West Seattle, Washington
21 Thursday
The land’s secured, the design’s finished, the ground’s broken – but there’s work to do to transform the Barton/34th parcel into a real P-Patch. Some stalwart volunteers have been out there every weekend – they can’t do it alone, so they’re asking for help:
Everyone is invited to participate in the building of this community garden. Work Parties are planned for Saturdays (9:30- 3 pm) and Sundays (11-3 pm) throughout the summer.
Upcoming work parties will focus on moving sod, spreading manure, gravel and wood chips, protecting the area around the tree, building a shed kit, retaining walls and curbs, providing refreshments and handing out informational materials regarding the P-Patch program. In addition to general labor, we are seeking volunteers with advanced building and masonry skills to help with specific projects.
Please contact Steering Committee Chair Randee Frost at RandeeF@comcast.net if you
would like to schedule a group to work on a specific day or project.
Or – you can just show up, this weekend and/or any weekend.
The traditional Survivors’ Lap opened tonight’s West Seattle Relay for Life about two hours ago at West Seattle Stadium – and this year, the cancer survivors (in purple T-shirts) had extra company: Their caregivers were invited to walk along, and the survivors/caregivers group was followed by marching student musicians (all or most from Chief Sealth IHS, we believe, led by Denny/Sealth maestro Marcus Pimpleton), starting with the reassuring “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing.” Before the lap, survivor Wendy Weeks told her story of fighting breast cancer over the past 10 months (we’ll add video later).
WS Relay chair Jilyan Perry and other organizers tell us this is one of the biggest WS Relays yet – more than 230 participants in 26 teams, and so far they’ve collectively raised $36,000 for the American Cancer Society. They have campsites set up around the stadium for the duration.
The rules say each team has to have at least one person on the track at all times between now and the event’s end at mid-morning tomorrow. They have a variety of events planned along the way, and visitors are welcome (except for between 1-5 am). The big event tonight: The luminaria ceremony at 10 pm, with the track lined with luminarias honoring survivors and remembering those who have lost the fight. (If you can’t visit the Relay in person, you can donate online here.)
Less than an hour ago, the Seattle Lutheran High School Class of 2011 entered the school gym on the north side of The Junction and took their seats for the big ceremony. This year, SLHS has 40 graduates; school spokesperson Bil Hood says all have been accepted to colleges and universities. Co-valedictorians are Jessica Mikler and Michala Watford; salutatorian is Emma Mahboub. They are three of eight seniors graduating Summa Cum Laude, with a 3.8 GPA or higher; five are graduating Magna Cum Laude, 3.5-3.79 GPA (including Fred Lisko, also recognized recently by the Seattle Times as for his athletic achievements); seven are graduating Cum Laude, 3.2-3.49 GPAs. This is the 31st class to graduate from SLHS.
This morning, we received and published the call for a host family for the new Chinese teacher arriving to work with students at Chief Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School. This afternoon, the principals of West Seattle High School and Madison Middle School say theirs needs one too:
Host a College Board Chinese teacher and help support the Chinese-language program at West Seattle High and Madison Middle School. In addition to making Chinese language accessible to students, it will also give your family the opportunity to experience firsthand the Chinese culture. The home stay commitment will run ideally from late August and last thru late June; shorter stays may be possible. The home stay would consist of providing a room, meals and access to laundry. The schools will pick up lunch and possibly breakfast during the school year. Our guest teacher, Zhao (Cathy) Ping, will be in her second year working at Madison and will begin her first year at West Seattle High. Cathy is an easy house mate, she is independent, has a great personality, and is outgoing.
For more information, please contact West Seattle at 252-8800 or Madison at 252-9200. You may also e-mail the principals directly.
