West Seattle, Washington

19 Friday

65℉

month : 06/2016 311 results

West Seattle wading pools: First week of the season!
June 27, 2016 8:59 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle wading pools: First week of the season!
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(WSB file photo, Lincoln Park Wading Pool)

Today’s forecast is for sunshine and a high around 80, so it’s perfect timing for the first full week of Seattle Parks‘ wading-pool season.

*Lincoln Park Wading Pool opened on Saturday and will be open 11 am-8 pm seven days a week (provided 70+-degree sunshine is in the forecast); it’s in the upper park, not far from the big parking lot.

*Delridge Wading Pool is scheduled to open today; it will be open Mondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, noon-6:45 pm, same weather caveat, and you’ll find it in the park north of Delridge Community Center, south of the skatepark at Delridge/Genesee.

*Wednesday is the first day for the wading pools at EC Hughes Playground (28th/Holden) and Hiawatha (Walnut/Lander). Hours/days are in the citywide wading-pool brochure.

Other outdoor splashing opportunities:

*Highland Park Spraypark, which opened Memorial Day weekend, continues its 7-day-a-week, 11 am-8 pm schedule. It’s West Seattle’s only spraypark, and you’ll find it at 1100 SW Cloverdale.

*Colman Pool, midway along the shore path at Lincoln Park, is also now open 7 days a week – see its schedule here.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday on the move; bridge closures continue
June 27, 2016 6:45 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:45 AM: Good morning. It’s the first weekday of summer break for Seattle Public Schools. Also, one week until the Fourth of July holiday. Traffic notes:

BRIDGE CLOSURES CONTINUE: Again tonight, 9 pm-5 am, the west end of the West Seattle Bridge will be closed as the Fauntleroy Expressway earthquake-safety-cushion re-replacements continue.

MARINERS OFF TONIGHT: No stadium activity in SODO tonight, but the M’s play Pittsburgh at home tomorrow, 7:10 pm.

ARBOR HEIGHTS PAVING TOMORROW: As announced by SDOT last week, paving is planned on SW 106th between 35th and 39th, tomorrow and Wednesday.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Robbed at home; plate stolen, swapped; what to do if your mail’s stolen
June 26, 2016 10:56 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(UPDATED 3 PM MONDAY 6/27 with police-report details on home invasion)

ORIGINAL REPORT, 10:56 PM SUNDAY: Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports:

HOME INVASION ROBBERY: This happened near 18th SW/SW Elmgrove [map] on Monday afternoon; the first we heard about it was when the victim e-mailed us days later, and the police-report details aren’t available online. But the victim wants to be sure the neighborhood knows about it:

It happened Monday afternoon at 2 pm. I was in my bathroom in the basement when he came in with a gun. He immediately asked me to FIND THE DOPE.

He had already been in the house when I was in the shower but he wasn’t finding what he thought i had. He led me to another room and told me again and again to find the DOPE.

I was shaking and begging him not to hurt me and somehow I found a backpack and that made him happy so he told me to lie on the floor and be quiet for 10 mins. … He took all my jewelry and electronics including phones etc. They took everything.

A neighbor told the victim about seeing a white truck in the alley and “watched 3 men in hoodies enter (the victim’s) yard.” That’s all the description information we have at this point; we’ll pursue the full police report tomorrow.

ADDED 3 PM MONDAY: Added details from the police-report narrative – The report says the robber was described as a black man, about 30, “dark baseball hat, satin-like green jacket that looked like a Sonics jacket.” No vehicle was mentioned. The victim’s husband was reported to have been home and asleep, and the robber might have entered through an unlocked door or window.

(back to original Sunday night report) LICENSE-PLATE THEFT: From Ross:

Last night (or possibly earlier), our license plates were stolen from our Honda CR-V that we rarely drive. It was parked on 37th between Juneau and Findlay. We’ve reported the theft to the police, but wanted to get the word out. A Washington D.C. license plate was swapped onto the back of our car.

