West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
It was cap, gown, and umbrella time, with showers arriving for the Chief Sealth International High School Class of 2014 commencement at Southwest Athletic Complex tonight. 268 graduating seniors, according to the program:
Since the spectator area at SWAC has an overhang, families and friends could cheer and wave signs without getting rained on:
Featured student speakers were Alison Nichols (below) and Miguel Castillo:
This was the first Sealth graduation for principal Aida Fraser-Hammer, who’s been running the school since last summer – she is second from left below, with (L to R) executive director of schools Israel Vela, school-board rep Marty McLaren, and district superintendent José Banda:
Chief Sealth Band musicians who played during the ceremony also entertained those on hand just before it – that’s Spencer Duncan singing, and Marcus Pimpleton directing:
ADDED EARLY SUNDAY: The entire opening procession, with faculty and then graduates:
Congratulations to all!
(Photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand unless otherwise credited)
Commencements always mean a lot to principals – but this afternoon’s graduation ceremony for the West Seattle High School Class of 2014 had extra meaning for principal Ruth Medsker, who pointed out that they arrived at WSHS in fall of 2010, just as she had. She is second from left in the next photo, with (L-R) assistant principal Mike Kelly, West Seattle’s school-board rep Marty McLaren, WS executive director of schools Israel Vela, and assistant principal Michelle Peterson:
The program lists 192 graduates.
(Photo by Greg Slader)
Hundreds of proud relatives and friends were there to cheer them on:
Giving the valediction, Megan Antalan, class president and one of 25 National Honor Society-member grads this year:
ADDED EARLY SUNDAY: Our video of the procession with all the grads walking in:
Congratulations to all!
8:51 PM: Seattle Fire has sent a major “fire in building” response to Stewart Manor, the 72-unit Seattle Housing Authority apartment building at 34th and Morgan (map). It’s been described on the scanner as a “room fire.” This will affect traffic traveling Morgan/Sylvan east of 35th.
9:01 PM: Firefighters have reported over the radio that the smoke appears limited to the fifth floor and it does not appear to be a major fire – they’ve just declared it “tapped”, originating in the kitchen, and are working on ventilation; no injuries reported.
9:11 PM: Many of the units are being dismissed; firefighters are monitoring air inside the building to be sure it’s safe for residents to go back to unaffected apartments.
9:29 PM: Our crew was told at the scene that no one was home in the unit where the fire started on a stove. That unit probably won’t be inhabitable tonight but other residents should be let back in the building soon.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports and an FYI: First, from Kevin, a prowler spotted early this morning:
I’ve called 911 to report it, but wanted to let you know as well in case anyone else in the neighborhood saw or heard anything.
About 6:45 this morning, I heard someone talking outside that seemed too loud to be coming from the street or sidewalk. I got up in time to see a guy just outside my window walking along the edge of the house to the side gate. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and backpack and carrying what appeared to be a metal rod of some sort.
Our house sits on an upslope. He had to climb the hill from the sidewalk to get that close to the house so it was deliberate. I saw him glance in the basement window which is covered by blinds and also check the gate but couldn’t tell if he tried to open it. He then headed to 29th where I lost sight of him but appeared to go south from there.
I did see a patrol car drive by less than 5 minutes after I called 911. This happened at 28th and Webster.
Next, Rich shared a quick video clip of suspected car prowlers in his neighborhood:
Having been a victim of mail theft 3 weeks ago, a car break-in, purse theft and expensive shopping spree 11 months ago, and a car theft 3 years ago, I finally got around to installing a security camera system on my home (6700 block of Murray Ave SW, a poorly lit street). Sunday afternoon, I noticed an empty Coors Light beer bottle in my driveway. I wondered who would have tossed it and checked to see what was recorded. (The) front camera captured images of 10 teen boys prowling cars on my street at 2:30 am Sunday. One is riding a bike and drinking a beer (which he later tosses in my yard). The bike in question appears to have a headlight on it, and looks an awful lot like John‘s stolen Townie Electra in (this WSB post).
