West Seattle Blog…

Congratulations to West Seattle See Dogs and friends!

(Video from West Seattle See Dogs and other guide puppies meeting SPD horses in Highland Park in June)
Tonight at the Mariners-Angels game, guide dogs will be in the spotlight – local Guide Dogs for the Blind volunteers, puppy-raisers including West Seattle See Dogs, and others, sold more than 738 tickets for the game and get the honor of throwing out the first pitch! West Seattle See Dogs’ Ruth Oldham tells WSB, “There will be over 40 guide dog puppies and guide dogs in the stands and on the Main Concourse Meeting and Greeting fans as they arrive. (Section 128 behind Home Plate) at the Main Entrance.” Then around 6:40 pm, Ruth says, “The First Pitch (will be) thrown out by Bob Sonnenburg and his guide Nino (since this whole thing was Bob’s idea!). Other pre-selected GDB volunteers and pups will join Bob on the field.” They’ll also have informational tables for Guide Dogs for the Blind at a couple of places around the stadium, and if you’re at the game, you’ll hear announcements too. Ruth enthuses, “What an incredible opportunity. There has never an event this large with the potential for increasing public awareness about Guide Dogs, and increasing public awareness about blindness in general.”

Memorial Tuesday for longtime West Seattle volunteer Helen Finnell

Daryl and Donna e-mailed to ask that we publish news of Helen Finnell’s passing, explaining, “Helen was a resident of West Seattle from approximately 1948-2003 and volunteered for a number of years at both the West Seattle Senior Center and Food Bank.” Her memorial and burial are set for this Tuesday. Read ahead for the full announcement: Click to read the rest of Memorial Tuesday for longtime West Seattle volunteer Helen Finnell…

Husky Deli, family, and friends mourn Mary Alyce Miller

Jack Miller at Husky Deli has been getting condolences all day from folks getting the news about his Aunt Alyce, who worked at the store for more than 70 of her 90 years – until August 10th, less than two weeks ago. She died yesterday morning. She never married but leaves behind 20 nieces and nephews. She was born Mary Alyce Miller on November 15, 1919 in Peru, Indiana, and moved to West Seattle in 1931. In 1936, her father bought the Edgewood Farm Grocery, and she began working behind the counter. Jack Miller says she’s the one “who got the store through the war.” She worked to keep it open and operating even when wartime rationing and restrictions were in place. Jack says she was always dedicated to the family business, and that she taught him the value of a dollar earned. Alyce’s rosary and vigil will be 7 pm this Friday night at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, followed by her Funeral Mass there at 10:30 am Saturday.

Remembering Ken Wise: Official county memorial proclamation

On the day that longtime West Seattle entrepreneur and Rotarian Ken Wise was remembered — a crowd packed Fauntleroy Church for his 11 am memorial service – a proclamation from King County Executive Dow Constantine honors Mr. Wise. See it here (thanks to Brian Waid for sharing it). Mr. Wise died of cancer on Aug. 1st at age 79.

Presidential postscript: West Seattleite met with President Obama

So it turns out there was a major West Seattle connection to yesterday’s presidential visit beyond The Big Booms. From the “we’re embarrassed we didn’t know this earlier” department, a longtime WSB’er e-mailed tonight to point out that Gillian Allen-White, the Grand Central Bakery co-owner who hosted President Obama’s mini-business roundtable in Pioneer Square yesterday, is a West Seattleite – co-president of the Sanislo Elementary School PTA, in fact. She is at the president’s left in the WhiteHouse.gov video above, and there’s a photo on SeattleTimes.com (WSB partner) tonight, with a story by food writer Nancy Leson, who followed up with Allen-White to get the lowdown on what the president ordered for lunch while there.

West Seattle producers planting ‘Divine Marigolds’ with TV hopes

Story and photos by Jonathan Stumpf
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Lisa Coronado — an actress, producer, and West Seattle resident — is still marveling at the recent phone call she received from the owner of C&P Coffee Company, offering up the coffeehouse as a filming location and any services it can provide to Coronado and her West Seattle-based show “The Divine Marigolds,” which she hopes will make it to TV.

