West Seattle, Washington
24 Tuesday
Thanks to Gary Jones for the photo from Alki Point (caption suggestions, anyone?). From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, which has made the leap ahead into Daylight Saving Time (have you?):
WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS: Second day at the West Seattle High School gym, continuing until 2 pm. No admission charge, all welcome – more info in our preview from last week. (3000 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: On until 2 pm. Something new every week! (44th/Alaska)
DUWAMISH NATIVE FOODS, NOW AND THEN: “Spring Greens” are the focus of this edition of an ongoing series at the Duwamish Longhouse – details in our calendar listing. Doors open at noon, guest speaker Heidi Bohan at 1 pm, cultural program at 2 pm, shared meal at 3 pm. Free. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
TAX HELP: The Vietnamese Cultural Center in West Seattle says volunteer Ryan Huynh will be there 2-5 pm to help low-income people with simple tax-return prep, free. (2236 SW Orchard)
SEATTLE GREEN SPACES COALITION: 3-4:45 pm at Southwest Branch Library: “Please join us to plan an event for the Fauntleroy Substation on Brace Point Drive in West Seattle.” Find out more about the coalition here. (35th/Henderson)
‘CHINGLISH’ MATINEE: 3 pm at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), the “stranger-in-a-strange-land, laugh-out-loud” comedy “Chinglish” by David Henry Hwang is back onstage. Tickets at the box office or online, here. (4711 California SW)
GOLDEN AGE OF ITALIAN OPERA: That’s the theme for this afternoon’s free concert by the Ladies’ Musical Club – vocals, piano, violin, at the West Seattle (Admiral) Branch Library, 3 pm. (2306 42nd SW)
BURGUNDY PEARL: The Americana-music duo is back at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
“What could be more American than what happened in this place?” President Obama asked that question in Selma, Alabama, yesterday, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the civil-rights marches there. This past week, teachers and students from Chief Sealth International High School augmented their studies of those events with donation-funded moviegoing trips. Social-studies teacher Matthew Baudhuin shared a photo of one group of students at the theater, with this report:
My colleague at Chief Sealth, Dr. De La Ossa, and I wanted to share with the WSB an awesome opportunity Google provided for 150 of our students last week. Through the Donors Choose program, Chief Sealth applied for and received a generous donation from Google to take students to see the film “Selma.” We took 150 US history students on Wednesday and Thursday downtown to the Regal Meridian.
This was an incredible opportunity for our students, especially just days before the 50th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday March in Selma in 1965. The students were inspired and moved — engaging in a serious discussion about the 1965 Voting Rights Act that resulted from this protest.
(Side note: We’ve mentioned Donors Choose before – it’s also open to donations from individuals, and used frequently by teachers all over the country to seek funding for relatively small projects like this – you can search by school, type of project, and/or other criteria here.)
Two more West Seattle Crime Watch reports tonight:
SHOPLIFT TURNED ROBBERY: Thanks to the people who texted/tweeted to ask about a big police response plus a fire engine at Admiral Safeway a few hours ago. The police were all gone by the time we got there but we’ve since obtained some information from Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams. He says a loss-prevention officer tried to stop a shoplifting suspect who fought, punched, and kicked the officer, which turned it into a robbery. The suspect was arrested, with the help of citizens who held him down until police arrived and made the arrest. Lt. Williams says the loss-prevention officer’s injuries were minor.
12-FOOT-LONG, 100-POUND ‘SHIPMENT’ STOLEN: From the inbox, a reader report about a theft that would have been very noticeable if you happened to witness the stolen item being carried:
My partner and I had a shipment in front of our townhouse on 5950 California Ave. SW. … 12 feet long and 100 pounds.. This is of no commercial value to anyone else except that we tracked it all the way from Florida and it’s going to delay … two weeks on a very special birthday present. … I just don’t believe will be able to install this custom shade for friend that has some mobility issues so we made a shade that’s remote control from his smart phone. … We’re friends with everyone in the neighborhood and when (the thief/thieves) realize it’s of no value to them and that it’s not anything special other than a woven sheet of fabric for outside use – again it’s 12′ and would require two very conspicuous people between midnight and 5 AM walking around alleyways between Juneau and Raymond and Thriftway…
Seen it? Let police know.
