West Seattle, Washington
18 Wednesday
More than a year after Steve Daschle left Southwest Youth and Family Services (as reported here) after more than 30 years as executive director, the Delridge-based nonprofit has announced a new leader who is no stranger to the organization:
Southwest Youth and Family Services (SWYFS) is delighted to announce the appointment of Essence Russ as the new Executive Director. Essence succeeds Steve Daschle, who retired in 2023 after more than three decades of dedicated leadership.
Essence Russ brings over a decade of experience in management positions within the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as a Director for TAF@Saghalie, a school district where 80.1% of the student body is non-white, and 30.4% are multilingual learners. At TAF@Saghalie, Essence has been instrumental in maintaining programs and recruiting and training a dedicated staff team. She firmly believes in the core value that every student is capable of learning and succeeding, and she works to ensure that families are seen, heard, and valued as partners in their student’s education.
Before her tenure at TAF@Saghalie, Essence served as Program Manager of Statewide Initiatives for the College Success Foundation. In this role, she supported the WCAN (Washington College Access Network Team) as well as the Passport to Careers contract through WSAC (Washington Student Achievement Council). She supported alumni of foster care in finding success in their post-secondary endeavors. Her mission was to create a just and equitable society through education.
Essence’s career in the nonprofit sector has included several leadership positions in Seattle. Most notably, she served as Director of the Family Resource Center for SWYFS from 2017 to 2020. During her time at SWYFS, Essence learned about different cultures, supported families, and established lasting community partnerships.
“Essence’s deep commitment to equity, education, and community makes her the perfect fit for leading SWYFS into the future,” said August Rowe, Acting Executive Director. “We are excited to welcome her back to the SWYFS family and look forward to the innovative leadership she will bring to our organization.”
The new executive director starts in two weeks, on July 15. If you’re not familiar with SWYFS, its website explains the services it offers – including behavioral health, education, and family support.
Tonight, three notes about helping – one way you can do it, two ways others did it earlier this week:
FOOD DRIVE: Admiral Church‘s summer food drive starts tomorrow (Sunday, June 9):
This June, we are launching our annual Summer Food Drive. Our mission is to combat hunger, and we can’t do it alone. We’re teaming up with both our local community and the White Center Food Bank. This initiative not only provides immediate relief to those in need, but also fosters a sense of unity and shared responsibility in our community. So join us this summer, and let’s fight hunger together! Please contact Susan Oatis to learn more: susanoatis1@gmail.com
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY: At Pigeon Point Park, dozens of volunteers joined the Green Seattle Partnership, DNDA and others at a mega-work party this past Wednesday to commemorate World Environment Day.
This site is part of the West Duwamish Greenbelt, Seattle’s largest contiguous forest. Art was incorporated into Wednesday’s activities:
DNDA has many other volunteering opportunities coming up as part of its work to synergize art, nature, and community – check out the calendar here.
CENTENNIAL TLC FOR THE MOUNT: Providence Mount St. Vincent sent this photo from a Day of Service there on Friday involving volunteers from both Deloitte and Providence:
The Mount says more than 70 volunteers participated, working around the grounds on “shared spaces, gardens, and residential rooms”; this was part of The Mount’s centennial celebration and Deloitte’s “Impact Day.”
Big news from West Seattle’s Troop 284, sent by Eric Linxweiler:
In 2025, Troop 284 will celebrate 110 storied years of helping boys and, since 2018, girls, grow to be strong and confident men and women! Over 109 years our troop had presented the prestigious Eagle award to 115 scouts. This past month, we have the honor of recognizing our newest Eagles, including our first female Eagle Scouts. Congratulations to Lauren, Owen, and Heidi!
Owen is pictured with Scoutmaster Dan Vornbrock, who also congratulates Heidi, along with Scoutmaster Laura Kincaid.
Lauren is also a member of Troop 678 on Mercer Island.
Special note: as 3rd-generation Eagle Scouts, both Lauren and Heidi were pinned with their grandfather’s Eagle Medals!
Troop 284 says those 109 years of history make it the oldest troop in Seattle! If you have membership questions, bsatroop284westseattle@gmail.com is their email address.