“I mean, where else are you going to get that except West Seattle?” asked Coronado during a break from a script reading of the pilot episode, titled “Finnegan’s Wake.”

They describe their show as “a heartfelt comedy about a tight knit Irish-American family set in the gorgeous Alki Beach area of Seattle, Washington.”

Click to read the rest of West Seattle producers planting ‘Divine Marigolds’ with TV hopes…

Memorial taking shape for WSHS graduate Officer Tim Brenton

Thanks to Sue for noticing this and sharing the link: Central District News has an update today on Leschi neighbors’ plans for a memorial to Seattle Police Officer Tim Brenton, murdered there in the line of duty last fall. Officer Brenton, you may recall, had West Seattle ties, including having graduated from West Seattle High School in 1988. The CD News story includes images of what is on the drawing board for the memorial in Leschi – and a request for donations if you’d like to help them cover its $25,000 cost. Meantime, Officer Brenton’s accused murderer awaits trial.

‘Kenneth G. Wise, Mr. West Seattle: 10/31/30-8/1/10′

(WSB photo from December 2009)
That’s the family-suggested heading for the obituary that will appear in the Seattle Times this weekend and was shared with us for publication today by Dave Townsend, nephew of Ken Wise, the longtime entrepreneur, Rotarian, and totem-pole sleuth – the only photo in our files is the one above, with Mr. Wise at left, the day he and fellow Rotarian Duane Ruud (right) went out to Lake Sawyer to try to track down the then-missing pole, later recovered, and then reinstalled four days before his death (as Rotary past president Amy Lee Derenthal noted at last night’s rededication). Hours before that sleuthing expedition (which WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand tagged along for, taking the above photo), Mr. Wise had joined in the annual Rotary Shopping Spree at SODO Sears – an event he founded, according to his obituary. His service is one week from tomorrow, as you’ll read, ahead:

Born and raised in West Seattle, Kenny Wise was a local institution:

From leading the West Seattle Rotary Kiddies Parade at Hi-Yu, to being Santa for years at the Rotary Christmas shopping day at Sears for needy children, which he initiated in 1974, and most recently leading the hunt for the stolen Rotary Totem Pole, he was everywhere in West Seattle.

Click to read the rest of ‘Kenneth G. Wise, Mr. West Seattle: 10/31/30-8/1/10′…

West Seattle weekend scenes: WSARC hams ‘activate’ lighthouse

(Photos courtesy West Seattle Amateur Radio Club)
If you were out on Alki on Saturday and passed the Oldsmobile seen on the left in the photo above, you might have noticed it was no ordinary car: It served as an antenna for the West Seattle Amateur Radio Club, whose members set up a tent at Alki Beach Park, conducting a special operation in honor of the nearby Alki Lighthouse:

(By the tent, that’s Chris [KE7JBF], who we’re told brought the pink box o’ treats from Cupcake Royale [WSB sponsor].) The event’s goal: To “activate” the lighthouse via radio transmissions with the code USA005, in honor of International Lighthouse and Lightship Week (which concluded on Saturday). Club member Steve (K6US) sent the code before the Saturday rain really got going:

They weren’t able to operate from the lighthouse itself, according to club vice president Curt Black (WR5J), because, as an official U.S. Coast Guard installation, “it’s pretty busy during Seafair.” So they’re hoping to set up on its grounds in two weeks, on August 21st. (You can find out more about the club at westseattlearc.com.)

Followup: Local Climb for the Cure participant achieves 2 goals

By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Since January, we’ve been following the story of Lisa Town, diagnosed with breast cancer at age 43, and her husband David Town, who committed to participating in this year’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Climb to Fight Breast Cancer on Mount Rainier.

Here’s our original story from January; then in March, they held a fundraiser at Talarico’s to help them get to their $5,000 goal, the amount required to participate in the climb. Tonight, we can report that not only did they reach their financial goal, but David summitted Mount Rainier on July 24th during Climb for the Cure.

“It was a great feeling … a big relief,” says David.

