‘Mobile Market’ team would like to plan a party at which we will give out the results of the survey, share stories of our experiences at the booth and celebrate the connections we made, and talk about the next step in building our community’s food infrastructure. Everyone and anyone is invited to the party, including the volunteers, produce contributors, people who visited the booth, and anyone who wanted to visit but didn’t get the chance. We need help planning the party and we need volunteers to help make it happen.
We’d like for anyone who wants to help to join us in planning the party this Tuesday, September 8th at Pearls, from 6-8 pm. We’ll make plans for where the party should be held, what kind of refreshments we should have, and what the program will be like; and then we’ll all choose which tasks we want to accomplish. Planning the party should be almost as much fun as the party itself, so we hope that a lot of people come!
Pearls is at 4800 Delridge Way; here’s a map.
Toplines from Wednesday night’s meeting of the North Delridge Neighborhood Council, held at Olympia Pizza because the usual venue, Delridge Library, was (like all other Seattle city libraries this week) closed:
LEADERSHIP CHANGE: NDNC will elect officers this fall, and co-chair Mike Dady announced he’s not running again.
That’s Dady (left) with City Councilmember Tim Burgess during the tour he organized five months ago to call attention to problem properties and push for changes in how the city deals with (or doesn’t deal with) them. He was lauded for an outstanding job throughout his tenure. The group is also restructuring the leadership to two co-chairs and two co-secretaries. They discussed realigning their committee strategy as well, to have more small teams focused on more critical areas.
PAST EVENTS: Last Thursday’s ice-cream social was deemed a hit; next up, a S’mores in the Park party is planned for Delridge Community Center park, 4-6 pm September 13th. Nancy Folsom reported that 8 people helped with last Saturday’s Adopt-A-Street cleanup, gathering 12 bags of trash.
TENANT TROUBLE: Southwest Precinct-based assistant city attorney Beth Gappert briefed the group on some North Delridge properties with troublesome tenants. She reported some had moved out, as Community Police Team Officer Kevin McDaniel continues to work with everyone involved. Current concerns include noise problems, on which she said he is also working.
SKATEPARK SUPPORT: Co-chair Jay Mirro will sign a letter drafted by Nancy Folsom reiterating NDNC’s support for the future Delridge Skatepark (as reported here last month, its funding situation has changed again). They urged everyone to contact city councilmembers about it, and Folsom volunteered to go to any necessary city meetings to provide a personal presence on behalf of NDNC’s support.
North Delridge Neighborhood Council meets the first Wednesday of every month, 6:30 pm.
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: Reps from community councils/associations and other major organizations in what the city refers to as the Southwest District section of West Seattle (map left) will gather in the board room at South Seattle Community College, everyone welcome, 7 pm. City Councilmember Bruce Harrell (who chairs the committee overseeing utilities and technology) will be a guest, as will reps from Friends of the Seattle Public Library and Southwest Seattle Historical Society to talk about the fire-damaged Alki Homestead.
NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: Neighbors from all around North Delridge are welcome – note that because of this week’s library shutdown, NDNC will meet at Olympia Pizza (5605 Delridge; map), 6:30 tonight. Lots going on in the neighborhood (including plans for another get-together at mid-month, following up on the ice-cream social success).
FUNDRAISER FOR FIRE VICTIMS: 4-8 pm at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction (6451 California SW; map), you can bid on silent auction items to help out local musicians/artists affected by a July house fire near The Junction last month. More on the FL website.
Not West Seattle-specific but of potential interest here:
SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD: Last meeting before the new school year starts a week from today; agenda items include the new contract just approved by the teachers’ union. 6 pm, district HQ in SODO (2445 3rd S.; map)- here’s the agenda.
FINAL ELECTION RESULTS: The last few ballots are to be counted and the county will certify the August 18th vote today (watch for the final report here). The trends that took shape within the first week of ballot-counting haven’t changed – but now we’ll have the final numbers to read the tea leaves looking ahead to November 3rd.