Story and photos/video by Tracy Record and Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers
No matter how busy you are, set time aside to celebrate your hard work and success.
That advice was offered by the guest speaker at today’s Westside Awards breakfast, at which West Seattle Chamber of Commerce members and other attendees did exactly that – celebrating the four award recipients the Chamber had announced three weeks ago.
Each year, the Chamber invites community nominations for the four categories – Business of the Year, Emerging Business of the Year, Not-for-Profit of the Year, and Westsider of the Year – before choosing winners. All winners were at this morning’s celebration at The Hall at Fauntleroy – here’s what they had to say:
Business of the Year – Alki Beach Academy
10 years after founding their still-growing child-care business in North Delridge, Julieann Donohue and James Donohue said the award was “very unexpected, given some of the issues we’re dealing with right now” (a reference to the possibility they’ll have to move because of light-rail routing). They talked about Alki Beach Academy’s inclusion of special-needs kids, rooted in their decision to start the business because their own child, living with autism, was having challenges in a traditional school setting. Here’s everything they told the attendees:
Emerging Business of the Year – Southpaw Barber Shop
Co-proprietors Tommy Andrade and Jeff Chou accepted the award, and Andrade noted that the shop will celebrate its first anniversary this weekend. He explained he had left a tech career to answer the call to be a barber and help the community – “service first, community first” is the business philosophy. Here’s his speech:
Not-for-Profit of the Year – A Cleaner Alki
Erik Bell, who founded the growing organization that leads cleanups far beyond Alki, told his story of starting with cleanups while taking walks with his brother and broadening into a communitywide organization – with an invitation to anyone and everyone to get involved. Here’s everything he said:
Westsider of the Year – Madison Middle School teacher Mike Kreiger
This is a “community champion” type of award; Kreiger is a teacher and coach at Madison, involved with programs including eighth-graders mentoring newly arrived sixth-graders. Here’s his brief and energetic speech of gratitude:
Chamber executive director Rachel Porter, presiding over the first Westside Awards since she started the job nine months ago, congratulated all the winners and nominees for “dedication and excellence that makes West Seattle tick”:
Before the presentations, emcee Brian Callanan sat down for a conversation with guest speaker Fred Rivera, executive vice president of the Seattle Mariners.
Their far-ranging conversation included a discussion of inspiring your workforce by taking time to celebrate – for example, Rivera said, the Mariners have “First Place Fridays” – every Friday that the team is in first place, they celebrate with treats. Other advice included being aware of how people are using your product; the M’s, for example, are aware more and more people are seeing games in small chunks rather than the full three hours. Here’s their entire conversation:
Kreiger’s words bear repeating – they apply to all ages, even if you’re not an educator or parent: “No one remembers what you taught them, but they remember how you made them feel.” It’s likely that most on hand felt inspired, to say the least, as they headed out into the morning shortly thereafter.
All the past Westside Awards winners are listed here.
(WSB photos)
In the midday Sunday sunshine, Alki UCC offered visitors the chance to create art with a message – the message someone has tried to obliterate by damaging and/or stealing banners hanging over its entry five times. As noted in our first story about this, they also collaborated with an artist to design a new banner:
The banner will soon hang with what’s out front now at the building Alki UCC shares with Kol HaNeshamah:
The individual art pages created by visitors today were theirs to either take home or leave behind as contributions to another art work, possibly a collage.
2:45 PM: Next time you travel along Roxbury, you’ll notice a much brighter fence at the Community School of West Seattle, thanks to volunteers working there as one of dozens of places citywide getting people-powered help as part of the One Seattle Day of Service today:
Thanks to CSWS for sharing photos! We also have one from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, whose Adopt-A-Street cleanup was centered on California SW between Admiral and The Junction
The city says thousands of people signed up for more than 130 events involving 100+ organizations.
9:04 PM: We have photos from another of those organization, Kiwanis Club of West Seattle:
Thanks to Denis Sapiro from the Kiwanis Club for sending the photos.
