West Seattle, Washington
27 Saturday
The first King County Council Budget Committee hearing on the new county budget proposal is under way right now, and they’re starting with criminal-justice leaders including Sheriff Sue Rahr and Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg. You can watch live online here; we’re also tracking highlights at partner site White Center Now, since Sheriff Rahr contends that this budget could result in a 75 percent reduction in patrol power in the White Center area (and other nearby unincorporated areas).
With the White Center Food Bank‘s 
annual Harvest Dinner/Auction less than a month away, it’s “last call” time for artists who can decorate chairs to donate in the “Have a Seat at the Table” portion of the auction. Lynne Ingalls says, “There may still be some chairs available free for artists to decorate, otherwise, choose your own … they must be completed and submitted by October 10.” You can contact her at btrees@comcast.net or 206-933-2547 to get a chair (and more information). And regardless of whether you’re an artist, you are welcome to attend the October 17th event and support the food bank, which serves part of West Seattle as well as all of White Center: Call 206-762-2848 for tickets, or go to www.whitecenterfoodbank.org.
That’s the crew at WestSide Baby – standing by for another hour or so to accept old carseats for recycling – just take them to 10032 15th SW (here’s a map).
We’re off to get photos of both, but in the meantime, this quick note.
(photo added 10:59 pm – Proletariat Pizza proprietors Stefanie and Mike, and daughter)
As of a little more than an hour ago, it’s opening night for Proletariat Pizza on 16th SW in the main White Center business district, and cash only for starters, according to neighbor Full Tilt‘s post in the WSB Forums. Meantime, speaking of food:
(Friday night photo)
That’s the outdoor food court at Westfest (WSB sponsor) at Holy Rosary School (map here; event schedule here) and open tonight till 10, then 10 am-10 pm tomorrow. More to come!
Less than a week after West Seattle Montessori School (WSB sponsor) moved into its new campus at 11215 15th SW (map) – complete with that spacious playground – they’re inviting you to an open house that’s under way right now. Treats too – free hot dogs, and cake:
We stopped by within the past hour for a quick preview; it’s a great night to be outside but they’re also leading tours inside their new 2-story building:
WSMS moved from the location where they’d been for decades in West Seattle’s Triangle area after the land they’d leased was sold for development. They offer preschool through 8th grade; the 4th through 8th grades are now known as West Seattle Academy (that’s the WSA you see on the cake in the middle photo) – the lower grades have always been popular but they say middle-school interest is taking off too. You’ll find them online at westseattlemontessori.com; tonight’s open house continues till 7:30.
Three quick updates on food/drink places scheduled to open this month:
THE SWINERY: It’s the home stretch of work to convert the former Muttley Crew Cuts location (first reported here; meantime, MCC is now at 42nd/Admiral) for this new artisan meats/deli shop, and it’s being chronicled online. Check out theswinery.blogspot.com. They still expect to soft-open September 15 (next Tuesday). A few days after that —
(Photo provided by Proletariat’s owners as their sign went up recently)
PROLETARIAT PIZZA: White Center’s new pizza joint, in the northernmost block of the 16th SW business district across from Full Tilt Ice Cream, has pushed its opening day back a week – co-owner Stefanie says they’re now hoping to open September 18th. (12:39 pm note – Bayou points out on the White Center Now version of this item, they’ve got a blog-format website going at proletariatpizza.com.)
JUNCTION STARBUCKS FOLLOWUP: We mentioned when reporting the sighting inside Capco Plaza (42nd/Alaska) that we’d be checking with Starbucks whether this was company-owned or franchised. Finally got the official answer: Franchised (“licensed”). The QFC store in Capco Plaza is projected to soft-open September 16.
The White Center Food Bank (which serves part of southern West Seattle, too) has issued a unique “call for artists” – decorate a chair to be auctioned at WCFB’s upcoming Harvest Dinner/Auction. Think you might be able to help? Read on!Read More
It’s one of the few things we have now covered four consecutive years since starting WSB in late 2005 – West Seattle-headquartered mega-best-selling fantasy-fiction author Terry Brooks made his annual late-summer appearance today at Westwood Village’s Barnes and Noble. His newest book, released this month, is “A Princess of Landover“; Erin from B&N shares this extra info:
Terry Brooks hosted a bookfair in conjunction with his reading, for the Interagency Academy for Seattle Public Schools. A portion of sales will go to this agency if community members shop at the West Seattle Barnes & Noble and either bring in a voucher if they received one or mention the Brooks bookfair to the cashier. It’s not too late to contribute!
B&N is open till 9 tonight. Less than a mile south of there, Holy Family School is hosting its first-ever “El Carnaval” street fair all weekend – we stopped by about an hour ago:
Bouncy toys for the little ones, too:
Last night’s grand finale to the monthlong Summer Concerts at The Mount (WSB sponsor) series at Providence Mount St. Vincent featured a bouncer too – with a tropical motif:
Cheryl Serio sang a jazzy set:
Next big event at The Mount: Brian Duffy leads a workshop in retirement planning, 2:30 pm Sept. 22nd.
