West Seattle, Washington
26 Sunday
According to a WSDOT e-mail alert sent to media a few minutes ago, the work on Highway 99 north of the Battery Street Tunnel also has ended early, and 99 is now fully open. (South of the tunnel, the Alaskan Way Viaduct has been open since Saturday night; its inspection took only one day instead of two, so it did not re-close on Sunday.)
They’re headed out – maybe to return. Thanks to Judy Pickens for a Fauntleroy Creek salmon update:
The first two coho smolts have been documented leaving Fauntleroy Creek. Volunteer Steev Ward found the first in a soft trap in the lower creek, closely followed by volunteer Dennis Hinton with the second, on Friday (March 27) – the first day of annual trapping. The Fauntleroy Watershed Council has been conducting volunteer monitoring to see how many leave the creek for saltwater since 2003 and this year’s research will continue through May.
Fall is when volunteers watch for returning coho spawners; 19 were documented last year.
Along with being among the first to hear that Capt. Pierre Davis is returning to West Seattle as Southwest Precinct commander, the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network got a briefing this week on the precinct’s new bike patrol.
The guest was Sgt. Jim Britt (right), who is the sergeant for Frank sector (eastern West Seattle and South Park) and explained he is now the “bike sergeant” too – in addition to his ongoing duties, he is in charge of making sure the officers who are part of the patrol get equipment, training, etc. Because the bicycle patrol isn’t technically a separate unit, the officers will all still answer to their respective sectors’ sergeants.
The precinct will have at least two bicycle officers out each and every day on “second watch,” which is 11 am to 8 pm. Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith further clarified that means they have two officers with the flexibility to be deployed on bicycles – they have to have cars, too, as they can’t be taken entirely out of the loop for 911 responses.
Six officers in all will have bikes; Officer Scott Luckie and Andy Bass have had bikes for a while now, and, Sgt. Britt said, they also have been trained to become bicycle mechanics.
Thanks to Julie Nugent-Carney for the photo and report:
On Saturday, March 21st, Troop 282 recognized Jacob Carney, John Roach, and Spencer Gjording for achieving the Boy Scouts of America’s highest award during their Eagle Court of Honor ceremony at Camp Long. Guest Speaker Joe McDermott, King County Councilmember, acknowledged their achievement and recalled his own experiences as a Boy Scout. Dow Constantine, King County Executive (and Eagle Scout), sent a congratulatory video message to the boys that was shown at the ceremony.
In addition to meeting all the requirements to achieve the Eagle Rank, the three young men led local community projects including revitalizing the community garden at Longfellow Creek near Sealth High School, restoring 150 feet of trail at Camp Schoenwald in Burien, and constructing raised garden beds for the Seattle Nativity School which was founded to help low-income, at-risk children prepare for college.
Julie shared this report on Jacob’s project (Longfellow Creek) last May.
From the Fauntleroy Community Association:
Do you live between the Arroyos and Morgan Street? Travel through or do business in Fauntleroy? The Fauntleroy Community Association (FCA) wants to hear from you!
The FCA has prepared a new community survey seeking input to identify and rank local issues. The anonymous survey can be accessed through www.fauntleroy.net and then clicking on “FCA Survey.” The survey takes about 5 minutes, and will provide guidance to the FCA Board on where to focus their efforts during the next two years.
The results from the 2013 survey led to the FCA organizing community meetings with city officials to address crime and traffic issues. Dialogues between residents and officials were constructive and resulted in agreed-upon action plans.
Take the survey and help to shape the future of your community!
(Photo courtesy Betty Bennett)
Meet Max Debiec. He’s 12 years old, a sixth-grader at Holy Rosary – and he just pitched a perfect game!
Max’s achievement happened on the opening day of West Seattle Little League‘s 2015 season – yesterday at Bar-S Fields on Alki Point – as Max’s team, the Coyotes, beat the Orioles, 6-0.
We talked today with the Coyotes’ manager, who also happens to be Max’s dad, Stan Debiec.
