They heard a lot, the investigators informed us, but they won’t be able to interpret what, or who, it was, till getting back to headquarters and analyzing it all. Somebody certainly sensed a presence, we were told, and they dealt with it by asking questions, which they believe were answered by something/someone “friendly.” The “dish” in the photo above is one of the main listening devices. They also recorded their visit in more conventional ways that, museum director Andrea Mercado told us, will result in a video documenting it all; SWSHS has a few photos online too. And the topic of otherworldly presence at the Log House Museum will certainly be on the menu at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s fundraising Halloween brunch at Salty’s on Alki, 11:30 am October 30th (ticket info here). SWSHS has another event coming up:
This new book was created with help from WSB’ers who answered the call we published back in February, after hearing Andrea talk about the project at a meeting of the Southwest District Council. A book-release party is set for 6:30 pm November 2nd at Zeeks Pizza in Morgan Junction; if you pre-order the book through the Log House Museum, you get 10 percent off (20% if you’re a SWSHS member).
Thanks to Craig Young for sharing the photos and report from the marina that’s just south of West Seattle’s bridges:
(Friday) morning at the Jim Clark Marina, a new 24 inch diameter by 80 foot long steel piling replaced 3 wood pilings that rotted and broke last spring. This piling helps hold the boat houses in place.
Manson Construction Co. set the piling and vibrated it in place. After it was in place, Ted Planta, president of the Duwamish Waterway Association, inspected it and gave it a thumbs up.
The association operates Jim Clark Marina, which is privately owned and has almost 100 slips where the west and east Duwamish Waterways converge into one river (here’s a map).
Two more area schools have issued invitations for vendors at their upcoming holiday bazaars. Schmitz Park Elementary started lining up its vendors last month – here’s our previous story – and tonight we have invites from both Highland Park Elementary and Shorewood Elementary. Highland Park (1012 SW Trenton) is having its bazaar 10 am-3 pm on December 4th – in addition to the bazaar itself, they’re having a raffle, with donations from vendors and local businesses, linked to a food drive for the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks (bring a nonperishable food item, get a free raffle ticket). If you’re intererested in being a vendor, e-mail highlandparkpta@hotmail.com. Meantime, Shorewood (2725 SW 116th) is looking for craft vendors for its bazaar, 10 am-4 pm on November 13th; e-mail shorewoodbazaar@gmail.com to find out more. (P.S. If your school or organization has a bazaar coming up, please share the info! editor@westseattleblog.com – if you’re looking for vendors, we can share the news; if you’re not, we want to be sure it’s at least on the WSB Events calendar.)
Two photos from the WSB inbox (thanks!): First, Amanda shared that shot of a sign that’s turned up on the fence by Delridge Playfield – if you’ve passed the in-progress renovations lately, the joke makes perfect sense; if not, take a close look at what’s in the background, and imagine dozens of those mini-hills on one field. (We’ll be checking with Seattle Parks on the project’s status this week.) Meantime, a view from inside The Bohemian:
As Ryan put it in the note accompanying the picture, “Everyone (was) enjoying the sun today.” Another place to enjoy it was the South Seattle Community College Arboretum on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge:
WSB contributor Keri DeTore shared that with a few other fall-colors photos from a walk through the Arboretum this afternoon – you’ll see another one atop tomorrow’s morning-preview lineup.
(More photos, video added since this was first published in mid-afternoon)
ORIGINAL 3:12 PM REPORT: They’re standing tall in Fauntleroy this afternoon – even without the stilts on which that roaming performer is perched. Under the clear blue sky, the annual Fauntleroy Fall Festival continues at two sites across the street from each other, Fauntleroy Church and co-located Fauntleroy YMCA plus the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, till 5:30 pm. Many free activities for all ages – including, of course, autumn art, and at this table, birdhouse-making:
And tasty treats (bring some $ for those), including creations cooked up by new WSB sponsors Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Events and Catering, which is headquartered at the Hall at Fauntleroy in the historic schoolhouse, though the crew’s mostly outdoors today:
We’re going back over to check in again shortly – music, dance, and more are on the schedule (see it here). Not sure where the church/Y/schoolhouse are? 9131/9140 California SW, but don’t try to head straight down California from points north, because this part doesn’t connect – here’s a map.
7:01 PM NOTE: Huge turnout this afternoon; we have more photos and video to publish later. ADDED 9:58 PM:Chief Sealth International High School‘s Jazz Ensemble 2 – described as a “non-auditioned group” that had only been playing together a few weeks; could have fooled us! – performing “Shake and Bake” in the Fauntleroy Church sanctuary:
Also performing, bands including Let’s Get Lost – whose keyboardist had a four-footed assistant:
Then there was a festival visit from this walking-upright “dog” – there to promote picking up after your canine companions:
Lots of other critters on view – and check out the line for the petting zoo – the nearby pony rides were popular too:
We mentioned Avalon Glassworks‘ pumpkin-making event earlier – seems there’s another patch of glass pumpkins in West Seattle today: WSB contributing photographer Ellen Cedergreen happened onto this show/sale that Tacoma Glassblowing Studio is presenting till 4 pm at Alki Bathhouse. Above, that’s studio co-owner Jeannine Sigafoos; part of today’s proceeds are going toward an orphanage in Romania and a Puget Sound charity (explained here, along with other venues that’ll be hosting the event in the weeks ahead).
