West Seattle, Washington
13 Tuesday
They’re headed out – maybe to return. Thanks to Judy Pickens for a Fauntleroy Creek salmon update:
The first two coho smolts have been documented leaving Fauntleroy Creek. Volunteer Steev Ward found the first in a soft trap in the lower creek, closely followed by volunteer Dennis Hinton with the second, on Friday (March 27) – the first day of annual trapping. The Fauntleroy Watershed Council has been conducting volunteer monitoring to see how many leave the creek for saltwater since 2003 and this year’s research will continue through May.
Fall is when volunteers watch for returning coho spawners; 19 were documented last year.
Along with being among the first to hear that Capt. Pierre Davis is returning to West Seattle as Southwest Precinct commander, the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network got a briefing this week on the precinct’s new bike patrol.
The guest was Sgt. Jim Britt (right), who is the sergeant for Frank sector (eastern West Seattle and South Park) and explained he is now the “bike sergeant” too – in addition to his ongoing duties, he is in charge of making sure the officers who are part of the patrol get equipment, training, etc. Because the bicycle patrol isn’t technically a separate unit, the officers will all still answer to their respective sectors’ sergeants.
The precinct will have at least two bicycle officers out each and every day on “second watch,” which is 11 am to 8 pm. Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith further clarified that means they have two officers with the flexibility to be deployed on bicycles – they have to have cars, too, as they can’t be taken entirely out of the loop for 911 responses.
Six officers in all will have bikes; Officer Scott Luckie and Andy Bass have had bikes for a while now, and, Sgt. Britt said, they also have been trained to become bicycle mechanics.
Thanks to Julie Nugent-Carney for the photo and report:
On Saturday, March 21st, Troop 282 recognized Jacob Carney, John Roach, and Spencer Gjording for achieving the Boy Scouts of America’s highest award during their Eagle Court of Honor ceremony at Camp Long. Guest Speaker Joe McDermott, King County Councilmember, acknowledged their achievement and recalled his own experiences as a Boy Scout. Dow Constantine, King County Executive (and Eagle Scout), sent a congratulatory video message to the boys that was shown at the ceremony.
In addition to meeting all the requirements to achieve the Eagle Rank, the three young men led local community projects including revitalizing the community garden at Longfellow Creek near Sealth High School, restoring 150 feet of trail at Camp Schoenwald in Burien, and constructing raised garden beds for the Seattle Nativity School which was founded to help low-income, at-risk children prepare for college.
Julie shared this report on Jacob’s project (Longfellow Creek) last May.
From the Fauntleroy Community Association:
Do you live between the Arroyos and Morgan Street? Travel through or do business in Fauntleroy? The Fauntleroy Community Association (FCA) wants to hear from you!
The FCA has prepared a new community survey seeking input to identify and rank local issues. The anonymous survey can be accessed through www.fauntleroy.net and then clicking on “FCA Survey.” The survey takes about 5 minutes, and will provide guidance to the FCA Board on where to focus their efforts during the next two years.
The results from the 2013 survey led to the FCA organizing community meetings with city officials to address crime and traffic issues. Dialogues between residents and officials were constructive and resulted in agreed-upon action plans.
Take the survey and help to shape the future of your community!
(Photo courtesy Betty Bennett)
Meet Max Debiec. He’s 12 years old, a sixth-grader at Holy Rosary – and he just pitched a perfect game!
Max’s achievement happened on the opening day of West Seattle Little League‘s 2015 season – yesterday at Bar-S Fields on Alki Point – as Max’s team, the Coyotes, beat the Orioles, 6-0.
We talked today with the Coyotes’ manager, who also happens to be Max’s dad, Stan Debiec.
It was a six-inning game, Stan explained, with Max throwing 79 pitches and striking out 15 batters. As per the definition of “perfect game,” nobody got on base; three balls made it (briefly) into play – a dribbler back to Max, a grounder to second, and a shallow fly ball caught around second base. Around the fourth inning, Stan said, he started to think Max was onto something.
Unlike the big leagues, he said, the completion of Max’s perfect game didn’t lead to a big show on the field – Stan is teaching the players how to win and lose with dignity. But everyone is certainly proud of him – we’ve received more than a few notes today making sure we’d heard about it so we could share the news with the wider West Seattle communty.
If you want to cheer on Max and his teammates – and the rest of the West Seattle Little League – games are scheduled on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and listed on the WSLL website.