Click to read the rest of Followup: Local Climb for the Cure participant achieves 2 goals…

Chief Sealth student, teacher travel to Aspen for ‘Ideas Festival’

By Christian Reyes
University of Washington News Lab
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Amid summer plans and college applications, Chief Sealth International High School student Molly Freed took a break from her regular life to attend a special conference with her social-studies teacher more than a thousand miles away.

Freed and her teacher, Noah Zeichner, were named Bezos Scholars in mid-April, an honor that only 12 students and 12 educators received across the country. All scholars attended the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado in July.

“I was incredibly excited,” Freed said when describing her reaction when she first heard the news. “I had connected my happiness in general to whether or not I got into the program, so I was relieved that my summer was (going to be) as life-changing as I thought.”

Click to read the rest of Chief Sealth student, teacher travel to Aspen for ‘Ideas Festival’…

Mayor tours North Delridge, report #1: From alley to forest

We’re just back from Mayor McGinn’s walking tour of North Delridge, and the photo above is from one of the stops – a work party along Longfellow Creek, with volunteers including Rat City Rollergirls. Other stops included the North Delridge P-Patch – where the mayor talked about budget realities – as well as the Delridge Fresh Food Spot produce stand by Super 24, and the alley behind the starting point (Delridge Library), site of a now-weekly cleanup by nearby residents who got to tell the mayor all about it. He actually spent about 2 hours in the area, with the tour preceded by a half-hour meeting with a small group of local leaders at Pearls coffee shop – as for the tour attendance, it peaked around 20 people (including neighborhood leaders, Department of Neighborhoods director Stella Chao and Neighborhood District Coordinator Ron Angeles, Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association executive director Derek Birnie and several DNDA board members, Camp Long’s Sheila Brown, local uber-advocate/activist/leader Pete Spalding, and Delridge District Council chair Mat McBride, but not counting your co-publishers, the only newspeople on hand). Many more photos and the full story later.

Memorial tomorrow for longtime West Seattleite Helen Damron

Another longtime West Seattle businessperson has died: Helen Armfield (Williamson, Zaar) Damron, 94, who had lived in West Seattle for almost 80 years and was an active member of the business community for several decades. Her memorial service is set for tomorrow, starting at 1 pm at Grace Church, 10323 28th Avenue SW. In 1966, she and husband Clarence Zaar opened Clarence Zaar Real Estate in The Junction (it now operates under the name Keller Williams Realty). She had worked in the real estate business in West Seattle since 1935, starting out as an errand runner for E.H. Savage Realty. Helen was a 1932 graduate of West Seattle High School; her family moved to Seattle from LaCrosse, Washington, in 1931, so that her father could seek work. Read on for more about her: Click to read the rest of Memorial tomorrow for longtime West Seattleite Helen Damron…

Memorial service, procession Monday for PO2 Jarod Newlove

Received from the family of West Seattle sailor Jarod Newlove, killed last week in Afghanistan:

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jarod Newlove’s memorial service will be held on Monday, August 9, 2010, 11:00 am at Holy Family Catholic Church, 9622 20th Avenue SW [map]. Following the memorial service there will be a procession to Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th Street, Covington [map], where committal service with full military honors will be given at 2:00 pm. There will be a reception directly after the committal service at Kent Civic Center, 10120 SE 260th Street, Kent [map], to honor and remember Jarod and all the joy he brought to our lives. All events are open to the public; please join his family and friends to honor PO2 Jarod Newlove.

Another reunion invite: West Seattle High School Class of 1980

The other night, we heard from the West Seattle High School Class of 1990 reunion organizers – and now, another milestone reunion – WSHS Class of 1980 alums are invited to the 30-year reunion tomorrow night and Saturday. Here’s the order of events: Friday night at Brickyard BBQ in the Admiral District, there’s a no-host bar/barbecue get-together, starting at 6 pm; then the big event is at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center on Saturday night – here’s the schedule, plus a message from reunion organizers:

5:00 pm Happy Hour
6:30 pm-8:30 pm Buffet Dinner
8:30 pm GROUP PHOTO
9:00 pm-midnight Band/Music/Dancing

Greetings, fellow WSHS Class of ‘80 classmates! Our reunion event is coming up fast and this is a last-ditch effort to reach those of you who we may have missed in connecting with. Our official party will be at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center where, in addition to live music brought to you by the 30 Year Itch band made up of fellow classmates, the evening will include beverages (beer, wine, soda), casual main dishes & dessert. All are invited to contribute a (optional) potluck appetizer or side dish!

