Seafair-bound hydroplane gets a makeover from South Seattle Community College automotive students
(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
Walk through the Automotive Technology area on the north side of South Seattle Community College on Puget Ridge, and you’ll see students like those, hard at work – painting, fixing, building, inspecting, and more. But in the paint bay today, you won’t find a car – you’ll find a hydroplane!
And, as Automotive Collision Repair instructor Steve Ford was quick to point out during our visit, it’s no museum hydro – it’s the U-37 hydro that Schumacher Racing – owned by driving legend Billy Schumacher, who won 17 races in the ’60s and’70s – will bring to Seafair and other races this season. Right now, though, its refinishing and paint job comprise a final exam for his graduating seniors, one of three “teams” he set up (one of the other two teams did prep work like masking and sanding, pre-paint job, while the other worked on fabrication). Here’s everybody we found in the shop this morning – that’s instructor Steve, front and center:
So when you see that 14-foot-wide, 31-foot-long hydro at Seafair this August – where it’ll bear the SSCC name and logo – remember it’s got a little bit of West Seattle! (And yes, as the announcement sent by SSCC communications director Candace Oehler pointed out, the college is being paid for the work.)
1 week till 2nd Design Review for Vesseliye, now 1 building
(Rendering of what Vesseliye might look like along 20th SW – massing only, not final design)
One week from tonight, the Southwest Design Review Board will meet for a second ‘Early Design Guidance’ review of a four-story, 20-unit apartment building planned at 9051 20th SW (map). The meeting “packet” is available online now, and the added information explains why the project, called Vesseliye (translated at the 1st meeting in February as “Joy”), is going back for more “early” guidance even though the board agreed it could move to the next phase. The developers say that several discoveries since the 1st meeting have led them to completely revise the plan into one building instead of two. The site currently holds the two vacant, vandalized houses shown in our photo’s foreground (we’ve blurred the graffiti), which are just south of two commercial properties:
The design-review meeting is at 6:30 pm next Thursday, June 14th, at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon, entrance on the north side).
SIDE NOTE – THIS MONTH’S OTHER DESIGN-REVIEW MEETING: Today the city sent out the official notice of the June 28th meeting first reported here on Tuesday, the first review for a 30-unit building at 3829 California SW.
West Seattle Thursday: Art, music, wine, and rain
June showers bring …June flowers? Thanks to “G” for the bright photo, which, as with a different community-contributed flower photo earlier this week, is at least a counterpoint to the gray weather. On with the list of calendar highlights for today/tonight:
NEW WINES FROM SSCC: The Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle Community College (6000 16th SW) is releasing five new wines with a noon-6 pm tasting today – details here.
MUSIC AT C & P: Singer/songwriter Jim Page performs, 6-8 pm, at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor; 5612 California SW).
BUSINESS NETWORKING MIXER: Hosted by “I Take the Lead” at West Seattle Windermere in The Junction, 6 pm (details here).
ART OPENING/PERFORMANCE AT MIND UNWIND: The Admiral District’s gallery/class/performance space (2206 California SW) features the opening of Brent Ray Fraser‘s “Nostalgia,” 6:30-11:30 pm, detailed here.
MADISON ORCHESTRA/JAZZ CONCERT: 2nd concert this week for Madison Middle School‘s musicians – this time, orchestra and jazz performances. 7 pm in the Commons, everybody’s invited.
West Seattle High School PTSA: The year-end report
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
As this school year began, we checked in with both major local public high school’s PTSAs – and as the year ends, we’re circling back.
So on Tuesday night, we sat in on the West Seattle High School PTSA‘s last meeting of the year, eight months after covering its first meeting of the year.
The changing of the guard was among the major items of business – the full officer slate for 2012-2013 is at the end of this story. But the major discussions involved activities sponsored/presented by the PTSA, all successful in their own way, and yet with room for much more participation – particularly Grad Night, the all-night post-graduation party meant to provide both fun and safety.
