Remembering longtime West Seattleite Susan Fortney, 1949-2013
A memorial service is planned August 2nd for Susan Fortney, whose family shares this remembrance:
Susan Theresa Fortney, 64, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family, on June 22, 2013.
Susie was born in Wallace, Idaho, on April 3, 1949 and moved to West Seattle at the age of 2- she was a lifelong resident of the West Seattle area, attending Cooper Elementary, Boren Middle School, then graduating from Chief Sealth High School in 1968. She continued on to receive an associate’s degree to become a nurse from Skagit Valley Community College.
Susie was a nurse, in heart and profession, at Valley Medical Center for several years, and then went to work for a law firm, working as a office manager until her full-time retirement in 2011.
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West Seattle coyotes: One on the run; one at a trot
The latest West Seattle coyote sighting was shared by Diane, and it paints quite the picture:
Today, a coyote was chased by crows through the Delridge P-Patch parking lot along Puget Blvd toward the Longfellow Creek greenbelt. It looked like a very healthy male.
As always – we share this advice about what to do if you see a coyote as well as how to reduce the chance of conflicts. (The crows seem to know already.)
ADDED 9:28 PM: Another one came in right after we published this. From Melissa:
Just had a coyote go trotting down the street here, heading toward 16th. I’m just below Riverview Park on Othello. He moved too fast for me to get a pic, though. Figured I’d pass along a head’s up.
Please forgive us for today’s sudden outage
Please accept our apologies for the outage late today – it was NOT planned, and furthermore, when we occasionally need to take the site down for maintenance, we do our best to make sure it’s only in the very late-night/early-morning hours. Our latest problems are the result of growing pains yet again – every month sets a new record for homes/businesses visiting WSB, and we keep having to adjust the underlying technology to keep up. Right now we’re beginning work (with expert assistance) on leaping way ahead, rather than just keeping up, so once we can make that leap, it should dramatically reduce the risk of sudden crashes like the few we’ve had lately. In addition to checking our social-media channels if WSB is down – primarily Facebook (be sure you “like” facebook.com/westseattleblog, NOT our old “WS Blog” account) and Twitter – we also have revived our old blog-format backup site, so bookmark westseattleblog.wordpress.com) just in case. Thanks again for your patience and ongoing support and collaboration – Tracy Record & Patrick Sand, WSB co-publishers
New Chief Sealth International High School principal announced: Aida Fraser-Hammer
The third and, we believe, final principal announcement this afternoon for West Seattle’s public schools – this time, news of a replacement, the new principal for Chief Sealth International High School principal:
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Aida Fraser-Hammer as your new principal, effective July 1, 2013. She replaces Chris Kinsey who announced in June that he would not be returning in the fall.
Ms. Fraser-Hammer comes to Chief Sealth International High School from Kentwood High School in Covington, Washington, where she has been an assistant principal since 2004. At Kentwood she worked with staff, students, and families to increase on-time graduation rates and students’ academic achievement. Ms. Fraser-Hammer has an international background, and she is fluent in Spanish.
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6th principal change for West Seattle public schools: Alki Elementary
More principal news from Seattle Public Schools this afternoon. Earlier we published word that Gatewood Elementary‘s principal has been reassigned; now, the district sends word that Alki Elementary‘s principal has a new job too. Families are receiving this note:
Today I’m announcing a leadership change at Alki Elementary School for the next school year. 
Your principal, Ms. Chanda E. Oatis, has been appointed principal at Van Asselt Elementary School effective for the 2013-2014 school year.
Ms. Carmela Dellino, Executive Director for K-12 schools in West Seattle, will lead the process to identify a new principal for Alki. We will move quickly to form a hiring committee, and will keep you informed of the process. We are committed to finding a strong principal who will be a great fit for your community and who can build on Alki’s successes.
I appreciate the outstanding leadership that Ms. Oatis brought to Alki Elementary the past two years which has led to impressive gains in literacy, math and science achievement. And I appreciate the dedication of Alki families and staff to student success and to creating a positive and enriching learning environment at your school.
Please join me in thanking Ms. Oatis for her years at Alki Elementary.
Sincerely,
José Banda
She’s the 6th West Seattle public school principal whose departure has been announced since April (see the list at the end of our earlier Gatewood story).
Door-to-door alert: Seattle Police’s cautionary ‘Comcast rep’ tale
It’s come up often, especially in the WSB Forums – how to tell whether someone who comes to your door, claiming to be a rep for Comcast, really IS. And even then, we learn in the latest newsletter from Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon, that’s no guarantee all’s well, especially if you didn’t request the visit. He says a recent incident in West Seattle prompted this:
Seattle Police Newsletter, July 2013
P.S. In case you – like a commenter – cannot see or access the document we embedded via Scribd, here’s the original PDF, uploaded to our server (it came from SPD via e-mail attachment, otherwise we’d happily point you to their site).
West Seattle food notes: La Romanza patio; July 4th chicken; more
LA ROMANZA ADDS PATIO: A new place to dine outdoors in The Junction – La Romanza Bistro Italiano (WSB sponsor) has opened its patio out back. Proprietor Aimee Pellegrini says it’s open “all of our open and non-raining hours, definitely happy hour, dinner and sunny brunch. We can seat up to 20 on the deck and the entire space may be reserved as well. It’s a great spot for an al-fresco evening with light breezes and western exposure. Happy hour on the deck starts at 4:00 pm!” (P.S. Aimee adds that on West Seattle Summer Fest Eve, July 11th, award-winning Elvis stylist Bret Wiggins will perform two sets in front of La Romanza, starting at 6:30 pm, free, with drinks, “small bites,” and dinner available.)