MAIL THEFT: It happened to Sarah south of Westwood, and she has some helpful advice to share about reporting cases like hers:

A neighbor found my empty package on 26th Ave SW just south of Roxbury. Inside my rifled package was another empty envelope that belonged to someone who lives just off 26th on 106th Ave. I left their empty envelope on their doorstep with a note attached. My package was supposed to contain a scarf I ordered from Scotland. The other empty envelope looked like the person had attempted to use their own mailbox to mail a check or something worth stealing. I didn’t file a police report but did call the USPS Inspection Service on Saturday afternoon. After a brief phone tree, a lady answered and took my statement and said a file had been created for my case. She also said to alert other neighbors that reporting mail theft to them is a really good idea because the more complaints they receive, the more likely they are to open an investigation for our zip code, 98106. If anyone wishes to file a complaint they are encouraged to call Postal Inspectors at 877-876-2455 (press 3). Here is the webpage I used.

THANKS ... for sharing Crime Watch information. If it’s happening NOW – call 911! Then let us know, when you can. Our 24-hour tipline is 206-293-6302, text or voice. If it’s not happening now, e-mail is the next best thing, editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Westbound West Seattle Bridge crash
June 26, 2016 9:47 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

9:47 PM: Not only is it the time of night when the west end of the West Seattle Bridge is closing for Fauntleroy Expressway work – there’s also a westbound crash right now, too:

If you have to head this way any time soon – wait, or think about an alternate route. Thanks to Evin for first word of this via Twitter.

UPDATE: From SDOT:

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MONDAY: Downtown hearing for West Seattle 3-lots-into-18 subdivision proposal on SW Holden
June 26, 2016 7:39 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

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(WSB photo)

Almost four years after an 18-house development proposal surfaced in the city permit system for the site above – now identified as 2768 SW Holden [map], previously 2646 SW Holden – there’s an “open-record hearing” downtown tomorrow morning. (We first mentioned it a month ago.) This has to do with splitting the site, currently on record as three lots, into 18, before the homes are built. The hearing is for anyone with something to say about the proposal and is set for the city Hearing Examiner‘s chambers starting at 9 am Monday, 40th floor of the city Municipal Tower downtown (700 5th Avenue). The project has been making its way through the city system since a “site plan” was filed in summer of 2012; the 18-house plan passed “streamlined design review” in early 2013, and other key approvals were granted in 2014.

The site stretches across more than one and a half acres between SW Holden and SW Webster, with one house remaining on the site (barely visible in our photo above). It had been on and off the market for a while and records show it sold within the past month for $2.2 million, not far below its previous asking price, to Jabooda Properties, an LLC with Mercer Island and Renton addresses. Neighbors have voiced concerns along the way including traffic, noise, and drainage effects; each house is planned with a two-car garage, and the subdivision entrance/exit will be from SW Holden. City planners’ report recommending approval is here.

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CONGRATULATIONS! West Seattle rowers at nationals
June 26, 2016 5:33 pm
|    Comments Off on CONGRATULATIONS! West Seattle rowers at nationals
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

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(From left, 2012 Olympic rower Henrik Rummel, Nick Angelillo, Reece Schulz, and Coach Conal Groom)

Thanks to Regina Arceo-Schulz for the photos and report on local rowers’ achievements at the Youth Nationals in mid-June:

US Rowing had the Youth Nationals at Mercer Lake, New Jersey. There were several West Seattle rowers competing for their boathouses. An alumni of Holy Rosary School and member of West Seattle’s Troop 282 Boy Scouts, Reece Schulz, won first place in the nation for Men’s Lightweight Youth Doubles with his partner, Nick Angelillo. JT Schulz, also an alumni of HRS and an Eagle Scout with Troop 282, received ninth place for Men’s Youth Open Quad.

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(JT Schulz, center, Troop 282’s latest Eagle Scout, with the troop’s Scoutmaster Steve Shelver and Committee Chair Mike Grueter)

Another Holy Rosary alumni, Stephen Fellin (no photo available), represented Pocock Center in the Men’s Lightweight 8+.

