March 2016

Salty's on Alki was once the Beach Broiler and the woman in charge was Joyce Entus. She ran the waterfront restaurant for decades before selling it to Gerry Kingen in 1985. On June 12, 1985, the West Seattle Herald reported that “Bertil Hansson and Joyce Entus are happy the new owner of the Beach Broiler is Gerry Kingen but sad to leave the restaurant business.” Gerry and Kathy Kingen immediately asked Joyce (pictured here with Bertil) to stay on as their Hostess and she continued bringing smiles to Salty’s guests for many years.

Kathy Kingen wrote about her here.

Do you remember her? Salty's on Alki is honoring her memory by serving free cake on Monday, March 28, to celebrate her birthday (on March 27).

Salty's Piano-man Victor Janusz plays Gershwin to honor Joyce from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 28.

information from 34th Dist. Democrats

Democrats from across the 34th Legislative District will caucus on Saturday, March 26, in multiple locations. During the caucus Democrats will elect delegates pledged to either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. These delegates will attend conventions and caucuses to be held later in the year at the legislative district, congressional district, King County and Statewide level, where they will elect the 118 delegates to the Democratic Party’s national convention in Philadelphia in July.

The 34th Legislative District includes West Seattle, White Center, North Highline, Vashon Island and the northern part of Burien. In this district, the caucuses will be held at schools. Here is a detailed list of precinct caucus locations in the 34th District:
http://www.34dems.org/sites/34dems/files/Caucus-Locations-2016.pdf

Democrats will Caucus on March 26 in West Seattle, Burien, White Center and Vashon

Democrats from across the 34th Legislative District will caucus on Saturday, March 26, in multiple locations. During the caucus Democrats will elect delegates pledged to either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. These delegates will attend conventions and caucuses to be held later in the year at the legislative district, congressional district, King County and Statewide level, where they will elect the 118 delegates to the Democratic Party’s national convention in Philadelphia in July.

The 34th Legislative District includes West Seattle, White Center, North Highline, Vashon Island and the northern part of Burien. In this district, the caucuses will be held at schools. Here is a detailed list of precinct caucus locations in the 34th District:
http://www.34dems.org/sites/34dems/files/Caucus-Locations-2016.pdf

information from SDOT

On Monday, March 28, crews working for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) are scheduled to begin construction on pedestrian safety improvements at the intersections of 30th Avenue Southwest with Southwest Avalon Way, and Southwest Avalon Way with Southwest Andover and Yancy streets, in West Seattle. Construction is anticipated to take approximately six weeks to complete, though is weather dependent.

This work will require temporary side street closures off of Southwest Avalon Way. Sidewalks and bicycle lanes around the work zone will also be closed temporarily during construction. King County Metro bus routes will not be affected. SDOT would like to thank the public for its patience while this work is completed.

Travelers through this area and local residents can expect the following construction impacts:
• Temporary full closure of Southwest Andover Street at Southwest Avalon Way for the first three weeks of construction, depending on the weather. Local access will be maintained from 32nd Avenue Southwest.

A 35-year-old man was stabbed and later died Friday, March 25 in the South Delridge neighborhood. Seattle Police are acting on the belief the victim's girlfriend was the attacker.

Seattle Police came to the 9000 block of 17th Avenue Southwestjuzt after midnight based on reports of a domestic disturbance.

Once there they found the victim in a car parked in an alley, with a stab wound to the chest.
He was taken to Harbourview Medical Center but was pronounced dead,

According to a witness, the couple were arguing before the stabbing. Reportedly the girlfriend left the scene before police showed up.

Police continue to investigate the incident and ask anyone with information to call 206-233-5000.

The West Seattle Rotary Club is holding a fundraiser breakfast celebrating 68 years of service and community building.

The Rotary Club of West Seattle needs your help in order to continue to provide school supplies, winter clothing and college scholarships to local students. The club also supports international projects for clean water, schools, safe roads, maternal health and sanitation in countries such as Nigeria, Ethiopia, Colombia, Thailand and Guatemala.

Join friends, family and civic leaders as we work together to strengthen our community and continue to create a positive lasting change, locally, nationally and world-wide. Cliff Mass, local meteorologist and professor at the University of Washington and KPLU weather guy will be the speaker for the event.

information from King County

Wondering if a rain garden or cistern is right for you? Join King County and Seattle Public Utilities for a RainWise Program “Meet the Contractor" open house on Sunday, April 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the West Seattle Nursery, 5275 California Ave S.W.

The RainWise Program offers eligible Seattle homeowners rebates that could cover up to 100 percent of the cost to install a rain garden and/or cistern. The average rebate is $4,500.

Rain gardens are more than just beautiful to look at. They help solve one of the largest sources of pollution for Puget Sound by naturally cleaning and controlling stormwater. Cisterns are large rain barrels that collect runoff from rooftops, which homeowners can use for watering yards and landscaping.

The RainWise Program serves a number of Seattle neighborhoods. To receive a rebate, residents must live in an eligible Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) basin.

By encouraging eligible Seattle residents to manage stormwater runoff through the RainWise Program, King County and Seattle Public Utilities can meet their goals to reduce CSOs that occur in local water bodies during heavy rains.

By Greg Whittaker

March Madness in the Mountains is upon us! For those of you who live to ride the deep snow, these next few days will possibly be the last chance this season as we get our final cold front before the spring pattern takes over and we get into the warmer temperatures. In the last 24 hours Crystal Mountain is reporting 5 new inches, while Mt. Baker is reporting 12 new inches, and Stevens pass reports 3 new inches. It is expected to continue snowing through Friday, which should be fantastic, and we could have a bluebird powder day Saturday throughout the cascades. Snow levels are expected to be at or below 3000 feet, so you can get freshies at the Summit at Snoqualmie if you are up for a quick trip.

Mountain to Sound Outfitters will be up at Alpental on Friday and Saturday providing complimentary demos out of Lot 3, the RV lot (look for the M2S tent). Come on up to try out some of the demo skis and snowboards we are trying to find a new home for.

By Peggy Sturdivant

It’s telling that when Linda Joss wanted to start a neighborhood musical theater group she invited about 25 of her closest friends to her basement. Let that sink in for a minute…twenty-five of her closest friends. That gives proper perspective on someone who decides to produce a full-length musical with live orchestra that will be staged for just two nights. It could also explain why opening night of the Woodland Park Player’s production of “Oklahoma!” on March 18th was sold out in advance.

When you read this, months of preparation and rehearsal will be over. The set will have been “struck.” The leads, ensemble cast, musicians, and stage crew will have returned to their families, no longer the fight choreographer, lasso coach, costumer, or mom playing ‘a dude.’

"The Craftsman" by Nick Twietmeyer documents the last days of Steve Howell's Ballard Forge at Fenpro.

By Nick Twietmeyer

From inside the Fenpro building in Ballard you can hear all manner of noises. Sometimes it's an angle grinder. Others it's the banter of talk radio. Frequently it’s the shrill ping of metal hammer against anvil.

Steve Howell is a man who had the unfortunate luck of being born in the wrong century. Inside his workshop are the tools of a trade pulled from the late 19th Century, except for the propane tank that fuels a forge and the hydraulically actuated presses. But for the most part, Howell is a modern testament to the centuries-old trade of ironwork.