4TH OF JULY CHICKEN: One of our newest sponsors, Harry’s Chicken Joint just north of Morgan Junction, will be open for takeout only on the 4th of July, 1-5 pm. Call ASAP at 206-938-9000 to reserve your chicken.
WANT YOUR OWN PIZZA SHOP? Spotted this week in the businesses-for-sale listings, Red Star Pizza is on the market, four years after taking over the old Pizza Time shop at 7514 35th SW.
WEST SEATTLE FOOD TRUCK SCHEDULE UPDATE: The schedule of food trucks visiting all or most weekdays at Delridge/Andover continues to evolve. Our friends at SeattleFoodTruck.com tell us Where Ya At Matt has moved on, but a new gourmet truck called Nosh is headed that way – watch their site for dates.
THE ‘IN CASE YOU MISSED IT’ FILE: While we’re talking food … if you missed our earlier stories, two new restaurants are on their way to The Junction, likely by summer’s end: We reported last week on Pecado Bueno, taking over the ex-Wing Dome space, and we reported a month ago on Quadrato, en route to SW Oregon west of California.
Another West Seattle principal change: Gatewood Elementary
Another West Seattle school is changing principals. Just forwarded by a parent at Gatewood Elementary:
Today I’m announcing a leadership change at Gatewood Elementary that is effective for this coming school year.
After serving as your principal for eight years, Ms. Rhonda Claytor has been appointed principal of Leschi Elementary.
One of the things that the Leschi community is excited about is that Ms. Claytor works collaboratively with staff, families, and community members. Thank you for working with her to create a great learning community at Gatewood.
Ms. Carmela Dellino, Executive Director of K-12 schools for West Seattle, will lead the process to identify a new principal for Gatewood. We will move quickly to form a hiring committee and will keep you informed of the process. We are committed to finding a strong principal who is a great fit for your community, and who will build on your many successes.
Please join me in thanking Ms. Claytor for her years at Gatewood Elementary.
Sincerely,
José Banda
Superintendent
Seattle Public Schools
Gatewood is the fifth public school in West Seattle with a principal change for next year, after Madison Middle School (here’s our story from last month), Sanislo Elementary (here’s our story from April), Lafayette Elementary (here’s our story from April), and Chief Sealth International High School (here’s our story from last month).
2:43 PM UPDATE: Since we published this, a sixth change has been announced (Alki Elementary).
PHOTO CREDIT: Inset photo of Rhonda Claytor is by Gail Ann Photography.
West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade update: 1 day away!
Right about this time tomorrow, hundreds of kids (and accompanying adults) will be walking/rolling along the North Admiral route of the annual 4th of July Kids’ Parade, which starts from 44th/Sunset (map) at 10 am Thursday. New parade co-coordinator Jackie Clough shares the photo from Walking on Logs, where WestSide Baby‘s “Stuff the Bus” reminders are currently sharing space with a parade reminder and patriotic decorations. Jackie also has a reminder for paradegoers:
It would be great to remind folks to please not park on Atlantic Street between Sunset Ave SW and California Ave SW. This is along the parade route and would obstruct the parade (the parade route runs south on Sunset Ave SW, East on Atlantic, crossing California Ave SW, north on Palm, and ending at Hamilton Viewpoint Park).
If you’re not joining or watching the parade, please note that when it gets to California and heads east across the street, vehicle traffic is stopped both ways until everyone has crossed, and that could take up to 15 minutes (by our informal measure in years past). Then remember, it’s a post-parade fun fest of games and concessions on the lawn at Hamilton Viewpoint immediately afterward. The full lineup of who/what/when/where is here. See you there (and as reiterated on the sign – bring diapers for WS Baby if you can)!
Three highlights for your West Seattle Wednesday night
(Blue heron photographed by Bill Bacon, shared via the WSB Facebook page)
If you’re not leaving town for the holiday – speaking of which, our 4th of July page is here – three calendar listings to note before today gets too much further down the road:
POP-UP SHOP @ BIRD ON A WIRE: The first in a series of shopping events at Bird on a Wire Espresso (WSB sponsor) dubbed “Clothespin on a Wire,” described as being focused on “local arts, crafts, and foods,” 6-9 pm; details on this Facebook event page. (SW Henderson just west of 35th SW)
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: Relax and get into the holiday mood with a beverage and live music by Jim Page at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm, details in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: Yes, there’s a community meeting tonight – Southwest District Council meets at 6:30 pm at Southwest Teen Life Center. Agenda highlights:
6:40 p.m. West Seattle school capital projects – Joe Wolf, K-12 Planning Coordinator, Capitol Projects and Planning, Seattle Public Schools
7:10 p.m. Surplus substation properties in West Seattle — Dave Barber and Effie Moody, Seattle City Light
7:30 p.m. Night Out – Mark Solomon, Seattle Police Department
All are welcome. (2801 SW Thistle, lower-level meeting room on south side of building)
Your move! ArtsWest game under way in advance of ‘Chess’
(“Chess” rehearsal photo, courtesy ArtsWest)
The young actors in ArtsWest‘s Summer Apprenticeship Program are getting ready to open this year’s show, the musical “Chess,” two weeks from tonight. And as befits a production centered on a game, ArtsWest itself is inviting the community to play one, which they describe as a treasure hunt of sorts – “Find the Queen.” They’re posting a clue a day on the ArtsWest Facebook page, and your job is to figure out who/what/where the Queen is – AW says “it’s a person, location, or thing” – then take a picture of yourself with “the Queen” and post it on the AW FB page. First correct post wins the prize, which is two tickets to “Chess” and two 2013-2014 season subscriptions. If you’re just now hearing about this – catch up by checking out the first clue here and the second clue here; watch for the third clue sometime today here. (And find out more about “Chess” at ArtsWest, running July 17-27, by going here.)
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