West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
The Sunday sunshine was a boon to many who wanted to get their Christmas lights up – including the small army of family and friends working on West Seattle’s biggest and brightest display at the Menashe family’s home in the 5600 block of Beach Drive. They started work at 8 this morning, Josh Menashe told us, and by the time we stopped by about five hours later, they’d made a lot of progress. We got to meet two exuberant helpers – two of Jack and Linda Menashe‘s grandchildren, Jacob Menashe‘s daughters Sophia and McKenna, who were riding in the cherry picker:
The girls helped show us some of the new/newer decorations waiting in the yard – including candy canes taller than they are:
Here’s the biggest of the light-laden stars waiting to be put up around the property:
And while some of the shrubbery already was decked with bulbs, more lights – in boxes and tubs – waited to be added to the mix:
The Menashes will continue working on their display throughout the week, and they’re expecting to officially turn the lights on at 7 pm this Saturday (December 1st) – if you want to be there, that’ll give you (and us!) time after the West Seattle Junction Christmas Tree Lighting celebration, (5 pm Saturday). Another date to note – the evening of December 15th, Santa will be at the house for photos, as a benefit for the West Seattle Food Bank.
School resumes tomorrow for tens of thousands of Seattle Public Schools students after a holiday break of at least 4 days (longer for the younger students whose schools spent the week in parent/teacher-conference mode). Just before the break, more than 20 Madison Middle School students enjoyed a first-of-its-kind high-tech field trip; counselor Lauren Divina shared the photo and report:
On November 20, 2012, 21 Madison MS female 8th graders went to Microsoft as part of the IGNITE [Inspiring Girls Now In Technology Evolution] program.
Students got hands-on experience at Microsoft with the programming language “Small Basic.” Women from high-tech careers at Microsoft helped students learn to code. They also presented about their careers, followed by a Q & A session. Students had a chance to speak with the volunteers directly over lunch, which was provided. The students were accompanied by technology teacher Mr. Rockwell, and school counselor Mrs. Divina. This is the first year that Madison MS has participated in the IGNITE program, which was introduced to the middle school counselors in June 2012.
IGNITE is a Seattle Schools program, created for Seattle Schools in November 1999. Funding is provided by federal Carl Perkins dollars, which is federal funding for non-traditional education for women and minorities. IGNITE now contributes to the funding of IGNITE as well.
The program has been running in all of the 12 Seattle High schools since 2000. We have expanded to middle schools, more each year. After winning the National Best Practice from the National ACTE, Association of Career and Technical Education organization, the Directors of the National ACTE, the National Women’s law Center, and NAPE, National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity, in 2007, many other schools both nationally and internationally created IGNITE programs of their own, using the comprehensive toolkit created by the founder of IGNITE, Cathi Rodgveller M.S. Ed. Cathi has been a teacher and School Counselor for 30 years. She has taught every grade level, and doing IGNITE is her passion.
Seattle Schools now views IGNITE as a Premier program and best practice for educating young women about STEM careers. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) educators from anywhere, both nationally and internationally can contact the founder, Cathi Rodgveller, for information on how to start their own IGNITE group.
Here’s how to reach that organization.
(35th/Barton 7-11 has power but its sign and nearby intersection do not. WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
7:25 PM: We’re getting multiple reports of a power outage in Westwood – 35th and Henderson is our most recent report – and at least as far south as 9800 block of 31st SW. More to come.
7:33 PM UPDATE: Fauntlee Hills is also affected, according to some we’ve heard from. This outage is NOT on the Seattle City Light map yet (lately, they seem to take a while to show up there) but we have a message out to SCL.
7:37 PM UPDATE: While waiting for word from SCL, we have a crew out checking on the extent of the outage. For starters – stoplights are out on 35th between Thistle and Barton, though the homes on both sides of the street seem to have power. Just got a call back from City Light – they say at least 600 customers (homes/businesses) are affected but they have no idea about the cause, yet.
7:47 PM UPDATE: The City Light outage map is starting to show the outage boundaries. Looks like part of Arbor Heights is affected too, and part of the unincorporated area east of 35th/south of Roxbury.