Congratulations to all!

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West Seattle weekend scene: Smaller-scale fundraiser
June 26, 2016 4:09 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle weekend scene: Smaller-scale fundraiser
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

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Thanks to Don Brubeck for the photo and report: “Four WSHS band members were practicing at Alki (Playfield) just now. Getting ready to head to the beach for busking to raise money for a new tuba.”

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The OTHER Presidential visit: Bill Clinton in West Seattle today
June 26, 2016 2:27 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

2:27 PM: One day after President Obama‘s departure, one of his predecessors paid a much-lower-key visit to Seattle – including a stop here in West Seattle. Thanks to Jerry for the tip on this one. He was walking his dog in Fauntleroy when, he said, he saw some unusual vehicle activity and he swore he saw President Bill Clinton in the back seat of one of the vehicles – he waved, and the man waved back. We just did a bit of searching; nothing in citywide media, but then we found first a Politico story mentioning the former President was fundraising in Seattle today – no specifics – and then these photos posted on Facebook by King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles as proof. The hosts mentioned in that post are the owners of the historic Laurentide estate in Fauntleroy.

5:29 PM: Found a page for this on the Hillary Clinton campaign website, where contribution levels for this event were listed as ranging from $1,000 to $27,000+.

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FOLLOWUP: See inside Shelby’s Bistro and Ice Creamery, readying to open in July
June 26, 2016 11:19 am
|      57 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

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By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Shelby Varden sees California Avenue SW through the West Seattle Junction as having some of the flavor of Disneyland’s Main Street USA.

By the time the West Seattle Grand Parade comes marching and rolling down that street next month, he expects to have Shelby’s Bistro and Ice Creamery open right at the end of the route, on the northeast corner of California and Edmunds.

We brought you first word of the plan back in early April, but it was a quick update, after numerous readers spotted signs of activity at the 4752 California SW site, in what had been the abruptly closed Westside Public House, following the abruptly closed Terrible Beauty, among other predecessors. When we briefly caught up with Varden in the early stage of the remodel, he invited us to check back when his establishment was closer to opening – now set for July 19th – and we recently did just that.

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Varden (above right) and recently hired chef Justin Reed (above left) gave us a tour of the space – now about 75 percent of the way to completion – and a preview of what they’re planning: Read More

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Options for your West Seattle Sunday!
June 26, 2016 7:56 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

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(Osprey in flight, photographed by Chris Frankovich)

Happy Sunday! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FIELD DAY WRAPS UP: The 24-hour event with amateur-radio operators in the field at the south end of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) runs until 11 am, and the participating organizations say visitors are welcome. (6000 16th SW)

RETIREMENT CELEBRATION: 9:30 am service, followed by social time, will celebrate Alan and Lois Gardner as they prepare to retire from West Seattle Christian Church, as previewed here on Friday. (4400 42nd SW)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Featured at the 10 am-2 pm market today, cooking demonstrations by local cookbook author Amy Pennington, featuring seasonal vegetables, 10:30 am-noon – details here. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)

CAPERS’ ANNIVERSARY SALE: While you’re in The Junction, stop by CAPERS Home (WSB sponsor) to check out the ongoing anniversary sale – “everything in the shop and on special order” is on sale! 11 am-5 pm. (4525 California SW)

FAMILY SUNDAY FUNDAY: Free yoga class at Westcrest Park in Highland Park, taught by Nicole Koleshis, noon, followed by 1:30 pm potluck barbecue. (9000 8th SW)

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The home of West Seattle’s history welcomes your visit, noon-4 pm. (61st SW/SW Stevens)

ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: While you’re in the beach zone, make it a two-fer, and tour West Seattle’s historic lighthouse, 1-4 pm (last tour starts at 3:40 pm), with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. Free! (Alki SW/Beach Drive SW)

JAMIE JARAMILLO AT C & P: R & B-influenced musician performs live, no cover, at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)

And a traffic reminder for tonight:

BRIDGE CLOSURE: 9 pm-5 am, the west end of the West Seattle Bridge will be closed as work continues on the Fauntleroy Expressway seismic-cushion re-replacement project. Crews are now working in the Avalon/Spokane/Harbor area so that’s where you should be mindful of surface-road effects overnight as well.

