West Seattle, Washington
01 Sunday
10:35 PM: Thanks to those who’ve called to let us know that a car crash east of Westwood Village is affecting traffic. The 911 log says it’s at Barton and Barton Place (map) – we’re going to check it out, but in the meantime, avoid the area TFN.
10:55 PM: Our crew says two vehicles are involved, both with serious front-end damage, but police say no one was seriously hurt. They’re awaiting tow crews to get the scene cleared, but traffic is not moving on Barton either way in the meantime.
11:26 PM: Police are still awaiting a city crew to help clean up debris/fluid in the street.
Congratulations to the Seattle Lutheran High School Class of 2014, first West Seattle students to receive their diplomas as this school year comes to an end – their commencement ceremony was last night. Three more local high schools have ceremonies in West Seattle in the next week and a half:
Saturday, June 14th at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle)
*West Seattle High School, 2 pm
*Chief Sealth International High School, 7 pm
*Tuesday, June 17th at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW)
*Middle College (High Point) High School, 7 pm
You can see the full Seattle Public Schools citywide list by going here.
While in Arbor Heights, we stopped by the future site of Westside School (WSB sponsor) for a look at the dramatic renovation scene at the former Hillcrest Presbyterian Church. The former sanctuary is basically hollowed out, as you can see, looking over the fence from 34th SW. Westside will spend one more year at its current campus, the former EC Hughes Elementary, leased from Seattle Public Schools, before moving to the new site. Westside’s 2013-2014 school year ended yesterday, and this past week, the school had its first middle-school graduation, having added 6th-8th grades over the past three years. Construction at the new site began just over a month ago.
P.S. We recently asked SPS to reconfirm what happens to Hughes once Westside moves; district spokesperson Teresa Wippel replied, “There are no plans at this point for EC Hughes other than to have it available for emergency use/to hold students when other schools are being remodeled, etc. No plans to lease it to anyone else, either.”
Until 6 pm, the community’s welcome to join Arbor Heights Elementary students, staff, families at the school carnival – autograph the soon-to-be-demolished building, especially if you’re an alum! Games, food, prizes too.
ADDED 5:30 PM: Thanks to our anonymous parent source for the top photo; we stopped by for these:
The “Angry Birds” toss is on the paved playground that’s seen better days – the new school will include an open field:
A tropical touch:
And a hand-lettered poster with a reminder about the next big event:
That’s Tuesday, 6-8 pm, a community gathering for an official farewell to the old school (though the last day of classes isn’t until June 19th).
A few years ago, the North Delridge Neighborhood Council started holding its summertime meetings outdoors in various locations. The announcement of this coming Monday’s meeting has just arrived, and they’re doing it again:
Join the NDNC for our monthly meeting on Monday, June 9, at 6:30 pm. We’re starting our summer meetings in the park series with Cottage Grove Park – 26th and Brandon, the one with the kids’ play area at one end. Bring outside chairs, blankets, or anything else you need – depending on the weather, it gets cool towards the end.
We don’t have much in the way of a set agenda, so we’re holding an open meeting for you to bring any and all issues, concerns or other items.
Beautiful day for baseball! At Riverview, four Pee Wee teams from West Seattle Baseball took the field for their championship games this morning. Before the games in the Pinto and Mustang divisions, the pomp, circumstance, and photos. We don’t know the results yet, but the contenders in the Mustang (9-10) division were, above, the West Seattle Design Build team and, below, the Menashe and Sons Jewelers team (both businesses are also WSB sponsors):
In the Pinto (7-8 division), it was Alki Lumber and another Menashe-sponsored team:
Warmups and introductions, of course:
And a ceremonial first pitch for the Pinto game by King County Councilmember Joe McDermott:
CM McDermott had skin in the game, so to speak – his brother-in-law Nathan Thomas is a Pinto coach, and explained, “The kids have been playing since March and these 4 teams have come from a field of 20 in a double elimination tournament over the past 2 weeks.” We hope to get the scores later so we can add them here. In the meantime, congrats to all four teams; you can find out more about the organization at westseattlebaseball.com.
2:40 PM: Thanks for the reports in the comment section below, and congratulations to the championship-winning Alki Lumber and West Seattle Design Build teams!
Thanks to Rob for sharing the photo and report on those two Denny International Middle School scholars’ achievement (congratulations!):
Thursday night, Seattle Public Schools held its annual Middle School Science Fair at the Museum of Flight. Two students from Denny Middle School, Emma Bruce (left) and Rachel Potratz, were awarded the “Best Overall” prize for the 8th grade level. Congrats also to their science teacher at Denny, Mr. William Nelson, who works hard to show his students the beauty of science.