(Thursday night photo by Christopher Boffoli)
KENNEY SALE: West Seattle’s newest official city landmark, The Kenney‘s cupola-topped Seaview Building, marks the site of one of today’s many sales – Household goods, treasures, more, 9 am-4 pm, with this sale at The Kenney benefiting its fund taking care of residents who “outlive their financial resources.” 7125 Fauntleroy (map).
LOTS OF OTHER SALES: Other fundraising sales (like one for PAWS) and garage/yard sales happening TODAY are listed in the WSB Forums’ Freebies/Deals/Sales section – any time you have a sale, whether yard or business, you’re welcome to post there for free too.
HOLY FAMILY STREET FAIR: Holy Family School is on the line between West Seattle and White Center and inviting everybody in both communities – and beyond – to its El Carnaval street fair today and tomorrow, 10 am start both days. 20th SW will be blocked off just south of Roxbury for the fun (map).
MORE EVENTS/ACTIVITIES/ATTRACTIONS! … listed in the latest West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
AND A TRAFFIC REMINDER … The South Park Bridge is scheduled to be closed 7 am-7 pm today for repair work.
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
The server-management company for partner site White Center Now is doing emergency maintenance so that site’s offline – there are two significant stories mostly of White Center import that we want to note here in the meantime: First, King County Council Chair Dow Constantine says Evergreen Pool in White Center (map) will close on September 1st – its temporary reprieve is ending and a deal with a private operator to take it over (WhiteWater Aquatics, which made a presentation at the last meeting of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council) is not done yet, though talks continue, and, he says, “I am confident that a long-term agreement can be negotiated between King County Parks and White Water Aquatics and I will be working to facilitate the reopening of the Evergreen Pool as soon as possible.. Second: Hicks Lake, which is at Lakewood Park in White Center (map), has a toxic algae bloom, according to county spokesperson Doug Williams, who says:
We just got results back from the state Department of Ecology that confirms a blue-green algae bloom at Hicks has surpassed the safety threshold. While there aren’t likely too many people swimming there right now, it’s possible that people could let their dogs swim and/or drink from the lake. Not a good idea!
Williams says they have posted warning signs, and those signs will stay up until two consecutive weekly samples show the water’s safe again.
Though we don’t do a lot of open-ended discussion here on the main page – the WSB Forums always have lots of that going on – we’re just back from KUOW, representing partner site White Center Now 
in a discussion of the just-approved-by-voters North Highline South Annexation during “Weekday,” and toward the end of the program, host Steve Scher (iPhone photo at left) turned the discussion to, what’s next for the un-annexed area – most of White Center? A caller (not from West Seattle or WC) said he felt many neighborhood groups around Seattle are against it; Mayor Nickels had supported it (and we’re checking with the two finalists for his job regarding what they think), but the City Council voted 8-1 against endorsing an agreement with Burien and other agencies that would have given Seattle exclusive rights to consider the area through the end of 2011 — members said they weren’t necessarily against annexation, but weren’t so sure about the terms of that agreement. During this morning’s broadcast, Burien City Manager Mike Martin said his council hasn’t decided yet whether (and when) they want to pursue White Center. So what do you think – assuming that White Center has to become part of a city one way or another (which the county has made clear, as is the case with all unincorporated urban areas), should it become part of Seattle? Or Burien?
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.
Full Tilt Ice Cream proprietor Justin Cline first mentioned this in the WSB Forums but now we have confirmation: The new pizza place in the 16th SW business district of White Center, barely a block over the line from West Seattle, plans to open September 11th. Stefanie Albaeck and her husband Mike are opening Proletariat Pizza in the former bakery space across the street from Full Tilt. We interviewed them shortly after the first report of their plans last May, as published by our partner site White Center Now. Some have wondered about the name; Stefanie told us in May, with a smile, “It’s definitely a reflection of the neighborhood, the people we’re serving, and the people we are.” She and her husband, by the way, are West Seattleites – they moved to Highland Park six years ago. They told us they weren’t planning for their pizza to be any particular “style” – fresh ingredients, homemade recipes. More as their opening date gets closer.
This Thursday, 7-9 pm, it’s another After Hours event at WestSide Baby, which helps families in need in the West Seattle and White Center areas – and they’d love to have you pitch in:
Kids are heading back to school and need clothes! WestSide Baby partners with our community to provide essential items to local children in need by collecting and distributing diapers, clothing, toys and equipment. All those donations need to be prepared for distribution. WestSide Baby invites volunteers to join us this Thursday, August 20 from 7 pm to 9 pm to help us sort clothing and other donations. We promise to provide lots of projects and fun for those who can join us and lend a hand. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old to attend alone or 8 years old to attend with an adult. Please RSVP to sarah@westsidebaby.org if you are able to join us and, if volunteers are under 18, we appreciate knowing so we can prepare appropriate projects.