More spring-like weather is forecast for tomorrow (remember, it’s still technically winter for another two weeks) – so you might be interested to know, if you hadn’t noticed already, that Alki Kayak Tours is open for the season at Seacrest (1660 Harbor SW). Proprietor Greg Whittaker (who shared, and is in, the photo) says AKT is starting its 11th year, with rentals for getting out on the water or rolling/riding along the beach. As the season gets going, they’re open noon-sunset on Fridays, 10 am-sunset on Saturdays/Sundays. (And of course, with the time change tonight, sunset will be later starting tomorrow.)
(Added 2:34 pm: Photo texted from Spokane)
1:34 PM: It’s halftime in Spokane at the boys’ 1B basketball tournament, and Seattle Lutheran is up by one over Shorewood Christian, 30-29. That’s a turnaround from the end of the 1st, when the Lions were up 16-10 over the Saints. Thanks to the folks who are over there with the teams and texting updates!
2:02 PM UPDATE: Three quarters now in the books and SLHS maintains a one-point lead over SCHS, 45-44.
2:24 PM UPDATE: Final score 61-53, Seattle Lutheran over Shorewood Christian. Saints get third place at state, Lions get fifth.
Two reader reports start off today’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup:
Isaac and Andrea sent that photo of a bicycle they would like you to keep an eye out for:
Last night, Friday the 6th, someone broke into our detached garage and made off with one of our bicycles. It is a distinctive bike: it is a red Diamond Back with white lettering with a black Kona fork. It is a hybrid style bike with two bar grips that I added onto the handlebars. Also has one splashguard on the rear tire. Serial no. DAP12/E003705. We have called the police and will be filing a report ASAP. This was directly across from Highland Park Playfield on 12th & Cloverdale. Please keep your eyes open. This bike has a lot of sentimental value to us and we would love to see it returned.
BUSINESS BURGLARY: Michael von Kempf, proprietor of Ultrafab Computers in Fauntleroy, e-mailed to say his shop at 45th and Wildwood was broken into recently, with the burglar(s) stealing four laptops belonging to customers. He adds, “As a one-man show, I service a large number of West Seattle residents and businesses. This break-in has come at a very bad time.” (We’ve followed up to ask if there are any identifying features that people might look for.)
Also:
iPHONE STOLEN? In the WSB Forums, there’s a post about an iPhone found in Arbor Heights, and the finder suspects it was stolen. Check it out here.
SIDE NOTE: SPD had another SeaStat crime-trends briefing this past week. Only one of the slides had Southwest Precinct info of note, sixth page in the slide deck, looking at robberies citywide – January/February in this area (West Seattle/South Park) was double what it was last year, 25 compared to 12. In the first week of March, though, the rate has dropped back down – two are on the map for the past week.
REMINDER: Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole returns to West Seattle on Wednesday to “continue the conversation” – details here.
(UPDATED SATURDAY NIGHT with photos)
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
SATURDAY NIGHT TOPLINE: The West Seattle High School girls left the Tacoma Dome this morning with the trophy for finishing #6 in state, after a 41-40 loss to Arlington. Below, we’ve added more photos and notes to our as-it-happened report from courtside:
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(Video: WSHS pep band with pregame fight song)
8:00 AM: We are back at the Tacoma Dome one last time this morning as the West Seattle High School Wildcats cap off a great season with one last game, tipping off seconds ago to play Arlington for fourth place. We’ll post periodic updates as the game proceeds.
(WSHS’s Emily Fiso)
8:06 AM: After an Emily Fiso three-pointer, it’s 7-5, WSHS in the lead, midway through the first quarter.
8:13 AM: First quarter over – WSHS is leading 14-13.
8:21 AM: Almost midway through the second quarter, Arlington is ahead 18-14.
(WSHS’s Lani Taylor in the foreground, Lexi Ioane in the background)
8:32 AM: And it’s halftime, with WSHS leading 21-18. The bands and cheer squads perform briefly during the 10-minute halftimes; WSHS’s band is playing Adele’s “We Could Have Had It All,” while the Arlington cheer squad stands by on the court waiting for its turn. (2 minutes later) Halftime scoring sheets are in. Fiso accounts for 11 of WSHS’s 21 points, including three 3-pointers.
(WSHS’s Ioane, Charli Elliott, Lydia Giomi)
Rebounds are an even match – 16 for the Wildcats, 17 for the Eagles.
8:51 AM: 3 minutes left in the third quarter, and WSHS retains the lead, 25-21.
