West Seattle Blog…

Happening now: ‘Pencil Me in for Kids’ sorting party

Just got that photo from Josh Sutton of the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor), e-mailing us on behalf of the Rotary Club of West Seattle, whose members are busy with a big volunteer project right now:

A dozen Rotary Club members are busy sorting over $8,000 worth of school supplies for elementary students in need across West Seattle. Pencil Me in for Kids is a project of the West Seattle Rotary. We raise money throughout the year and work with school staff to be sure that students have the supplies they need to be successful in class. Tonight we sort the supplies by school, and on Friday we’ll deliver them to local schools.

You can find out more about Pencil Me In For Kids by going here; donation information’s here.

Rotary totem-pole rededication, report #2: Honoring ‘wisdom’

(Our first report on the totem-pole rededication event can be found here)

Along the 8-month-plus journey between the brazen theft of the West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park totem pole on a fall evening and its rededication in summer sunshine, there have been lessons learned by many – among them, the long and sometimes surprising path that justice can take.

One lesson provided at Tuesday night’s event, attended by more than 100 people gathered mostly in a semi-circle facing the front of the pole (and therefore the downtown Seattle skyline in the distance behind it), was that of grace, provided by someone who had not figured directly into the story before: Haida master carver Ralph Bennett. In the top video, you hear his drumming – and his words of honor for some of those on hand, including a request for the permission of in-attendance Duwamish Tribe leader Cecile Hansen, before he drummed on her historic territory. (The Haida people are from further north – coastal British Columbia and Alaska.) He also told a story – but first, one told by a Rotary leader, past president Amy Lee Derenthal. She led the club last fall, and so, as she noted Tuesday, the pole “was stolen on my watch!” Perhaps mostly for those who questioned why the club (and the Parks Department) chose to accept restitution from the man believed to be responsible for the theft, rather than pursuing prosecution, she spoke of how they believed the decision met the club’s “Four-Way Test” ethics code:

Back now to Ralph Bennett, who followed his drum song with a story relating specifically to the tale he says is told by the totem pole itself, particularly the thunderbird and whale that comprise its top sections.

His words about community rang close to home, as those who attended lingered after the ceremony’s end, either mingling by the pole, or moving on to a Rotary-organized celebration at the Golf Course clubhouse a short walk down the hill. And the event brought people from afar – not just carver Robin Young (shown in our first report), but even the woman who was Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu the year the pole was dedicated along with the park:

Debby Freeman Peterson was introduced toward the end of the event, when it was pointed out she came from the Midwest to be there. So what now? As noted in our previous coverage of the pole-restoration process, it will need a little TLC now and then – a coat of oil at least once a year:

As for the 34-year-old park itself, donated by the Rotarians in the bicentennial year of 1976, what you make of it now, is up to you, even if just – as Ralph Bennett put it – driving by and seeing it “alive.”

Rotary totem-pole rededication, report #1: ‘Story of community’

As Rotary Club of West Seattle past president Amy Lee Derenthal spoke tonight to the 100-plus people who gathered at Rotary Viewpoint Park to celebrate the stolen-then-returned-and-restored totem pole, she invoked the memory of longtime Rotarian Ken Wise, who helped sleuth the case. Mr. Wise, who died of cancer a little over a week ago, wanted to see the pole reinstalled before he died – “We made it!” Derenthal said proudly (referring to the pole’s July 28th reinstallation), while lamenting he couldn’t have been there for tonight’s ceremony – and among the crowd, voices rippled, “He’s here, he’s here.” As were members of his family:

(From left, granddaughters Amy Bentrott and Kelly Bentrott, daughter MaryAnn Bentrott, and widow Anne Wise.) Past president Derenthal also explained how the totem-pole thief had given Rotarians a chance to practice their “four-way test” of integrity and justice. Even those disappointed by how the case turned out, with a settlement rather than prosecution, might want to hear that explained on video in our second report; right now, the celebration is continuing at the West Seattle Golf Course just beneath the viewpoint:

At the start of tonight’s ceremony, Haida master carver Ralph Bennett drummed, and spoke of the pole’s mainstays, the thunderbird and whale – representing, he said, “the story of community.”