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West Seattle scenes from one last low-low tide
The low-low (below -3 feet) tides are gone till an encore early next month, but we have a few more community-contributed photos to remember them by. Above, Tracey Spenser‘s view of an anemone amid glistening greenery; next, Lura Ercolano shows us a moon snail has quite the infrastructure beneath the graceful shell:
Also out on the beach, “Diver Laura” James – but look very carefully behind her, around the center of the photo:
The great blue heron was apparently too intent on fishing to mind the people nearby:
Thursday’s low tide will still make for decent beachwalking – -2.6 at xx – but if you are hoping to get out while the beach is at its widest, mark your calendar for late mornings Monday 7/2 through Wednesday 7/4 (here’s the July chart). Thanks yet again to everyone who shared their photos during this “wave” of low-low tides!
West Seattle benefit for veterans-helping-veterans One Less Mountain
“I’m not a veteran, but I value their contribution and want to do something that helps them out,” local entrepreneur PJ Glassey explained, when we asked him about an upcoming benefit he’s promoting for a new veterans-assistance group. “Veterans are the reason we are still a free country. While we all may not agree with all the various wars we get involved with, we can all agree that our soldiers are serving us to the point of risking their lives and that means a lot to me.”
The show Glassey – son of a Vietnam veteran as well as owner of X-Gym on Harbor Avenue- is promoting is coming up June 16th at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in North Delridge, a “hypnosis/comedy” performance by Joe Black. Glassey says, “This event is kind of a ‘kickoff’ for the brand-new organization One Less Mountain, which helps veterans when they get home so they can cope, make the transition to civilian life and find the resources needed to make that switch.”
There’s no website for OLM yet, but board member Mark Pollek, a Vietnam veteran, explains that OLM is inspired by Hope for Heroism, a veterans’ peer-helping-peer group based in Israel. Pollek and others including Governor Gregoire’s husband Mike visited Israel to see how it works, and have since been talking with veterans’ and military groups to “see how we could best benefit vets recently discharged from the military.”
Pollek says OLM is starting with a “veteran-transition case-management program” and a “veteran connect program” involving activities “to bring vets together to tell their stories, hear what each other may be going through, validate each other’s concerns, and share methods of success.” The organization also is developing an education program to help corporate human resources people deal with “fear, concern, cultural differences” that may keep them from hiring veterans.
You can find out more at the June 16th comedy/hypnosis show. Tickets are $20, available through Brown Paper Tickets; the show is at 6:45 pm.
West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival announces 2012 White Rose Reception
(Hi-Yu royalty past and then-present at 2011 White Rose reception; photo by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB)
The West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival has just announced one of its signature summer events, the White Rose Reception:
The 2012 West Seattle Hi-Yu White Rose Reception will take place from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at Fauntleroy Church, UCC, 9140 California Ave SW in West Seattle. This event is for women only and is a celebration of past and present Hi-Yu royalty. Come and share your Hi-Yu memories and learn about this year’s plans for our community festival. Past royalty are encouraged to wear or bring your crowns and memory scrapbooks. Tickets are available at the door for $10 and every ticket comes with two raffle tickets. For more information about Hi-Yu past and present: www.westseattlehiyu.com
After the shootings: Community-wide moment of silence Sunday
E-mail from the Seattle Neighborhood Group calls our attention to a plan in the works for a citywide moment of silence on Sunday. The idea comes from the group Compassionate Seattle, not just because of the shooting rampage that ended here last Wednesday afternoon, but because of other recent deadly violence around the city. Compassionate Seattle is calling for “3 minutes of silent contemplation, prayer, reflection or meditation” at noon this Sunday (June 10th), following “the ringing of bells everywhere – including church towers and individuals in the streets” at 11:45 am). The group’s Facebook event page for this can be found here.
Meantime, the lone survivor of last Wednesday’s shootings, Café Racer employee Leonard Meuse, has been upgraded to satisfactory condition, report our friends at KING 5.