Henterson Carlisle hscarlisle@seattleschools.org
Ruth Medsker rmedsker@seattleschools.org
Before you hit the road – one more reminder of this weekend’s traffic alerts. First, the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure, now scheduled to start at 5 am Saturday and continue till 5 am Monday (we’ll publish an update if it’s reopened sooner, as it was last time); second, here again is the citywide list of events that might affect traffic (originally published here on Wednesday). You’ll probably want to check the city’s travel-time map before heading off the peninsula. And if you do spot any UNSCHEDULED major problems, please let us know – we’ll be on duty as always and ready to share the alert.
Today we welcome a new sponsor, Douglas Sutherland, who owns Sutherland Creative Landscape Design. Here’s what he wants you to know about his business: Douglas brings his skills as a graphic designer to each landscape project he takes on, as he says, “Unlike many designers today — I can actually draw, and I will create a custom, hand-drawn landscape design for you. I prefer to work with the contours of your yard and its existing trees and shrubs. 
As much as possible, I like to use what already exists on the property. By designing in this manner, I can keep the installation costs down. I find it amazing how the aesthetics of your yard can be improved just by manipulating what you already have.”
He adds that Sutherland Creative Landscape Design clients trust him and the passion he brings to his work: “My last client told me ‘I just love what you did with my ‘Plain Jane’ yard, I like coming home and just looking at it!’ I have seen it happen many times — once people see their ‘yards’ turned into gardens, they take more pride in them. They want to be in their garden more and tend to spend more time outdoors enjoying it. It gives them a good feeling when they see it from their windows, when they walk through it or relax in it. That investment is something they can enjoy now and something more tangible when they decide to sell their home, because a nice yard is the first thing a potential buyer sees.”
Douglas is a West Seattle resident and a student at South Seattle Community College. He’s a member of Plant Amnesty and the APLD, Association of Professional Landscape Designers. You can reach him through sutherlandcreative.net or at 206-550-5501.
We thank Sutherland Creative Landscape Design for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
Busy late night/early morning for residents and police in two West Seattle neighborhoods. The Crime Watch reports, ahead:Read More
(Sorry for the short notice. We only found out about this because WSB’er Diane was at Jefferson Square Safeway late last night and told us about the announcement she saw posted on a wall.)
The funeral Mass is at 3 pm ***today*** at Holy Rosary for Barbara Ann (Barb) Fuda, a longtime Safeway employee who had been looking forward to going back to work in Admiral when the new store opens in two months – but lost her battle with cancer last Saturday. The notice up at Safeway says she worked for the company for almost 41 years, starting at the old Admiral store at age 15. We don’t have an electronic copy of the posted announcement but transcribed this from a photo:
… Barb was one of the most dedicated and loyal Safeway employees to grace the Metro District. Barb and one of her lifelong friends Karen White were the first female courtesy clerks to be hired in the old south district. She always greatly cared for not only the Admiral store, but every employee and customer in it. She went above and beyond the regular work duties in volunteering for things like writing the store newsletter to participating in fundraising efforts. Barb was also a major planner in all the store parties, from celebrations to the many goodbyes that occurred over 40 years … She will be missed by all who worked with her and the thousands of West Seattle customers whose lives she touched with her caring heart and mischievous smile. She managed all this while tirelessly being the ultimate mother and wife.
The closing of (the Admiral store) was an emotional time for her and her loyal customers who waited more for the “return of Barb” than they did for the opening of our new store … Barb’s passing is a great loss to Safeway and the entire West Seattle community.
The screengrab with Ms. Fuda’s photo is from an obituary in the Seattle Times (WSB partner) earlier this week. You can read it here.