8:58 AM: This is it – last quarter of the last game of the season for WSHS, win or lose. They’re going into the fourth quarter ahead 26-24.
(WSHS’s Annalisa Ursino)
9:10 AM: Less than 3 minutes to go and it’s 38 Arlington, 33 West Seattle. The Eagles have been more prolific with the three-pointers.
(Head coach Sonya Elliott talks to her team during the final time out)
9:24 AM: All over. They got to within one – and time ran out.
(Instagram video of the last WSHS basket, scored by Giomi)
Final score, Arlington 41, West Seattle 40. They finish as #6 at state. WSHS band is playing the fight song as the girls leave the court.
9:31 AM: Final stats – Fiso top scorer for WSHS with 16, then Lydia Giomi with 12, Lexi Ioane with 8. Top in rebounds: Giomi 13, Charli Elliott 9.
EVENING POSTGAME NOTES: The Wildcats were the dominant rebounders for most of the game (41 total, six more than Arlington) but conversion was a challenge, making 26 percent of their field-goal attempts; they were cooler from the foul line today than during their Friday victory, 40 percent. The WSHS defense was ferocious and forced outside shots, but as seemed to be too often the case during the postseason, their opponents had more than one good outside shooter, and so they got around the blocked interior – Arlington and WSHS had almost-identical success rates on the threes, 37 percent for the Eagles and 36 percent for the Wildcats, but the difference was in the number of attempts – 24 by Arlington, 11 by West Seattle.
WHAT’S NEXT: The squad that went to state includes four seniors (Elliott, Fiso, Ursino, and Rachel Devore), so this was their swan song. Returnees Giomi, Ioane, Taylor, and healing-from-an-injury Gabby Sarver are juniors; Izzy Turk‘s a sophomore; Kathryn Anawalt, Rosa Grossi, and Rilcy Newsome are freshmen. Next season – which they will start as defending Metro League champions – is just nine months away.
(Photo by Patrick O’Brien, shared via the WSB Flickr group, in honor of tonight’s time change)
Another sunny day! Remember that we “spring forward” tonight – at 2 am (technically, early Sunday) it will be 3 am as Daylight Saving Time arrives. Some of what’s up today/tonight:
WASHINGTON GLOBAL ISSUES NETWORK CONFERENCE: Just in case you wonder what’s up at Chief Sealth International High School on a Saturday, the second day of this first-ever conference has hundreds of students, teachers, and other participants on campus from 8 am to 8 pm – here’s what they’re discussing and learning about. (2600 SW Thistle)
ADMIRAL ADOPT-A-STREET: As previewed here last night, meet up with the Admiral Neighborhood Association outside Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) at 9 am. (42nd/Admiral)
WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 9 am-4 pm at the West Seattle High School Gym, it’s the junior/prep-age West Coast championships, as previewed here. No admission charge! (3000 California SW)
MEMORIAL PLANTING EVENT: Forest stewards at Me-Kwa-Mooks Park are hosting a planting event 9 am-noon in memorial of homicide victims and in support of healing from past tragedies in the area. (4503 Beach Drive)
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE DAY OF SERVICE: You are invited to join more than a hundred volunteers from OLG parish – lots to do for everyone! – in this day with many projects. Easy way to start, per the info we received, “is a drop-in at the Walmesley Center 9:00 am – 2:00 pm to create projects such as bulletin boards, placemats, and cards for the sick and homebound that would be used by the residents of Providence Mount St. Vincent. We will also be making prayer shawls and quilts for those in need in our community.” That’s the big center on the north side of 35th/Myrtle – just drop in to help. You’ll also see “volunteers out planting along Longfellow Creek, helping an elderly neighbor in West Seattle with spring cleaning, assisting St. Mary’s Food Bank with distributing food, sorting items at the Treehouse (charity for foster kids), and coordinating activities for families at a local housing community where the families have transitioned from homelessness.”
VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION AT LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: 11 am-1 pm, the home of West Seattle history is the place to be to find out how you can help by volunteering. Details here, including the different types of volunteer work you can do. (61st/Stevens)
WEST SEATTLE ART NEST GRAND OPENING: 3-6 pm, the new drop-in studio celebrates its grand opening. The team includes Theresa Anderson, who you’ll remember from Young At Art. (4138 California SW)
FAUNTLEROY CHILDREN’S CENTER AUCTION: 5:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, the auction/dinner gala themed “City of Light: An Evening in Paris” benefits the Fauntleroy Children’s Center – details in our listing. (9131 California SW)
SEABOT FUNDRAISING DINNER: 6:30 pm at Seattle Lutheran High School, enjoy a taco dinner and robotics while helping out the school’s team – details on the SLHS website. (41st/Genesee)
WEST SEATTLE MEANINGFUL MOVIES: 6:30 pm doors, 7 pm movie, “*West Seattle Meaningful Movies presents *Pay 2 Play: Democracy’s High Stakes* at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. (6400 Sylvan Way)
KLEZMERMANIA AT KENYON HALL: 7:30 pm, Kenyon Hall presents “two outstanding bands, the Klezmer Balabustas and Kesselgarden, in an evening of choice Klezmer tunes spanning decades. Klezmer is a musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe. It’s the music of heartfelt emotion, from sorrow to joy, and everything in between.” Full details on the KH website. (7904 35th SW)
THE ESOTERICS IN CONCERT: 8 pm at Holy Rosary Church. From their preview:
BDENIE commemorates the centenary of the premiere of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “All-night vigil,” which took place in Moscow on March 10th, 1915. Rachmaninoff wrote his 70-minute, 15-movement vigil in January and February of 1915, and it was first performed as a fundraiser for war relief efforts.
Rachmaninoff’s masterpiece proved to be so popular with both critics and the public that it was performed five more times within the month. Rachmaninoff based 10 of his 15 movements on extant chants from various traditional styles, including Greek, Kievan, and the Russian “Znamenny” style. The remaining five movements were entirely of the composer’s own creation, although he admitted their style to be “a conscious counterfeit of the ritual.” For this concert series, The Esoterics has expanded to 48 voices, and will intersperse Rachmaninoff’s movements with phrases of Slavonic chant.
Ticket info is on The Esoterics’ website. (42nd/Genesee)
9:12 PM: Final score’s just in from Spokane – Lummi Nation 66, Seattle Lutheran 47, in the boys’ 1B state basketball tournament. SLHS plays for 3rd place tomorrow at 1 pm; their opponent will be whoever comes up on the short end of the next game, which is Shorewood Christian (from just east of Arbor Heights) vs. Neah Bay. We’ll update when the score’s in on that; you can watch for live updates here.
10:35 PM: And the last game of the night is over – Shorewood Christian also losing its semifinal game, 67-44, to Neah Bay. So tomorrow, it’s Seattle Lutheran vs. Shorewood Christian for third place.
One way to start your weekend in the giving mode: Show up at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) at 9 am tomorrow (Saturday) and join the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s first Adopt-A-Street cleanup of 2015. ANA president David Whiting says Met Market is providing coffee/pastries pre-cleanup and sack lunches afterward as it’s done in the past; tools/bags provided, so just bring yourself to the main entrance at 42nd/Admiral.
Just two days after the Westwood transit hub took centerstage at the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting, a new illustration of a not-so-new concern presented itself:
(Thursday photo courtesy Joe Szilagyi)
On Thursday, WWRHAH secretary Joe Szilagyi took that photo in the middle of a very recognizable crosswalk on SW Barton between the Roxhill Park bus stop and Westwood Village. He sent the photos to city leaders with this note:
I am writing about the crosswalk from the Rapid Ride terminal site at Westwood Village in West Seattle. At some point overnight or today, a car plowed through the crosswalk and demolished it, while leaving debris all over.
We have asked repeatedly for nearly two years for assistance and budgetary relief to fund proper, full, and safe mitigation for pedestrians crossing here in the form of a controlled crosswalk if possible, and failing that at minimum a user-activated flashing visual beacon. As of yet we have only heard several variations on how this is not feasible, beyond current budget realities, or ‘not proper’ or appropriate for this location due to the nearby streetlights at Barton and 26th for the Westwood Village entrance.
There is a user-controlled full crosswalk one block south on Roxbury adjacent to the intersection of Roxbury and 26th, by the Safeway supermarket. Why is that location appropriate for these controls to service that Rapid Ride C stop, while the full end-of-line terminal a block away on another arterial is not? It’s a miracle that no one was in the crosswalk when this happened.
If this slows traffic down on Barton that is an irrelevant concern to the safety issues. Please advise us with a schedule as soon as possible of when this specific crosswalk’s dangerous conditions will be rectified to the satisfaction of the community.
