West Seattle, Washington
16 Monday
It’s the size of a greeting card … full of writing and art, 36 pages worth: A new zine, born into the literary world, resolutely on paper instead of in pixels. Jonathan VeraKat, who presided tonight at the Twilight Artist Collective party in The Junction launching his zine, says each issue will focus on a single topic. The first one — “ghetto,” including answers to the question “Is there a ghetto in Seattle, and if so, where?” (seven answers – 4 no, 3 variations on yes). Jonathan explained to us how the topic was arrived at, as well as – why a zine?
If you want to get a copy, or have a question or idea for Jonathan (who’s based on Capitol Hill), the first edition of XVIII ends with his e-mail address: JVKXVIII@gmail.com
At Madison Middle School in West Seattle, the stage is literally set tonight for a show tomorrow morning that will rock the cafeteria/auditorium space and the hundreds of students who will fill it. That’s where we caught up this afternoon with Dr. Bernard Harris (bio), a former astronaut who made history during one of his two space flights as the first African-American to walk in space. (What you see on stage to the right in the photo is one of two shuttle seats that also have been in space, and now are used as props during his presentation.) Madison is the first stop on this year’s DREAM Tour, meant to get students jazzed about math and science, and in no small part their practical applications – even to the level of discussing how those lines of work can become lucrative.
Based in Houston, Dr. Harris himself is an internist as well as a former astronaut, and now runs a venture-capital firm, Vesalius Ventures (named after legendary anatomist Andreas Vesalius) focused on telemedicine, as well as the Harris Foundation, to focus on the cause of advancing math-science education. Tomorrow morning’s presentation will include not just a speech by Dr. Harris but videos, with young scientists telling their stories, and even an audio/video surround-sound experience of a shuttle launch. He hopes the kids will leave “fired up” – and when they take their enthusiasm home, or to their friends’ houses, here’s what he hopes will happen:
But first, he says, it’s a matter of making it relevant: “I always ask them, do you enjoy cell phones, rap music, video games? They all exist because scientists or engineers developed the technology. We try to bring it down to earth, relate it to real life.” And the message: “If you want to have a career where you can take care of yourself and your family — math and science can be the key.” Expanding that realization is an urgent job, he adds, given how far behind our country is in producing new workers to join fields (medicine, engineering, and more) where those skills are vital.
He is doing everything he can to help make that happen, involved in an effort that provides scholarships, as well as in other core efforts from his Harris Foundation, such as Summer Science Camps. He revealed in our chat this afternoon that they’ll be announcing next Monday that they’re expanding to 30 locations nationwide this year. (The closest one is at Oregon State University.) But first, he was speaking at an education-themed event in downtown Seattle tonight; after he appears at Madison tomorrow, it’s on to Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis later this year – and students interested in staying involved with the project, he says, will find new features on its website soon.
ORIGINAL 10:59 PM REPORT: Via Twitter and Facebook, we’ve been watching word of snow heading this way … now there’s first word of a West Seattle snow sighting; on FB, Dartanyon reports flurries in the Delridge area. 11:48 PM UPDATE: And we’re seeing a notable snow shower in Upper Fauntleroy. 12:13 AM UPDATE: Added a brief video clip from the height of that snow/ice shower – the sound is even more interesting than the video – the grains (?) were icy enough to make noise as they hit the ground, the car, the plants … what you see silhouetted against the light and the snow, by the way, is a honeysuckle that had started sprouting its first leaves of the year. Oops. 1:21 AM UPDATE: Still quiet. We’ll be on live weather watch for the commute just in case of road ice, more snow, etc.; meantime, here’s the latest forecast, and also, if you’re looking for overnight reading, West Seattle poet Carol Smith sent some verse reminiscing not-so-fondly about that last snowy blast:Read More
Meet “paczkis” (pronounced “POONCH-keys”). They’re a Polish donut, traditional on Fat Tuesday as Polish Catholic homes’ kitchens were cleaned out of all the bad gluttonous stuff you’re not supposed to have around for Lent. They’re also on sale at Metropolitan Market – and a big crazy event was staged late this morning at the Admiral store to start a new Fat Tuesday tradition. It was supposed to be a paczki-carrying race around the store, and eating contest, but the morning rain forced a change in plan – eating contest only. Competitors came from all around the locally based Metropolitan Market chain; when they were done stuffing their faces, there was a tie, so there had to be an “eat-off” featuring the coaches who’d been cheering the original paczki-eaters on – here’s the entire one and a half minute “eat-off” (the guys in referee shirts, by the way, are Metro Market top brass):
(video no longer available due to blip.tv shutdown)
The winners: The team from Queen Anne’s Metropolitan Market. Admiral’s home team came in second (led by Preston, whose campaign-style sign you can see in this photo):
P.S. If you’re looking for other signs of Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras spirit, Talani at Stor-More (WSB sponsor) on Yancy east of Avalon sends word via Facebook that you can stop by for free beads (and candy!).
