West Seattle, Washington
18 Thursday
In the rare instant when West Seattle Elementary counselor Laura Bermes paused amid her frenetic activity this morning making the first of two big assemblies happen, we photographed the sticker on her back so you could see it: Promising to “Stand Up to Bullying” was a big part of what today was about at WSE. A pink flag flew outside, and many staff and many students wore pink:
Bermes explained it’s part of this movement -and told us, “The idea is exciting. We have an anti-bullying policy, ways to report bullying, and really a very nice school; but we’d be naive to think that bullying doesn’t happen in schools. We need to be vigilant in how we address it, and this is one clear way for students to send a message to one another and to the community – WSE is a school where students and adults treat one another with respect. We hope that message spreads into our larger community.”
We were there for the morning assembly, for which the youngest students – kindergarteners through second graders – gathered not just for that rally, but also for awards and rewards. New shoes donated by Brooks were part of the latter:
Two classes won them as part of a Healthy Husky Challenge that Bermes and school nurse Terri Helm-Reymund led – “a 2 week long healthy challenge where students logged the number of minutes they exercised, or participated in some physical activity, every evening. Parents had to sign off on the log.” Bermes said the school was slated to get 35 pairs to give away, but two classes won and she requested, and received 44. One more special prize was announced at the assembly – Bermes got a Seattle Education Foundation grant to help with programs to boost attendance, and with part of the money, she bought a bicycle and gear, prizes for a drawing into which students with low absenteeism and tardiness were entered. Here’s the big announcement:
2nd grader Santiago is the first bicycle winner in the new incentive program:
Drawing entries are given to students with two or fewer absences per trimester and less than five tardies; perfect attendance gets a student five entries. Other prizes included basketballs and hula hoops.
The always-hot topic of transportation is at centerstage for the third meeting of the new Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights community council, next Tuesday (April 2nd) night. (Our coverage of meeting #1 is here; meeting #2, here.) The full agenda is here; the transportation item is described by facilitator Mat McBride as:
Seattle Dept of Transportation – Safety, Collaboration, and Q&A
This community has a couple items in particular to discuss with SDOT – 35th in Arbor Heights, the Roxhill Speedway, sidewalks, and the new fleet of Metro busses. Jim Curtin, great guy, W Seattle resident, and SDOT employee will take these questions, answer any others you have, and talk about how to work directly with SDOT in the future. Presented by Jim Curtin, SDOT.
(Thanks to Joe Szilagyi for sharing the news the agenda’s up.) Leadership decisions are also on the agenda – the group has no officers yet. Come help shape this new group and help your neighborhood – 6:30 pm Tuesday in the upstairs meeting room at Southwest Library (35th/Henderson).
Two updates in our ongoing coverage of the West Seattle encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville”:
FOOD LIFELINE SITE DECISION DELAY? Though some word from the city was expected any day now by both Food Lifeline – which wants to buy the public land that currently houses the encampment – and the Highland Park Action Committee, which says the encampment has overstayed its welcome and wants a move-out date (as first reported here Thursday), Mayor McGinn‘s office says the next move may still be a few weeks away. Spokesperson Aaron Pickus answered our query this morning with: “We expect to have a report from our Finance and Administrative Services department in early to mid-April regarding the possible property sale to Food Lifeline.”
SENTENCING IN APRIL 2012 ‘FIREBOMBING’: It’s not in our coverage archives, but the U.S. Attorney reports that not only was there a firebombing at the encampment almost exactly a year ago – related to an “eviction” – but the repeat offender arrested for it and another crime two days later has just been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison. The U.S. Attorney’s Office sent a news release about it today – saying 37-year-old Shane Anello had pleaded guilty to charges stemming from having thrown a Molotov cocktail at the car of someone who had evicted him from Nickelsville on April 1 (a “car fire” is shown on the 911 logs for that day at 6:10 pm), and to shooting at a car in Beacon Hill on April 3rd. Read the full news release here.
Earlier today, we mentioned the Seattle Times (WSB partner) update on the upcoming arrival – probably Tuesday – of the Highway 99 tunneling machine “Bertha.” Tonight, WSDOT asked us to share an alert for bicycle riders regarding how its arrival will affect the shared-use path along the Pioneer Square waterfront:
The first change will come on Monday, April 1, when the crossover will shift a block south, from South Jackson Street to South King Street.