Saturday afternoon, we showed you the young artists preparing the south wall of Super 24 (Delridge/Findlay) for a mural – now, here’s the finished artwork. Here’s what Philippia Goldsmith from DNDA added tonight in a comment on our Saturday afternoon update:
This project is part of a larger initiative to transform the local corner stores into destinations where local residents have an ‘option’ to purchase affordable, delicious, and healthy food for their families. We will be having more projects like this in the coming months. If you’d like to volunteer or contribute to this effort. Send me an e-mail: phillippiag@dnda.org
Now to Alki:
Abby Suplizio tipped us to the “Save the Tata’s” Breast Cancer 3Day fundraising car wash at Alki Auto Repair this morning/afternoon. The 3Day route skips West Seattle again this year (it went through here in 2007 – WSB pix here) but more than a few West Seattleites are participating; breast-cancer survivor Diana McCasey organized this fundraiser. (If you missed it, you can donate through her page at the 3Day site.) East from Alki, to Schmitz Park:
That’s about the closest Shauna Causey got to the crew filming the online series “Star Trek: Phoenix” again this weekend in Schmitz Park, which had limited public access as a result (Friday night preview here). Shauna reports:
Entering the park from Admiral (Way), there is a sign that says “no admittance” and explains the filming. We came from the Alki Elementary entrance so we did not see this, or any signs that the film crew was still there until we got to the stream and could clearly hear a generator running not too far away in the park. Walking down the trails, we came upon the filming and saw some alien costumes laying on the trail (black helmets covering the head) and looked over to see a man with moss, sticks and brush covering his entire body. The only thing showing was his face, otherwise he looked like a giant pile of moss. I snapped a photo from fairly far away and they wouldn’t let me take any photos closer up.
More about “Star Trek: Phoenix” – which bills itself as “a not-for-profit Internet series and the largest, all volunteer, consistent film production in the Pacific Northwest” – at stphoenix.com. Posted notices said the crew’s work was to be done by 10 pm tonight, so tomorrow Schmitz should be back to normal.
Followup to last night’s story on North Delridge neighbors mobilizing after reports of a woman being raped early Saturday in the Greg Davis Park area: We just talked with Lt. Von Levandowski of the Southwest Precinct. He says this is being investigated as a case of “acquaintance rape, which is still bad … but we don’t believe there is a predator out there.” He says the woman had gone to the area with the person who allegedly raped her; after she went to the nearby gas station/convenience store for help, she was taken to the hospital for the care and examination that is routine in reported rape cases. Lt. Levandowski says officers “processed the scene” and obtained evidence, and while no one has been arrested yet, he says they have “a lead on a suspect.”
We have received several notes about reports circulating in North Delridge that a woman was raped this morning in or near Greg Davis Park (26th/Brandon). We have not been able to get official police information on this yet – that is often challenging on weekends, unless we find out about an incident while it’s happening, and can go to the scene to talk directly with police. But the most recent note we received has specific information about neighbors mobilizing — so we want to make that public, while we continue to work on getting official information (hopefully tomorrow.) The first report we received today came from a woman who says she talked to officers who were investigating the incident this morning, saying they told her it was not a random attack. Another note says the victim got to a nearby gas station where help was called; the 911 log does show an aid call to the gas station/convenience store at 5235 Delridge at 7:25 am. Meantime, the most recent note we received, from a neighborhood activist who asked that we not use her name, says:
Already, plans for increasing safety in Delridge, and specifically, Cottage Grove, are brewing … a neighbor is organizing a self defense series for the women (and anyone else who wants to join) of the neighborhood and the Neighborhood Watch is on high alert and we are calling to report ANY and ALL suspicious behavior in Delridge! Group walks are being organized and the Neighborhood Council Meeting is this week and we will certainly discuss this incident and how to keep our neighbors safe.
The police told me by phone today that neighbors should ALWAYS REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR THAT WE SEE–let the police decide if it is worthy of police action. The more information we provide, the better they can do their job. If in doubt, call 911.
There will be many in attendance at the upcoming North Delridge Neighborhood Council Meeting this Wednesday, Sept. 2nd 630-8pm at Olympia Pizza 5605 Delridge Way SW. All Delridge neighbors are welcome! We will discuss safety and other topics.
Several of the notes we’ve received say the victim reportedly was able to give police a license number. Again, we hope to be able to get official information tomorrow.