(WSB photos)
After a friends-and-family event last night, Blue Moon Burgers on Alki is ready to officially open for business at 1 pm tomorrow (Monday, March 30th). Regular hours will be 11 am until 9 or 10 (they’ll be experimenting until summer arrives, when they’ll plan to be open until 11 pm).
(Kilie at the grill)
The menu includes build-your-own burger options, sandwiches (BLT, grilled cheese, more), vegan options, chicken tenders, salads, sides, and other food options, plus 12 beers on tap, and milkshakes too. Alki Blue Moon general manager JR Gifford – who grew up in WS – told us two of the three fryers are gluten-free. Another feature: You’ll be able to text an order, then drive or ride up into one of two pick-up spots out front, and run in to get it. The site has about a dozen spots in all for customers (fitting, given that in its former life, it was an auto-repair shop; we first reported the burger-switchover plan almost a year ago). It’s at 2504 Alki Ave. SW.
Get your inner mermaid out into the open and join this new West Seattle event – Leslie Rosen just sent word, with plenty of time for you to plan:
Calling all mermaids for the first West Seattle Mermaid Parade! Come join us (in costumes!) on Sat May 30, 2015. Meet at the Alki Bathhouse at 11 am for a water-themed veil dance by the Sirens of Serpentine to live harp music by Monica Schley. After, we will walk the Alki Beach Trail. Mermaids are not afraid of water, so this parade happens rain or shine. – Free, all ages and open to everyone.
The mermaid parade is the proud recipient of an art grant from Ignition Northwest (501c) for NEW interactive, community-driven, collaborative works that are accessible to the public and participatory in scope. Fueling community through participatory arts, events and education.
Thanks to Caryn Johnson for the report and photos from Saturday’s High School Baseball Classic game at Safeco Field, with West Seattle HS coming home with a win:
The High School Baseball Classic has been running for 9 years and West Seattle High School has been fortunate enough to have participated in every one.
Sponsored by the Seattle Mariners and Safeco Field, this event gives local high schools the opportunity to please on the “Big Stage.” For most of these boys, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to sit in the dugout, practice and play where of some of their idols do. They are treated like a major league team, with their names being called by the announcer, plays being replayed on the “JumboTron” in center field and even the field crew coming out to drag the field during the 4th inning to make sure they played on the best conditions possible. All in all, the experience is one I know the boys from both teams with forever treasure.
Yesterday, West Seattle High School hosted Sedro Woolley High School. It was a brisk sunny afternoon and a wonderful day for baseball.
Sophomore Carson Wright (above) started on the mound for West Seattle and got things underway. He pitched three great innings of baseball, only giving up one run.
(Above, Jack Page sliding into 3rd; below, Morgan McCullough at bat)
West Seattle came out strong and scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 1st. Coach Velko Vitalich made many substitutions during the game, allowing several of the boys a chance to play.
(Jamie Maples scoring the 6th run of the game in the bottom of the 6th)
In the end West Seattle won, 6-1. The next game is Monday against Nathan Hale at Meadowbrook at 3:30 pm.
(Bald eagles photographed near a nest in Lincoln Park by Mark Ahlness, shared via WSB Flickr group)
Notes for the second Sunday of spring, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
VIADUCT *NOT* CLOSED TODAY: As noted last night, WSDOT finished its inspection work and is NOT closing Highway 99 between the West Seattle Bridge and the Battery Street Tunnel. *BUT* 99 does remain closed until Monday morning (we’ll update if that changes) north of downtown. (9:27 am note – the flashing-lights VIADUCT CLOSED signs apparently still haven’t been turned off, but really, it IS open between here and Western Ave.)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in The Junction, with something new every week, particularly this time of year. (44th/Alaska)
PALM SUNDAY: Find the Holy Week schedules for many local churches linked from our Easter & More page. (It’s not too late to add services/events to the page – please e-mail us at editor@westseattleblog.com)
RAINWISE 101: 3 pm today at Southwest Branch Library, it’s your next chance to find out more about the city/county program offering rebates for raingardens and cisterns in certain areas of West Seattle, to get rainwater out of the sewer system and out of Puget Sound. (35th/Henderson)
ALL-AGES OPEN MICROPHONE: 3 pm signups, 4 pm music – Skylark‘s monthly open-microphone event open to musicians (and audience) of all ages – details here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
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