If you don’t believe your body has much to do with the way you communicate, check out that video clip to see the way Valerie Waugaman (right) – “Siren” from TV’s “American Gladiators” and a motivational entrepreneur – explained it this afternoon at West Seattle’s Anytime Fitness (WSB sponsor) in Charlestown Center. She offered those in attendance some entertaining, and practical, advice you can put into action almost instantly, even if your quest for fitness isn’t very far along.
Now, to our second set of West Seattle scenes:
It’s of course easier to move well if you’re well-nourished:
Those hors d’oeuvres — Mediterranean Skewers of Cucumber, Tomato, Feta, and Kalamata Olives — were among the culinary creations dished up at the Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering open house this past Thursday night at The Hall at Fauntleroy, in the old schoolhouse, which is also home base to the T and TS team, including executive chef Michael Chase:
Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes has been in business more than 20 years. They cater events not only at The Hall at Fauntleroy, but also other venues (including these).
And one more West Seattle scene:
Thanks to Jim Clark for sharing that beautiful conclusion to a sunny Saturday.
We told you recently about West Seattle’s CoolMom.org group assembling and sending letters to First Lady Michelle Obama, expressing their concerns about, and hopes for, the future of our planet. This morning, members of the group got together to show us the finished product, 50 letters which they are binding into a book and are getting ready to send. (Left to right – on slide Sydney, then mom Terri Glaberson, center Deborah Kapoor w/ son Asim in front of her – CoolMom.org director and co-founder Kirsten McCaa – Laura Elfline with Sydney and Vivian, then Abby Suplizio with Gabe & Soleil.) Here’s Gabe, explaining what he wrote:
The book will be on its way to the White House shortly.
That’s a look inside the new activity center at West Seattle Christian Church, dedicated a week ago and celebrated with an open house that drew visitors even during the Super Bowl (that’s when we dropped by). It’ll be the home of the West Seattle Movies on the Wall Winter Series (3/4, 3/11, 3/18; movies listed here) and it’s available for rentals for community events – you can call the church at 206-932-2098 and ask for Kelly to find out more. Meantime, there’s an open house at West Seattle Christian today, too – this time, for its preschool, 1-3 pm; if you can’t make it to the open house, the preschool has registration packets available to be picked up at the office (4400 42nd Ave SW; here’s a map) or by requesting one: preschool@westseattlechristian.org.
Thanks to Alki Elementary for letting WSB share this afternoon’s Black History Month assembly, starring Pastor Pat Wright and members of Seattle’s world-famous Total Experience Gospel Choir. (They’re practically a West Seattle institution, since, as noted in our Kenyon Hall article two weeks ago, they rehearse at KH every week.) With Alki students watching, enrapt, from the floor — sometimes singing and clapping, too — the singers filled the cafeteria with joyful tunes, and then a surprise in the middle of “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand” — as choir members did exactly that, fanning out through the crowd:
Find out more about the Total Experience Gospel Choir (members “10 to 65 years old,” as mentioned today) at its website.
That’s Sandy Polzin, the West Seattle High School nurse. She’s so busy, she didn’t break away to join in an event down the hall at the library during which she was mentioned with high praise more than a few times: A celebration of school-based health centers, as the program marks its 20th anniversary. She got props from event participants including student/athlete Caleb Fisher, who talked about what the WSHS center means to him (and also paid tribute to the school counselor):
Other speakers included Mayor Nickels, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson, and WSHS principal Bruce Bivins, who’s the first person you see in this quick pan of the speakers posing for cameras afterward:
The program is mostly funded by the Families and Education Levy, first passed by voters in 1990, then renewed in 1997 and 2004. It pays most of the cost of the health centers in 14 Seattle middle and high schools, including, in West Seattle, Madison and Denny Middle Schools as well as WSHS and Chief Sealth.