WestSide Baby HQ is at 10032 15th SW (map).
Published at partner site White Center Now — County Executive Kurt Triplett has proposed “mothballing” 39 King County parks — 6 in the North Highline (including White Center) area — to save $. It’s a developing story; we’ll continue posting reaction/details there.
Prospective first-time homebuyers are invited to a Homestead Community Land Trust Q/A session in White Center tomorrow. The official flyer (see it here) focuses on help for first-time homebuyers in White Center, but Laura Evans with Homestead tells WSB, “We also can help with purchasing home in West Seattle or South Park or anywhere else in the City.” Homestead offers $100,000 to first-time homebuyers at certain income levels (listed on the flyer) in exchange for a commitment that, “when you sell your home, you will sell it at an affordable price to another homebuyer on their way to achieving their dream.” Tomorrow’s info-session is at 5:30 pm at the King County Library‘s White Center branch, 11220 16th SW; call 206.323.1227 to RSVP. If you can’t make it, Evans says there’ll be an informational session on Beacon Hill on August 23 (more info here).
Add another festival to the August calendar, which already has the Duwamish River Festival this Saturday and Arts in Nature Festival at Camp Long (August 22-23). From just south of the city/county line, we received this invitation to share with all WSB’ers – we’ve of course published it on partner site White Center Now, too, but West Seattleites get a special shoutout:
Hello Friends of the West Seattle Blog:
My name is Frank Cantwell, and I am the Principal of Holy Family Parish School located at the intersection of 20th and Roxbury in White Center. I would like to invite you to “El Carnaval” that we are holding on August 29 (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and August 30 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) 2009. We are planning to close 20th Street from Roxbury for one block between the Parish and the School, and open this area to the entire community for an opportunity to meet our neighbors. We plan to have bands, a variety of food, and a beer garden. We will have our school open to everyone. We are also planning to have lots of fun and games for the children.
Holy Family Parish School has a rich history, having served the White Center community for over 80 years. We are a very diverse community and we are welcoming everyone to come together to have a lot of fun. We would love to see the entire West Seattle community come together to meet each other and have fun.
Thank You, Frank Cantwell
It’s on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar now too.
We mentioned this earlier on partner site White Center Now – but as we frequently note, White Center Food Bank serves a significant part of southern West Seattle as well, so we all have a stake in the WC and West Seattle Food Banks. Next Saturday and Wednesday, August 8 and 12, WCFB needs help emptying and refilling the warehouse so floor work can be done. This item on the WCFB website gives you multiple ways to volunteer.
The White Center Food Bank, which also serves West Seattle south of SW Myrtle, just launched a “blog” section on its website. To kick it off in style, they’re looking for name suggestions – send one in and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a $25 Farmers’ Market gift certificate. Read all about it here.
Driving through White Center this afternoon, we noticed fireworks stands like that one set up in a few spots. In unincorporated King County and the few other places where personal fireworks are still legal, they go on sale at noon Sunday, but you’re only allowed to use them 9 am-midnight on July 4th (except for Normandy Park, where the use period is the same as the sales period). Here’s the full King County list of fireworks rules – note they are banned in Seattle and in Burien, which is relevant to part of White Center, since that means a change if the “North Highline South Annexation” proposal passes in the August 18th election. And if somehow you haven’t heard, reminder, NO Elliott Bay fireworks on the Fourth, since Ivar’s canceled them; if you’re still trying to decide where to go instead, here’s the full statewide list of fireworks shows.
Just published at White Center Now, our roundup from Thursday night’s South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition meeting. The headlines: Crime’s not the same on both sides of the line; White Center’s getting a walking map; and the group bids one of its leaders goodbye. Story and photos here.
First, the NOT HAPPENING NOW – this was tentatively scheduled as the first day for Lincoln Park‘s wading pool to be open, but since it’s not warm, sunny weather, that’ll have to wait at least another day. (We went down to check in person just to be sure, as we’ve seen the occasional digression from the “warm, sunny” requirement/s.) Remember – the wading-pool schedule citywide is different this year because of mandatory safety improvements (our coverage, with dates, is here). Now, as for what IS happening now —
That’s Full Tilt Ice Cream proprietor Justin Cline, photographed emerging from the prep room in the back, where he had been working on mint-chocolate-chip peletas. Full Tilt (9629 16th SW, White Center) opened at noon today and will be open late tonight because two bands are playing; the shop’s celebrating its first birthday by donating a cone or pint to the White Center Food Bank for every cone or print purchased today. (Another good reason to go to White Center tonight – the monthly White Center for the Arts open house, starting at 5 pm, enter from the 16th SW entrance to the old skate rink, a few doors south of Full Tilt.)
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