Thanks to Michael for the photo and report:
Admiral Pub’s pinball team (named the Admiraballs) won the Seattle Monday Night Pinball league championship last night after 14 weeks of play.
Michael says 34 teams of 10 players per team competed in the league, and that the championships were held at Add-a-Ball in Fremont. “Our team had the number-one seed going into playoffs so every game up until the finals was played at the Admiral Pub.”
(Added: WSB photo, center’s executive director Amy Lee Derenthal and board president Dawn Schaper)
8:50 AM: We are at Alki Masonic Center in The Junction, where what was the Senior Center of West Seattle has just concluded its annual fundraising breakfast with the “big reveal” of its new name: The Center for Active Living. They’ll be celebrating all day at the center (California/Oregon). More on the event, and what’s next, later!
ADDED 12:24 PM: The new name is meant to showcase “the vibrancy” of the center as a “welcome and inclusive place for everyone.” And the center is growing – more than 1,300 members, double what it was pre-pandemic (despite a nearly 50 percent drop during the pandemic peak) – the youngest 27, the oldest 102.
Memberships alone won’t sustain the center, as more members – and visitors – means more users for its services. So this morning’s goal was $50,000, “to make sure this community has everything it needs to support people as they age,” explained emcee Ryan Sheaffer. In our clip below, you’ll hear from him as well as some of the event speakers – one of the center’s 150+ volunteers, Joe Lamy; executive director Amy Lee Derenthal; and supporter John Bennett:
The “big reveal” itself was announced from the stage at the end of the program, as was the artist chosen for the new mural that will grace the center’s exterior, as well as the team overhauling the center website.
Then the members in attendance got to go home with a goodie bag featuring the center’s new logo/name:
Assisting in the morning’s fundraising was Nucor Steel, which pledged to match donations up to $15,000:
Besides the new name, Derenthal said they’re expecting to grow beyond the 40 classes and activities they already offer each week (and the lineup is already varied, she reminded everyone, with recent offerings such as Cannabis 101 and Pickleball Injury Prevention) in addition to their café (open for lunch!) and Stop & Shop thrift store. The newly renamed Center for Active Living promises to be “a place where our community can gather, learn and thrive.”
WHAT’S NEXT: Signage with the new name was expected to go up today. It’ll be a “few months” before we see the work of selected muralist Brady Black joining it.
(WSB file photo, Senior Center’s north side)
The Senior Center of West Seattle has been working on a new name, as noted when we shared their call for mural artists back in March. Now they have it – and they’re about to reveal it, at this Tuesday’s annual fundraising breakfast. The event is sold out, but the center plans to publish the new name online Tuesday morning too (and we’ll have it here). You’re also invited to visit the center on Tuesday (and beyond) to find out more – and the nonprofit’s update on all this includes:
There’s also still time to support the Senior Center’s annual fundraising campaign. The nonprofit’s goal is to raise $50,000 between now and the end of May to fund the essential services they provide in our community—like meals, classes, lectures, support groups, counseling, digital navigation, and more.
You can help with that by going here. P.S. We’re expecting to hear an update about the mural Tuesday, too.
Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Westside Awards – here’s the announcement sent by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce:
The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce presents the annual Westside Awards, honoring three local businesses and one individual who demonstrates results-oriented leadership, a cornerstone of a thriving economic region.
2024 Westside Award Winners are:
• Westside Business of the Year: Alki Beach Academy
• Westside Emerging Business of the Year: Southpaw Barbershop
• Westside Not for Profit of the Year: A Cleaner Alki
• Westsider of the Year: Mike Kreiger, Teacher and Coach, Madison Middle SchoolAward winners and all nominees will be recognized at the Annual Westside Awards Breakfast on Wednesday, May 22, 7:30 am-9 am, at The Hall at Fauntleroy.
At the Awards Breakfast, Fred Rivera, Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary, and General Counsel of the Seattle Mariners, will lead a keynote fireside chat moderated by Brian Callanan, Loop the ‘Lupe, discussing how dedication and collaboration are pivotal in shaping operations within the Mariners organization, from celebrating successes to integrating new members into a culture focused on teamwork and recognizing individual contributions.