Please note that we are not asking for assistance or guidance on applying for a grant on our own for this. We are asking for SDOT and the City of Seattle to immediately begin remediation of the dangerous conditions at this location.
We were CC’d on that note, and on several replies so far. Councilmember Tom Rasmussen told Szilagyi that he would ask SDOT to respond. SDOT director Scott Kubly said, “I will have my team work with King County to get the shelter repaired and to evaluate what we can do to improve safety at this location.” One of the people from whom he requested followup, city traffic engineer Dongho Chang, replied this morning that he would get it reviewed, then wrote again this afternoon:
The sign was repaired today. We’ll need to chip out the concrete and install a new post anchor. I had staff review our records and we didn’t have any specific concerns that I was able to find today for the crossing. However, I spent some time observing and walking the area and I have some thoughts that I’d like to have a quick conversation with the community.
We verified before sunset that the sign has indeed been repaired:
(WSB photo taken late today)
But that doesn’t address the ongoing issue. The e-mail chain continued late in the day with WWRHAH co-chair Amanda Kay Helmick pointing out that the safety issue had been discussed with SDOT’s new transit division director Paulo Nunes-Ueno at the last West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting (WSB coverage here) and that she had a walkaround tour set with him for March 30th. All involved are now deciding whether that is soon enough for an assessment, or whether the timetable needs to be accelerated.
The transit-hub-related issues discussed at WWRHAH’s monthly meeting last Tuesday at the Southwest Branch Library involved more than safety. Helmick had already announced that Metro had committed to sidewalk and lighting improvements; Metro’s Paul Roybal was at the meeting to confirm all that, saying the sidewalk work will go from 26th to 29th on the south side of SW Barton, and ADA improvements will be included. Preliminary engineering work is under way, he said, and a survey crew will be out soon; if all goes well, work could start late in the year (which would be two years after WWRHAH’s original walking tour with Metro and other reps).
Also at the meeting, Metro’s Doug Johnson talked about Metro changes that will take effect June 1st as a result of Proposition 1 money. Area residents remain concerned that the 21 isn’t getting much and the previously slashed 22 isn’t getting anything, with Arbor Heights service still suffering as a result. Johnson said this isn’t the only round of improvements; there will be more in the future. Helmick is gathering comments on how the 21/22 reductions have affected riders.
With some other routes – particularly the RapidRide C Line – getting added service, Helmick asked the Metro reps if that meant more layovers and more buses stacking up at the Westwood hub, where the “Wall of Buses” along Roxhill Park has been notorious. Johnson said drivers will still have breaks there but the buses will be moving more frequently to keep up with schedules, so it won’t be that noticeable.
Also at the meeting, Andy Thompson from Westwood Village’s owners, Madison Marquette. WWRHAH told him the center isn’t as walkable as it could be. He said they’re continuing to look into pedestrian safety concerns and questions, but that overall safety has been improved since the Seattle Police bike patrols began.
WWRHAH also talked Tuesday night about Roxhill Bog, one year after its first big discussion; a new report about its issues – particularly, why the bog isn’t much of a bog any more – is out. We’ll publish that part of the March WWRHAH story this weekend.
The Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meets first Tuesdays, 6:15 pm, SW Branch Library.
(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
7:04 PM: For those asking about the big Seattle Fire response to a possible “fire in building” on 54th Place SW in Alki: The call is being reduced and most of the engines are being dismissed, though, as they’re not finding any sign of fire or even smoke.
7:51 PM: Turns out longtime WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli did go to check it out; we’re adding his photo of the last unit that was left on scene as of quarter past 7 or so, Engine 29 from Admiral. Christopher says he asked the firefighters if it was a case of “food on the stove” and they replied, not even that.
For the second day in a row, some local parents are getting a safety-alert message from school administrators. Last night, it was Madison Middle School after a student was harassed; today, it’s the Denny International Middle School/Chief Sealth International High School community after a different type of incident, just east of the Denny campus. Here’s the letter, obtained from Denny principal Jeff Clark:
Dear Denny and Sealth Scholars and Families,
We want to share with you information right away regarding an incident that occurred in our community this morning.
At approximately 7:30 this morning a seventh-grade Denny scholar was walking on SW Kenyon Street from Delridge to 26th Ave SW via the Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail.