7:59 PM UPDATE: Our crew is just back from surveying the area and it’s as spotty as it looks on the City Light map – streets where one side is out and the other is not, for example. By the way – if you are reading this via a mobile device, WSB’er Jono reminded us recently that City Light has a mobile-optimized site – find it here.
8:37 PM UPDATE: City Light has now upped the total of affected homes/businesses to almost 1,000. But no update on the outage’s cause, yet.
8:57 PM UPDATE: And … just received a few messages about power coming back on (one was from 31st/Henderson). If after a while yours is still out, let us know.
9:04 PM UPDATE: John Gustafson at City Light says that almost everyone should be back on shortly if they’re not back on already. The outage was traced to “equipment failure,” a piece of overhead equipment called a “jumper,” though he says they’re not sure why it failed.
Thanks to Chris for the tip – he tweeted this morning that SDOT was out painting West Seattle’s first “bike box” along with the bicycle lane on eastbound Andover at Delridge, so we went over to get the photo. The “bike box” plan was mentioned during the September meeting of the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council (WSB coverage here), and may well come up when DNDC meets jointly with Highland Park Action Committee next Wednesday (November 28th), 7 pm, at HP Improvement Club (12th/Holden).
If you’re not familiar with bike boxes, here’s the SDOT explanation:
The bike box is an intersection safety design to prevent bicycle/car collisions. It is a painted green space on the road with a white bicycle symbol inside. In some locations it includes a green bicycle lane approaching the box. The box creates space between motor vehicles and the crosswalk that allows bicyclists to position themselves ahead of motor vehicle traffic at an intersection.
That’s from this SDOT webpage, which has information for both drivers and bicyclists on how the bike box works – what to do, what not to do. One particularly important note – you must stop behind the bike box, whether there is a bicyclist using it at the time or not:
When the traffic signal is yellow or red, motorists mush stop behind the white stop line. Don’t stop on top of the green bike box. Keep it clear for cyclists to use. Typically at bike box locations, right turns on red will not be permitted .
A memorial is planned tomorrow afternoon for longtime North Delridge resident Dan “Danny” Murphy. His family shares this remembrance:
Dan (“Danny”) Murphy, a.k.a. W. C. A. Keeler Wacet, longtime resident of North Delridge in West Seattle, passed away unexpectedly in his home on November 14.
Danny was born in Seattle on December 9, 1947. He graduated from Nathan Hale High School, where he excelled in mathematics and journalism, and was co-editor of the school newspaper. While attending high school he created his own newspaper, a satirical publication titled “The Swamp Fly.” During high school Danny worked and volunteered in the broadcasting rooms of KOL and KJR radio stations. He attended the University of Washington, studying advanced mathematics and Russian. At night he attended Broadcasting School. He became active in the “alternative” movement in the late ’60s and early ’70s, and spent time in San Francisco. He was a founding member and writer for the ’60s Seattle underground paper “The Helix.”
A traumatic life event in his early 20s triggered a schizophrenic break and he withdrew, surrounding himself with an eclectic world of his own making. His brilliant, creative mind never rested. He continued to write prolifically, creating an estimate of over 10,000 hand-written pages. He pursued photography in-depth, with a particular focus on chronicling evolving gentrification. He enjoyed being an early innovator of electronic music.
We’re not being flip; that’s what police have reminded those attending recent community meetings including the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council this past week: The holidays mean more opportunistic car prowlers on the lookout for loot while you’re out shopping. We have received two car-prowl reports, both from incidents last night. First, a Morgan Junction incident reported by Tara:
I wanted to report a car prowl at the Starbucks location 6501 California Ave SW. Between 9 and 10 (Saturday night), my red Focus had its window smashed and a bag inside taken. Nothing of large monetary value, except for the broken window. Keep an eye out!
And this one in The Junction, reported by Barb:
My friend and I were parking our cars in the parking lot on 42nd SW between Alaska and SW Oregon (behind Windermere) at about 8:50pm
There were 4 people standing by a car with the car doors and trunk open. They told us someone had smashed a window in their car and stole a purse and an iPad. There was so much glass near by it may have also happened to another car too. I don’t know if you could see either item through a window or not.
Please remind people not to leave valuables in their cars no matter where they park. I know everyone should know this but, I was reminded not everyone remembers.