Just happened onto this project along the south side of the Super 24 convenience store at Delridge/Findlay (map) – the mural mentioned during the Community Safety Coalition meeting Thursday night is being painted right now. First the young painters are putting up a coat of primer (as seen above) over the store’s pre-existing peach-colored paint; next, artist Jonathan will paint the mural, and Maria from Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association tells us the whole thing should be done by day’s end, so we’ll check back later to see the finished product! (Other beautification work on Delridge today – the North Delridge Neighborhood Council‘s quarterly Adopt-A-Street cleanup was this morning – we passed by some of the bright yellow bags of trash getting loaded up to be taken away.)
Info-packed meeting Thursday night for the South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition, one of West Seattle’s two crime-and-safety-focused groups (the other is the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council). From crime trends in the area (southeast West Seattle plus north White Center) — including a crime police are hoping more victims will report — to what can be done about problem properties, here are the highlights —Read More
Busy night around West Seattle – we made it to four events, and here are photos from one of them – the North Delridge Neighborhood Council‘s ice-cream social at Cottage Grove Park. Holli Margell provided the photo above – that’s Lisa Keith, who organized the event, painting Cooper Margell‘s face, while dad Casey Margell helps him hold still. Next, a photo we took – can’t have an ice-cream social without ice cream:
Lisa notes, “The weather was perfect for ice cream, angel food cake, peach crisp, and blackberries picked along Longfellow Creek. We welcomed neighbors who moved to Delridge just this summer, to the lovely Gerthrie, who has graced North Delridge for over 40 years. … It was lovely to have a chance to relax, talk, and enjoy each other’s company.” Now, another photo from Holli – the “bubble bucket” was a hit with the younger attendees:
And we couldn’t resist snapping the whiteboard with upcoming North Delridge Neighborhood Council events:
Note those are both in the week ahead: You can join the Adopt-A-Street cleanup on Saturday morning, and then Wednesday at 6:30, the NDNC monthly meeting is at Olympia Pizza (5605 Delridge; map) instead of the library, since it’s in the middle of furlough week.
CONCERT SERIES’ SWAN SONG: Call it a BIG finale for the first-ever Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, sponsored by businesses and organizations including WSB: The West Seattle Big Band plays tonight on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, 6:30 pm, free, b/y/o chair/blanket. Also tonight in the Admiral District:
GIRLS ON THE RUN! AT CLICK! Tonight, 6-9 pm at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), a shopping and sparkling-wine-tasting event celebrates Girls On The Run of Puget Sound, an afterschool empowerment program that’s expanding in West Seattle this fall. Click! will donate 10 percent of tonight’s purchases to GOTR; lots more info here.
NORTH DELRIDGE ICE CREAM SOCIAL: Ice cream! Games! Meet your neighbors! The North Delridge Neighborhood Council invites one and all to its ice-cream social, 6:30-8:30 pm, Cottage Grove Park (here’s the invite we published last weekend).
SOUTH DELRIDGE/WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY SAFETY COALITION: Talk about issues of crime, safety, and nuisance properties with this dedicated group, 6 pm, St. James Place, 9418 18th SW.
(future skatepark site at northeastern corner of Delridge Playfield/Community Center park)
A followup this afternoon to a story we brought you yesterday, with Pete Spalding reporting from the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee meeting that the funding situation for the planned Delridge Skatepark was changing. We checked in with City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the Parks Committee, and today he’s sent this update:
As the Chair of the City Council’s Parks and Seattle Center Committee, I am working to ensure that the City keeps its commitment to build the skateparks that are planned. When I saw yesterday’s article in the West Seattle Blog about the money for the Delridge Skatepark vanishing I immediately contacted the Superintendent’s Office to find out what is going on.
There has been confusion about the funding source for the project, but based upon assurances from the Parks Superintendent, I am confident that the solution the Parks Department and Levy Oversight Committee have settled on is a workable one. I will keep a close eye on this during the City Council’s yearly budget review and will make sure we have the skatepark built as planned.
I want to thank Pete Spalding for his work on the Parks Levy Oversight Committee and your readers and the Delridge neighborhood residents for their tireless support of this project. In other areas of the city we have had trouble finding sites for skateparks. Delridge has been very supportive and welcoming. Together we can make this happen!