When she arrived at the bridge on the trail, a male of mixed race who appeared to be in his 20s or 30s came into view. She was asked for money and then had a picture was taken of her before she ran to school. When the scholar arrived at school, she did the right thing by reporting this to school staff right away. Denny staff immediately notified the Seattle Police Department, and they are actively investigating.
The safety of our scholars is our top priority. Please help us remind your children to walk in pairs, stay on well-lit and streets that can be seen by others, and to report anything suspicious to a trusted adult (school staff and family member).
More tips and information can be found on the Seattle Police Department website: seattle.gov/police/prevention/child/default.htm.
Sincerely,
Jeff Clark, Principal, Denny International MS
Aida Fraser-Hammer, Principal, Chief Sealth International HS
Thanks to the Denny parent who sent us first word of this.
Today is opening day in West Seattle for Rudy’s Barbershop, which has just become the newest WSB sponsor. Here’s what Rudy’s would like you to know about their business:
Since its Seattle conception in 1993, Rudy’s Barbershop has been committed to providing top-notch haircuts for men and women at an affordable price. Rudy’s offers a one-of-a-kind experience with a curated blend of art, music, and sense of place. Every shop is a cross-generational community center, buzzing with creative energy.
Rudy’s is incredibly excited to announce its newest location in the proud neighborhood of West Seattle, at 4480 Fauntleroy Way SW.
The location will soon feature a large neon sign, urging the community to “GO WEST,” professing the aforementioned pride of the people of West Seattle.
In January, Rudy’s teamed up with West Seattle’s Delridge Community Center to provide free haircuts to the community. Cuts took place in Rudy’s modified barbershop airstream, and with the help of the West Seattle community and other nearby neighborhoods, they raised almost $1,000 for the Delridge Community Center. This money will help them fund after-school programs, community classes, children’s basketball teams, and many other beneficial activities for the people of West Seattle in the future.
No need to wait for an appointment; walk into any Rudy’s Barbershop, any day of the week, 9 am-9 pm, and get a great haircut. Satisfaction guaranteed.
We thank Rudy’s Barbershop for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
While school is usually getting out for the day right about now, the lights will be on late at Chief Sealth International High School, where this is the first day of the first-ever Washington Global Issues Network Conference. Seattle Public Schools superintendent Dr. Larry Nyland helped convene the conference this morning; below, he was photographed speaking with Beacon Hill International School students in attendance (the conference involves students and teachers from many other schools).
Through the afternoon and into the evening, participants are seeing and hearing from keynote speakers and participating in workshops – you can see some of the issues they’re tackling here – environmental, cultural, civic, and more. The first day of the conference continues past 8 pm tonight; participants have a long day tomorrow, too, 8 am-8 pm. (Thanks to teacher Noah Zeichner, organizer along with student leaders, for sharing photos.)
A bittersweet week for the Seattle Lutheran High School community – cheering its basketball team in the state tournament, while mourning longtime athletic director and teacher Bob Dowding. The service and reception to celebrate his life are set for this Sunday afternoon. Here’s the remembrance his loved ones are sharing with the community:
Robert (Bob) Earl Dowding went to his Heavenly home on February 24, 2015, after valiantly battling cancer.
He was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, March 31, 1947, to Gerald and Eva (Rockenbach) Dowding. He attended country schools through 6th grade, after which he attended Palmyra, Nebraska, public schools. He graduated from Palmyra High School where he was active in football, basketball, track, chorus and class plays. Bob attended Sunday School and was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Eagle, Nebraska. He attended Concordia Teachers’ College, Seward, Nebraska, where he majored in secondary education and played football.
After graduating from college, Bob taught 24 years in Southern California, 21 of those years at Orange Lutheran High School, Orange, California. He was one of the original five founding staff members. He served as Athletic Director/teacher and in the beginning set up and coached all-new sports programs. Bob then worked for 20 years at Seattle Lutheran High School as Athletic Director/teacher.
12:20 PM TOPLINE: West Seattle High School wins, 54-45 over Prairie. The girls will play Arlington for state 4th place tomorrow morning, again here at the Tacoma Dome, 8 am. Here’s our Instagram clip of this game’s final seconds:
Top scorers: Emily Fiso 14, Charli Elliott 13, Lydia Giomi 12.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand. Above, Elliott & Giomi; below, Fiso)
Below, here’s how it unfolded:
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10:58 AM: We’re at the Tacoma Dome again this morning, and the West Seattle High School Wildcats have just started their second game in the state 3A girls-basketball championship tournament. After Thursday’s loss, they’re in the round contending for 4th place – this game against Prairie (from southwestern Washington) is a must-win. We’ll be updating as it goes.