Early Bird Pricing for tickets is $55 per person through May 3rd, and $65 per person May 4th onward. Get your tickets at https://loom.ly/PJNQ0qU or wschamber.com.
Below are this year’s Westside Award nominees (from community suggestions solicited earlier this year), also from the Chamber’s announcement:
Not a bad Sunday morning for a swim in the Sound – 50-degree water, 50-degree air, and an infinite degree of generosity from those who took the plunge. This happened to be – as previewed here last weekend – the “Plunge for Patterson,” on behalf of a local boy living with EB, organized by his friends Jill and Eddie Vedder:
As explained in the event announcement, this is “part of a national campaign to raise money to treat and cure Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a family of painful and life-threatening rare genetic disorders that affect the body’s largest organ: the skin. The Vedders serve as global fundraisers and ambassadors sharing the mission of curing and treating EB with the world,” as co-founders of the EB Research Partnership, which Jill Vedder chairs. This morning she thanked the crowd, and Patterson had a few words too:
Then it was time to plunge:
EBRP’s goal is to cure EB by 2030. The Vedders co-founded the nonprofit in 2010.
Even if you weren’t at Alki to plunge this morning, you can support the cause by donating here.
You might already have seen this in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – PFLAG is expanding to West Seattle. Now we have the group’s announcement with full details:
PFLAG Seattle, an organization dedicated to supporting, educating and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them, is excited to announce that, starting in April, it will add a fourth monthly meeting to its roster with a group that will meet in person in West Seattle. With this fourth meeting, PFLAG Seattle now offers a meeting every week of the month.
PFLAG support meetings provide a comfortable and confidential atmosphere of openness where parents, families, friends, and LGBTQ+ individuals can share their experiences and support each other with love and pride.
Cori Luckenbach (above left) and Debbie Gordon (right) will co-facilitate the meetings. Andrew Conley-Holcom (above right), pastor at a North Admiral church, will host them.
“I have wanted North Admiral to have structured opportunities to discuss gender, sexuality, and intersectional liberation for as long as I’ve been here,” said Andrew. “I am over the moon excited to work with Cori to bring PFLAG to this wonderful neighborhood.”
Andrew identifies as a cisgendered heterosexual white man, who is seeking to build authentic relationships and shared power within North Admiral. His wife grew up in a queer family, and he has seen the impact groups like PFLAG can have on a young person’s sense of self, family, community, and worthiness.
The two facilitators of the West Seattle meeting are varied in their life experiences and backgrounds. This should work well to support the PFLAG community in West Seattle.
Cori Luckenbach lives and works in West Seattle. She is the owner of Bebop Waffle Shop and has spent the last 10 years employing and making safe space for all spectrums of genders and sexuality. Cori grew up queer in Seattle and has been married to her wife for the last seven years, raising their 9-year-old son. She is now looking for ways to work directly with her community. She lived in New York City for four years and was art director at GO NYC, a lesbian lifestyle magazine. She also co-created One Million Tampons where they raised menstrual products for people in need. Cori wants to give back, learn and “help others find love, acceptance, and celebration. All people benefit from the expansion of queer definitions and experience. What a beautiful time to grow up in the revolution of gender and who we are as humans.”
Debbie Gordon is an experienced PFLAG facilitator who will assist Cori and Andrew. Debbie is the mom of an adult transgender person. In the 10 years since her kid came out as non-binary, Debbie has learned that she is a pretty typical PFLAG mom. She loves her kid to pieces and wants to support them any way she can. She found PFLAG Seattle when she was looking for answers and community — she found both in PFLAG. She is happy to be working with Cori and Andrew in expanding the PFLAG community to West Seattle.
The first meeting of the West Seattle PFLAG group will be Tuesday, April 16, from 7:30 p.m to 9 p.m. and will continue every month on the third Tuesday. If you are interested in attending, go to the PFLAG Seattle website (https://www.pflagseattle.org/) and register. Registration is required for each meeting to ensure a safe space. Location details for the meeting will be provided upon registering.