Once we start unloading Bertha in 41 pieces from a vessel docked at Terminal 46, the path will be temporarily closed at South King Street several times per day. This is necessary to maintain safe path access while we move large equipment across the sidewalk. Police officers will be on site to help direct traffic while we move Bertha’s pieces.
The sidewalk near South King Street offers a great view of Bertha’s arrival point, so we’re expecting that people will gather on the path to catch a glimpse of Bertha being unloaded. Please ride with caution and expect delays if there are crowds.
(Video and photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
You heard here about the plan for Seattle Fire Department trainees to practice their skills at the soon-to-be-demolished structures on the future Murray Combined Sewer Overflow storage-tank site across from Lowman Beach. Now, see (and in the clip above, hear Capt. Eddie Nelson explain) for yourself what happened. WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams shadowed them during the first day of their two-day training session:
That’s trainee Josh Milton readying his air pack. Next, trainee Ricardo Cuevas, putting on his breathing mask:
After getting geared up, trainees headed up to practice cutting a roof for “vertical ventilation:
More scenes from the firefighter trainees’ work – which comes about midway through their training – ahead:
Last Friday, we reported on a death at West Seattle Stadium the day before. Today, we know the man who died at the track was 44-year-old West Seattle resident Donald Markey; we have heard from his wife Leslie Markey, a native West Seattleite (who says old friends from WSHS/Madison/Alki would know her as Leslie Rhodes). She says her husband was in training for the upcoming physical exam to join the Seattle Police Department, and that she is thankful for SPD and Seattle Fire Department medics’ “beyond hope” efforts to save her husband’s life – “an unbelievable effort by our local fire and police.” Here is the remembrance she shared:
Donald Graham Markey, born March 8, 1969 died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 44 of a heart attack, on March 21, 2013. Son of Nancy Graham Markey (deceased) and John Cornelius Markey (deceased) of Charlotte, North Carolina. He is survived by his wife, Leslie C. Markey of Seattle; brother John Cornelius Markey, Jr. of Graham, North Carolina; Aunt and Uncle Steve and Cornelia Robinson of Charlotte, NC; and two beloved cats; Arnold and Abner.
Handsome, humorous, personable, and polite, Donald was smart, highly educated, motivated to be of service to others, and a man of faith. He was baptized a Christian in Anacortes in 2003. He was devoted to seeking a better understanding of God by exploring spirituality so that he could live in the sunlight of the spirit. He shared this journey with his wife. Donald’s relationship with Leslie began in 1999 and they then married in 2007 in Seattle, WA. He was blessed with a faith that worked, and it showed in the way he smiled, talked and loved.
(Photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
Yet another great example of generosity: We wrote on Thursday about the call for one-gallon plant-pot donations for the tomato-growing project in which Arbor Heights Elementary teacher Marcia Ingerslev and her students learn, teach, and share – and about an hour ago, that call was answered, big time! Our photo includes some of the donors as well as excited tomato-farming students. (We’ll be adding a few photos from parent volunteers who were there too – THANK YOU!)
(WSB photo from past West Seattle Thriftway egg hunt)
In addition to our list of Holy Week/Easter church services, we have had a variety of egg hunts listed on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar. Now, for your convenience, we’ve put them all in one list (which will be linked all weekend atop the sidebar TOP STORIES list in case you need to find it again):
****SATURDAY EGG HUNTS****
WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY (WSB sponsor): 9 am Saturday, Fauntleroy/California/Morgan, ages 1-10 – indoor hunt but the line forms outdoors.
SEATTLE PARKS AND REC COMMUNITY CENTERS (WSB sponsor): 10 am Saturday at Alki, Delridge, Hiawatha, High Point, South Park Community Centers (addresses in calendar listing), ages 3-11
EGG HUNT @ LINCOLN PARK: 10 am Saturday; this is presented by Eastridge Church but it’s open to the entire community.