1 year before tunneling, Highway 99 groundbreaking hoop-la today
(Photo via WSDOT’s Twitter feed)
The WSDOT media alert on Tuesday called it a ring, but we agree with those who say it looks more like a hoop (or even an echo of the new waterfront ferris wheel!) – 57 feet in diameter and shown off during today’s ceremonial groundbreaking for the Highway 99 Tunnel “launch pit.” It represents the diameter of the tunnel, which is scheduled to be bored starting next summer. Here’s the lineup of (mostly) politicians past and present at the ceremony:
(Photo via the Seattle City Council’s Facebook page)
West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen is at the mike in that photo; locals King County Executive Dow Constantine (behind Rasmussen in the photo) and former mayor Greg Nickels (who was still in office when the state’s tunnel bill became law three years ago) were also there. Today’s groundbreaking represented the start of digging south of the remaining Viaduct, for the spot where the tunnel-boring machine will get started, heading underground and northbound.
SIDE NOTE/REMINDER: Speaking of the remaining Viaduct, the Highway 99 stretch from downtown to the West Seattle Bridge is scheduled for a full-weekend closure later this month, 11 pm June 15 through 5 am June 18, as first noted here last week.
West Seattle High School Alumni Association: 12 scholarships!
Congratulations to the recipients of 2012-2013 scholarships announced by the West Seattle High School Alumni Association, whose Tom Friberg shares information about the recipients and the scholarships – seven new and five returning – for a total of $76,500. Read on for details of the scholarships awarded to, and the studies planned by, Christian Carpio, Raymond Carter, Gabriela Flores, Haily Hage, Lauren Jeglum, Tessa Jinneman, Karen Lowe, Nahn Nguyen, Arlene Orbino, Megan Ormsby, Randall Stefanovitch, and Michael Swanson:Read More
West Seattle Wednesday: From tunnel to tide, council to concert
(Seen at low tide; photo by Tracey Spenser – thanks!)
Wednesday begins with sunshine! Here’s the forecast – and here’s some of what’s on the schedule for today/tonight:
TUNNEL GROUNDBREAKING: Though the actual tunnel-boring machine won’t be at work till next year, there’s a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Highway 99 tunnel this morning in SODO, 9:30 am. Not a public event, but watch for coverage.
FINAL LOW-LOW-LOW TIDE: This is the last of four days with a low tide below -3 – it’ll be -3.4 just before 1 pm; and the Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are out again too, 11 am-2:30 pm, Constellation Park (south of Alki Point) and Lincoln Park, near Colman Pool.
LIBRARY STORY TIMES: From the Seattle Public Library Calendar of Events: It’s Toddler Story Time at the Southwest Branch (35th/Henderson) at 11 am and Somali Story Time at the High Point Branch (35th/Raymond) at 5 pm.
(added) PARTY AT LINK: The apartment complex at 4550 38th Ave SW sends word they’re “hosting a Stella and Dot jewelry party tonight from 5pm-8 pm! Stella and Dot offers stylish jewelry pieces for women. Anyone can attend this event, and everyone is invited! Sugar Rush will be supplying cupcakes for the party and refreshments will also be served.”
K-5 STEM AT BOREN DESIGN TEAM: Another meeting for the committee with community and school reps shaping Seattle’s new public school (here’s our report on their meeting last week, with topics including curriculum discussions for reading and art, and possible uniforms). They’ll meet at 6:15 pm in the library at Madison Middle School. The public’s welcome, and there’s usually a spot for audience comments.
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: Reps from community councils and other organizations around western West Seattle gather at 7 pm for their monthly meeting in the board room at South Seattle Community College (6000 16th SW). The agenda’s part of our calendar listing.
SEALTH/DENNY CONCERT: The schools’ orchestra and choirs perform tonight, 7 pm at the Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium (2600 SW Thistle).
Venus transits the Sun, as seen from West Seattle
For those hoping to glimpse a never-again-in-this-lifetime sight, the sunbreak Tuesday afternoon was almost a miracle. As Jamie Kinney, who shared the photo above, put it, “With all of the clouds, I thought it was unlikely that I could capture a photo of Venus passing between Earth and the Sun … Fortunately, there was a sun break for about 30 seconds and I was able to capture the photos which I have published in my web gallery.”
The official West Seattle viewing event, meantime, was of course at Solstice Park, with NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen.