Other PFLAG Seattle meetings occur in person in Renton on the first Wednesday of the month, online and in person in Capitol Hill on the second Monday of the month, and online on the fourth Tuesday of the month.
ORIGINAL WEDNESDAY REPORT: Just received – this West Seattle teenager is missing (updated flyer):
That’s all the information we have right now – will add anything more, including the police report #, when we get it.
ADDED THURSDAY: The police report number is 24-079360. We received an updated flyer today and substituted it for the original one.
SATURDAY: The flyer has been updated again.
West Seattle has a strong running culture, with multiple groups, but none that can claim the milestone that the West Seattle Running Club has reached – founder Dave Howard sent this in celebration of its 30th anniversary!
What started with a simple love for running celebrates 30 years of tying up laces, gathering at the Alki Statue of Liberty, and embarking on what has become three decades of the West Seattle Running Club. In 1994, Founder and President Dave Howard greeted 12 people that March evening. 12 strangers before that night. 12 people who were interested in something more; because in the Pacific Northwest, motivation to run alone in the cold and rain can often be hard to find.
This isn’t just a milestone anniversary of people meeting each week to run. This is a celebration of all the memories and extraordinary moments that have come from this club: More than 300 people have run with the club, marriages happened from people meeting via the club (including the Founder/President), and life-long friendships were formed.
30 years strong, and still going. Whether people are marathon runners or walkers, there’s a place for everyone in the West Seattle Running Club.
The club is a social and casual running club for all levels. Members provide support and encouragement to each other in achieving running goals and having fun along the way.
If you want to get serious about a running goal, whether it’s crossing the finish line of a 5K or qualifying for Boston, here’s how being a part of West Seattle Running Club can help:
-Running will become part of your weekly routine.
-You can share goals and achievements with genuinely interested other people.
-You’ll be more motivated to train in all seasons.
-You’ll meet other people who will love to talk about running and compare gadgets.
-You’ll be inspired to set new goals.
-You’ll learn new training routes.
-You can compare notes and get tips from experienced runners, and you’ll be able to share your experience with others.
-You’ll have support at races.
-You’ll have new cross-training buddies.Check our website for information on when and where to run with us: westseattlerunningclub.org
“I used to run alone. Now I run with a second family.” ~ Dave Howard
That’s Sue, one of the thousands of pets that have spent time on the WSB West Seattle Lost/Found Pets page since we launched it 15+ years ago. One month ago, Sue got lost – and then found – thanks to caring people. One of Sue’s people, Ryan, wanted to publicly thank them – and many others, as you’ll see if you read on:
I am writing this primarily to say thank you to West Seattle for helping us find our boy named Sue. He was recently hit while crossing Fauntleroy at night after he slipped his light collar. Afterward we found him in less than 24 hours because of this amazing community. So, I have to say, thank you, West Seattle!
Thank you to the commuter who accidentally hit my black dog as he ran home across Fauntleroy at 9:00 pm with no light. Thank you for calling your family and helping me look for him in Lincoln Park for 3 hours. You are amazing and why this community is the best.
Thank you to Sebastian, Lynn, Dave, Dirk, Tony, Brett, Sarah, Shia, and anyone else I might forget for scouring West Seattle for our dog.
Thank you to the West Seattle Blog and Nextdoor communities for helping us find him over a mile away licking his wounds and hiding.
Thank you to the VCA for helping Sue and getting him back to his goofy healthy self.
Our dog is happy, healthy, and home because of all of you.
Additionally, I want to say thank you to this amazing community I am lucky to call home. Thank you to Gatewood and all the other amazing public schools we have here and the hard work you do to make our community better.
Thank you to the amazing Parks Department that keeps our section of Seattle the best! (Even though you may be distracted by the pickleball debate.)
Thank you to the police, fire department, and all our amazing emergency services that do your best to help us in spite of ourselves. The majority of us trust, respect and appreciate you.
Thank you to the businesses that give us the best banh mi, tamales, dive bars, guitar shop, bakery, record store, movie theater, beach, and community in Seattle!
Thank you for being the only place I want to call home. In my lowest moments, this community always reminds me that we live in an amazing place surrounded by people who may not agree with you, may not particularly want to talk to you, but care for you and want to improve your life.