A small crew of planners have tried hard to contact all of you, and invite your help in spreading the word to get folks onboard. Price is $40 advance or $50 at the door per adult, kids $10 and under 5 free.

Check out our Facebook sites, where you may also submit a casual pre-register to secure your $40 advance rate.

Facebook Group ‘West Seattle High School – Class of 1980’
Facebook Event ‘West Seattle High School 30th Reunion’
Facebook Event ‘WSHS 30 Reunion Friday Night No-Host Bar BBQ’

These events are open to faculty, and to classmates from surrounding years! Come check it out and party with the Class of ’80! Go Westside!

West Seattle benefit for Jayme Miller, battling back from paralysis

That video clip is tonight’s KING5 story about Jayme Miller, a White Center woman, and 1994 West Seattle High School graduate, whose friends are working to get the word out about a fundraiser coming up in a little over two weeks. As you’ll hear in the story (here’s the full online version with text), she is fighting her way back from a rare neurological problem, transverse myelitis, that struck out of the blue three months ago and left her suddenly, terrifyingly paralyzed. Jayme’s friend Sydni Smith also sent WSB word of the fundraiser (and a photo), explaining:

… While in therapy Jayme surprised the doctors again and again. She pushed her herself harder and added new challenges each day. Walking 10 feet down the hallway last month, using a walker and with an aide behind her in case she fell, was a monumental victory. Every time she was told she might not be able to regain a function, she willed herself right through that obstacle.

Jayme went home on Tuesday the 20th of July. She still has many mountains to climb, but hopefully she will keep progressing and regain full function. At this point she’s able to walk short distances with the aid of a walker and a “spotter” behind her in case her legs suddenly give out.

She has medical insurance, thankfully, but with three months of hospitalization and being away from work, her medical bills are another mountain she’ll need to climb. The ten-day stay in the hospital cost $200,000. The Doctor visits while in the hospital were between $80 – $140 each. The ambulance ride cost nearly $900 and each day in Mount St Vincent she was charged $575 a day for the room alone.

We’re holding a fundraiser/birthday bash we’re calling Walk On, Jayme! which will be held at RockSport Bar and Grill August 21st. There will be a silent auction from 7:30 to 9:30. Bring cash or your checkbook and bid on items from local artists and businesses and follow it up with Karaoke and dance hits hosted by DJ Tony B.

You can also donate to help her right now – via PayPal (which works if you have a credit card – you don’t have to be a PayPal accountholder), click “Send Money” and send it to WalkOnJayme@gmail.com. Or if you can give something for the silent auction at the August 21st event, e-mail Sydni at heysyd@gmail.com. There’s a sharable Facebook event page for this too – find it here.

State flags at half-staff tomorrow for West Seattle’s Jarod Newlove

The latest notice from Gov. Chris Gregoire’s office, directing that state buildings fly their flags at half-staff in memory of a fallen hero, is on behalf of West Seattle sailor Jarod Newlove. The governor’s office asks that “all Washington state agency buildings” do this tomorrow until close of business, or first thing Friday morning. Petty Officer 2nd Class Newlove died in Afghanistan last week, and the circumstances remain under investigation; family and friends gathered last night at the SW Athletic Complex/Chief Sealth baseball field in Westwood to remember him. As noted here last Sunday, you can donate online to help his family, including his widow and their two very young children; here’s the link to the website set up by a family friend.

