Tag Archives: Skyway Library

Community

Skyway Outdoor Cinema Adjusts to Bring Community Together

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by M. Anthony Davis

The West Hill Community Association has an extensive history of advocacy and community service in the communities of Skyway and Unincorporated King County. Their weekly event, Skyway Outdoor Cinema, which hosts outdoor movies on a 20-foot screen every Friday in August, has been a staple in Skyway every summer since 2003.

Devin Chicras, a West Hill Community Association board member since 2014 (and president of the South Seattle Emerald board), has been actively involved in the Skyway Outdoor Cinema since 2013. At that time, the organization was discussing whether to shut the cinema down due to lack of volunteers and declining community attendance. Knowing how valuable the event was to the community, Chicras stepped up to ensure the outdoor cinema continued. 

“Myself and my partner, Mary Goebel, decided that it was something too valuable to the community to just let it just discontinue,” Chicras says. “So we jumped in and, having no real event-planning experience, learned everything from the ground up, from getting vendors to buying AV equipment. We bought all of our own equipment after doing an Indiegogo campaign.”

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Community

Skyway Library Reopens May 4

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by Emerald Staff

Continuing its limited reopening of branches, the King County Library System (KCLS) announced on Monday that the Skyway branch will reopen on Tuesday, May 4. The branch is one of five locations added this week to a growing list of KCLS libraries where you can browse the shelves, check out books, print documents, and use computer terminals to search the internet. In addition, KCLS will also reopen the Black Diamond, Carnation, and Lake Forest Park branches this week.

KCLS has been gradually phasing in reopening of its branches across the county, with south King County branches in Kent, Muckleshoot, Tukwila, and Woodmont (Des Moines) opening their doors on March 3, and Federal Way/320th joining that list on April 6. There are now a total of 17 branches in KCLS currently offering in-building services.

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Books

Local Mother-Daughter Team Expresses Unconditional Love in Children’s Book

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by Jacob Uitti

A day after giving birth to her fourth child, Catrice Dennis felt a strike of inspiration. Sitting on her bed at home with her newborn daughter, looking out the window to the world outside, Dennis whispered the words, “I love you just because.” Suddenly, the material for a new children’s book, I Love You Just Because, flooded her mind.

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Community

“Queer Camp” Provides Affirming Space for Youth

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by Carolyn Bick

Zae Giri has come out twice. But the first time wasn’t by choice.

“The first time was in seventh grade. … I was at the doctor’s office, and you know on the paperwork, where they have you put down your sexual orientation? I put that down, and made my mom look away, made sure she wasn’t looking, but as soon as I started filling it out, she kind of peeked over my shoulder,” Giri said. “Later on, she confronted me about it in the middle of the lobby. It’s a good thing it was fairly empty, but, like, it was kind of embarrassing.” Continue reading “Queer Camp” Provides Affirming Space for Youth →

Community, News

More Than a Thousand Brave Rain For Skyway Library’s Grand Opening

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by Marcus Harrison Green

Not even a heavy downpour could spoil the mood at the grand opening of Skyway’s new library.

On Saturday morning, more than a thousand Skyway residents braved steady rains to assemble on the corner of 76th and Renton Avenue for the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new 8000 square foot building. Continue reading More Than a Thousand Brave Rain For Skyway Library’s Grand Opening →

News

Skyway Breaks Ground on New Library

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Skyway_Library_Groundbreaking_1Community members celebrated the Skyway Library groundbreaking last Wednesday afternoon Wednesday, July 9. As the crowd gathered, 25 children from the Skyway Boys & Girls Club’s summer music program entertained the crowd with songs.

KCLS Interim Director Julie Acteson welcomed the community to the event to celebrate the start of construction for the new 8,000 square foot library.

“The new library will be within walking distance from the Boys & Girls Club, Dimmitt middle school and several elementary schools,” said King County Library System (KCLS) Interim Director Julie Acteson.

A number of dignitaries addressed the crowd, including KCLS Board Trustee Jessica Bonebright, Friends of Skyway Library President Theresa McLean, West Hill Community Association President Bill Bowden, King County Sheriff’s Office Captain Ted Boe and King County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Brian Barnes.

“We appreciate the voters in the community who supported this project,” said KCLS Board Trustee Jessica Bonebright. “This is going to be a great resource for the community.”

Project architect Matt Aalfs highlighted the design process, which incorporated input from the community. He said the new building will have almost twice the space, materials and computers.

“We tried to make a building that’s beautiful, that’s inspirational and it feels open and welcoming. We met with (community members) here,and thought a lot about the kids who live here who might need a place to go. We wanted them to feel comfortable and safe here, with whatever it is they need.” Aalfs said.

With gold shovels in hand, local dignitaries were joined by children with small shovels to break ground. “This Space is going to be great.” Said West Hill Community Association President Bill Bowden. “It’s just an awesome centerpiece for revitalizing the community!”

Special thanks to the King County Library System for assistance with this article