I told my neighbor that I had film of her car being prowled, and was informed that it had in fact been broken into, contents rifled, and that the registration and other papers found in the bushes down the street. I would have figured it was a lone prowler or maybe two… but a pack of 10? Knowing this, readers could be on the lookout for suspiciously large packs of teens out late at night, and if they see this type of activity, call the police straight away to investigate.
The :11 above represents the only usable video Rich recovered, but he has since upgraded and tweaked the system so any future visuals will be more extensive.
Third, an FYI: Someone asked via text if repeat offender Ryan Cox is out of jail; they thought they had seen him at Lincoln Park. We checked the jail register and indeed, his most recent sentence expired on Thursday, and he was set free after almost four months. The circumstances were somewhat complicated, as detailed here.
That’s a quick spin around the heart of the Westwood Village Street Fair (WSB sponsor), which continues until 6 pm – still time if you haven’t stopped by yet!
Along with rides and entertainment, you’ll find Westwood businesses – including Massage Envy-West Seattle (WSB sponsor):
The Radio Shack folks told us they’re offering raffle tickets until 4:30 and then big prize drawings at 5. Across the center’s central drive, Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) has a table in front of its store:
Proprietors Joni and Kirk Keppler are there – and were handing out (what else would you expect from jewelers?) Ring Pop candy when we stopped by. Free jewelry cleaning, too. Here’s the band/stage schedule; more photos in a moment.
In case you also noticed the small yellow helicopter circling/hovering over Gatewood/Upper Fauntleroy (almost directly over WSB HQ for a while, so we grabbed a bit of video), thanks to Shannon for noting in a Twitter discussion that it was a tour-company helicopter. (Photo added, shared by Rey via Facebook)
The tide’s coming back in again after the mega-low -3.3 at noontime. But it’ll be almost that low tomorrow, and if you went out on the beach today – or plan to do so tomorrow – “Diver Laura” James has a request for you: Everyone studying the sick starfish is hoping for a new round of surveys with this weekend’s low tide, so if you saw any starfish, alive or dead, there’s a variety of ways to share the information – optimally through the surveys linked here, but Laura adds: “If people don’t have time to fill out a form if they could just use #sickstarfish [social-media hashtag] or manual entry on www.sickstarfish.com or even just email me at ljjames@mac.com, it would be a massive help.” She was planning to do a walking survey near Seacrest, to reach divers and others in the area.
It’s a big game for a big world … and soccer excitement is happening at Walt Hundley Playfield with the West Seattle Cup, a community/family tournament organized to coincide with the start of the World Cup. We stopped by at midday, just as organizer Terry Kegel was starting the ceremonies scheduled a few hours after play began:
Young players were settling down to take a break, each in a colorful T-shirt for their team representing certain countries.
Earlier in the day, one team got a thrill – Kelly shared the following photo of Team Uganda with a Seattle Sounders player who’s from that nation, Micheal Azira:
Games continue until 6:15 pm, every 45 minutes in each division (8:45-6:15 tomorrow too) – click ahead to our photos of the schedule boards for the K-2 and 3-5 groups today:
The big moment is almost here: The Pathfinder K-8 PTA invites you to be there Monday night as its playground design is revealed:
Pathfinder K-8 and our neighbors are very excited about next Monday’s unveiling of the playground design that was created through a community process funded through a Department of Neighborhoods Small and Simple Grant. The design took pieces from three distinct concepts and integrated comments from many. Once this playground concept is built, it will truly be a resource for not only our school, but a destination for all of West Seattle. To that end, everyone is welcome to join the design unveiling on Monday, June 16th at 5:30 at Pathfinder K-8 School in the Pigeon Point neighborhood. Ice cream social to follow immediately! For project details, please visit our blog (here).
Pathfinder is at 1901 SW Genesee.
