West Seattle, Washington
28 Sunday
Meet the young artists whose mini-murals now adorn a dozen traffic-signal boxes/cabinets along Delridge Way SW, from SW Andover to SW Henderson (map). We mentioned the project Thursday night; on Friday afternoon, their three weeks of work concluded with a wrap party. While the celebration was inside Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, where the project was based, everyone took a field trip outside to the site where we photographed them – a painted box across from the south side of Youngstown. Also on hand (at left in the top photo, as well as seen below), artist Andrew Morrison and teacher Tess Gamez, who worked with the youth:
Morrison talked about how the work – for which the young artists were paid, as part of the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture’s Work Readiness Art Program and the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative – taught life skills, such as showing up on time and taking responsibility to get a job done. Tess talked about how the kids got to be known in the neighborhood while working along the three-mile stretch, and how near the end someone even stopped by with snacks for the kids. Half the mini-murals follow progression of the salmon life cycle, while the rest feature other sea-life themes. Meantime, more mural work is ahead for next year:
Youngstown director David Bestock says larger murals will be painted next summer along that wall facing Delridge, as well as retaining walls in the center’s parking lot, and he’ll be pursuing funding for that work in the meantime. Since Youngstown – the historic Cooper School – is a city landmark, he had to go to the Landmarks Board this month to get approval for those future murals, and he says it was a unanimous “yes” vote. Along with the programs noted above, he points out that this all began in partnership with Southwest Youth and Family Services, Seattle Police, and Seattle Public Utilities.
P.S. Youngstown’s planning a big public open house three weeks from today, Saturday, September 21st, 1-9 pm (including performances during those final three hours) – and would love to show you what’s happening inside the historic school’s walls at 4408 Delridge Way SW.
5:10 PM: If you’re wondering about the police response just east of Westwood Village – we’re heading over to check, but scanner traffic described it as an agitated man who had placed a crossbow on the hood of his car. The street on that side is, or was, blocked. No injuries reported.
5:35 PM UPDATE: Just back from checking it out. No details available at the scene but it was on the residential side of 25th SW east of Westwood, and the street was open; things were wrapping up. A private ambulance was there, but we don’t know who, if anyone, was transported.
SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: Police have just summarized this in an SPD Blotter item:
… On 8/31/13, just shortly before 5:00 p.m., officers located the suspect with crossbow in hand. Rifle officers were able to convince him to place the weapon down and surrender. He had two arrows, one a plain metal tip and the other a razor steel hunting tip. An investigation revealed that the suspect was suffering from mental health issues. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center for an involuntary commitment. The 47-year-old suspect was verbally hostile and had to be placed in 4- point restraints to control him.
A witness confirmed to us that the man she saw in handcuffs was the man subsequently placed in the ambulance we mentioned seeing at the scene.
We mention youth-sports leagues often – but sports aren’t just for kids, and here’s a reminder: Three leagues at local community centers, with signups under way – read on for the details:
This afternoon, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers are back at the historic Alki Point Lighthouse until 4 pm, for the first of this summer’s final two afternoons of free tours. The video above is a promotional reminder, courtesy of Mark Elliott and Avenue Productions – with a preview of what you’ll see when you go, though nothing compares to experiencing it firsthand.
The tour season began in June with a commemoration of the lighthouse’s centennial. The celebration won’t stop when the tour season ends around 4:01 pm tomorrow – the Southwest Seattle Historical Society has featured a special mini-exhibit at the Log House Museum, and the SWSHS’s Champagne Gala Lunch in November is themed “Tripping the Lighthouse Fantastic“:
That’s the official invitation cover, shown off at a gala-preview gathering Thursday night at The Pacific Institute on Harbor Avenue near Seacrest. SWSHS executive director Clay Eals spoke to a gathering of local civic/historic-preservation champions:
Among the many local luminaries present was (on the couch in our photo above) Earl Cruzen, about whom Eals said, “If there ever was a Mr. West Seattle …” Eals noted that not only did Cruzen lead the way in bringing West Seattle its history-depicting murals and the Walking on Logs sculptures, he also for many years (as also noted here, in 2010) singlehandedly maintained the landscaping around the latter.
Eals previewed a few details of the gala itself, which will include a silent auction – video previews of key items are coming up on the SWSHS/Log House Museum website, he promised – and dessert dash; go here to find out how to get your tickets! (WSB is proud to be a media sponsor for this year’s gala.)