Before he drummed, he asked permission from Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen, who was in attendance:

Returning to West Seattle for the ceremony was Robin Young, the Native American carver who created the pole more than three decades ago:

He was at its dedication too – here’s the 1976 photo his family shared with us for a December story:

(Photo provided by carver Robin Young(third from left) ‘s daughter Tracy Zimmerman)
At the time, he told WSB he hoped to be at the park for the totem pole’s rededication – and that wish came true. The event, by the way, began with a greeting from West Seattle Rotary president Steve Fuller:

Meantime, our video from tonight’s event is coming up in a separate story.

West Seattle weekend scenes: Totem pole’s new ‘surroundings’

Volunteers, mostly Rotary Club of West Seattle members, converged on Rotary Viewpoint Park (35th/Alaska) in the rain this morning to spruce things up before Tuesday night’s rededication event. Most notable, check out the pole’s new “surroundings” – the flowers that were growing around its base have been removed, replaced by rocks so the pole can be fully seen. Other planting beds in the small park received more-conventional touchups:

Tuesday night’s event is at 5 pm, followed by a no-host celebration in the Golf Course clubhouse down the hill. The pole was reinstalled a week and a half ago.

West Seattle totem pole re-dedication: New details; work party

(WSB photo taken during the reinstallation last Wednesday)
Five days after the West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park totem pole was reinstalled (WSB video coverage here), WS Rotary has just sent new details about the rededication celebration planned for August 10th (one week from tomorrow), as well as an invitation to join in a work party at the park this weekend:

The public is invited to join the Rotary Club of West Seattle as we celebrate the return and rededication of West Seattle’s beloved Totem Pole. The Totem was recently refurbished and re-installed at The Rotary Viewpoint Park on 35th and Alaska SW. We are honored to have the original carver Robin Young, Cecile Hansen, Duwamish Tribal Chairperson and other dignitaries as our guests.

Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Time: 5:00 PM
Where: Rotary Viewpoint Park at 35th and Alaska SW

After the ceremony, all are invited to join the Rotary Club at the West Seattle Golf Course Fox Den Grille as we continue our celebration. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

A Work Party to spruce up the park is scheduled for Saturday, August 7th starting at 8:30 AM . Volunteers are needed if you would like to help.

For more information, please contact Shirley Clough at s.clough@comcast.net or 206-293-2773.

Last week’s reinstallation followed restoration and repainting work at Artech, more than seven months after the pole was stolen and taken to Oregon, where it was found along with another totem pole that had been stolen from its display site at the Renton Fred Meyer. ADDED 7:03 PM: An unusual view of the newly reinstalled West Seattle totem pole, taken Friday and shared today by Colby:

Video: Rotarians watch as the totem pole they donated returns

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
The Rotary Club of West Seattle had a delegation on hand this morning as a crew from Artech re-installed the now-restored, repainted totem pole stolen eight months ago from the park they donated to the city 34 years ago. Our as-it-happened coverage of this morning’s operation is here; Christopher Boffoli‘s video compilation shows the key scenes as the pole was returned to its place with the help of a crane:

The official rededication celebration is set for the evening of August 10. Among those on hand this morning: Duane Ruud, who, along with fellow longtime Rotarian Ken Wise, followed a track of clues that helped lead police to the discovery the pole had been taken to Oregon after the November 30th theft. Duane had hoped Ken would be well enough to be on hand to watch today’s reinstallation – while we all watched the operation this morning, he and others kept looking to see if someone might pull up, bringing him to the park – but ultimately he couldn’t (his son Tom is at left in our top photo). We asked Duane about Ken as well as about what it was like to see the pole put back in place today:

As for the future of the 34-year-old pole itself – read ahead for more on that and more photos from this morning’s operation: Click to read the rest of Video: Rotarians watch as the totem pole they donated returns…