The next big summer festival in West Seattle is just two weeks away – the Morgan Junction Community Festival on Saturday, June 25th. We’re proud to co-sponsor the Morgan Community Association‘s signature public celebration again this year (the full list of sponsors is on the official poster), and MoCA’s Kate Gill de la Garza has just shared new details, including the “Bite of Morgan” food-sample lineup and kids’ activities. The music lineup, Kate says, is “near-final” – one act just canceled (they’re looking for a replacement). And a really big addition: The festival is expanding around its Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW) epicenter, with vendors/exhibitors on both sides of California – not just behind Zeeks/Feedback Lounge, but also alongside Washington Federal Savings. Read on for more festival details:
The time and agenda are now set for Mayor McGinn‘s June 23rd Town Hall meeting in West Seattle (first reported here last month). The location is indeed Hiawatha Community Center (2700 California SW), the date still Thursday, June 23rd, and the time breakdown is as follows:
5:30 to 6:30 pm: Community information fair
6:30 to 6:40 pm: Performance by local artists
6:40 to 8:00 pm: Open Q&A with Mayor McGinn and City staff
His last West Seattle Town Hall was at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in December (WSB coverage here), though he’s been here more than a few times since then, including this past Monday at Don Armeni for the SPD Late Night Emphasis Patrols announcement (which is when we took the photo above).
Out of the WSB inbox, from Andy – a stolen car to watch for:
My wife’s car was stolen from in front of our house in the 4000 block of 50th Avenue SW [map] during the early morning of June 9th. It has been reported to the police, but I’m hoping that WSB readers can help. It is a 1991 red Honda Civic two door hatchback, license number 589 PDW. If it is seen, please call 911.
Here’s hoping it’s spotted (maybe even by a good neighbor like Margaret, whose Twitter-car-theft-solving tale appeared here Wednesday, and she got a TV spotlight that night).
(WSB photo from April 2010 Confucius Institute celebration at Sealth/Denny)
From Chief Sealth International High School principal John Boyd:
As you may know, Chief Sealth and Denny have hosted Chinese Guest Teachers through an exchange program with the College Board for the last three and a half years. This has been a great experience for both of our schools, led to the creation of a K-12 Mandarin Chinese program in SPS, and helped us make the connections that resulted in our schools hosting the Confucius Institute for the State of Washington.
Our current Guest Teacher, Mr. Yang Dawei, is returning to China this year after two years of service to us. We are very excited to be welcoming Ms. Xilong Zeng, who also uses the English name of Celine. Ms. Zeng has been teaching English to Chinese secondary students since 1998.
We are in need of a host family for Ms. Zeng to stay with starting on July 28. Ms. Zeng would stay with the host family for all of the 2011-2012 school year. This is a great opportunity to learn about Chinese culture and pick up some Mandarin Chinese, while doing a great service for our schools. Hosting the Guest Teacher is much like hosting an exchange student, families are responsible for providing the teachers with a room of their own, including the teachers in family meals, and providing them access to things like a washer and dryer. The teacher will receive a modest salary through the Chinese Ministry of Education and the Confucius Institute, and will be provided a insured car from the schools as transportation.
If you are interested in serving as a host family, or know of someone in West Seattle who would be interested, please have them contact the Chief Sealth Main Office at 252-8850.
(Photo by Todd Hobert, from the WSB Flickr group pool)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
WEST SEATTLE RELAY FOR LIFE: Tonight is the biggest cancer-fighting-fundraiser event of the year in West Seattle, Relay for Life. Even if you are not participating, you are welcome to come watch and/or cheer at West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th SW) as teams walk the track overnight, with special ceremonies including opening at 6 pm, luminarias after dark, and the Saturday morning closing. This year’s co-sponsors include WSB; watch for an update later today. (You can donate online any time by going here.)
GRADUATION SEASON BEGINS: From the WSB list of West Seattle high school/college graduations – Seattle Lutheran High School graduation ceremony, 7:30 pm.
SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE FILM SERIES:Sustainable West Seattle presents “Dirt! The Movie” at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm, admission by donation, suggested $5. Inspired by William Bryant Logan’s acclaimed book Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth, Dirt! The Movie takes a humorous and substantial look into dirt’s history and current state. A discussion around soils and composting will follow the film, hosted by Certified Master Gardener Fred Wemer.
SPEAKING OF FILMS: Third-to-last day/night for SIFF (WSB sponsor), and there are three films scheduled at the Admiral Theater in West Seattle, at 4:30, 7, and 9:30, from the U.S., U.K., and South Korea. Schedule and film details are here.