West Seattle Night Out, report #3: Neighborhood portraits

One last roundup of photos from Night Out – which, given the many groups of 40/50/more we saw as well as heard about, had thousands of West Seattle participants. All but the last 2 of these photos are by Christopher Boffoli, who went to a few north/central parties to which we’d been invited – then roamed and found more – and gathered neighbors for a group shot at each one. Top photo is from one of the biggest parties, 48th/Dawson, which also had a bike parade:

For the next image, Christopher explains: “47th between Edmunds and Hudson were holding up signs that read
Get Well Betty’ in honor of neighborhood fixture Betty Broughton who was instrumental in planning the block party but who unfortunately was admitted to the hospital (earlier in the day) and could not be there”:

Also west of The Junction, Christopher found a party at Ercolini Park:

49th SW, between Oregon and Genesee:

46th SW, between Genesee and Dakota:

On 40th SW, between Dakota and Genesee:

From that same party, two of the neighborhood kids:

39th, between Dakota and Andover:

Between Beach Drive and the north end of Genesee Hill, you’ll find Hillcrest, whose neighbors have a party so big, there’s even a bouncer for the kids:

Now on to Admiral, where this party was on 46th SW between Hill and Walker:

42nd, between Hanford and Hinds:

And in Alki, from 61st SW between Spokane and Hinds:

Again, all the above photos were by Christopher Boffoli; the next two are from Jason Grotelueschen, at 40th and Hinds, who says their party drew about 50 people: “In the group photo, several of us are lined up from “longest time on the block” on the left (Earl & Sylvia win the prize at 45 years) to “shortest time on the block” (2.5 months) on the right”:

Earl, he notes, sported his name tag in this spot for a while:

P.S. If you’re a Block Watch captain anywhere in WS – make sure you have joined up with the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network!

West Seattle Night Out 2010, report #2: More of your neighbors

In addition to more photos from WSB photojournalists – we’ve received Night Out photos taken and shared by WSB’ers around the peninsula. Above, shared by Dina Johnson (second from left), taken on what she proclaims, “The BEST block in Highland Park!” Next, from another “Park” neighborhood:

Thanks to Erik for that photo from Upper Luna Park – one of the neighborhoods visited by West Seattle firefighters tonight! Meantime, touring north West Seattle neighborhoods for WSB, Christopher Boffoli found Engine 29 at 57th/Winthrop (Upper Alki):

Ginny Woo shared this next photo of her young neighbors on the front fender of Ladder 11 at a Night Out party in Fauntlee Hills:

Ginny reports, “We had a great block party with a visit from one of West Seattle’s fire trucks, multi-generational attendees, hula hoopers, and jump ropers. Great fun was had as we sipped root beer floats and visited with our neighbors.” Not far from there: While we featured one photo earlier from the big Fauntleroy party at 45th/Henderson – this one tweeted by @sthecaddy has a scenic backdrop:

From Fauntleroy, going diagonal across the peninsula to Pigeon Point on the northeast corner: Cliff DesPeaux visited that neighborhood for WSB, and noted the dishes contributed by dozens:

P-Point’s Pete Spalding sent photos taken by his wife Kerry Hughes - first one, that’s Pete with Southwest Precinct Capt. Joe Kessler;

Next, PP Neighborhood Council co-chair Jim Sander with a game Pete says Jim cooked up for the kids:

Pete says it was “by far (their) largest-ever” Night Out event. Crowd shot:

Cliff DesPeaux took that, as well as this one from a party not far away: In the 4100 block of 25th SW, 8-year-old Kelsea Edwards (right) raced other kids during the block party:

From 34th and Findlay, David and Michelle Parker share photos from their 2-block party – including a neighborhood child eyeing part of the dessert potluck that was a major attraction:

They say at least 50 people showed up. And check the homegrown zucchini bread, urging onlookers to “eat local”:

We’ve got one more report to come, with more neighborhood-party portraits by Christopher Boffoli – he caught so many, even neighborhoods that hadn’t contacted us – ones he spotted while traveling around – they get a report of their own.

West Seattle High School Class of 1990 Reunion: Time to RSVP!

Reunion time, if you are a 1990 graduate of West Seattle High School! Noelle Knapp-Lucero wants to get the word out:

The WSHS Class of 90 is holding our 20-year reunion on the weekend of August 20.

We will meet at Rocksport (4209 SW Alaska) on Friday, August 20th, at 7:00 pm. The DJ starts at 9:00. Rocksport would like a headcount, so please let us know if you will be attending (see below for contact info). On Sunday, August 22, we will have a picnic at Lincoln Park. We have reserved tables 23-33 from 11:00-2:00 (see attached map for exact location within the park). There are two grills there and we can bring in our own if we like. To simplify matters, everyone should bring with them whatever they’d like to have for lunch.