Happening now: Re-installing West Seattle’s stolen totem pole

ORIGINAL 9:23 AM REPORT: We’re at West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park for the re-installation of the totem pole stolen eight months ago, and since repainted and restored. The official re-dedication isn’t until August 10th, but they’re putting it back into place today, and the pole is already here, about to be taken off the back of a flatbed truck by a Ness Crane that itself has been jacked up off the grass. Among those here: Duane Ruud, one of the Rotarians who sleuthed the theft even before police made an arrest, and Terry Boden, the first Parks employee with whom we spoke for our first story in early December, while trying to determine if the pole had been taken with or without authorization. This all may only take about an hour. 9:49 AM UPDATE: The pole’s been craned over to its base, where it’s being fastened. To see the winged pole briefly in flight was quite the sight:

(video added 2:04 pm)

If you missed our earlier stories, the pole is being reinstalled by a crew from Artech, the Renton-based art-restoration firm that also has given it a facelift – from fumigation to repainting. 10:30 AM: The reinstallation is almost over. The pole’s in place; the crew’s starting to fold up, and some of the onlookers have drifted away. By all accounts, it’s gone well. We’ll have a full report later with video and better photos (Christopher Boffoli was there shooting for WSB as well – here’s a great image he got as Artech’s Roger Waterhouse worked atop the pole:)

West Seattle totem pole’s re-installation still on for tomorrow

(7/21/2010 photo by Christopher Boffoli)
As first reported here last week, along with photos of the newly repainted West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park totem pole, its reinstallation is set for tomorrow. The restoration experts from Artech who’ve been working on it tell WSB the trucks will arrive around 9, the activity will intensify around 10. The Rotary Club of West Seattle isn’t having the rededication ceremony till August 10th, but if all goes well tomorrow, the 34-year-old pole — stolen last Nov. 30th — will be back in place (35th/Alaska) by afternoon.

The youngest paraders: Rotary Club of West Seattle Kiddie Parade

(All photos by Christopher Boffoli unless otherwise credited)
There were actually two parades in West Seattle on Saturday – with the Rotary Club of West Seattle-presented Kiddie Parade charming the crowd in The Junction ahead of the American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade. This participant had not just a tiger in the tank, but also on the head:

Other creative costuming was sighted, too:

And just like in the Grand Parade, some cool cars made their way down the route:

Yes, the proper parade rider must have sun protection:

(Photo by Creighton Yost)
But it’s not a parade without a banner – here’s the banner that always leads this parade off:

(This photo and the subsequent three, by Mindon Win)
Also carrying a banner – the newly crowned 2010-2011 West Seattle Hi-Yu Junior Royalty:

Music provided by the Junior All-City Marching Band!

If you missed it this time around, remember the Kiddie Parade is right before the Grand Parade every year, and all kids are welcome to join in.

Totem pole repainted; date set for its return to West Seattle

(Photos by Christopher Boffoli)
The date is set tonight for the return of the West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park totem pole: Next Wednesday morning, just under two weeks before its planned August 10 re-dedication, and almost eight months after it was stolen. Last week, we took you to the Renton headquarters of art-restoration experts Artech for a peek at the pole, post-cleaning, pre-painting (here’s that story); today, photojournalist Christopher Boffoli went to Artech on assignment for WSB, to get a look at the painting in progress. In the photo above, Phil Roach is working on the pole; in this next pole, the brush is wielded by Roger Waterhouse:

Click ahead for more of a look at what’s been done so far: Click to read the rest of Totem pole repainted; date set for its return to West Seattle…

Restoration work under way for stolen West Seattle totem pole

Inside a hangar-size building in Renton, the totem pole stolen last November from West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park lies under a ladder-suspended fan, looking for all the world like a hospital patient, which it is, in a way. The “hospital” is the secure – Department of Homeland Security seals and all – facility of Artech, which not only is a premier restoration business, but also, we learned, staffed by a team including more than a few West Seattleites. They are working on the pole, with repairs and paint, to prepare it for return to West Seattle and a rededication ceremony on August 10th. More photos ahead: Click to read the rest of Restoration work under way for stolen West Seattle totem pole…

West Seattle Rotary berry sale: Next round – raspberries

On this drizzly Monday morning, here’s one more photo from sunny West Seattle Summer Fest – the Rotary Club of West Seattle promoting its berry sale (advertised on WSB) in the festival’s Community Zone. This Friday and Saturday, it’s raspberry time, and you can guarantee yours by ordering online today or tomorrow. (Pickups are in the Admiral Safeway south lot.)