And even if nothing is taken, or nothing much, PLEASE report it to police so they have information on where the car prowlers are working – you can even file a report online (unless stolen property is valued above $500). But we hope you don’t need that link – especially if you take the advice you’ll find by following this one about car-prowl prevention.
Will we see orcas again today? Thanks to 10-year-old Audrey for sharing that photo she took on Saturday; you can see other photos from yesterday’s West Seattle sightings by going here; you can see what it looked like from the Vashon side of the sound via this video by Ed Brooks. Wildlife keeps no schedule, but here’s what IS scheduled today, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:
DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC NOTE: If you’re heading out this morning, remember that the Seattle Marathon is under way, starting from Seattle Center (other info here).
DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE HOLIDAY GIFT FAIR, FINAL DAY: The Duwamish Tribe welcomes you to its Native Holiday Gift Fair – third and final day today, 10 am to 5 pm. Buy directly from native artists and craftpersons; enjoy holiday spirit and a big lighted tree. Unique gifts in every price range – fine art, native crafts, regalia, cards, jewelry, T-shirts, smoked salmon, more, with snacks and beverages available, plus free parking for shoppers. The Duwamish Longhouse is at 4705 W. Marginal Way SW in West Seattle.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Year-round! 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska.
BUY YOUR TICKET FOR NEXT SATURDAY’S KIWANIS PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Find the West Seattle Kiwanis at the WS Farmers’ Market and get an advance discount ticket for next Saturday’s annual Community Pancake Breakfast.
SANTA AT WESTWOOD VILLAGE: First weekend of Santa photos in the new “Santa’s Village” location (ex-Dress Barn); hours and Santas listed here.
ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW: 1-4 pm, Arts & Crafts Show at Alki Arts (2820 Alki SW). From the announcement: “Just in time for finding a special smaller gift for your friends and co-workers: We are inviting several of our favorite ‘crafters’ to come show their wares for the day. Small items will be available at very affordable prices. You will want to join us for a mimosa and a fun shopping afternoon!”
‘GREY MATTER’ SCREENING: As part of the Global Lens series, this film will be shown at 2 pm at the West Seattle (Admiral) Library, free. The description: “Set in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, this radiantly self-referential film-within-a-film describes the vision and trials of a determined filmmaker named Balthazar, as he tries to produce his first feature, The Cycle of the Cockroach.” It’s one hour and 40 minutes long.
CALLIGRAPHY AND CARDMAKING FOR TEENS: Youth 12-18 are invited to the Southwest Library (35th and Henderson) for this Teen Space program starting at 2 pm – more info here.
MUSIC WITH YOUR COFFEE: Cynthia Alexander performs live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor; 5612 California SW), 3-5 pm today.
‘WINTER WONDERETTES’: 3 pm matinee today for the holiday production at ArtsWest (4711 California SW) in The Junction.
LIVE AT KENYON HALL … it’s flute and guitar chamber ensemble Duo Rubicund, 5 pm (7904 35th SW). Details and ticket info here.
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Not only did he organize Chief Sealth International High School‘s first-ever Nels Enquist Alumni Game – that’s Sealth athletic director Sam Reed refereeing as Tosha Brown (’08) gets post-tipoff air supremacy for the women’s Blue Team. That was the color of victory in both games, each one a “red vs. blue” match.
(Click image for larger view)
But the night was not about who won or lost – but really and truly, about how they played the game. And that they played the game at all. It was in tribute to former Sealth athletic director Nels Enquist, who’s in the group photo above, holding a plaque. As Reed explained in the original announcement of the event earlier this month, “Enquist has dedicated a majority of his life to Chief Sealth and has walked the halls and athletic facilities as a student, coach, teach, athletic director, assistant principal, and now a retiree who still makes (time) to substitute regularly” – more than 40 years of involvement. The event proceeds will go toward alumni projects including dedicating the gym foyer to Enquist and replacing the championship banners in the Sealth gym. And the hundreds who came Friday night got to enjoy some spirited hoops:
That’s Devon Hall (’02) during the men’s game getting blocked by, from left, John Boyd (’82), Jaray Austin (’02), and Jason Hutson (’93). Along with the alumni games, the night included scrimmages with current girls’ and boys’ players, and a ceremony honoring Enquist – more than two dozen additional photos, ahead:
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