It was a six-inning game, Stan explained, with Max throwing 79 pitches and striking out 15 batters. As per the definition of “perfect game,” nobody got on base; three balls made it (briefly) into play – a dribbler back to Max, a grounder to second, and a shallow fly ball caught around second base. Around the fourth inning, Stan said, he started to think Max was onto something.
Unlike the big leagues, he said, the completion of Max’s perfect game didn’t lead to a big show on the field – Stan is teaching the players how to win and lose with dignity. But everyone is certainly proud of him – we’ve received more than a few notes today making sure we’d heard about it so we could share the news with the wider West Seattle communty.
If you want to cheer on Max and his teammates – and the rest of the West Seattle Little League – games are scheduled on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and listed on the WSLL website.
(WSB photos)
After a friends-and-family event last night, Blue Moon Burgers on Alki is ready to officially open for business at 1 pm tomorrow (Monday, March 30th). Regular hours will be 11 am until 9 or 10 (they’ll be experimenting until summer arrives, when they’ll plan to be open until 11 pm).
(Kilie at the grill)
The menu includes build-your-own burger options, sandwiches (BLT, grilled cheese, more), vegan options, chicken tenders, salads, sides, and other food options, plus 12 beers on tap, and milkshakes too. Alki Blue Moon general manager JR Gifford – who grew up in WS – told us two of the three fryers are gluten-free. Another feature: You’ll be able to text an order, then drive or ride up into one of two pick-up spots out front, and run in to get it. The site has about a dozen spots in all for customers (fitting, given that in its former life, it was an auto-repair shop; we first reported the burger-switchover plan almost a year ago). It’s at 2504 Alki Ave. SW.
Get your inner mermaid out into the open and join this new West Seattle event – Leslie Rosen just sent word, with plenty of time for you to plan:
Calling all mermaids for the first West Seattle Mermaid Parade! Come join us (in costumes!) on Sat May 30, 2015. Meet at the Alki Bathhouse at 11 am for a water-themed veil dance by the Sirens of Serpentine to live harp music by Monica Schley. After, we will walk the Alki Beach Trail. Mermaids are not afraid of water, so this parade happens rain or shine. – Free, all ages and open to everyone.
The mermaid parade is the proud recipient of an art grant from Ignition Northwest (501c) for NEW interactive, community-driven, collaborative works that are accessible to the public and participatory in scope. Fueling community through participatory arts, events and education.
Thanks to Caryn Johnson for the report and photos from Saturday’s High School Baseball Classic game at Safeco Field, with West Seattle HS coming home with a win:
The High School Baseball Classic has been running for 9 years and West Seattle High School has been fortunate enough to have participated in every one.
Sponsored by the Seattle Mariners and Safeco Field, this event gives local high schools the opportunity to please on the “Big Stage.” For most of these boys, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to sit in the dugout, practice and play where of some of their idols do. They are treated like a major league team, with their names being called by the announcer, plays being replayed on the “JumboTron” in center field and even the field crew coming out to drag the field during the 4th inning to make sure they played on the best conditions possible. All in all, the experience is one I know the boys from both teams with forever treasure.
Yesterday, West Seattle High School hosted Sedro Woolley High School. It was a brisk sunny afternoon and a wonderful day for baseball.
Sophomore Carson Wright (above) started on the mound for West Seattle and got things underway. He pitched three great innings of baseball, only giving up one run.
(Above, Jack Page sliding into 3rd; below, Morgan McCullough at bat)
West Seattle came out strong and scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 1st. Coach Velko Vitalich made many substitutions during the game, allowing several of the boys a chance to play.
(Jamie Maples scoring the 6th run of the game in the bottom of the 6th)
In the end West Seattle won, 6-1. The next game is Monday against Nathan Hale at Meadowbrook at 3:30 pm.