Happening now: West Seattle Rotary Berry Sale behind Safeway

Clouds? What clouds? Bring out the shades – and the strawberries – and we can all be in a summer frame of mind. Day 1 of the Rotary Club of West Seattle Berry Sale (WSB sponsor), and – from left – Melissa Haynes, Greg Whitney, and Ann Avery are in the lot behind Safeway till 6 pm; if you’ve preordered (which you can do online) this is the pickup spot, but walkup sales are available too, and Rotarians will be back 9 am-3 pm tomorrow (plus two more rounds of berries – raspberries and blueberries – later in the summer).

From West Seattle Rotary: Totem-pole progress; berry-sale updates

(WSB photo from December 2009)
Two items from the Rotary Club of West Seattle: First – rededication of the Rotary Viewpoint Park totem pole may happen as soon as August, now that the pole is being readied for restoration following the theft last November and recovery out of state (here’s our May story on the case’s resolution). The latest, from Josh Sutton:

Staff from Artech took the pole today from Parks and Rec storage to a local fumigation company. Next week it will be transported to their warehouse for restoration. In agreement with Parks & Recreation, the Rotary Club of West Seattle has hired Artech for the preservation, restoration and reinstallation of the Totem Pole stolen from Rotary Viewpoint Park last November. We look forward to setting a date in August for the community to celebrate the pole’s rededication.

Shortly after the totem pole was recovered, we did a story about Artech and some of the similar work they’ve done – you can see it here. Meantime, a big boost for the Rotary berry sale (WSB sponsor):

The Rotary Club of West Seattle wants to thank Charlie’s Produce for donating use of a midsized refrigerator truck during our Club’s Strawberry Sales & Pickup this weekend. With the pending construction, Admiral Safeway couldn’t sit a 40′ trailer there for six weeks, like past summers.

These buckets of Skagit Valley strawberries are freshly picked, hulled and packed in their own juices, so keeping them cool is essential to maintaining their quality. Even if you didn’t pre-order, we still have buckets for sale this weekend. Friday, 1-6 pm, Saturday 9 am-3 pm at Admiral Safeway, back lot.

We are taking Raspberries and Blueberries orders for mid July. West Seattle Rotary’s Berry Sale raises money for local scholarships and our Holiday Kids Shopping Spree. Thanks to our buyers, to Admiral Safeway, and Charlie’s Produce for your support!

They’ve got online ordering this year – the links are on the WSR home page.

Six students receive scholarships from Rotary Club of West Seattle

With the school year over, hundreds of local students will be moving on to college this fall. Six of them are receiving scholarships from the Rotary Club of West Seattle. Irene Stewart shares the news from today’s Rotary meeting:

The Rotary Club of West Seattle awarded six scholarships at its meeting today — four Students of the Year, and two Vern Gambriell Scholars. Each Student of the Year was previously identified as a Student of the Month by their high school guidance counselor, based on involvement in school and in the community. In addition, two students were selected as recipients of endowed Vern Gambriell Scholarships for study at South Seattle Community College, based on academic success and need. The year’s scholarship winners are:

Students of the Year
West Seattle High School — Karen Chen Lowe
Chief Sealth High School — Carolyn Smith
Seattle Lutheran High School – Jessica Bartel
Career Link — Gracie Roberson

Vern Gambriell Scholars
Thomas Ovenshine
Francisco Gabela

For more information about Rotary scholarships, contact scholarship committee chair Cathy Rouyer.

And a reminder that ordering is under way for the West Seattle Rotary Berry Sale (WSB sponsor) – pickup dates are here, online ordering for “will-call” pickup is here.

Spend a month in India, free! Rotary exchange deadline extended

If you’re between 25 and 40 and employed – you’re invited to apply for a monthlong exchange program in Maharashtra, India. The Rotary Club of West Seattle says all costs are covered – the program’s this December, and the application deadline just changed to July 19th. It’s both a leadership-development program and a cultural-awareness program, and though the Rotary sponsors it, it’s for non-Rotarians. More details on this regional Rotary site.