Just got word from WSDOT that the Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection/maintenance closure is over, and it reopened about half an hour ago, more than five hours ahead of schedule. Their announcement says this is what they did this time around:
In addition to structural inspections, WSDOT and the City of Seattle coordinated maintenance and preservation work during this closure. Work this weekend included:
*Surveying the structure to check for settlement.
*Repairing expansion joints and damaged bridge rails.
*Applying a protective covering to exposed rebar.
*Servicing drainage and lighting systems and traffic cameras.
*Washing the walls of the Battery Street Tunnel and inspecting its lighting and ventilation systems.
“Preliminary inspection results” will be made public by Friday.
Saturday night’s 10th anniversary celebration for West Seattle-based Killer Whale Tales was in an unusual – but thoroughly appropriate – setting: The Seattle Aquarium, after-hours. Killer Whale Tales is an educational program led by West Seattleite Jeff Hogan – who often sends first word of local orca sightings to share with WSB’ers. He presented a slideshow to last night’s partygoers:
WSB contributing photographer Ellen Cedergreen reports that the slideshow’s focus was on educating kids, to ensure the future of the whales. Jeff explained what he does in the classroom with the kids – not just interactive talks, but also having kids take pledge sheets home and fill them out and then send them back to KWT. They pledge to use less water, learn how to properly dispose of toxic waste, how to use less electricity, etc. They are also encouraged to get adults to pledge the same. In addition to Jeff’s presentation, the party included a fundraising auction, with items including a Killer Whale Tales San Juan Islands Orca Expedition. And there was more exhibit viewing – otter-feeding! Particularly a hit with young eventgoers.
There was also the chance to meet more volunteers working to educate people about local marine life, like another West Seattleite, Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail:
Last night, we also learned more details about upcoming events, including one on which Donna and Jeff are collaborating (we’d heard a bit while out whale-spotting last week): On November 7th at Alki Bathhouse, you’re invited to a “Welcome the Whales” Environmental Fair. Jeff is scheduled to give a talk as part of it; Donna will be talking about the Neighborhood Matching Fund grant that The Whale Trail has won to install local whale-viewing signs and to start an orca-steward training program. More on that, and the event, soon. (KWT, by the way, is a nonprofit, and donations are tax-deductible – here’s how to help, any time.)
Robotics is one of the hottest team “sports” for kids – some get involved through school, but there are other ways too, like the team that Brian Contee-mailed WSB about:
I am forming a West Seattle team to enter the FIRST robot building competition. FIRST is an organization that helps kids 9-14 learn about teamwork, research, and of course robotics. We are starting Monday, and we currently have 7 out of the maximum 10 kids – so still have a few open slots left.
(WSB photos by Ellen Cedergreen)
Three nights after White Center Food Bankexecutive director Rick Jump was at the microphone in South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center, telling the City Council Budget Committee about his agency’s new mobile service, its truck was at the same spot – on display for the food bank’s annual Harvest Dinner and Auction. With it above are volunteers Brittany McIntyre, Lena Guevara, and Johnny Huynh. It took to the streets for the first time on Tuesday, serving WC Food Bank clients at Arrowhead Gardens (WSB sponsor). Of course, the food bank’s leader himself was at last night’s event too, all smiles over the big turnout:
The Harvest Dinner program noted, “This year we’ve faced tremendous challenges as we coped with the realities of an economic downturn and the sharp rise in need in our community. Thanks to your support and partnership, we’ve more than met the basic needs of the families we serve to ensure nutritious meals are available to those who need them most.” Also on the program, quite the entertainment lineup, including Rainier Dance Group, photographed as they prepared to go onstage:
Also performing: Fusion Dance Crew, plus a harpist and jazz pianist. The night included live and silent auctions, a dessert dash (with all money going to buy holiday pies for WC Food Bank clients), and a 50/50 raffle. If you weren’t there, your chance to help out the White Center Food Bank – which is responsible for southern West Seattle too (Myrtle is the south boundary of the West Seattle Food Bank‘s service area) – is year-round, online – just go here.
Reminder that the Alaskan Way Viaduct is closed again today for one of its regular inspections, scheduled to reopen at 6 pm (we’ll update if it happens sooner) … No need to leave the peninsula – as previewed last night, the Fauntleroy Fall Festival is 2-5:30 pm at the church/Y/schoolhouse (map) – the full schedule is here, from pony rides to art creation to environmental activities and tons more … Got a fall project? The new hours at the West Seattle Tool Library, as of this weekend, include 1-5 pm Sundays, north side of South Seattle Community College, 6000 16th SW … Today’s the day Avalon Glassworks is making customer-designed glass pumpkins – check if they still have spots available (2914 SW Avalon Way) … The West Seattle Farmers’ Market is open 10 am-2 pm as always, 44th/Alaska in The Junction … Also from the “every Sunday” department, it’s all-ages live-music night at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), 3803 Delridge Way, schedule here.
The King County Water Taxi West Seattle/Downtown Seattle route is expected to return to normal operation Sunday, Oct. 17, pending the U.S. Coast Guard’s inspection and approval of repairs made to the vessel Melissa Ann. Service was cancelled Saturday because of a mechanical problem.
and tonight we have invites from both 
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