June 2010

Seattle Parks and Recreation and Site Workshops will present the preferred schematic design of the West Seattle Reservoir Park project at Westcrest Saturday, June 26, 2010 10 a.m. – noon at the Southwest Community Center, 2801 Thistle Street S.W.

David Boyer, the artist retained to create the park sculptures will also be on hand to present his design concepts. His work was initially presented at a meeting last month and covered by the Herald here.

From the Seattle Parks Department press release:

The community is encouraged to attend and review the final schematic designs, which reflect the input Site Workshop and Seattle Parks received at the previous meetings for this project. The West Seattle Reservoir lidding project is located at 9000 8th Ave SW.

While most people associate the Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center with story tellers, traditional dances, and fine native artwork, the cordial venue was utilized by vendors of weddings and corporate events to show off their products June 24. The event was organized by Monica S. Newby, owner of A Grande Affaire Catering in Seattle and Tacoma, and Adam Tiegs of Adam's DJ Service in Seattle.

A free buffet dinner was served, including pit fired salmon, a hearty salad and embellished brie on thin bread slices, and wedding cake was sliced for the guests to sample, as the Emmanuel del Casal Jazz Orchestra and Ensemble performed background music.

There was one vendor who tied in his product with Native American culture. Steve Cox and his Creative Ice sculpture business in Kent, who displayed a large lighted ice canoe which served as a sort of centerpiece at the entrance.

The City of SeaTac will receive $9 million less in estimated revenue this year.

But SeaTac lawmakers also voted June 22 to not spend $18.1 million in capitol expenditures that were part of the original budget. That left a net gain of $9.1 million.

The money the council decided not to spend this year was mainly for acquisition of property in the city's planning area across the street from the SeaTac City Center/Airport light rail station. Lawmakers also voted to not build a gathering place plaza in the area.

The action is part of the city's retreat from a plan for an entertainment district near the light-rail station. Council members and city staffers traveled to entertainment districts throughout the country to gather ideas for a city center that would attract airport travelers and city residents.

Lawmakers voted to condemn a surface parking lot owned by James and Doris Cassan. They planned to build a public parking garage and multiuse facility for those gathering in the entertainment district on the property.

Two unexpected speakers added extra drama June 23 to the Highline School Board's regular meeting.

Ayanna Brown, mother of 12-year-old Alajawan Brown who was gunned down in a case of mistaken identity in the Rainier Valley April 29, urged school officials to listen to at-risk students and provide them with activities to keep them out of trouble.

Burien resident Lorin Sandretzky, better known as "Big Lo, Seattle's biggest sports fan," requested district staffers find a better field for the Burien Bearcats youth football team.

Brown also supported the Bearcats' request, noting, "Kids need something to do" to keep them out of gangs.
"A 35-year-old gang member shot my baby," Brown declared.

She also spoke in support of The Movement, a nonprofit Tukwila-based group that works with high-risk youth through mentorship and personal development training.
Big Picture High principal Jeff Petty said the group has worked the past two years at his school "using the power of story to reach out to kids." Big Picture is an alternative high school that emphasizes learning through internships. It is housed at the old Glacier High building in SeaTac.

Capers, a fixture in the West Seattle Junction at 4521 California Avenue Southwest celebrated 25 years in business Thursday, June 24 with a party for who else? Their customers. The furniture, home decor and gift store was founded in 1985.

"Customers coming in and supporting the company. That's how we survived," said owner Lisa Myers, "and always doing new things and doing different marketing and being willing to try different things all the time."

Originally the store had food, primarily to go, and later expanded into full cafe style service but also added kitchen products, and table linens, books and more. The store has been through many changes. "A lot of it was driven by customer demand," Myers said, "as customers changed we would try new things and if they bought what we tried then we would keep going in that direction. We've kind of gone the whole gamut of bulk coffee and then the grocery stores decided to sell that so we didn't really need to anymore and we were selling French Kitchen Tools, which didn't really sell so we started adding other stuff, so it's just been an evolution."

When we had to replace our flag pole i tried to order a new topped with a shiny brass eagle but they were all out so I had to settle for a brass ball. The bald eagle landed on it as I was taking his picture.

From a Rotary Club press release:

The Rotary Club of West Seattle wants to thank Charlie’s Produce for donating use of a midsized refrigerator truck during our Club’s Strawberry Sales & Pickup this weekend. With the pending construction, Admiral Safeway couldn’t sit a 40’ trailer there for six weeks, like past summers.

These buckets of Skagit Valley strawberries are freshly picked, hulled and packed in their own juices, so keeping them cool is essential to maintaining their quality. Even if you didn’t pre-order, we still have buckets for sale this weekend. Friday, 1-6pm, Saturday 9am-3pm at Admiral Safeway, back lot.

We are taking Raspberries and Blueberries orders for mid July. West Seattle Rotary’s Berry Sale raises money for local scholarships and our Holiday Kids Shopping Spree. Thanks to our buyers, to Admiral Safeway, and Charlie’s Produce for your support!

Staff from Artech took the totem pole that had been stolen from Rotary Viewpoint Park on Dec. 1st and recovered near Salem, Oregon today, June 24, from Parks and Recreation storage to a local fumigation company.

Next week it will be transported to their warehouse for restoration. In agreement with Parks & Recreation, the Rotary Club of West Seattle has hired Artech for the preservation, restoration and reinstallation of the totem pole and look forward to setting a date in August for the community to celebrate the pole’s rededication. This, according to Rotary Club past president Josh Sutton.

According to Denise Bisio a Senior Account Manager for Artech the resoration process would work like this:

Noted West Seattle photographer, writer, poet, and artist Ian Hegwood opens a photographic show on July 2 at C&P Coffee Co. located at 5612 California Ave S.W. in West Seattle. The show, entitled “Visions of Europe,” runs through July 31. His work includes people, nature, architecture, and underwater scenes.

A Seattle native, Ian has a fascination with photography that began at age 7 when he shot his first photos with his grandfather’s Fujica camera. His “Visions of Europe” display is evidence of his 35 years experience with a keen eye behind the camera.

Hegwood has been a staple at the monthly POETRYBRIDGE event at C&P and was featured here:

http://www.westseattleherald.com/2010/05/26/features/update-slideshow-p…

Speaking near the southwest footings of the South Park bridge on the Duwamish River, Governor Christine Gregoire handed a $20 million check to King County Executive Dow Constantine for additional funding from the State of Washington to build a replacement for the ailing and soon to be closed structure.

The Seattle City Council, speaking through Richard Conlin announced it would provide an additional $15 million. A letter was sent pledging their support.

King County already has $30 million secured and the Port of Seattle has $5 million ready to go.

This brings the total funding available to $70 million or roughly half the total cost of demolition and replacement.
Constantine announced he would be seeking a Tiger II Grant to complete the funding, since the original Tiger Grant was declined.
Tiger II is a $600 million competitive grant program included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Also speaking at the event were King County Councilmembers Bob Ferguson and Julia Patterson, Port of Seattle Commissioner Gayle Tarleton, and South Park Bridge Coalition Co-Chairs Dagmar Cronn and Larry Brown.

The bridge will close Wednesday, June 30, ay 7pm.