We have a Facebook group going called West Seattle High School Class of 1990 – Reunion. Please join us there or contact Noelle Knapp-Lucero at WSHS90@gmail.com with any questions. We look forward to seeing everyone!

Noelle says the sooner the better for RSVPs

West Seattle reunion planned for Trianon Ballroom dancers

If you take a look at the photos on this webpage – especially the one with the throng of dancers – you’ll get an idea of how popular the Trianon Ballroom in downtown Seattle must have been in its heyday. West Seattle writer/activist Georgie Bright Kunkel is casting a wide net to find others who danced at the Trianon, so they can join her at a reunion on this side of the bay. It’s eight weeks away, but she is hoping to get the word out in a big way. So she is sharing the following announcement and photo with WSB’ers too:

Georgie Bright Kunkel invites everyone who ever danced at the old Trianon Ballroom, formerly at 3rd and Wall in downtown Seattle, to a reunion to be held at Bridge Park Retirement Center – 3204 SW Morgan Street in West Seattle – on Sunday, September, 26th at 3 o’clock. The reason for this early invitation is to obtain RSVPs from as many people throughout Seattle as possible.

Georgie will MC with a little comedy and introduce the guests who will share their experience at the Trianon. Bill Teasley will play guitar so guests can sing along to the tunes popular during WWII. There will be a display of antique postcards of the Trianon era, Shirley Temple dolls popular at the time, and a collection of Saturday Evening Post covers of the WWII era. If you danced at the Trianon Ballroom or know someone who did, please call Helen Teasley at 246-1501 or Georgie at 935-8663 to RSVP.

Mourning Ken Wise: Longtime West Seattleite passes away

Dave Townsend just sent this word:

Ken Wise, Rotarian, totem-pole sleuth, local businessman, and lifelong West Seattleite, died today.

Mr. Wise, longtime owner of West Fuel, had been fighting cancer. He and fellow Rotarian Duane Ruud tracked down what happened to the West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park totem pole last December, even before police could crack the case. He wasn’t well enough to come see it reinstalled last Wednesday, but his son was there, and friends planned to go visit him immediately afterward. Its rededication is set for August 10th. (EDITED MONDAY – We are now told there are no official service plans so far.).

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: The service is now officially confirmed for 11 am August 19 at Fauntleroy Church.

Update: West Seattle candlelight vigil for sailor Jarod Newlove

This just in, following our earlier report of a website set up to collect donations to help the family of West Seattle sailor Jarod Newlove, killed last week in Afghanistan. The date and place is now set for a vigil in his memory. From family friend Hailey:

Petty Officer 2nd Class, Jarod Newlove is a West Seattle native. He attended Chief Sealth High School, where he graduated in 2003. He served in the U.S. Navy starting in 2004 and was deployed December of 2009 to Afghanistan. Among his many accomplishments, he touched the heart of many people. We recently learned of Jarod’s death in Afghanistan. He has left behind many memories, stories, family and friends. Together as a community, we want to show our love and support to Jarod and his family.

On Tuesday, August 3rd, we will be celebrating the life of Jarod Newlove. The celebration will take place at Chief Sealth Baseball Field, on Trenton St., from 8:00 pm until the last person leaves. This will be a candlelight vigil, so please bring a candle to light in his honor.

Hailey says the family is requesting that media stay “outside the stadium” – the event is just for family and friends. Again, the website to help his family is at jarodnewlovefamily.blogspot.com.

New website set up so you can help PO3 Jarod Newlove’s family

The family friend who is helping organize efforts to assist the family of Petty Officer 3rd Class Jarod Newlove, the West Seattle sailor found dead in Afghanistan last week, has just set up a website: You can make donations to help PO3 Newlove’s family by going to jarodnewlovefamily.blogspot.com; the 25-year-old sailor leaves behind a wife and two very young children. Their friend, Hailey, also says they’re working on plans for a public event to remember and honor PO3 Newlove – no date/place set yet. 4 PM UPDATE: That event is now set for Tuesday – we’ve published a separate story here.