(added) BARNES & NOBLE EGG HUNT: 11 am Saturday, first-ever egg hunt in the Kids’ Department, in conjunction with the regular weekly storytime. “Little ones are encouraged to bring Easter baskets to hold their goodies,” says Melissa from B&N. (Westwood Village Shopping Center)
****SUNDAY EGG HUNTS****
SALVATION ARMY: 9:45 am in the gymnasium (9050 16th SW)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-1 pm, eggs will be hidden hourly throughout the market. (44th/Alaska)
VILLAGE GREEN PERENNIAL NURSERY: 1 pm – info on the Facebook event page (10223 26th SW)
C & P COFFEE COMPANY (WSB sponsor): 11 am (5612 California SW)
COMMUNITY EASTER FESTIVAL: At noon, Admiral Congregational Church plans an egg hunt as part of its community festival (California/Hill)
OTHER CHURCHES: Check our list of services for listings and links mentioning egg hunts adjacent to churches’ Easter Sunday services
Time flies. Or, sails. It’s already been 10 days since the heavy-lift ship Jumbo Fairpartner carrying the Highway 99 tunnel machine left Japan (as noted here, with photo). Tuesday’s the day you’ll see it sail past West Seattle shores on the way into Elliott Bay, reports Seattle Times (WSB partner) transportation reporter (and West Seattleite) Mike Lindblom, whose story includes this tracking link. We’ll of course track it with specific viewing times as it gets closer! P.S. WSDOT is offering a launch-pit walking tour next Thursday.
Christina shared that photo of a scary but short-lived sight in front of the New Apostolic Church at 32nd and 106th in east Arbor Heights last night. The call was logged as “brush fire”; we checked this morning with Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Kyle Moore, who says that once Engine 37 got there, they had it “knocked down in less than a minute.” He adds that it’s believed to have been sparked by “improperly discarded smoking materials” – a reminder that it doesn’t have to be the dusty dry heart of summer for a tossed-aside cigarette (etc.) to cause trouble.
Lafayette Elementary‘s new principal has just been announced in a letter from Superintendent José Banda:
I am pleased today to announce the appointment of Robert Gallagher as your new principal, effective July 1.
Mr. Gallagher comes to Lafayette from St. Anthony’s K-8 in Renton, where he has served as principal since June 2011. Mr. Gallagher is a long-time educator committed to working with both staff and families to ensure success. He will be a great fit for the Lafayette community.
Mr. Gallagher started his career in Alberta, Canada as a middle school teacher, before becoming a vice principal and eventually principal. During that time he helped design and implement arts-infused education programming. He also oversaw the Maple Bear Songpa Campus, a 1,000-student pre-school in Seoul, South Korea. After that, he spent five years in Hawaii, with experience both as a principal of St. Theresa School and as Board Vice President of St. Joseph School.
His Masters of Education is from the University of Portland, with a focus on Education Leadership. His Bachelor of Education is from the University of Alberta, Edmonton.
Mr. Gallagher was selected after a hiring process that included input from staff and families. The selection team committee was particularly impressed with Mr. Gallagher’s experience as a principal and his strong instructional and technology background. He is very collaborative and committed to building strong relationships with all members of the Lafayette community. Mr. Gallagher has the reputation of being a very student-focused principal.
I want to thank the hiring team for your work, and also thank the entire school community for your patience as we went through this process. Please know it was not a light decision to ask your former principal, Shauna Heath, to take her current role as Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction mid-year. But I know you have been in good hands with Interim Principal Birgit McShane, and I also want to thank her for her commitment to Lafayette these past three months and for the remainder of the school year.
Gallagher will become Lafayette’s third non-interim principal in two years; Heath had succeeded Jo Lute-Ervin, who left the job after a year. Before that, Virginia Turner led Lafayette for seven years.
(WSB photo from 2011 West Seattle Summer Fest)
Nowthat it’s almost April, July is right around the corner – really! Here’s a heads-up from Susan Melrose at the West Seattle Junction Association:
Hi West Seattle!
West Seattle Summer Fest 2013 is July 12, 13 and 14. We’ll bring back all the great stuff that our neighborhood loves.
And that includes local businesses! West Seattle retailers and restaurants are encouraged to sign up as a vendor. We are reviewing the first round of applications on April 1st. This festival fills up quickly so if you’d like to participate, submit your application by Monday, April 1st. Apply at westseattlefestival.com.
Producing this event is a large undertaking and sponsors are needed to help make it possible. If you’re interested in becoming a Summer Fest sponsor, please e-mail susan@wsjunction.org for details.
This year, we’ll have a local non-profit coordinate the Community Tent where our small neighborhood organizations can have shifts of free space at the festival. Stay tuned for details.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Last morning commute of the week is under way, and there’s one big weekend closure to remind you about: If you will be heading toward West Seattle from the south at any point this weekend, avoid I-5 – northbound lane closures are planned just south of the West Seattle Bridge, between Albro and Spokane, and backups are expected. As WSDOT explains, this work is scheduled for NEXT weekend as well as THIS one.
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