(Bald eagles photographed near a nest in Lincoln Park by Mark Ahlness, shared via WSB Flickr group)
Notes for the second Sunday of spring, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
VIADUCT *NOT* CLOSED TODAY: As noted last night, WSDOT finished its inspection work and is NOT closing Highway 99 between the West Seattle Bridge and the Battery Street Tunnel. *BUT* 99 does remain closed until Monday morning (we’ll update if that changes) north of downtown. (9:27 am note – the flashing-lights VIADUCT CLOSED signs apparently still haven’t been turned off, but really, it IS open between here and Western Ave.)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in The Junction, with something new every week, particularly this time of year. (44th/Alaska)
PALM SUNDAY: Find the Holy Week schedules for many local churches linked from our Easter & More page. (It’s not too late to add services/events to the page – please e-mail us at editor@westseattleblog.com)
RAINWISE 101: 3 pm today at Southwest Branch Library, it’s your next chance to find out more about the city/county program offering rebates for raingardens and cisterns in certain areas of West Seattle, to get rainwater out of the sewer system and out of Puget Sound. (35th/Henderson)
ALL-AGES OPEN MICROPHONE: 3 pm signups, 4 pm music – Skylark‘s monthly open-microphone event open to musicians (and audience) of all ages – details here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
7:53 PM: WSDOT says the Alaskan Way Viaduct not only has reopened for tonight, it will NOT have to close again tomorrow – the inspection work is all done. But that *only* affects the stretch between the West Seattle Bridge and the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel; north of the tunnel, it remains closed until Monday morning, so if you head northbound on 99, you’ll have to exit by Western. Read the full announcement here.
9:55 PM: As of a short time ago, the “Viaduct Closed” lights are still flashing on signs approaching the bridge – but the road really is open.
7:52 PM: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center is celebrating its ninth birthday tonight with the “Thrive 9” party, on until 9 pm. We visited in the early going, and watched a Seattle Balloon Arts creation in progress. Next door, Eli Rosenblatt was singing:
(ADDED: Video, with audience participation:)
Other scheduled performers: Eduardo Mendonca and the Dogg Pound dance crew (born from the Vicious Puppies, featured here on Delridge Day 2009).
ADDED SUNDAY MORNING: Thanks to Megan Snow from Flourish Dance Project for a quick clip from the Dogg Pound Crew’s performance:
Youngstown’s calendar is full of regular classes, youth programs, and special events; but it’s worth just stopping by during the day for a look – you’ll find the hallway full of art displays as well as interpretive information and photos explaining the history of the building (the original Frank B. Cooper School) and the surrounding area.
The first of two new King County Water Taxis was christened on Vashon Island today. Above, breaking mesh-covered champagne bottles onto the M/V Sally Fox, that’s County Executive Dow Constantine, Ms. Fox’s daughter Kelly Fox Violet, and County Councilmember Joe McDermott. Big turnout at the passenger-ferry dock on north Vashon:
Here’s a better look at the boat, whose twin, M/V Doc Maynard, is coming to West Seattle this fall.
Executive Constantine talked about the growth in Water Taxi ridership – 445,000 trips last year, taking cars off the roads:
He also mentioned seeing people at the ceremony whose involvement with the county’s foot-ferry efforts goes way back. We noticed one of them – his predecessor, former County Executive Ron Sims:
During Sims’s tenure, the county took over Vashon foot-ferry service, which was formerly run by the state. Meantime, 80 percent of the $11 million cost of the two new boats – both built at All American Marine in Bellingham – was covered by federal grant money. Another financial point, brought up by County Councilmember Joe McDermott – savings realized by merging the King County Ferry District into the county Department of Transportation:
He talked about the Vashon boat’s namesake, Sally Fox, who died in 2007; her widower, retired Judge Michael Fox, also spoke at the event. Here’s the plaque that will honor her onboard:
One more look at the boat!
With room for 250 passengers and 26 bicycles, the Sally Fox officially goes into service next month. Go here to read the official county news release about the boat and today’s event.
P.S. It’s not affected by this, but in case you wondered – the West Seattle Water Taxi’s seven-days-a-week spring/summer schedule starts on April 6th, one week from Monday.