I am committed to the project 110%. I agree with the suggestion of some of the writers that it would be good to contact the other eight City Councilmembers to ask them to support the Delridge Skatepark. It is important that the Council hear from the community now and during our budget review which will begin at the end of September.
Thank you,
Tom Rasmussen
Seattle City Councilmember
Here again is the contact information for City Councilmembers
Many West Seattle neighborhood/community groups skip August meetings because it’s such a busy time for vacations, back-to-school prep, you name it, but now they’re about to rev up again. Here’s some of what’s coming up:
HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE: Tomorrow night, 7 pm, HPAC meets at the Highland Park Improvement Club building (address/map – Google Street View above). On the agenda, from the preview sent out by HPAC chair Dan Mullins today, “a presentation from a local youth group that has been cleaning up Westcrest Park and the greenbelt, AND, former HPAC Chair and Seattle City Council candidate, Dorsol Plants will tell us about his election campaign experience and answer your questions …” This is also the only regular neighborhood-group meeting with a business spotlight (Cafe Rozella this month) AND a raffle.
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: This Thursday is the grand finale in its first-ever series of six Summer Concerts at Hiawatha – and they’re meant to be a neighborhood-building opportunity as well as good old-fashioned outdoor fun. Come enjoy the West Seattle Big Band, free, at 6:30 pm Thursday, east lawn of Hiawatha Community Center, meet the ANA reps who’ll be on hand (and then join them at the regular September meeting, 7 pm 9/9 in the basement meeting room at Admiral Church).
NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: Next regular meeting is Wednesday 9/2 (6:30 pm, Delridge Library) but we’re reminding you again about the Ice Cream Social THIS Thursday, all neighbors invited, with games as well as treats (here’s the invite). 6:30 pm Thursday, Cottage Grove Park (address/map).
SOUTH DELRIDGE/WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY SAFETY COALITION: Crime and safety news for southeastern West Seattle and beyond, St. James Place, 9421 18th SW (map), 6 pm Thursday (free dinner).
Looking a couple weeks into the future, this meeting was just announced today:
HIGH POINT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION’S QUARTERLY MEETING: 6 pm September 10th, Commons Park Amphitheater. Topic, according to Jennifer Cobb – how to be a good neighbor(hood), by getting involved, pitching in, etc. Refreshments! RSVP via Facebook.
Funding for the future Delridge Skatepark has taken as many twists and turns as a virtuoso performance by one of the talented skaters who will use it someday. First it was going to be in this year’s city budget – then that changed at the last minute. Then, half a million dollars was found after bids on other work – including Hiawatha Playfield renovations – came in much lower than planned, and another $250,000 was moved from what once was to be a “skate spot” at the future Myrtle Reservoir park (which is currently behind schedule for non-Parks reasons). Now, we have news from last night’s Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee meeting that the funding situation has taken another turn: Committee member (and Pigeon Point resident) Pete Spalding tells WSB:
The monies that the Parks Department had originally earmarked for this project vanished last month. This was once again attributed to the ongoing financial issues the City of Seattle is facing. The folks at Parks are committed to trying to make sure that the Delridge skatepark gets built. At last night’s Parks & Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee meeting a proposal was brought forward to use 500k in surplus Opportunity Fund dollars from the Pro Parks levy to fund this portion of the Delridge skatepark. There was lots of discussion of the pros and cons of making this transfer but eventually a motion was made and after more discussion the motion did pass. Now this has to be turned in to legislation that will go to the City Council for approval later this year. The folks in our community that support this project need to send e-mails, write letters and/or make telephone calls to all 9 of our City Council members encouraging them to support this legislation when it comes before them for a vote.