Not West Seattle but, the city’s biggest event today is downtown:

SEATTLE PRIDE PARADE: 11 am, from 4th and Union to 2nd and Denny. Full parade info here, including route details.

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Remembering ‘Nonni’: Paulina D. Megale Beard, 1925-2016
June 25, 2016 10:40 pm
|    Comments Off on Remembering ‘Nonni’: Paulina D. Megale Beard, 1925-2016
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Three memorial and celebration events are planned next week for Paulina D. Megale Beard, whose family is sharing this remembrance:

Heaven just got a whole lot better.

Paulina Domenica Megale Beard (“Nonni”) 90, of Seattle, passed away June 22, 2016 at home, surrounded by family.

Paulina was born in Coos Bay, Oregon to Italian immigrants Joseph and Domenica Megale on December 25, 1925. She went to high school at Marshfield High in Coos Bay and went on to earn a degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of Oregon. Paulina married Thomas Beard on October 22, 1953, and lived in Oregon before settling in Seattle.

While raising her six children, Paulina worked full time as a Dental Hygienist until she retired after 52 years at the age of 79. She had such a loyal following of patients that she was deemed “PB Only” as most patients would insist on only seeing her for treatment.

Aside from her children, Paulina was most proud of her Italian heritage. At the age of 5, her family moved to Reggio Calabria before permanently moving back to the States when she was 9. She traveled often to visit family in Italy, many times bringing her children along in an effort to keep the families meeting up generation after generation.

Paulina enjoyed a stiff Manhattan, traveling, making big Italian dinners for family and friends, and she could play a mean game of gin rummy. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family both near and far.

Paulina is survived by her sister Eleanor (Owen) Murphy (Worcester, MA); brother Dr. Joseph Megale, Jr.; daughters Celeste Beard, Mary (Joel) Halpin, Josann Boever, Paulina (Steve) Elliott, and Celine (Stefan) Leigland; son John (Roxanne) Beard; six grandchildren Brigitte Halpin, Thomas Boever, McKinley Beard, Olin Leigland, Finn Leigland, and Tanner Beard; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Paulina is preceded in death by her parents, and brother Dr. Domenic Megale.

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother. Ti amo, Mamma.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Providence Hospice of Seattle and Swedish Palliative Care for their overwhelming support.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Providence Hospice of Seattle. Condolences may be left in Paulina’s online guestbook.

Rosary will be held at Holy Rosary Parish, West Seattle on Thursday, June 30th at 5 PM. Funeral service will be held at Holy Rosary Parish, West Seattle on Friday, July 1st at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow at Holyrood Cemetery, Edmonds. Celebration of life will be held Friday, July 1st at 5:00 PM at Rainier Golf & Country Club.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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VIDEO: Saturday night music @ ProletariYacht Club
June 25, 2016 9:21 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Tucked away in a corner of western Gatewood, The Building holds many delights. Among them is the ProletariYacht Club, where, as featured in today’s West Seattle Saturday calendar-highlights list, live music is happening right now. We stopped by just before sunset.

bldglong

On the bill tonight, as announced by the PYC, “Blake Musselman (aka Moogie Man), who’s performing “a theatrical rock-based show, Marko Reyes-Jech with soul/funk crooning, and Tim Scallon with rock-based looping.” (updated) That’s Tim in our photo above; (added) video:

Just wander into The Building, off SW Othello (at 4316) just west of the Westside Unitarian Universalist church, and downstairs – follow the signs.

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Reader report: Recognize this bike?
June 25, 2016 7:49 pm
|    Comments Off on Reader report: Recognize this bike?
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

One more abandoned-likely-after-being-stolen bicycle: The finder says, “This bike was apparently hidden behind a big shrub on my Alki property several weeks ago (neighbor thinks about six weeks). She just told me about it (this week). I don’t want to take it out yet as I don’t have a safe place for it. I plan to also contact the police.” So if this looks like one stolen from you – check with SPD and refer to the case number from when you reported it.