Meet a champion: West Seattle-based jump-rope ace Rene Bibaud

EDITOR’S NOTE: When Rene Bibaud showed off her championship jump-rope talents yards from where we were stationed during West Seattle Summer Fest – the clip below is one of two we published during Summer Fest coverage – we thought she seemed like a West Seattleite you might like to get to know better. So WSB contributing reporter Keri DeTore set out to catch Rene in a non-airborne moment.

By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Rope-jumping is one of civilization’s oldest pastimes.

It’s possible that as a Pharaoh-kid, Tutankhamun was jumping vines to pass the time between headdress fittings while his contemporaries in the Pacific Islands were jumping between bamboo poles held on the ground. The Dutch brought rope-jumping with them to America, including their specialty team-building exercise: the “Double Dutch.”

Many of us jumped rope, but gave it up after our first bicycle or video game came along; we now think of it as a simple activity for kids to do when they’re restless — something that you might think doesn’t require much skill or effort. You’d re-think that if you met one of the many boxers who use rope-jumping as a serious workout to refine their speed and coordination – as well as if and when you meet Rene Bibaud, who has elevated rope-jumping to an art and a career, running her own business, Ropeworks.

(Photo courtesy Rene Bibaud)
Rene, who has lived in West Seattle for six years, has won multiple jump-rope championships, coached hundreds of kids and adults, and appeared in Cirque du Soleil’s traveling shows.

Click to read the rest of Meet a champion: West Seattle-based jump-rope ace Rene Bibaud…

Seattle Outdoor: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor

Today we’re welcoming Seattle Outdoor as one of the newest WSB sponsors. New sponsors are offered the chance to let you know more about their business: While Seattle Outdoor is in SODO, it’s owned by a West Seattleite. After going far afield for camping equipment for many years, West Seattle resident Keith Watkins (above) decided that it would be better to find something closer to home. Keith says his years of being a payroll specialist for an outdoor equipment company and his many years of camping left him with the unique perspective of understanding what gear campers, hikers, and climbers need.That’s why he opened Seattle Outdoor at 2905 1st Avenue South (map), next to Sears Auto Center. Keith says he thought that the people who live south of downtown needed a full-time camping store that featured brand name equipment and good service. To that end, he opened a store that carries name-brand hiking, camping, and climbing equipment from manufacturers like Alchemy Goods, Kavu, Sierra Designs, and Granite Gear. Keith and his store manager Sean Barnett say they can outfit anybody for something as simple as a day trip all the way up to a complete backpacking vacation. Seattle Outdoor is open from 10-6 Mondays through Saturdays, 11-5 on Sundays. You’ll find them online at seattleoutdoor.net, or call 206-682-0482.

We thank Seattle Outdoor for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.

Update: Official word of West Seattle sailor Jarod Newlove’s death

One followup on this morning’s news that West Seattle-raised U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jarod Newlove was found dead in Afghanistan, 5 days after vanishing: The Department of Defense has now officially made the announcement. See it here. No word yet on services for PO3 Newlove, a 2003 graduate of Chief Sealth High School, nor on the circumstances of his disappearance.

U.S. military official says PO3 Jarod Newlove has been found dead

The West Seattle-raised sailor reported missing in Afghanistan earlier this week, Petty Officer 3rd Class Jarod Newlove, has been found dead, according to an Associated Press report published by the Seattle Times (WSB partner). The AP attributes the information to a “senior U.S. military official” who says his body has been recovered. Newlove, 25, graduated from Chief Sealth High School in 2003, and was a longtime West Seattleite, according to comments published after the report of his disappearance. KING5 TV says his family has told them they got the news around noontime yesterday. The Washington Post quotes an Afghan official as saying Newlove was found shot to death on Wednesday in the village of Yousef. No official Department of Defense news release yet. (June 2010 U.S. Navy photo)

ADDED 8:10 AM: A family friend confirms to WSB that a community event will be planned at some point to show support for PO3 Newlove’s family, though it is too soon to announce.