Two cars to show you in West Seattle Crime Watch. First:
SEEN IN HIGHLAND PARK: Laura sent us that photo, and before we got the chance to publish it, Gretchen sent a note about the same car, a Nissan Sentra GXE, abandoned at 18th and Cloverdale (map), described as “entire engine block … missing and had four spare tires. No license plates.” And a gutted interior. It’s been reported to SPD.
HIT-AND-RUN MYSTERY: This happened to Brian‘s car early today:
He writes:
I live at 48th SW and Oregon [map]. Last night right before 2:30 am, a red SUV with a black roof and chrome extended grill smashed into my car. I heard the collision and saw the SUV take off heading west on Oregon from my bedroom window but didn’t get the plate.
Any idea whose SUV that was? A report’s been filed with police – case #100658.
3:45 PM: Thanks to the texter who just alerted us to this (206-293-6302 any time), noting that it’s compounded by the fact 99 is closed: A three-car collision is blocking two lanes on the eastbound bridge, described by SDOT as “west of 4th Avenue S.”
4:02 PM UPDATE: Adding the WSDOT camera that’s currently pointed westward, looking at the collision scene. Here’s the view looking eastward over the upper and lower bridges – the latter seems a better option right now.
4:44 PM: SDOT says the crash has cleared. The backup will take a while longer.
(Photo by DLBJ)
Thanks to everyone who’s shared photos of the yachts seen today off West Seattle’s west-facing shores … it’s the Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle‘s Three Tree Point race.
(Photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
ADDED SATURDAY EVENING: More photos.
(Photo by Gary Jones)
Couple more to come. Results from today’s race are linked from this page on the club’s website.
(WSB photo: David Groves of Seattle Logo Pro presents the mayor with a hometown T-shirt)
2:23 PM: Within the past half-hour, Mayor Ed Murray wrapped up more than two and a half hours in West Seattle – including second-watch roll call at the Southwest Precinct, a walking tour of The Junction and Triangle, and an open-to-all coffee chat that drew more than 20 people. Talking with WSB for a few minutes after all that (we were along for the walking tour and coffee chat), the mayor said he was inspired by the “positive, can-do attitude” of the people he talked with – the “most upbeat … neighborhood” he’d visited. We’ll be adding more photos and the full story over the next few hours.
MIDNIGHT: Took longer than we had hoped. Here’s how it unfolded:
(Photo courtesy Mayor Murray’s office)
The mayor’s visit to the precinct wasn’t pre-announced to the media, unlike the walking tour, so we don’t know what was said – we heard about it from an officer we were talking to about something else, somewhere else, then asked mayoral communications director Viet Shelton if a photo were available. The walking tour started from Elliott Bay Brewing, where Murray checked out EB’s new reusable takeout containers:
Meeting up with the mayor there were four community advocates – René Commons of the Junction Neighborhood Organization (JuNO), Susan Melrose of the West Seattle Junction Association, Josh Sutton of the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), and Vlad Oustimovitch.
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The Whale Trail‘s first Orca Talk of 2015 drew a good-sized crowd to C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) on Thursday night – but in case you couldn’t be there to hear Brad Hanson from the NOAA Fisheries Science Center talk about the Southern Resident Killer Whales and his recent research trip – which included the discovery of the newest SRKW orca calf – we recorded it on video. Two parts – above (with TWT’s Donna Sandstrom introducing Hanson) and below.
Watch TWT’s website for word of the next event!
On this springtime Saturday, thoughts turn to … garage/yard/rummage sales. We call it “person-to-person recycling.” Six weeks from today, for six hours, sellers and shoppers will turn the peninsula into an epicenter of that activity, during the 11th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – 9 am-3 pm on Saturday, May 9th. We’re coordinating it for the eighth year; this is another alert that registration opens this Wednesday (April 1st).
If you’re new to West Seattle and/or WSB – this is NOT one big garage sale, but instead, many sales of all sizes, all over West Seattle. If you don’t have enough room for your own sale, Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) proprietor Lora Swift has announced they’re again offering courtyard spaces (including the lot at Ginomai across the alley to the east of her shop, which is at 4410 California SW).