P.S. If you missed it – this Crime Watch roundup earlier this week included photos of three bicycles found around West Seattle.

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Seafair Pirates Landing 2016: Their Alki arrrrrrrrr-ival
June 25, 2016 3:54 pm
|    Comments Off on Seafair Pirates Landing 2016: Their Alki arrrrrrrrr-ival
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(UPDATED 10:08 PM – more photos added)
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(Photo by Paul Panzl, from the yacht Pearl)

The skies and water were both near-tropical blue by the time the Seafair Pirates arrived at Alki Beach this afternoon – earlier than expected, closer to 1 than 2:

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(WSB photos from here down, by Patrick Sand and Torin Record-Sand, unless otherwise credited)

With their new Captain Kidd, Seth Brown, in the lead, the landing party hopped off their craft and into waist-deep water to get to the crowd:

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We noticed that various members of the greeting party were ready:

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No mayoral ceremony after all, but Captain Kidd seized the key to the city just the same:

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The official Pirates Landing celebration continues until 6 pm, with live music (here again is the schedule) as well as rides:

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More photos a bit later.

ADDED 10:08 PM: And here they are!

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20160625 132828 Seafair Pirates landing at Alki - 1024x683
(2 photos above by David Hutchinson)

As always, cannon fire and the resulting smoke preceded the Pirates’ arrival ashore. We caught the West Seattle Hi-Yu contingent preparing for the big boom, though the Pirates eventually stormed the beach with smiles:

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(2 photos above by Torin Record-Sand)

Next scheduled West Seattle appearance by the Seafair Pirates – the Grand Parade on July 23rd!

P.S. Bonus photos by David Hutchinson, ahead (click “read more” if you’re viewing this from the WSB home page): Read More

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West Seattle wildlife: Caution, Fauntleroy goose family crossing!
June 25, 2016 2:04 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | Wildlife


Last Sunday, our daily preview included the first photo we’d seen of Fauntleroy’s famous white geese and their babies. We didn’t know if they were roaming or ensconced somewhere – but apparently it’s the former, as Eric just sent these photos showing how he and neighbors took care to herd the family safely across Fauntleroy Way by the ferry dock. If you go through that area, PLEASE be extra careful! You can see Eric’s photos – and read the captions – by clicking the Steller image above, and then using the arrows that are toward the center of the display that should open after that.

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Another park fire: Schmitz Park staircase
June 25, 2016 11:38 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

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Heads up if you usually walk into and/or out of Schmitz Park via the staircase to Admiral Way – its wooden steps have fire damage. Thanks to Dannie for the photo and tip this morning: “The steps on the SW corner of the Schmitz Park reserve were burned, very recently. I came upon them when walking the trail this morning. Strong scent if burning… The whole middle section was destroyed.” Dannie called to report it and a Seattle Fire team was dispatched to investigate; they were gone before we arrived, so we don’t know what they determined, and won’t likely be able to get official information until Monday, but will follow up then.

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West Seattle Saturday: Seafair Pirates Landing; Field Day; Kite Festival; Kenney tour; more…
June 25, 2016 7:55 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

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(Jellies photographed by Gary Gates, via Twitter)

Welcome to the weekend! Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

GARAGE/YARD SALES: See who’s having one today, via the free listings in the WSB Forums‘ Freebies/Deals/Sales section.