But before then – make sure your calendar is marked for a week from tomorrow, 6:30 pm Sunday, September 8th, when Alki Arts (which remains open until the end of September) will host “The Earth Cried Out,” a one-night-only exhibit of the bags saved from luminarias placed around and near the Alki Statue of Liberty after 9/11. (We’ll feature a more-detailed preview later this weekend.)
(Crowley tugs off Alki Point – photo added 10:33 am, just shared by Jim Kaiser – thanks!)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
RAMP-CLOSURE REMINDER: Until 3 pm Monday, the ramp from northbound I-5 to the West Seattle Bridge is closed for more expansion-joint work. (We’ll publish an update if it reopens early.)
DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE NATIVE MARKET/JUMBLE DAYS: Happening at the Duwamish Tribe‘s longhouse, the second of two days for this arts/crafts/rummage/more sale. 10 am-4 pm . (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
BENEFIT CAR WASH: As previewed here on Friday, the WSHS girls’ soccer team is washing cars as a fundraiser at West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor), 10 am-3 pm. (35th/Webster)
HONEY HARVEST: From Krista Conner at Seattle Bee Works, word of a “honey harvest” event today at West Seattle Produce: “Meet and chat with local West Seattle beekeepers! Watch and learn how honey is extracted from the comb. Sample local honey!” 10 am-2 pm. (4722 Fauntleroy Way SW)
LAFAYETTE WORK PARTY: Volunteers came out in the rain on Thursday, but there’s still more to be done at the Lafayette Elementary playground, so Sean Reynolds sends word, “We will hold another work party today from 10 am to noon. Sweeping and raking wood chips, weeding around the raised beds and building (there’s lots!) and planting some new flowers will be the target.” (California/Lander)
BARNES AND NOBLE STORYTIME: Melissa describes today’s 11 am storytime at the Westwood Village bookstore: “We’re going to be reading ‘Rocket Writes a Story’ and ‘Library Mouse’ … as well as a fun craft! We’ll be making our own books for budding little writers and artists to create their own stories. It should be a lot of fun, and a nice transition for back to school!” (2800 SW Barton)
LAST WEEKEND FOR ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Today and tomorrow, 1-4 pm (look for a preview later this morning) are your final chances this year for a free tour of the historic Alki Point Lighthouse as it continues its centennial celebration. (Look for the parking lot where Alki Avenue and Beach Drive meet)
DAUGHTERS OF THE DEAD SEA FAREWELL SHOW/BENEFIT: As previewed here on Thursday, the West Seattle band is performing one final time, and admission is by donation to help member Jen cover her medical bills for a lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis. The show at Easy Street Records in The Junction includes Hobosexual and Whiskey Radio too. (California/Alaska)
SKYLARK BENEFIT FOR LOGAN WICKER: As noted in our Friday story about Skylark Café and Club changing hands as of tomorrow, this is a big night to benefit employee Logan Wicker, seriously injured when an allegedly drunk driver hit his car in June. 8 pm, three bands on the bill: Yevtushenko, Loyal Kites, Dunning Kruger Effect. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
HAIRSTORM ‘ROCK FOR BOOBIES’ BENEFIT: And the night’s final fundraising rock ‘n’ roll round is at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9:30 pm, featuring ’80s “hair rock” tribute band Hairstorm, and featuring a silent auction, all to benefit the breast-cancer-fighting 3-Day team Boulder Patrols. (6451 California SW)
And yes, there’s MORE on the calendar …
While we get going on today’s news and events – four photos we ran out of time to publish last night, as the “last weekend of summer” begins (we know it’s not TECHNICALLY the end of summer, since the autumn equinox is still three weeks away). Above, Danny McMillin photographed a stand-up paddleboarder passing a rafting sea lion; next, Ryan captured the evening “parking” scene at Ercolini Park west of The Junction:
Back to the water – John Hinkey‘s view from Constellation Park:
And, also from the Beach Drive vicinity (east of Weather Watch Park), Greg snapped the sunset colors:
Thanks as always to community photo contributors – editor@westseattleblog.com is the best way to share yours! Now, on to the rest of the weekend – lots more to report, and share, as Saturday begins.
| 23 COMMENTS