Berry orders begin for Rotary Club of West Seattle

Strawberries are first up this year for the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s annual berry sale, and orders are being taken right now – they should be delivered in time for pickup in just two weeks, June 25 and 26, on the south side of Admiral Safeway. You can order online at the Rotary website, or call 206-779-5301; raspberries and blueberries will follow in July. (Also note that the Rotary website also has forms for the Kiddies’ Parade it sponsors before the West Seattle Grand Parade every year – parade day this year is July 24th.)

Followup: West Seattle “Rampathon” project complete!

Last night, we previewed the Potter Construction (WSB sponsor) project (with financial support from the Rotary Club of West Seattle) that was to be part of today’s “Rampathon” by volunteers around King/Snohomish Counties. Got to the worksite in Highland Park before 11 am, and the ramp was already all done! The residents told us the crews had left minutes earlier.

(5:17 pm update – substituted that photo just sent by Gary Potter, with not only the family who lives in the home, but also a crew sent by EZ Access, the Algona firm that made the aluminum ramp!) The new ramp means a woman who lives at the house will get to leave more often – without it, she couldn’t go out without two people helping her get up and down the stairs.

BULLETIN: West Seattle Rotary Club announces totem-pole agreement

(12/14/09 WSB photo after the stolen Rotary Viewpoint Park totem pole was brought back to Seattle)
We are at the regular weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of West Seattle, where an agreement has just been announced regarding the theft of the totem pole last November 30th (as first reported here a few days later) from Rotary Viewpoint Park (on 35th south of the stadium).

According to a statement provided by the club, the suspected thief “has agreed to pay approximately $3,200 in restitution to the Parks Department for the cost of recovering the stolen pole. He has also made payment of $17,745 to the Rotary Club of West Seattle Service Foundation. These funds will afford professional restoration to be completed on the pole, work that was needed at the time of its removal. Because Rotary has been put in a position where it can now fund restoration of the totem pole we do not wish to pursue a criminal charge against the man responsible for its disappearance. We have informed the Prosecutor’s Office of our inclination. We are currently working with Seattle Parks on a stewardship agreement so that the Pole can be restored by skilled artisans in a timely manner. We look forward to updating the community as this progresses so we can set a date for the Pole and Park’s re-dedication. Our thanks go to the Prosecutor’s Office and Parks Department for their continued commitment to resolving this issue.” As we reported last week, there is particular urgency for the Rotary – one of the men who sleuthed the case, Ken Wise, is terminally ill and hopes to see the pole reinstalled before he dies.

(Video added 4:11 pm, Josh Sutton making the announcement at today’s Rotary meeting)
12:45 PM UPDATE: Josh Sutton has just made the announcement at the Rotary meeting and showed the $17K check. He is making a special thanks to Ken, who just got a special announcement. Sutton said, “For us it’s not about who’s responsible, but about moving forward. This isn’t about people who take things – this is about people who give things. Our task is now to get this pole back … put this baby back where she belongs … when Ken can see it. So that’s our next step.” Sutton says there also is an opportunity for the community to give, for the re-dedication. More details ahead on that. We also will be checking with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for their side of this, as well as to see if the suspect will be charged in the theft of the Renton pole found along with the West Seattle pole.

2:23 PM: Dan Donohoe, media liaison for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, has responded to our two questions:

We take into consideration input from the victim. In this case, the Rotary did not want to pursue criminal charges since the responsible party has now agreed to pay for a complete restoration of the totem pole. Regarding the Renton case, it is still under review. However, it is unlikely that we would be able to file any charges in the Renton case due to evidentiary issues.

The Renton pole was stolen from a Fred Meyer store that didn’t know it was stolen until it was found with the West Seattle pole in Oregon (here’s our story from last December).

Checking on West Seattle’s stolen totem pole, five months later

(WSB photo from December 2009)
Five months ago today, we broke the news that the totem pole at West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park had been stolen. In the following days and weeks, we followed the story through the investigation, the first arrest, the discovery of the pole in Oregon a week later along with another stolen pole from Renton, and the poles’ return to Seattle, where the Parks Department took possession of the one from West Seattle:

(WSB photo from December 2009)
The next chapter’s taken a while, so we haven’t had an update for some time. However, since our inbox indicates many are wondering – here’s what’s going on. First, regarding the theft itself: Prosecutors have yet to file charges against the 69-year-old suspect, who was arrested twice in December, the second time in connection with the second stolen pole. We checked today with King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe – which we have done many times in the past few months – and here’s his reply:

It is still under review and investigation. Seeking some additional information, and we’ll let you know when we have a charging decision.