Again, registration will open on Wednesday – we’ll link the form from WSB and from the official WSCGSD site at westseattlegaragesale.com when it’s ready to go!.\
We start with a traffic/transit reminder:
HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE: It’s a two-phase closure – from the West Seattle Bridge to the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel, 99 is closed until 6 pm tonight (and then scheduled to be closed again 6 am-6 pm Sunday) for the twice-yearly inspection; from the tunnel north to Valley Street, it’s closed until Monday morning. Also, westbound I-90 has lane closures that will likely slow I-5 just north of the West Seattle Bridge, too. It’s all summarized by WSDOT here. Looking for bus-reroute info? It’s on the Metro website.
Now, highlights here on the peninsula:
FAIRMOUNT RAVINE CLEANUP: Meet at 8:30 at Fairmount/Forest south of the ravine, and give whatever time you can to this annual cleanup along a route used by many to get between Alki and Admiral. Here’s our original preview with more details.
GOOP BREAKFAST: If you know what that means, you’ll want to be there. 9 am-noon at Fauntleroy Church. (9140 California SW)
COFFEE CHAT WITH MAYOR MURRAY: 12:30 pm at Chaco Canyon Organic Café in The Triangle. Here’s our original preview. (38th/Alaska)
WSHS BASEBALL AT SAFECO FIELD: You can get there without the Viaduct, and the weather’s looking better than forecast, so go cheer the West Seattle HS Wildcats in a FREE game ($5 garage parking is all you’ll be out, or take the bus) at Safeco Field vs. Sedro Woolley in the annual High School Baseball Classic – preview here. (1250 1st Ave. S.)
WATER TAXI CELEBRATION: You can also get to this without the Viaduct – just walk onto a Washington State Ferry from Fauntleroy, and when you get to Vashon Island, walk next door to the foot-ferry dock. 1-4 pm, the new Water Taxi, M/V Sally Fox, will be dedicated/celebrated, with King County Executive Dow Constantine and Councilmember Joe McDermott on hand; Sally Fox is a twin to the under-construction West Seattle Water Taxi, M/V Doc Maynard. (10800 N. Vashon Highway)
THRIVE 9: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center‘s don’t-miss-it birthday party! 5-9 pm – details here. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
KIDS’ NIGHT IN: Part of the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) Annual Campaign – drop off your 4-10-year-old at 6:30 pm, pick her/him up on Sunday morning, details here – check to see if there’s still room! (36th/Snoqualmie)
‘A NIGHT TO REMEMBER’: 7:30 pm, performed by the Olio Players at Westside Unitarian – details here. (7141 California SW)
MARKET STREET DIXIELAND JASS BAND: 7:30 pm at historic Kenyon Hall – details on the KH website. (7904 35th SW)
LIVE MUSIC AT WEST SEATTLE EAGLES: Members and guests are invited – live music at 8:15 pm (doors open 7:15), $5 cover. Tonight, it’s Quarter Past 8.
As they look ahead to today’s High School Baseball Classic game at Safeco Field, the West Seattle High School baseball team is celebrating a win. Thanks to Caryn Johnson for the report on Friday’s game:
Under beautiful skies at Hiawatha Field, the West Seattle Wildcats hosted the Cleveland Eagles Friday afternoon. West Seattle started Junior Jamie Maples on the mound. He pitched two full innings, striking out 5 of the 7 batters he faced. Freshman Cameron Paskett and Senior Daniel Kemp came in to pitch the rest of the game holding the Cleveland batters to just 2 hits and 5 runs.
Junior Morgan McCullough started the West Seattle bats will a Home Run blast to center field. He would continue to pile up the hits with another Home Run in the 2nd, a triple and a double. Jamie Maples and Sophomore Jack Page each had three hits. As a team, West Seattle had a total of 18 hits, producing 15 runs, 9 of which were earned.