(Photo by Jason Ayres Gift Enevoldsen)
She says, “We got three sun breaks.The first two were very short. The last was almost 10 minutes long, and quite rewarding. Almost 30 people came, and all but about 5 managed to be there during one of the sun breaks.” Above, part of the crowd – see more on her website, Alice’s Astro Info. The next “Venus transit” is not due until 2117.
Election 2012: Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon kicks off (unopposed) campaign
(Photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
34th District State Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon had ample reason to smile tonight. Not only did other local political leaders including King County Executive Dow Constantine turn out for his re-election campaign kickoff at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center tonight, Rep. Fitzgibbon, a Burien Democrat, is running unopposed, since no one else filed for the position. (Our area’s senior State Rep. Eileen Cody does have an opponent this time around, Vashon Democrat William Giammarese; the primary this year is August 7th, and the general election is November 6th.)
Update: Fireworks blamed for Ercolini Park ‘boom’
10:55 PM: We’ve received a few reports of a loud explosion-type sound within the past hour; fire crews went to the Ercolini Park area but cleared out fairly quickly, and now they’re in that area again. (minutes later) The second crew has not found any signs of a fire or other problem, so they’re clearing out too.
11:13 PM: Our crew went to the areas that fire crews responded to – no fire, no police, nothing going on. (added) We’re checking with the precinct, but in the meantime, commenters here and on Facebook say it appears to have been something set off in the Ercolini Park porta-potty.
11:31 AM WEDNESDAY: Confirmed by SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore – “At 9:48 p.m. Engine Company 32 responded to reports of port a potty fire in the alley near the park at 48th Avenue SW/ SW Alaska Street. The firefighters did not find a fire but discovered fireworks set off inside the port a potty. At 10:50 p.m. Engine Company 32 responded to 4500 block of 48th Avenue SW to reports of an explosion at the park near the port a potty. A caller said it sounded like an M80. There was no fire at this scene. The Fire Investigators were notified of both incidents.”
West Seattle low-tide sights: Catching a bit of lunch
Today’s low-low tide brought some great noontime sights – we’ve received some excellent photos and took a few ourselves (plus we have a few awesome WSB’er-contributed holdovers from yesterday). We’ll be adding to these a little later in the evening but are starting with three from Gary Jones – wildlife catching, or seeking, lunch!
Today’s tide was the lowest, but tomorrow will still be fairly low, at -3.4 just before 1 pm.
More photos to come – and thanks again to everyone who has shared. ADDED 7:42 PM: The next two photos are by WSB’s Patrick Sand – we were out on the beach by Luna/Anchor Park:
The pilings beneath the park overlook – where the former Luna Park amusement park’s swimming pool used to be:
Laurie shared a photo of the Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists mustering by Constellation Park:
(They’ll be out at Constellation and Lincoln Parks again tomorrow, 11 am-2:30 pm.) And from Jim Clark, taken on Monday – a mystery creature (do YOU know what it is?):
As noted in comments, Jim has a gallery here. And more of others’ low-tide photos are in the WSB Flickr group pool (tidepool?) – see them here. (
West Seattle traffic alert: 1-car crash in Highland Park
2:45 PM, FIRST REPORT: We’re en route to a crash scene in Highland Park – a vehicle rollover reported at 15th/Holden, just east of the central HP commercial zone at 16th/Holden. No injuries reported so far. More to come.
2:56 PM UPDATE: As you can see from the photo we added, it’s actually on its side, on the sidewalk, along the eastbound side of SW Holden, closer to 14th SW. The driver was not seriously hurt, we are told. It’s a bit of a traffic distraction, eastbound, but a tow truck should be there soon.
Duwamish Tribe: 2 benefit events ahead, and an award!
Several news notes about the Duwamish Tribe, whose Longhouse is in West Seattle – It’s announced two upcoming benefits, one this Sunday afternoon (June 10) for its participation in this year’s “Paddle from Seattle” (details here), and a big dinner/art auction gala on June 30th (details here). Plus, a performance group of Duwamish youth, TilibSedeb (Singing Feet), is one of the 10 recipients of the 2012 Mayor’s Arts Awards, announced today. The full news release about that – also featuring the other nine recipients – is ahead:Read More
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