DONATIONS ACCEPTED FOR TORNADO SURVIVOR FUNDRAISER YARD SALE: We previewed the sale here; until 8 tonight, you can drop off donations at the sale site (look for the tent) – details on this Facebook event page.
SSCC GARDEN CENTER: Puget Ridge Garden Center at South Seattle Community College open 12:30 – 2:30 pm. Also open tomorrow 11 am – 3 pm. Supports the students in the Landscape Horticulture program. Plants available for purchase: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and other edibles, as well as small trees, shrubs, perennials, ground covers, shade-loving plants, and more. Located on the north end of the campus at 6000 16th Ave SW.
WINE TASTING/AUCTION BENEFIT: Auction and Wine Tasting Event for Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale at the Sanctuary at Admiral (2656 42nd Avenue SW), 7 pm. The evening will include boutique wines to taste, a silent auction, food, and entertainment including organist Maryann Lee. Tickets include the auction, two wine tastings, food, and entertainment. Call Cathy or Bob Ingalls at 425-277-0809. This evening helps Musica Sacra in its formation and to help in our mission to provide benefit concerts to help children in medical need.
OTHER WEST SEATTLE WINE EVENTS: 2nd day of Northwest Wine Academy event at South Seattle Community College, 12:00 – 6:00 pm, with alumni-wine sampling, 3-6 pm … Italian winemaker tasting at Bin 41 in The Junction with Enrico Marcato, 6-7:30 pm (details here).
GIRL SCOUTS’ CELEBRATION: Girl Scouts West Seattle Service Unit 550 “Bridging Event” at Camp Long at the Fire Circle from 6 – 8 pm. Organizers invite all Girl Scouts, their families and friends as well as any Girl Scout supporters to come witness this event. It’s a potluck so everyone is encouraged to bring their own meat as well as a side dish or dessert to share with all. No alcohol is permitted. If you have any questions, would like to volunteer to help with this event, or temporarily donate equipment to use at the event, please contact Danielle Otey, Troop 43034 Leader at (206) 850-1791 or skittleskandi.girlscouts@gmail.com
UPDATE – TONIGHT’S RAINBOW BINGO CANCELED
COLLEGE CHOIR: South Seattle Community College Community Choir Concert. This show is free and open to the public. 8 pm at Olympic Hall Auditorium OLY (lecture and recital hall) room 120, north end of campus.
LIVE MUSIC AT SKYLARK: Mary and the Giant, Jubilee, The Good Luck Number, 9 pm, $5 cover, 3803 Delridge Way SW.
NEW RESTAURANT OPENS: Bang Bar in The Junction (California SW, east side just north of SW Edmunds) “soft opens” tonight for dinner only
REMINDER – POLICE LATE-NIGHT EMPHASIS PATROL: If you see extra police along Alki or in High Point late tonight (weather-dependent), it might just be because it’s the first night of the city’s Late Night Emphasis Patrols, as announced in West Seattle (though the program is citywide) on Monday.
REMINDER – VIADUCT CLOSURE TIME CHANGE: As noted here last night, the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure is now scheduled to start at 5 am Saturday, instead of late tonight.
As a week of graduations begins for West Seattle high schools, our area’s young adults are getting ready for the next steps into their future. Among them, Nick Barnecut, whose family shares the official announcement that he is on his way to the selective U.S. Coast Guard Academy:
The United States Coast Guard Academy announced that Nicholas J. Barnecut from West Seattle has been recognized for superior academic achievement and leadership potential. Nicholas, who attends West Seattle High School, has accepted an appointment to attend the Coast Guard Academy and will be sworn-in as a member of the Class of 2015 on June 27th.
The United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut is an accredited college educating future Coast Guard officers. The smallest of our nation’s five military service academies, the Coast Guard Academy’s Corps of Cadets represents the nation’s best and brightest students, ready to serve and lead their country. Admission to the Coast Guard Academy is highly competitive and less than 400 appointments are offered annually from a pool of over 4,000 applicants. Cadets receive a full tuition scholarship and monthly stipend for a five year service commitment to the Coast Guard upon graduation. All graduates receive a Bachelor of Science degree and are guaranteed a position of leadership as a commissioned officer in the United States Coast Guard.