That’s Madison Middle School student Bazel Rivera, who’ll be in the Admiral Theater spotlight this Saturday night as a student of a different school – the Paul Green School of Rock Music. They’re presenting a salute to The Monkees – the TV rockers whose heyday was so long ago, some of the 8-to-18-year-olds heard about it from their grandparents. Or via a recent resurgence, as Bazel explains in a quick interview clip you’ll see ahead:Read More
The Times writes this morning about that wind-power invention by West Seattleite Chad Maglaque; he entered it in Google’s Project 10 to the 100th, which will publish word tomorrow of the 100 finalists (from among 100,000+ entries) who made it to a public vote. 1:55 PM UPDATE: Thanks for the tip from Todd – Google has just announced it’s delaying the announcement of the 100 finalists till March; read the announcement here.
On West Seattle’s Puget Ridge, South Seattle Community College‘s own celebrated wines were at centerstage, along with offerings from other famous Washington wineries, during the fundraising food-and-wine gala “Gifts From the Earth” on Saturday night. We dropped by to survey the scene at SSCC’s Brockey Center in the early going — including the team ready to show off the college’s famed culinary program too:
For all who attended, beautifully laid-out tables awaited:
“Gifts from the Earth” is an annual fundraiser for the SSCC Foundation. Meantime — earlier tonight, we mentioned West 5‘s first-ever movie screening. Before the lights went down, we stopped in (good-sized crowd!) to ask moviemaker Jamie Burton Chamberlin about the venue where “Gearhead” screened tonight:
He’s working to get “Gearhead” distributed and is also in postproduction on “Double Down Live” (working title).
A little past midway through Saturday night’s 4th birthday bash for Twilight Artist Collective – held in the West Seattle Junction spot (west of Easy Street) that they took over in late ’07 – they were serenaded with the traditional birthday tune, in a not-so-traditional way. Haven’t met Erin, Mary, and Cheryl yet? Info’s here, for their original Pike Place Market location as well as their Junction space. (They have a separate blog-format website, too.)
A post in the WSB Forums asked what TV-news trucks were doing outside Salty’s tonight; as listed on the West Seattle Weekend Lineup and Events calendar, friends and family of Amanda Knox – the former Arbor Heights resident now on trial in Italy in a much-discussed murder case – were holding another fundraiser for her defense costs. The report above, from our ex-employer at Channel 13, is the first one we’ve found online. (Another fundraiser was held in November at Holy Rosary.) ADDED SUNDAY AFTERNOON: KING’s clip isn’t embeddable but here’s a direct link.
Thanks to Paul Dieter for sharing that video of The Center School‘s Poetry Slam performance/competition on Thursday night. We learned more about TCS during the Seattle Public Schools closure process that’s heading for a vote next Thursday; TCS changes are NOT part of the plan any more but when they were, we learned that the unique Seattle Center-based school has more than a few West Seattle teens in attendance, including one who performed in the Thursday night event, as Paul explains:
The Center School presented A Night Of Poetry and Theater For Social Change at the Seattle Repertory Theater. The standing-room-only audience was treated to these talented high-school students exercising the power they are finding in words, performance and personal poise confidence. The evening began with 18 students reading their own poems and finished with a competitive poetry slam that included West Seattle’s own Daniel Willoughby. There was also a brief performance by the school’s Theater For Social Change class that gave us a view on some of the issues facing these young adults.
Another poetry note with a West Seattle hook: South Seattle Community College writing instructor Mike Hickey (photo left), elected last November as the city’s newest Poet Populist, will be officially “installed” as the PP Sunday afternoon. He’ll read, of course, at the 2 pm event at the city’s central library branch downtown (map), which features other special guests. Read more about the (free!) event here; hear Mike read in this WSB report on a pre-election event last October at Youngstown Arts Center.
That’s the trailer from “Arctic Tale,” the movie that’ll be featured April 17th in the second CoolMom.org Family Movie Night at Camp Long; the first one, held tonight, was a roaring success. Why mention the next one so early, you ask? The answer ahead – plus a campaign that CoolMom is involved with now, to get a message to the new Mom in the White HouseRead More
Thanks to MarkB for that video from tonight’s West Seattle High School winter concert – where students played the drums donated to them as a surprise gift last spring by the WSHS Foundation (as reported here). Many other student musicians performed tonight – MarkB also e-mailed this photo to share:
He even sent along the concert program.
Jason Gruenwald (assisted by son Idaya) was one of the speakers advocating for West Seattle’s Cooper Elementary School during tonight’s final public hearing on proposed Seattle Public Schools closures, to be voted on by board members one week from tonight. (Clip added 11:04 pm) Said Shekuna spoke on behalf of the Somali immigrants whose children attend Cooper, saying the school is providing them some of what they could not get in that country, so why would the district want to take that away?