(Pro Parks is the levy that preceded Parks and Green Spaces.) We have messages out to other city sources to get more details on this situation, and will add that information as we get it. Meantime, here’s the contact information for City Councilmembers – West Seattle-residing Tom Rasmussen chairs the Parks Committee but since all members are elected “at large,” no one represents this area in particular, and it’s vital to express your opinion to all of them. 1:52 PM UPDATE: A bit more information: According to Parks spokesperson Dewey Potter, the $500,000 “vanished” because the city Finance Department said no to moving it to the Delridge Skatepark budget. (We’re still looking for the reason WHY the Finance Department said no; meantime, note that this was NOT money that the Levy Committee had a say over, in the first place – it didn’t come from the levy; it came from other projects, including Hiawatha, that came in with under-budget bids. Potter says last night’s committee vote to use remaining Pro Parks Opportunity Fund money “makes the budget whole” and faces the following Council action: “This money will be included in the 4th quarter supplemental budget legislation and adopted with the budget in November.” Meantime, the council Parks Committee will vote next month on the $250,000 move – so if you’re contacting councilmembers with an opinion, you’ll want to let them know what you think about that too, since it’s not a done deal yet.
The idea for this event hatched on the North Delridge Neighborhood Council e-mail list this past week – and they’re ready to trumpet the news:
ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Thursday, August 27th, 6:30-8:30 p.m.Cottage Grove Park
( 5206-26th Ave. SW , 2 blocks west of Delridge Way , between Brandon and Puget) [map]Come have fun, meet your neighbors, play your favorite lawn games, and enjoy a sweet treat.
Bring your own bowl and a favorite game (Frisbee, horseshoes, bocce, croquet, badminton, etc.).
All are welcome–we look forward to seeing you there!
The North Delridge Community Council meets the 1st Wednesday of every month, 6:30-7:45 pm, at the Delridge Library to engage in local issues, build community, and much more.
Contact us at northdelridge@gmail.com
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Not only will fruit and vegetables abound at today’s market (10 am-2 pm, 44th/Alaska, map) — here’s the Ripe ‘n’ Ready lineup — but fresh fish is in the spotlight too — Loki says via Twitter that it’s selling its last fresh Alaskan salmon of the season.
DELRIDGE PRODUCE CO-OP MOBILE MARKET: Third day of its second 4-day week, which means you’ll find them today next to Cottage Grove Park (map/address), 11 am-3 pm. The photo at left is from Saturday’s session, with rainbow carrots among the offerings again. If you’ve missed our earlier reports, this is a four-week experiment to see if Delridge can support an enterprise that would offer fresh, healthy food, explained here, and while it’s in the experimental stage, the produce is free (just fill out a quick survey!).
BENEFIT FOR NURSES’ TRIP TO SENEGAL: Tonight’s your chance to support nurses Syd and Susie‘s trip to provide health care in Africa (previewed here) by donating supplies and/or money – and the place to do it is The Bohemian, starting at 5:30 pm.
More in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
We received a text and this photo a short time ago (thank you!) about another bicycle accident at almost exactly the same spot on Delridge, south of Holden (map). This one apparently involved only the bicyclist, according to Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen (whom we called because there were no police at the scene, and the fire truck left as we were arriving, barely 15 minutes after the 911 dispatch). We saw the victim taken off in a private ambulance, also as we were arriving, which usually means not-major injuries, and the road is clear now, so this seems to have been fairly minor, but we’re mentioning it because what happened two mornings ago (which police still have not solved, according to our check with them late yesterday) is still fresh. By the way, we heard back last night from Amy, a friend of the bicyclist hurt on Tuesday, and she says her friend is “still (in) icu and she’s very broken to say the least, she had to have surgery this morning and will have to have a few more. She is still here though thankfully. but mostly right now she and her husband and extended family just need a whole bunch of prayers.”
We first told you last year about the Art Lending Library at Youngstown Arts Center – and we just got word they’re planning to open it again this Friday, for “all who may have heard about the Art Lending Library and … those who have already joined up.” Be there between 6-9 pm this Friday night, south classroom at Youngstown (which is at 4408 Delridge Way – here’s a map). If you missed earlier reports or didn’t get around to investigating, here’s how they explain the ALL:
Mission: The Art Lending Library is a system of lending and borrowing artwork to the public for free. It is a trust-based program where artists provide artwork to be checked out by any member of the public, and patrons allow artwork and artists into their homes; all in the spirit of sharing.
The ballot dropoff box outside White Center Library (11220 16th SW; map) and its counterpart at North Delridge Neighborhood Service Center (5405 Delridge; map) are the two closest places to take your ballot up until 8 pm tonight (or get it in the mail, but be sure it’s postmarked today). County Council District 8, which includes West Seattle, is still the district with the highest percentage of returned ballots – but 80 percent are STILL out there, so that’s a whole lot of voting yet to happen. We’ll bring you election results once the vote-counting begins.