Thank you from Sue, Chelsea, Rowan, Renee, and Ryan.
Six West Seattleites are back from one of the marathons that comprise what’s known as “the most prestigious distance running series in the world.” The achievement completed the series for two of them – including, for a second time, Joe Drake, who sent the report and photo:
(Photo By Antoine Smith)
Residents of West Seattle – from left in above photo, Des Lee, Sarang Shamshery, Patti Shuster, Joe Drake, Sokphal Tun, and Erik Nakich (not pictured) – trekked to Japan this month to run in the 2024 Tokyo Marathon. All of them are avid fans of our favorite running store, West Seattle Runner.
Tokyo is one of six cities that host the annual World Marathon Majors, the premier events for runners worldwide. Completing all six of them to earn the coveted Six-Star Medal is a bucket list item for many marathoners, a journey that often requires several years of planning and training to knock off. Patti Shuster earned her Six-Star Medal in Tokyo. She had been working toward it for the past two and a half years. Joe Drake took home a second one after picking up his first last year in Tokyo.
The others have some work to do to complete their missions. Erick Nakich has only London standing in his way. Sokphal Tun’s finale will be in New York City, someday, after she takes on Chicago later this year. Desmond Lee is halfway there and is strategizing as to which of his remaining cities – Berlin, London, or New York City – will make the best backdrop for his Six-Star Medal photo. (updated) Sarang Shamshery just began his journey with two majors (Chicago and Tokyo) and plans to enjoy the ride to collect the remaining stars as he and his wife are expecting a child in a couple of months and he will be a busy man. You may see him training with a stroller on Hiawatha track every Tuesday!
For more on the World Marathon Majors, see this link.
Last chance to nominate a business, nonprofit, or community advocate for the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s 2024 Westside Awards! 5 pm today is the deadline. From the announcement we published three weeks ago:
1) Business of the Year
2) Not-for-Profit of the Year
3) Emerging Business of the Year
4) Westsider of the YearThe community is invited to submit nominations online here: loom.ly/qS8SmDE. The deadline to submit nominations is Tuesday, March 12, 2024, by 5 pm.
The Westside Awards honor leadership in entrepreneurship, innovation, and community impact, highlighting the achievements and contributions of businesses, organizations, and individuals within our West Seattle community.
The winners will be honored at a community breakfast event May 22. (Past winners are listed here.)
Two events coming up tomorrow (Sunday, March 3) that you might want an advance alert about:
WEST SEATTLE BEE GARDEN: Lisa sent the photo and an invitation for volunteers of all ages to help out tomorrow, all or part of the three-hour period between 10 am and 1 pm:
Our next work party is full of opportunity to:
-plant native plants – a wide variety coming from the King Conservation District Native Plant Sale,
-move loads of compost for our new perennial pollinator pads,
-plant native flower seeds – blanket flower and globe gilia,
-make more temporary signs, and,
=relocate desirable plants.As usual, dress for the weather and bring a water bottle. We’ll have some light snacks. We also have an assortment of garden tools but if you have a personal favorite, you’re welcome to bring it.
We need lots of folks to make this all happen. Bonus points for those that bring a friend :) Thanks so much for your consideration and effort to help shape the West Seattle Bee Garden into a place of education, inspiration, and beauty.
The West Seattle Bee Garden is located at Commons Park – Graham St and Lanham Pl SW.
FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH: If you’ve been looking into your family history but reaching some dead ends, local experts might be able to help – they’re inviting you to this free event Sunday:
Join us for an afternoon of free Family History Research
Sunday, March 3, 2024
2:30 pm – 4:30 pmInterested in your family history? We have expertise! We’d love to help you discover the joy of family history! Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged. Email bevitaly@gmail.com to reserve a time slot.
Timed to coincide with this Thursday to Saturday event: RootsTech 2024 – The world’s largest family history event. (In Salt Lake City and online.) Then join us in person on Sunday afternoon!