ADDED 3:46 PM: We asked Rob the followup question a couple commenters also asked – what did Emma and Rachel’s project examine? Reply: “Their project tests the current theory that eye color (in humans) affects vision in low-light situations.”
(WSB photo from 2012 parade)
Just under four weeks until the Fourth of July; if you were wondering – a few have asked – yes, the Kids’ Parade in Admiral is on! That’s the word from Jackie Clough, who took over parade coordination last year along with Allyson Schreck. They’re organizing it again this year and will have more details soon. It’s also on the agenda for next Tuesday night’s monthly meeting of the Admiral Neighborhood Association (7 pm June 10th at The Sanctuary), whose parade support each year including selling treats during the post-parade games at Hamilton Viewpoint Park. If you’re new to the area, this is West Seattle’s only 4th of July parade, and it’s a low-key, no-floats stroll through North Admiral neighborhoods, with kids, pets, bikes, scooters, strollers, wagons, decorations, costumes – here’s our coverage from last year (including video). So again, whether you want to be a participant or spectator, go ahead and mark your calendar for Friday, July 4th, 10 am start, 44th/Sunset.
About another hour left – unless supplies run out sooner – at the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club kids’ fishing pond on the dock at Seacrest.
It’s free for kids under 14 – pole and bait provided – under the tent on the dock.
The Highway 99 camera relates to the traffic/transit alerts that we start with today:
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT NOTES: First, road work – Southbound Highway 99 is scheduled to be closed all weekend; lane closures are happening on northbound I-5 by the offramp from the West Seattle Bridge; the 520 bridge across Lake Washington is closed, so everybody’s using I-90. Second, buses – It’s the first day of Metro‘s June service change; the only direct West Seattle effect is the afternoon schedule for Route 21, which has some changes. And to our south, the sixth and final RapidRide line, the F Line, launches today.
Now, event highlights from our calendar:
KIDS’ FISHING POND: The West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club‘s annual tradition – a temporary fishing pond stocked with trout for kids under 14 to try their luck, cane poles and bait provided, first-come first-served, first 100 kids or until supplies run out, 8 am-11 am at Seacrest. (1660 Harbor SW)
TRACK MEET: ‘Friendly competition’ open to everyone 19 and up at this track meet at West Seattle Stadium, 8:30 am (registration) and 9 am-5 pm competition, details here. (4432 35th SW)
BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS: Two divisions of West Seattle Baseball have championship games today, 11 am:
The Pinto game will feature Alki Lumber versus Menashe. The Mustang game has West Seattle Design Build facing Menashe. The Championship Games will be preceded by introduction of the players, followed by the National Anthem. Then the Ceremonial First Pitches will be thrown by Jack Miller of Husky Deli and King County Councilmember Joe McDermott. Pinto is for boys and girls who turn 7 before August 31 and who turn 8 after April 30 of the current year. Mustang is for kids who turn 9 before August 31 and turn 10 after April 30 of the current year.
(7226 12th SW)
GREEN RIVER MARATHON, FINISHING ON ALKI: The annual, low-key Green River Marathon starts from 8:30 a.m. in the Kent area and continues on to West Seattle, finishing in the 2600 block of Alki SW. First finishers last year made the 26.2 miles in about three hours. Info here.
FREE SHREDDING: Bring up to four boxes of shreddable paper to the PB&J Textiles open house in White Center, 9 am-1 pm, as previewed here, along with other event highlights. (10728 16th SW)
HELP TIDY UP MORGAN JUNCTION PARK: Join Friends of Morgan Junction Parks at 11 am today – our calendar listing explains how you can help.
SEE THE TOTEM POLE AND EXHIBITS! Log House Museum‘s regular hours today, noon-4 pm. (61st/Stevens)
TOUR ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE: Second weekend of the season for free tours with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary at Alki Point Lighthouse, 1-4 pm. (3200 Point Place)
ARBOR HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY CARNIVAL: 3-6 pm, last carnival before the new school construction begins – come have fun with games, food, face-painting, more. Wristbands and individual tickets, as explained here. (3701 SW 104th)
‘THE BUILDING’ ARTIST OPENING: The second annual art event at artist-studios headquarters The Building in Gatewood, 4-9 pm – details in our calendar listing. (4316 SW Othello)
FINAL NIGHT FOR ‘HAIR’: Last performance of the musical’s run at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor). 7:30 pm curtain time. (4711 California SW)
NIGHTLIFE AND EVEN MORE … on the calendar!
12:54 AM: Sylvan Way is blocked east of High Point while police investigate a car-on-its-side crash. Just one vehicle, and nobody had to go to the hospital, police told us at the scene; it was originally dispatched as a “heavy rescue,” but that was pulled back quickly.
1:19 AM UPDATE: Westbound Sylvan Way is open again, according to scanner traffic.
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