Note the signs displayed as he spoke, declaring Cooper (for its academic success) should be a “model, not a target.” Also speaking tonight, Cooper teacher Ruth Solnit, describing Cooper as “a school on an upswing”:
(Clip added 12:37 am) Cooper parent Steve Ball said the school would be fuller if its “reference area” were redrawn – especially given the growth in High Point and along Delridge:
And the board heard from Cooper parent Brittany Abbott (who spoke at the board’s regular meeting the night before, too):
Though there was talk of lawsuits and “no” votes at re-election time, overall, tonight, there were no headlines and no announcements, just a last chance for people to have their say about schools all over the city facing closures and changes. If board members want to propose changes to the current plan (linked from the SPS “Capacity Management” page), president Michael DeBell told them last night that those changes should be submitted to Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson by noon next Tuesday; the vote is scheduled for a special board meeting next Thursday night. West Seattle’s board rep Steve Sundquist told concerned parents at his monthly coffee gathering yesterday morning (WSB coverage here) that he won’t make up his mind till next week; if you would like to speak with him about the closure plan (or any other education concern), he is having another informal gathering this Saturday, 1 pm, at the Delridge Library. All seven board members’ e-mail addresses are here.
Fauntleroy resident Brian Bershad was one of 31 people who gave Washington State Ferries an earful last night during the final stop on WSF’s tour to gather public comment before taking its Draft Long-Range Plan to state legislators.
As we have been reporting over the past few months, the Fauntleroy Community Association has led the charge of concern over WSF’s decision to dump the concept of running Southworth ferries to downtown, which was previously under consideration since so much of the drive-off traffic arriving at Fauntleroy is headed that way anyway. Total turnout for tonight was about 125, and half of the 31 speakers asked WSF to reopen the idea of having a Southworth/(Downtown) Seattle run. Without it, the ferry system is now looking at expanding the dock and adding overhead passenger walkways. Fauntleroy Creek volunteer overseer Judy Pickens said dock expansion could harm the creek’s fragile salmon runs; pollution was one of the concerns voiced by others, along with potential Cove Park encroachment, view loss, noise, increased traffic, and transit-coordination challenges. Also expressing concern : A city representative, SDOT’s Ann Sutphin:
WSF reps had one notable announcement before night’s end: They’ve extended the time for public comments on the draft long-range plan by a few extra days; instead of ending tomorrow, it’ll end Monday. Read the full plan here; it contains two basic options – Plan A is similar to the current level of service; Plan B would include cuts, such as reducing Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth to two boats. Both would be sailing in a sea of red; WSF says A has a $3.5 billion shortfall over the next couple decades, while B is just under half that. To e-mail your comments: wsfplanning@wsdot.wa.gov
That’s one of the ways Inauguration Night wrapped up in West Seattle – with revelers dancing to the sound of the West Seattle Big Band at the WS Democratic Women-presented Inaugural Gala at The Hall at Fauntleroy. West Seattleites in DC are reliving their memories – that includes Stephanie and Hans, who are sharing their take on The Big Day, along with photos:
Read on:Read More
Thanks to Mark Ahlness for sharing that photo of his Arbor Heights Elementary third-grade class, “spontaneously ris(ing) for the moment. Some raise their hands with their new president, some hold their hands over their hearts.” Hours later, media crews were invited to two other West Seattle elementary schools where students were expecting phone calls from Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson, to talk about her experiences in D.C. at The Big Event. We were at both – first, our video from Clarissa Resendez‘s 5th-grade classroom at Highland Park Elementary:
HP principal Ann Gray was on hand for the event too. Minutes after the HP call ended, Dr. Goodloe-Johnson was on the line in Room 18 at Gatewood Elementary, where Jeffrey Case‘s 4th- and 5th-graders had gathered – this video allows you to listen in on their first four minutes of listening, and talking, to the superintendent:
That’s Gatewood principal Rhonda Claytor at right in this next photo, looking on proudly during the interaction:
Dr. Goodloe-Johnson made both phone calls from the offices of the Council of Great City Schools in D.C.; the council is a coalition of more than 60 big-city school districts from around the U.S. Both classes chosen for today’s chats have been working on relevant study units — Ms. Resendez’s Highland Park students have been “studying the role of the President of the United States,” according to info provided by the district communications team, and Mr. Case’s Gatewood students have been “studying … U.S. history and the civil-rights movement.”