11:04 AM UPDATE: Three minutes into the first quarter, it’s Prairie 7, WSHS 6. First Wildcat basket was a three-pointer by Emily Fiso.
11:12 AM UPDATE: End of the first quarter, Prairie 18, WSHS 13. It’s early, but WSHS looks a lot sharper today, though Prairie has a tough smothering defense as did Lynnwood yesterday. The Wildcats are doing better on the boards.
11:18 AM UPDATE: Thanks in large part to hot three-point shooting, Prairie maintains the lead, 21-15 with 4:42 left in the half.
11:27 AM UPDATE: Halftime. Prairie 23, WSHS 22 after an at-the-buzzer basket by the Falcons. (Added: Quick clip of the cheerleaders/band at halftime, via Instagram – go here.)
2nd half starts with Charli Elliott basket, 24-23 WSHS pic.twitter.com/bMxBoTELTm
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 6, 2015
11:40 AM UPDATE: With 5:46 to go in the third quarter, suddenly WSHS is up 29-23 including two baskets by Elliott in the first few minutes (see tweeted photo above from the start of the second half).
11:49 AM UPDATE: WSHS still in the lead, 33-29, with three minutes left in the third quarter.
11:54 AM UPDATE: After three quarters, West Seattle is in the lead, 39-35.
12:02 PM UPDATE: WSHS still leading 43-41 with 4:21 to go in the game.
12:10 PM UPDATE: Under 2 minutes to go, and WSHS is ahead 49-43.
12:17 PM UPDATE: Final score – Wildcats win! 54-45
8:10 PM: Over the next hour or so, we’re adding photos, interspersed above, plus some additional game notes/photos below.
Lexi Ioane, above, pulled in 10 rebounds, second only to Giomi’s 14. The Wildcats dominated in rebounding, 61 total, with the Falcons mustering only 35. And their defense was back in the groove.
The main reason Prairie stayed in range until the fourth quarter was three-point shooting, 33 points in all from threes, more than double WSHS’s 15 points from outside (Fiso accounted for four of those five successful distance shots). WSHS, meantime, converted well from the free-throw line – 17 points to just 2 from the line for Prairie. A few more scenes from the game:
(Above, Lani Taylor; below, Annalisa Ursino)
Tomorrow, the team’s spectacular season ends, win or lose. We’ll be in Tacoma again to cover that final game.
Six possibilities for tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WORDS, WRITERS, & WEST SEATTLE: 5-7 pm at Barnes and Noble Westwood Village, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society presents the next monthly edition of Words, Writers, & West Seattle, featuring author Barbara Haines Howett and her novel ‘Ladies of the Borobudur.’ See her video invitation above! (2600 SW Barton)
‘SKATE MOB’ ON ALKI: Be on the lookout, starting at 5 pm at Seacrest, for uniformed/jacketed skaters from Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby, with at least 10 derby skaters getting the word out about next week’s Southgate bout. (1660 Harbor Ave. SW and beyond)
LASAGNA DINNER: 5:30 pm and continuing as long as there’s food to serve, it’s an organic lasagna dinner to benefit the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) Annual Campaign, presented by the Y Preschool. Details in our calendar listing – and we’re told RSVP is no longer required, just show up! (4515 36th SW)
KARAOKE AT CORNER BAR: First Friday of the month means it’s Corner Bar night at Highland Park Improvement Club – and this time around, they’re featuring Baby Ketten Karaoke. Doors open at 6, and Corner Bar is all ages in the early going. Details on the HPIC website. (12th/Holden)
ASTHMA INFORMATION NIGHT: 6:30-8:30 pm, drop by Neighborhood House‘s High Point Center for information, education, and even some fun. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
‘CHINGLISH’ CONTINUES AT ARTSWEST: Second performance, 7:30 pm, for the new production at ArtsWest Playhouse (WSB sponsor). “Chinglish” is billed as a “laugh-out-loud comedy.” Tickets available online, here. (4711 California SW)
(Rendering by NK Architects)
From last night’s Southwest Design Review Board meeting: The proposed 66-bed Living Care Lifestyles memory-care facility at 4515 41st SW passed Early Design Guidance on the second try, after addressing issues brought up at the first review in December. This means the project will get at least one more look (the process is explained in the notice that preceded this meeting).