(Photo by John Westrock, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Today’s list of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FAMILY-FRIENDLY TENNIS! Starting today, the United States Tennis Association offers lessons for kids and families to learn together at the Solstice Park courts near Lincoln Park, and is sponsoring WSB to get the word out. 9 am Saturdays, 6 pm Thursdays, details here. (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE CUP: 8:45 am-6:15 pm both days this weekend, you can go to Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point and cheer for the local families participating in this celebration of community and soccer, held concurrent with the first weekend of the World Cup. Here’s our preview from earlier this week. (34th/Myrtle)
CLEAN UP ADMIRAL: 9 am, Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s quarterly Adopt-A-Street cleanup starts from Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) – late arrivals welcome. (41st/Admiral)
CLEAN UP THE BEACH! Starting at 9:30 am, local wildlife advocates including Seal Sitters lead a cleanup at Alki Beach – details here. Meet at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. (61st/Alki)
WESTWOOD VILLAGE STREET FAIR: 10 am-6 pm, with rides, live music, vendor booths, more – here’s the schedule of stage entertainment, including this afternoon’s band lineup. (2600 SW Barton)
PENCIL ME IN FOR KIDS BENEFIT BBQ: 11 am-4 pm at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), today’s benefit barbecue raises money for Pencil Me In For Kids, which provides school supplies to kids in need. The menu for a suggested $7 donation: Pulled pork sandwiches & coleslaw. (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan)
BENEFIT CAR WASH: Seattle Lutheran High School student actors are washing cars at Fauntleroy Chiropractic (WSB sponsor), 11 am-3 pm, to support their trip to the legendary Ashland Shakespeare Festival.
FLAG DAY CEREMONY: As previewed here last night, American Legion Post 160 invites you to its Flag Day ceremony at noon, and you also are welcome to bring old flags in need of proper retirement. (3618 SW Alaska)
KITTY HARBOR OPENS: The cat/kitten adoption/shelter facility by the West Seattle Bridge opens for its summer season, with adoptable felines awaiting you. Noon-5 pm. (3422 Harbor Ave. SW)
LOWEST TIDE OF THE SUMMER: Today’s the day! -3.3 at 12:25 pm. And the volunteer beach naturalists are of course out again at Constellation Park (south of Alki Point) and Lincoln Park (near Colman Pool). Speaking of which …
COLMAN POOL STARTS 7-DAY-A-WEEK SCHEDULE: Today is the first official day of 7-day-a-week operation for the outdoor pool on the beach at Lincoln Park (starting at noon), through Labor Day. Here’s the schedule.
TWO GRADUATION CEREMONIES: Both at Southwest Athletic Complex – congratulations to the Class of 2014! West Seattle High School graduates at 2 pm, Chief Sealth International High School at 7 pm. (2801 SW Thistle)
WHITE CENTER BLOCK PARTY: Downtown White Center welcomes you from 3 pm till dusk for fun including the famous $2 food walk. Here’s our preview on partner site White Center Now. (16th SW south of Roxbury)
JOHN PERKINS AT ‘DO YOU SHIFT?’ BENEFIT: 6 pm tonight at the Duwamish Longhouse, author John Perkins headlines the benefit for the “shapeshifting” documentary that local filmmakers are working on – details here. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
BENBOW ROOM’S GRAND OPENING: Live music and more starting at 8 pm; come help its new local owners celebrate. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
THE RETURN OF KIRK DUBB: Last seen at the late, lamented Rocksport, Kirk Dubb is back, new EP and all, and performing tonight at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9 pm. (6451 California SW)
LOTS MORE … on the calendar!
Thanks to Debi Yeabsley from the West Seattle Women’s Golf Club for sharing photos from their Derby Day tournament this past week – specifically, the hat competition! Beth Jackson was “Best Hat” winner:
With appreciation for her fellow WSWGC members’ “creativity and enthusiasm,” Debi adds:
It’s an active and interesting group of women. All ages and abilities welcome. For membership info, e-mail Corinne Burr – ceburr@comcast.net
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