The West Seattle Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – 4001 44th Ave SW
(‘Ghost bike’ memorial at crash site – WSB photo from December)
Two months ago, 66-year-old Steve Hulsman was riding his bicycle in Arbor Heights when a 53-year-old man driving a car made a left turn and didn’t see him in time to stop. It was less than two hours later, according to the police report, when Mr. Hulsman died at the hospital. Now his widow is dealing with the bills, saying their coverage has been exhausted, and that the driver was uninsured. A friend asked us to write about her crowdfunding page, so we also looked into the status of the case. King County Superior Court and Seattle Municipal Court files don’t show any charges filed, so far, in the incident, though the officer who wrote the initial report noted that the driver “operated his vehicle in a manner that endangered a person.” As was first reported by Seattle Bike Blog, records show the driver had a suspended license and a history of DUIs, but officers said that at this scene there was no indication he was impaired. Meantime, SDOT has told us in past cases that they evaluate sites of traffic deaths for possible modifications; we asked them about this location, and a spokesperson replied, “We conducted review of the site at Marine View Dr SW and 46th Ave SW as part of our fatal-review process. We will carefully assess the findings and engage in discussions to determine the most appropriate next steps for this location.” We’ll continue following up. Meantime, Mr. Hulsman’s widow is also hoping that crowdfunding will help with the costs of a memorial for her husband and for bike safety projects, which were a passion of his. Here’s the link.
One month after the passing of longtime West Seattleite and music-scene champion Susie Tennant, KEXP Radio plans a daylong tribute tomorrow. Here’s how KEXP’s website describes the plan for Susie Tennant Day, starting at 5 am Friday:
Join us Friday, February 23rd on KEXP as we celebrate the life of one of Seattle’s unsung heroes, the late Susie Tennant, who as a Promotions Director for Sub Pop and numerous other labels championed artists as varied as Nirvana, Beck, Hole, Mother Love Bone, Sebadoh, Sonic Youth, Supersuckers, Teenage Fanclub, Veruca Salt, and more. It will be a day filled with special guests and incredible music for all who loved her or were touched by the artists she helped bring into our lives.
KEXP is at 90.3 FM and online here.
ADDED: Thanks to Kerry for sending this – a proclamation of Friday as “Susie Tennant Day” in King County:
Just in from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce – it’s nomination time for the businesses, organizations, and people you’d like to see recognized with this year’s Westside Awards. Here’s the announcement we received:
1) Business of the Year
2) Not-for-Profit of the Year
3) Emerging Business of the Year
4) Westsider of the YearThe community is invited to submit nominations online here: loom.ly/qS8SmDE. The deadline to submit nominations is Tuesday, March 12, 2024, by 5 pm.
The Westside Awards honor leadership in entrepreneurship, innovation, and community impact, highlighting the achievements and contributions of businesses, organizations, and individuals within our West Seattle community.
“The Westside Awards represent the heartbeat of our community’s resilience,” said Rachel Porter, executive director of the West Seattle Chamber. “The Awards showcase the extraordinary contributions of businesses and individuals who make West Seattle such a vibrant, thriving community.”
Mark your calendar for the annual Westside Awards Breakfast to be held in person on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The West Seattle Chamber will honor the award winners as well as the awardee finalists at the Awards Breakfast — event details to follow at wschamber.com.
“Our Chamber has a long history of recognizing leadership,” notes Porter. You can take a look back at the previous Westside Award winners in each category online, by visiting wschamber.com/westside-awards.
For many, Valentine’s Day is a chance to show your love to someone special. For West Seattle Girl Scout Troop 41843, their “someone special” was the entire community. Christine sent us this report on what they did for Valentine’s Day this past week:
Girl Scout Troop 41843 was out sharing some LOVE with our community. It was really sweet to see the smiles these scouts put on lots of faces with their Valentine’s. Several people told us that we made their day. The Troop started up at Dakota Place Park and walked down through the Junction passing out homemade cards, lollipops, smiles, and lots of love to those they passed on their way to The Great American Diner to end their mission with a delicious cup of hot cocoa.
P.S. In case you were wondering (we were, so we checked), this year’s cookie booths start in two weeks.
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