Pathfinder unicyclists among West Seattleites in Torchlight Parade

Our short clip shows unicyclists from Pathfinder K-8 in last Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade – and we got word today that they’re going to get to show off for an even-bigger crowd this Saturday, during Seattle’s biggest parade of the year, the Seafair Torchlight Parade through downtown (leaving Seattle Center heading south on 4th Avenue at 7:30 pm)! They’ll be riding along with the Communities in Schools of Seattle School Bus. Meantime, we just procured the parade entry list from Seafair, so we could scan for other West Seattleites. Obviously you’ll want to cheer for the multiple-award-winning West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival float; we learned recently there are West Seattleites on the Seattle Police Motorcycle Drill Team; Admiral-residing King County Executive Dow Constantine will be there; so will the Seafair Pirates and Seafair Clowns, which both include West Seattleites; regardless of whether she is chosen Miss Seafair, the West Seattle Hi-Yu rep in this year’s program, Margo Femiano (2008-2009 Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu), will be in the parade; so will the Rat City Rollergirls (many WS ties) with the White Center Ambassadors. Another Torchlight Parade entrant with peninsula ties – the All-City Band, led by Marcus Pimpleton from Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School.

(Side note: ACB is hosting the parade-eve All-City Band Jam for marching bands and drummers again this year – but while it was in WS last year, this time it’s at Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center. Doors open at 6 pm Friday, performances 7 to 8:30 pm, with ACB joined by groups including the Seahawks’ and Sounders’ bands/drummers as well as the Pacific Northwest Drumline, seen in last Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade.)

Update: Sailor missing in Middle East is from West Seattle

ORIGINAL 10:05 AM REPORT: The missing sailor who is the subject of a search in Afghanistan, and may be a hostage, is from West Seattle, according to our partners at the Seattle Times. They are not identifying him at the request of the Navy, and they say his family is declining comment. He disappeared along with another sailor whose body has been found; that sailor has been identified as the son of the fire marshal in the Southern California town of Encinitas. According to the Times report, at least one member of the U.S. military has been held by the Taliban for more than a year, and he too is from the Northwest, a soldier from Idaho. 2:11 PM UPDATE: The Times has updated its story with word that the Department of Defense identifies the sailor as Petty Officer 3rd Class Jarod Newlove. His family has declined media requests for comment. Here’s the DOD announcement; while they say he’s from Renton, various reports/sources indicate the West Seattle link. 3:06 PM UPDATE: Online records indicate that PO3 Newlove is a Chief Sealth High School graduate, class of 2003.

Followup: WestSide Baby’s big “Stuff the Bus” day, and what’s next

(Earlier WSB as-it-happened coverage of today’s WestSide Baby “Stuff the Bus” in West Seattle can be seen here)

About half an hour after the last diaper donations arrived at the WestSide Baby “Stuff the Bus” donation-drive site at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, the diaper-filled bus pulled up in White Center – where WS Baby is headquartered – to unload, and the volunteers you see in our video got to work. Before the bus left West Seattle, WestSide Baby’s executive director Nancy Woodland had given us the quick tally on what they’d counted up, as of just after 2:

That followed a sudden down-to-the-wire flurry of donations – including these three deliveries just minutes after 2:

We didn’t get everyone’s names but we know the last three – local architects Brandon Nicholson and Shanna Kovalchick (whose business is headquartered in The Junction, steps away from the Stuff the Bus site) and toddler son Benjamin. And even though the donating finally stopped there around 10 past 2, it moved on down the street, where we caught up with Full Tilt Ice Cream’s Justin Cline for the second time today (without even going to his White Center HQ):

His famous ice cream was served at the West Seattle Nursery Ice Cream Fest till 4, to raise money and collect diapers (note the boxes that had already arrived). Add to that volunteers at three local Safeways – we’ll check with WestSide Baby tomorrow to see if there’s a final total yet. But the bus-stuffing isn’t done – while last year they collected at locations in West Seattle and Burien on the same day, this year they’ve broken Stuff the Bus (co-sponsored by WSB) into two events, and they’ll have the bus at Burien Town Square during “Hot August Nights” on August 7th – spread the word! (You can also donate to WestSide Baby online anytime – go here.)