Board members and meeting attendees were generally in support of Option #4, observing that it had lost the “suburban” aspects that were criticized in the December review. Steve Fischer from NK Architects said the building had been turned around, with administrative offices, kitchen, and in-house hair salon at the front of the building instead of the back. The courtyard has been redone to start on the second floor. Public comment centered on two points: having the entry at street level rather than sunken, and parking. (Regarding the latter, questions involve what will happen on the street when the project is built with one curb cut where there are now three, and whether a short-term space might be available for family/caregivers/friends dropping off residents; the project itself will have 11 offstreet spaces.)
Board members’ guidance for the project focused on weather protection, especially around the entrance; exterior and street lighting; planned signage; facade materials (the project team says there’ll be brick on all sides); window design to ensure privacy for neighbors on all sides of the 4-story building; landscaping for privacy; how the alley side will be configured. When the project is ready for its next review, the city will post a meeting date; meantime, comments about the project can still be sent to the assigned planner, BreAnne McConkle, at breanne.mcconkie@seattle.gov until the final decision is issued, which won’t be until some time after the next meeting.
Just announced by the organizers of last month’s disruption-shortened West Seattle community conversation with Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole (WSB coverage here, with video): She’ll be back to “continue the conversation” next Wednesday (March 11th). When we spoke with Chief O’Toole right after her February 3rd visit, she promised to return for a second try at West Seattle Q/A, and that’s what this is intended to be. The meeting is set for 6:30-8:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle in The Junction (California/Oregon), co-sponsored again by the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network and Southwest Precinct Advisory Council (flyer here).
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No alerts so far this morning. One big reminder for next week and beyond:
HIGHWAY 99 LANE CLOSURES: The long-term lane closures just north of downtown are now expected to start next Wednesday. And next Monday night into Tuesday morning, northbound 99 will close completely starting at the Battery Street Tunnel. Details here.
8:32 AM NOTE: Still a relatively quiet commute today!
We got a note today from the West Coast regional director of the nonprofit Girls Who Code, looking for more 10th- and 11th-grade girls to apply for a free summer-immersion program. The catch – the deadline is tomorrow (Friday), so hurry!
Due to exponential growth, Girls Who Code is welcoming additional applicants for its 2015 Summer Immersion Program. Girls in 10th and 11th grade have until tomorrow, Friday, March 6th at 11:59 PM PST to submit their applications for Seattle.
Girls Who Code is partnering with Adobe, Amazon, AT&T, Expedia, Google, and Microsoft!
Go to girlswhocode.com/applynow to apply now!
The Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program represents an innovative approach to computer science education, pairing seven weeks of intensive instruction in robotics, web design, and mobile development with engaging, career-focused mentorship and exposure led by the industry’s top female entrepreneurs and engineers.
Participation is free and no prior CS experience is required, just an interest in learning more about Computer Science in an encouraging environment.
Madison Middle School sent a robo-call safety alert to families tonight. We hadn’t heard about the incident that triggered it until several parents asked about it; so far as we’ve heard, the alert was only sent via robocall, and not via e-mail, but one parent forwarded the audio file and we’ve transcribed it below. The voice was that of assistant principal John McDonald and he described it as “an important safety message regarding an incident that occurred in the community today.” Here’s what follows on the recording:
This morning, we had a Madison student come to school and report an incident involving an unknown individual. The student reported that a male approximately in his early to mid 20s got off a Metro bus at the same time the student got off the Metro bus near the McDonald’s on California Avenue, approached the student, and grabbed the student. After the student went to McDonald’s, the male continued to follow the student, asking for money, and then calling the student names, after the student told him that they didn’t have any money. The student then ran to Madison and immediately reported the incident to school personnel … (then) the Seattle Police Department was contacted.
The message did not have any additional information about the incident, but continued with safety advice for parents to share with children, including walking in well-lit, well-traveled areas, not walking alone, not taking unfamiliar shortcuts, being aware of your surroundings – acknowledge people but don’t “try to stare them down” – don’t display valuable items such as phones or money, and not wearing headphones with music blocking out ambient sound and preventing them of being aware of what’s going on around them.
We’re trying to reach police to find out more about the incident and will add anything more that we find out, though it might take us until tomorrow.
ADDED: Police included this incident in an SPD Blotter post on Friday afternoon.
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