day : 01/06/2014 9 results

Beautiful weekend for baseball – including the game that crowd came to watch at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point on Saturday afternoon. Not your standard baseball game, though:

The reason for the sign? The game was “beep baseball” – designed so sight-impaired players can hear the ball:

That’s the ball, which really does beep, and is 16 inches around. Listen to hear it in this short clip from one at-bat:

The team: The Seattle-South King Sluggers (see the roster here), for whom Walt Hundley serves as home field:

As previewed here a few weeks ago, they extended a special community invitation to their “awareness event,” playing a team from the Seattle Police Department – in black, with special specs that are worn by all players:

This is the second season for the Sluggers, coached by Kevin Daniel

Want to see – and hear – the Sluggers in action? Here’s their schedule.

P.S. According to an update on the Sluggers’ Facebook page, they won 7-0.

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Congratulations! Madison MS success at Music in the Parks

June 1, 2014 8:35 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

Congratulations to the nearly 100 musicians of the Madison Middle School Band who are just back from the annual “Music in the Parks” competition in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Parent Loni Syltebo shares the photos and reports on the results:

Jazz Band, 1st Place (Excellent rating)

String Orchestra, 3rd Place (Excellent rating)

Concert Band, 5th Place (Excellent rating)

Jackson Delaney (8th grader) was awarded Outstanding Jazz Soloist of the competition (photo below):

(Thanks also to parent Karen Pfeiffer Bush for sharing early word of the first-place win.)

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West Seattle schools: The Olympics, K-5 STEM style

June 1, 2014 7:32 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

You’ve heard of the Winter Olympics … the Summer Olympics … now, meet the Spring Olympics. This past week, West Seattle’s K-5 STEM elementary combined gym versions of popular sports to make them happen – starting with an Opening Ceremony and Parade of Nations during which music teacher Cathy Chutich “led each grade level in sharing songs from their chosen countries or regions,” as explained by parent Kathleen Voss, who let us know about the first-ever STEM Olympics. Then, for three days, PE teacher Gretchen Gray (who shared the photo) led students through events including, from the Winter Games, bobsled, skeleton, speed skating, long jump (skiing), and curling, and from the Summer Games, the 100m dash, 400m relay, basketball, soccer, and a long-jump (track) event. You can see photos and video from the Opening Ceremony/Parade of Nations on the K-5 STEM PTA website.

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Video: Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation’s new plaque, honoring present & past

June 1, 2014 5:31 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

A joyful moment for Rev. Peg Boyle Morgan and her Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Gatewood before this morning’s service: Four years after they moved into the former Gatewood Baptist Church at California/Othello, they have installed a commemorative plaque in the church entryway – right next to the one the Baptists placed there 64 years ago:

WSUU had intended all along for the original plaque to stay; it was even mentioned in this WSB feature published shortly after they got the keys to the building in April 2010. Adding their own is also a nod to the WSUU past, present, and future, as the church celebrates its golden anniversary – 50 years – this year.

ADDED: Video of the dedication, above.

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West Seattle scene: No, those Alki road signs weren’t hacked

June 1, 2014 3:01 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

Know where the corner of Alki and Jersey is? Alki and Arkansas? They’re not on the map, but they seem to be on the books at SDOT. We recorded the sign after Peter sent a photo, writing:

A new sign went up at 57th and Alki last night. It says “Road work ahead Alki Ave SW from Jersey to Arkansas 6-3-14 to 6-4 -14 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Slow and caution.” I can’t figure out what they mean by Jersey and Arkansas. Lived here 20 years and I’ve never seen those street signs.

Our video is from the eastbound side; the westbound sign at Duwamish Head says the same thing. Before assuming it was a hack (stranger things have happened), we looked online; while SW Jersey and SW Arkansas don’t seem to exist in Google Maps or in Bing Maps, we did find them in SDOT’s database, accessible via data.seattle.gov – along with at least one other name that appears to exist on paper only (SW Hampshire). We also found Seattle Municipal Archives photos of a problem with the “Arkansas Street Sewer” in 1962, and going even further back, “Jersey Street Sewer” photos from 1922 – including this one that also mentions an address in the 1300 block of Alki.

As for the practical question – so where IS this impending road work? – “no parking” signs for those dates can be found in the 1200 block of Alki SW, though the explanatory one-sheet we found taped to one sign mentions the 1500 block. Regarding what the crews will be doing, we hope to find out from SDOT tomorrow, since it’s not on the weekly Construction Lookahead.

11:04 PM: Greg points out in a comment that a century-old atlas does show these streets (and others either never built, or built over – including Rhode Island and Mexico).

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Seaview car theft; Arbor Heights hit-run; Sunrise Heights break-in

June 1, 2014 12:45 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:

CAR STOLEN IN SEAVIEW: From Jessica:

My mom’s 1991 Honda Accord was stolen sometime after 10:30 pm on Friday, May 30th, near Raymond and 49th Ave SW [map]. It is goldish/sand in color with license plate AJY3779. If seen, please call or text 206-852-6289.