Also today/tonight:
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN: 4:30-7 pm, 32nd/Juneau (map), see what’s fresh from the mini-farm right by the stand.
END-OF-SUMMER CELEBRATION AND FAMILY GAME NIGHT: Delridge Library is throwing a party because readers of all ages “nearly tripled the Delridge Branch summer reading goal of 2,350 books!” Drop in any time between 6 and 8 pm (5423 Delridge; map).
“INTRO TO (BIKE) COMMUTING”: That’s the latest Bike Smart Seattle presentation in West Seattle, 6:30 tonight at Southwest Community Center (2801 SW Thistle; map).
Till 7:30 tonight, you’ll find the Delridge Produce Cooperative “Mobile Market” – free produce as part of a four-week test – on the lawn south of Youngstown Arts Center (4408 Delridge; map) – that’s where we took the photo a bit earlier. The project’s been getting lots of buzz and an increasing number of visits – even a line when they opened this afternoon! Here’s an update DPC sent before starting up for the day:
Today we have peaches from an organic farm in California, courtesy of Madison Market, and multi-colors of carrots from Full Circle Farm. We expect to get at least fifty visitors today, which is what we’re aiming for. We still need volunteers to fill up the schedules for the next three weeks, and we’re on the lookout for local organic farmers who would like to donate.
We have gotten a lot of calls and personal referrals from people who want the produce from the ‘Mobile Market’ to supplement thier limited food budgets, so we are definitely confirming our suspicions that there is a real need for inexpensive fresh food on Delridge. If things keep going the way they are, we can prove that not only is there a need for produce on Delridge, but also that people can show up at certain locations and times to get it – and that they want it that badly. This demonstrates that a *real* mobile market (in particular) is likely to succeed in Delridge. We’ve also gotten calls from other places than Delridge, asking if you have to show identification that says you’re a Delridge resident to get free produce. I think that this illustrates that if we had the kind of produce co-op that we want, it would bring business into Delridge from other parts of Seattle and therefore be more likely to succeed. There is not a lot of inexpensive organic produce in Seattle in general, so we may become a magnet for those who desire it.
Next week, the tote bags will be ready, and we will have the mulit-language information pamphlets about free and low-cost healthy programs. The tote bags are beautiful, sturdy, washable green polyester that packs down into a key fob the size, shape and color of a big strawberry. They are being silk-screened by local company Heart On My Sleeve with an inspirational logo that was created by a local artist for our ‘Tote Bag Art Contest’ a few months ago. I believe that she found out about the contest by reading about it on the West Seattle Blog.
You’ll remember Heart On My Sleeve – they’re the fashion/art/music team based in Pigeon Point, profiled here earlier this year. Meantime, if you don’t make it to the “Mobile Market” at Youngstown by 7:30 tonight, they’ll repeat the same sequence of four locations next Friday through Monday – all listed here.
ADDED 7:20 PM: Thanks to Dina Johnson for this photo of the multiple colors of carrots available at the stand today:
TRAFFIC ALERT: The southbound 1st Avenue South lane closures announced (then revised) by SDOT last week start today; details here.
DELRIDGE PRODUCE CO-OP “MOBILE MARKET,” DAY 4: Today’s the finale for the first of four 4-day, 4-stop weeks in the Mobile Market trial period — 3:30-7 pm at Youngstown Arts Center (4408 Delridge; map), 3:30-7:30 pm. Go get free fruits/vegetables and help shape the future of fresh food in Delridge. (Here’s our Friday story; here’s seattletimes.com coverage today.)
SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE BARBECUE/POTLUCK: Bring something to share and/or grill, and join SWS in celebrating summer at the shelter behind Camp Long Lodge (5200 35th SW; map), 7 pm.
COMMUNITY KAYAK TOUR ON THE DUWAMISH: Should be a beautiful night on the river. The semiweekly tours only have a few more sessions before summer’s end – to see if there’s room tonight (leaving from South Park at 6 pm), go here for RSVP info.
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