All WSB coverage of the 2009 Inauguration — including pre-inauguration reports from West Seattleites in D.C. — is archived here, newest to oldest.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
That “unity wreath” — cutouts of hundreds of handprints — is one of the ways students at West Seattle’s Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School paid tribute this afternoon to Dr. King, one day after his official holiday, on the day a dream came true in D.C. The entire OLG student body, preschool through 8th grade, gathered in the church sanctuary at 35th/Myrtle (map) to read, sing, and pray, and the spirit of their words and music, on this historic day, could not help but move even the most hard-hearted onlooker. Third-graders read short tributes to people in their lives who they believe exemplified some of Dr. King’s values; one student honored her mom — “In my family, she is the peacekeeper”; another, his big brother — “He stands up for me”; and another student, President Obama, saying he and Dr. King “both want peace.” After reinforcing that by praying a Litany of Peace, students went out to the campus’s north grounds to release dozens of doves:
OLG school staff told us the doves are more like homing pigeons — after releases like this, they fly back to their keeper’s home. Side note: The school has an open house this Sunday – 9:30 am-1 pm.
(Will be updated with more photos/video from West Seattleites, as we get them)
Click the player to watch MSNBC ongoing Inauguration Day coverage live right now. (The Inauguration page also has a Hulu player where FOX coverage is streaming. To watch the live Twitter feed, go here.)
To see the new look of the official WhiteHouse.gov presidential website, go here. Here’s a notable excerpt from the first entry on its “blog”:
One significant addition to WhiteHouse.gov reflects a campaign promise from the President: we will publish all non-emergency legislation to the website for five days, and allow the public to review and comment before the President signs it.
We’ll add local photos/video of inauguration-watching moments as we get them. Here’s the Chelan Cafe, from Bob Loblaw:
Here’s the swearing-in, as watched and cheered by the West Seattle Democratic Women’s breakfast gathering at the WS Golf Course:
From Alki, this photo of Michael Adams‘ party:
(Michael’s caption: From left, Rachelle Kauffman, Estevan Mazariegos, Michael Adams, Alex Siao, Ryan Trail, Lacey Watson. Breakfast: Blueberry Pancakes, apple smoked bacon, scrambled eggs w/ green onions, buttermilk toast and Mimosas! Michael & Ryan’s place- photo by Rachelle Kauffman)
As we post this, the inaugural lunch is kicking off (10:33 am PT) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein just mentioned the population of the recipe page on the inaugural website; the site seems to be overloaded at the moment but if you want to try it later, here’s the link.
(Added 11:23 am) Molly sent this video clip of her inauguration decorations:
(Added 12:55 pm) Paul Dieter sent this video shot while watching at Seattle Center with a group from The Center School (a Seattle Public Schools high school attended by more than a few West Seattleites):
(Added 1:21 pm) Cami McNamara from Alki sends this clip from where she watched this morning’s historic events — The Paramount Theater downtown:
Here’s Cami (right) with Jackie Ramels (Alki resident who chairs the city Parks Board):
And the Paramount marquee:
(added 1:30 pm) Kathleen from Highland Park sends more photos from the Chelan Cafe by The Bridge:
I just returned from a fantastic inauguration breakfast at the Chelan cafe. About 15 or so people sat and ate comfortably in the Ebb Tide Room watching the inauguration on 4 large plasma TVs. The atmosphere was festive including decorations, inauguration food specials, and just a general feeling of a small slice of the community coming together to share their happiness and joy. The owners (1st pic) couldn’t have been more hospitable! A great morning!
(added 3:55 pm) Barbara watched the ceremonies at Town Hall downtown:
(added 8:05 pm) From Arbor Heights, this group watched the inauguration together: Melissa, Tappi, Derek, Jake, and Maria:
(added 8:16 pm) Two sets of Obama cupcakes – first one from Trophy Cupcakes, photo sent by Lisa; second photo from Emily:
Got an Inauguration Day photo? We’ll add to this, for the record, till they stop coming in; editor@wsb.blackfin.biz – we also will report separately on other events later today including two West Seattle schools where students will talk by phone with Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson, who’s in DC, and some of tonight’s West Seattle celebrations.
Meantime, click ahead to read a poem just sent by West Seattle poet Carol Smith:Read More
| Comments Off on A literary night at Twilight in The Junction: XVIII zine launch