(WSB policy note: We evaluate every case separately, but our baseline policy is to not identify suspects until and unless they are charged. If you are just catching up on this story, the alleged motive for the theft was detailed in the law-enforcement document we transcribed for this late December report.) Meantime, the Rotary Club of West Seattle – which gave Viewpoint Park and the totem pole to the city in 1976 – is awaiting the outcome of this part of the case. But there’s some urgency, explains Josh Sutton from Rotary, who had two updates when we checked with him today – first:

Our club had decided in January that we would await outcome from thief/prosecutor on next steps for the pole. We are reconsidering our options, as this has taken much too long.

He then went on to add that one of the Rotarians who cracked the case is fighting for his life: “On a more personal note to our club, Ken Wise, longtime Rotarian, has received word that his cancer is terminal, potentially end of summer.” Ken is one of the men in this photo we took near Lake Sawyer, when we went along as he and fellow Rotarian Duane Ruud accompanied the tow-truck driver who took the pole away the night it was stolen – believing the removal had been authorized – back to where he’d dropped it off:

(WSB photo from December 2009)
Josh goes on to say, “Ken has made it clear he wants the pole put back before he passes. Our club is working hard to see what we can do to make that possible.”

4 special cleanups: Delridge, Highland Park, Fauntleroy Way, 35th

This weekend and next, you have 4 special chances to help beautify and/or green up West Seattle neighborhoods. More details on the WSB Events calendar – but here’s the quick roundup – ALL could use extra hands, just show up!

SATURDAY, MARCH 20: It’s the Delridge Playfield playground sprucing-up event (maybe beyond if there’s a good turnout). 10 am-noon.

SUNDAY, MARCH 21: Highland Park Improvement Club plants trees, builds a new kiosk/sign, cleans tables/chairs/walls inside, and picks up neighborhood trash. 10 am-5 pm.

SATURDAY, MARCH 27: The city Clean ‘n’ Green event we mentioned previously is also a huge tree-planting event along Fauntleroy Way, with the West Seattle Rotary, local Scouts, and other neighbors/friends/community members. Starts at Fairmount Playground, 9 am-1 pm.

SUNDAY, MARCH 28: Sidewalks and planting strips along 35th SW between SW Holden and SW Roxbury get helping hands from the Westwood Neighborhood Council and Friends of the Southwest Library. Check in at the library. 10 am-1 pm.

West Seattle Rotarians pay their totem pole a visit

Still no charges in the case of the totem pole stolen from West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park almost two months ago – the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is still awaiting referral of the case – but the totem pole itself is in good hands, awaiting further plans for restoration and reinstallation. Today, Rotary Club of West Seattle members got their first in-person look since the pole’s move to a Seattle Parks facility they’d like to keep secret; we were at their meeting with Parks reps two weeks ago (WSB coverage here), when they hatched a plan to see if Parks and Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund grant could help pay for sprucing up the pole and the park before a reinstallation ceremony.

Thanks to Josh Sutton for the photos; he says, “It’s in good shape, and we continue to work on plans to get it restored and replaced.” Our coverage of the totem-pole theft case, dating back to first word it was missing, through its discovery in Oregon and court documents hinting at the motive, is archived here, newest to oldest.

Stolen totem pole now back in West Seattle – but not “home” yet

(WSB December photo of West Seattle totem pole in Parks Department possession after recovery in OR)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The Rotary Viewpoint Park totem pole, stolen Nov. 30 and found in Oregon Dec. 10, is back in West Seattle.

No, not back on its home pedestal (35th/Alaska) yet – but a plan is starting to take shape after a meeting Tuesday with the West Seattle Rotarians’ task force and reps from the Parks Department and art-restoration specialists Artech.

Click to read the rest of Stolen totem pole now back in West Seattle – but not “home” yet…