Nicholas is the son of James and Jamie Barnecut; grandson of Richard and Dolores Barnecut and Gerald and Rosita Wong, all residents of West Seattle.
(Photo provided by Nick Barnecut’s family)
The day after Marty McLaren received the 34th District Democrats‘ endorsement for West Seattle’s seat on the Seattle Public Schools board, over incumbent Steve Sundquist, two more challengers filed to run against him. Today is the final day for candidate filings in the August 16th primary races, and Joy Anderson and Charita Dumas have joined McLaren and Sundquist in the race for the District 6 seat. Both are West Seattleites who were involved in the legal fight to stop the closure of Cooper Elementary School (here’s a story from two years ago). Three other school-board seats are on the ballot this year, and each incumbent in those races has at least two challengers so far.
(Photos courtesy Denny/Sealth music programs)
The “Happiest Place on Earth” must have been the “Most Melodic Place on Earth” last weekend – and student musicians from Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School were part of it. Denny’s principal Jeff Clark forwarded this detailed report about their big trip to Southern California:
Congratulations are in order for the students of the Chief Sealth International High School Concert- Marching Band and Sealth Jazz II as well as the Denny International Middle School Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Orchestra, who traveled to Anaheim, California, this past weekend to participate in the Disney Magic Music Days and Music in the Parks Festivals.
At the Saturday Music in the Parks competition, the Sealth Concert Band earned a rating of Superior, the highest rating possible, and the 1st place trophy in the high school band AA division. The band had perfect scores in rhythm and technique and a near-perfect score in tone quality. One judge commented, “Fine reputation of school and community.” The Denny String Orchestra, Denny Marching Band, and Denny jazz ensembles earned ratings of Excellent, as well as the 1st place trophies in their respective divisions.
On Sunday morning, the Denny Orchestra participated in a Soundtrack recording session at the Disney Magic Music Days sound studio in which they recorded music to Disney animation. Still later day the Denny marching band kicked off the afternoon Disney Main St. Parade with a pre-parade march through the park, followed by Sealth being similarly honored as the featured band for kicking off the evening Main Street Parade.
Read on as the report continues – and you’ll also find out about instrument donations for the student musicians:Read More
News x 2 from the West Seattle Tool Library at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center:
On Thursday night, while making the rounds for West Seattle Art Walk, we checked out the new day/time for Ask-An-Expert coaching at the Tool Library – second Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 pm, to coincide with WSAW nights. On hand during our visit were (photo from left) Solar Epiphany‘s Eric Thomas, Mighty House Construction‘s Laura Elfline, visiting Realtor Alice Kuder (of Savvy Seattle Women fame), Mighty House’s Doug Elfline, and Tool Library boss Patrick Dunn. Ask-An-Expert is an informal drop-in arrangement, free, so watch for the next one on Thursday, July 14.
Before then – this Saturday, in fact – you are invited to help the Tool Library celebrate its first anniversary. Here’s the official announcement:
From a few donated tools in a storage closet at SSCC to a new dedicated space at Youngstown complete with a full tool storage area and a 500 square foot community woodworking shop, the Tool Library has come a long way in a short time with the help of dedicated volunteers. More than 230 members have signed up to use the collection of more than 1,000 tools, most donated by the community.
Tool Library First Anniversary schedule:
10:00 am: Community Welcome with Coffee & Pastries
10:30-11:30 am: Beyond the Basics: Power Tool Tips and Safety (meetup.com link)
11:30 am-12:30 pm: One-on-One Large Shop Tool Instruction (For Class Attendees)
1:00 pm-4:00 pm: Fixers’ Collective, Inaugural Meeting (meetup.com link)In celebration of its one-year anniversary, the Tool Library has special offers on the use of the new community woodworking shop.
Click ahead for details on those offers:Read More
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