In the end, West Seattle won in 5 innings, 15-5. Next game is this afternoon at Safeco Field at 12:30. Come on out to cheer on the boys at this free event. The next conference game is scheduled for Monday, vs. Nathan Hale at Meadowbrook, at 3:30.
The book is 115 years old. The movie, 76 years old. But “The Wizard of Oz” as a story is ageless and timeless .. as evidenced by the Gatewood Elementary first-graders’ production. It was staged the past two mornings, but if you didn’t happen to be in the audience, there’s good news – a performance has been added, in the evening on April 7th, with the community invited to see it! More on that shortly. First, parent Jena Inghram shared photos and information about the production:
Their amazing veteran teacher, Mrs. Donna Schwendeman, has spent the last month helping her first-graders prepare for their own musical production of “The Wizard of Oz”. This has been a huge labor of love for our kids and she has put in many many hours of her own time.
A little bit about what they learned along the way…
In preparation for this play, Donna read aloud The Wizard of Oz while the students drew mental images of the story to share out each day. They viewed the movie and discussed the characters in depth. Each student received a full script that was read aloud in class. Students were asked to list 3 characters that they were interested in playing and were cast accordingly. Donna arranged for a field trip experience to see a production of Cinderella…they discussed and critiqued it. A professional actor was invited to Room 2 to discuss his experiences and to teach theater technique (voice projection, etc.). Students and families came together and assisted in set and costume design.
Parent comment: These first graders are amazing- all of them! They sing a capella solos…And read, memorize, and follow along with a huge script. They remember props and cues better than the adults and remind us when we mess up! And especially to the kids who aren’t in as many scenes, they have had to wait patiently during the many hours of rehearsals supporting their peers who had more speaking parts. These kids proposed creative ideas about the set and the costumes and they helped manifest them. What an amazing experience, Mrs. Donna Schwendeman has given this lucky class of first graders. We are all so grateful for the creativity and the exposure to the arts that she brings to Gatewood.
Now, about the community performance, added, Jena says, after so much great feedback about the play: 6:30-7:30 pm Tuesday, April 7th, in the cafeteria at Gatewood (4320 SW Myrtle), with $5 admission at the door, a donation to start an arts fund at the school.
It’s a celebration of West Seattle food and drink, a vital lifeline for the West Seattle Helpline, and something people line up for, as our 2013 photo above shows. This year, the Taste of West Seattle celebrates its 10th anniversary, and your ticket gets you a delicious evening that’ll leave you with the afterglow of having done a good deed.
Once again this year, the Taste of West Seattle opens in two stages – a VIP head start at 6 pm, and then doors open for all at 6:30 p.m. It’s happening on Thursday, May 21st at The Hall at Fauntleroy, on the south end of historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse.
Not sure what West Seattle Helpline is, or does? It’s a low-overhead nonprofit – one staff person! – that helps West Seattleites facing one-time financial emergencies. Help from Helpine can help someone keep their gas, electricity, water from being cut off, can help keep a roof over their head, a way for them to get around, can literally keep a shirt on their back.
The first two Taste of West Seattle events were hosted by Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor), which closed its doors so this could be a private function. Metropolitan Market remained a supporter, but in 2007, the Taste moved its location to The Hall at Fauntleroy so there would be room for more to attend.
The number of attendees (above, part of last year’s crowd) has multiplied in a big way – from 50 to 600; the number of vendors has grown to 40+, from fewer than 10. And all this has equaled a bigger haul for the Helpline, to help cover the costs of its programs – from $1,000 at the start, to $28,500 last year. Its success comes from the generosity of community business sponsors as well as that of the participating food/beverage purveyors and of course, that of the ticket buyers.
Never been? Here’s what you should know: You have to be at least 21 to attend. To add to the fun, you get to vote on your favorite tastes, giving participating food/beverage establishments bragging rights when the votes are all tallied. It’s sold out in past years, so buying early is a wise strategy. You can get your ticket(s) right here, right now.
The food/beverage-provider lineup isn’t finalized yet, but you know it’ll be good – see for yourself in our stories from each of the last five Taste of West Seattle events:
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