HIT-RUN IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: We don’t know yet exactly where the actual hit-run happened, but a witness saw the fleeing car just before 10 am today:

I was walking my dog … when I heard a vehicle approaching from a side street at a high rate of speed. I got over as far as I could, in time to see the vehicle spin out into the intersection. The vehicle had severe front end damage, and bits of debris were flying off as it sped toward 35th. I don’t have a cell phone, so used a neighbor’s phone to call SPD. They confirmed that there had been a hit & run in the neighborhood (Arbor Heights). The location where I observed this was the intersection of 37th Ave SW & SW 102nd St [map]. The vehicle was traveling south on 37th, then east on 102nd. It probably turned onto 35th from there, but I could not see in which direction. Dark green older-model Honda sedan (probably Civic) with heavy front-end damage. License # AHH****. Hopefully SPD will contact me, as I also have a description of the driver.

BURGLARY IN SUNRISE HEIGHTS: From Vernon:

I wanted you to know that my house (near Kenyon/29th Ave SW; map) was burglarized Wednesday between 2:00 and 4:30 pm (right after the school let out?). They went down the back alley, down my driveway, and into the back yard. From there they took one of the patio chairs and climbed up onto the electrical box for the hot tub and gouged the screen out to get to the kitchen window, which was left ajar. Once in, they stole the laptop in the living room, went into another room and stole an iMac, then went into my room. They ransacked my room until they found the safe which weighed about. 200 pounds. They carried it out of the house through the back door and more than likely into a waiting vehicle, probably parked in my back driveway. I talked to my neighbors either side of me but came up empty.

If you saw anything in that area last Wednesday afternoon, let police know.

P.S. This is NOT a West Seattle case but the suspect could be anywhere so we’re sharing the link to SPD’s updated blotter post on the early-morning double murder in Leschi because they have JUST named a suspect and included a photo. Obviously, if you see him/have any info, call 911. (5:24 pm update – SPD just announced he’s in custody.)

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On the run to make kids’ dreams come true: Lou Cutler’s annual Make-A-Wish run tomorrow

June 1, 2014 11:54 am

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| How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photo of Lou Cutler during his 2013 Make-A-Wish run)
For the 11th year, Pathfinder K-8 PE teacher Lou Cutler will take to the school’s playfield tomorrow and run one lap for every year of his age. It’s a celebration of his birthday – later this month, he turns 63, so this year it’s 63 laps – and a benefit for the organization with which he’s volunteered for more than 15 years: Make-A-Wish. Pledged/donated dollars go to the organization’s work helping dreams come true for seriously ill children (besides the annual run, Lou also volunteers during the actual wish-granting – he talked with us about that for this story in 2011). Lou doesn’t run alone; it’s a schoolwide celebration by the time the morning’s over. It starts at 8:45 and Lou tells us he’ll likely be on the run until about 12:20 pm. Spectators welcome; you can also donate online whether you’ll be able to join him or not – go here.

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West Seattle Sunday: Welcome to June 2014!

June 1, 2014 6:34 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Ferns in Lincoln Park, photographed by Mark Ahlness, shared via WSB Flickr group)

Options for your sunny Sunday, as we begin a brand-new month:

CURIOUS KIDSTUFF SALE: 9 am-5 pm, West Seattle’s independent local toy shop Curious Kidstuff (WSB sponsor) has EVERYTHING discounted 20 percent today for the Sizzling Summer Sale. (4740 California SW)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, see what’s fresh! The My Sweet Li’l Cakes food truck is scheduled to be there again, too. (44th/Alaska)

WEST SEATTLE ULTIMATE FAMILY FRISBEE: Join the games, 11 am at Fairmount Playfield – details here. (5400 Fauntleroy Way SW)

LUNA PARK STREET MARKET: Noon-3 pm, the lot outside Ola will become a street market with local vendors – first of four Sundays this summer. (2942 SW Avalon Way)

SWIM OUTDOORS! The outdoor pool on the shore at Lincoln Park is in its second pre-season weekend, open at noon – see the schedule here.

ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Second day of the season for free tours with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary at Alki Point Lighthouse, 1-4 pm. (3200 Point Place)

READY TO SING FOR YOU: The WS-based Seattle Metropolitan Glee Club performs its spring concert at Peace Lutheran Church, 3 pm, admission by donation. (39th/Thistle)

GARY BENSON AT C & P: Soloist Gary Benson plays live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)

FINAL MATINEE OF ‘HAIR’: It’s the last week of “Hair” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), and today’s your last chance to see a matinee performance, 3 pm. Tickets available online here. (4711 California SW)

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WSHS notes: Prom, All-School Reunion, dance, booster benefit

June 1, 2014 4:26 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Four West Seattle High School notes – first, a scene from Prom Night:

SENIOR PROM: Thanks to Greg Slader (who shared WSHS Baseball photos and summaries this year) for the pre-Senior Prom group photo at Anchor (Luna) Park Saturday night. Afterward, it was off to the prom at the Seattle Art Museum downtown.

ALL-SCHOOL REUNION: Next Friday is the much-awaited annual All-School Reunion at WSHS. As noted on the WSHS Alumni website, doors open at 5 pm on June 6th; classic cars will be shown off as usual along Stevens street on the north side of the school. Whatever year(s) you were at WSHS, you’re welcome at the gathering.

POST-REUNION DANCE: Afterward, you’re invited to dance with “West Seattle’s own Nitemates” starting at 8 pm Friday at the recently rebranded Admiral Benbow (4210 SW Admiral Way).

BOOSTER CLUB FUNDRAISER: Also this week, the West Seattle Booster Club is raising money for WSHS athletics with a Thursday night (June 5) pub crawl, Spirits for Sports, 6-9 pm in The Junction. $25/person – go here for more information and registration.

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