SEAFAIR PIRATES LANDING: It’s an all-day festival at Alki Beach, with the Seafair Pirates expected to land around 2 pm, according to organizers – they’ve been known to arrive early so we’d suggest you do the same. Our preview includes the schedule, including bands. (60th SW/Alki SW)

WADING POOL OPENING DAY … this is Lincoln Park Wading Pool‘s opening day IF the forecast calls for sunny/70+-degree weather. Looks borderline right now so after 9 am, check with the wading-pool hotline, 206-684-7796. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

FIELD DAY @ SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: 11 am today through 11 am Sunday, members of the Puget Sound Repeater Group and Seattle Auxiliary Communications Service will be set up on the south side of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus for the national Amateur Radio Field Day exercise. It’s open to the public and you’re welcome to stop by, see what they’re doing, and learn about amateur radio. Organizers note that “a special station will be staffed with a licensed mentor” so that “anyone can come to this … event and get on the air!” (6000 16th SW)

BARBECUE BENEFIT: 11 am-4 pm, West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) is grilling up lunch – look for the tent outside the entrance – to benefit Pencil Me In For Kids, which gets school supplies to kids who need them. (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan)

FAMILY GAME DAY: 11:30 am-3 pm, come play at Meeples Games (WSB sponsor) – all ages welcome – “a chance to come meet your neighbors, make a few friends, and maybe (just maybe) defeat them in an epic struggle to control the universe!” (3727 California SW)

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM CLOSED TODAY: Usually open noon-4 pm – stop by tomorrow! – but not today because volunteers and staff are all busy with the Kenney tour (see 3 pm event below) …

TOUR ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE: The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary welcomes you to West Seattle’s historic lighthouse. Free tours run 1 pm-4 pm – be there by 3:40 to be on the final tour. (Alki Avenue SW/Beach Drive SW)

LIBRARY CELEBRATION: Friends of the Seattle Public Library are giving away 75th-anniversary totes 2-3 pm – first-come, first-served, at Delridge Library. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

KITE FESTIVAL: The Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus invites you to its annual Kite Festival, 2-6 pm. Here’s our preview. (6000 16th SW)

KENNEY TOUR: 3-5 pm, get a behind-the-scenes tour of The Kenney and its century-plus history with descendants of its founders and the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, as previewed here. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)

(added) SLHS RING OF HONOR: From the inbox: “Tonight Seattle Lutheran High School Boosters are installing Robert “Bob” Christian into the Saints Ring of Honor with a Tailgate Party in the gymnasium – cost $20 – dinner at 5:00; presentation at 6:00.” (4100 SW Genesee)

(back to original list) MUSIC AT THE PROLETARIYACHT CLUB: Starting at 8 pm, “… an evening of original solo music performances featuring Blake Musselman (aka Moogie Man) with a theatrical rock-based show, Marko Reyes-Jech with his soul/funk crooning, and Tim Scallon with rock-based looping.” (4316 SW Othello)

And these two notes if you’re heading off-peninsula:

PRESIDENTIAL DEPARTURE: President Obama is expected to take off from Sea-Tac Airport by 9:45 am – there’ll be some ramp closures toward the east end of the West Seattle Bridge when the motorcade heads south from downtown Seattle, so we’ll be updating here.

SPORTS IN SODO: 2 pm Sounders FC match vs. New York at CenturyLink, 7:10 pm Mariners’ game vs. St. Louis at Safeco.

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FOLLOWUP: Chief Sealth IHS teacher-cut order leads to letter, petition
June 24, 2016 11:19 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

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One day after Chief Sealth International High School staff, students, and parents filled the Seattle School Board chambers to make impassioned pleas, they have followed up with a letter and petition. This, you might recall, all started with new enrollment projections leading to a last-minute order that Sealth cut three more full-time teaching positions in the final days of the school year. A point made repeatedly in testimony to the board last night was that the school had made it through a difficult budgeting process before this, with cuts already made, only to be told now they had to make more. The letter:

To: Seattle School Board Members: Stephan Blanford, Rick Burke​, Jill Geary, Scott Pinkham, Betty Patu, Leslie Harris, and Sue Peters
Associate Superintendent Michael Tolley
Associate Superintendent of Facilities and Enrollment Flip Herndon
Deputy Superintendent Steven Nielsen

Last night, you heard from the staff, students, and stakeholders at Chief Sealth International High School about the impact of losing an additional 3.0 FTE from our budget for the 2016/17 school year after a long and difficult spring budget process that included deep losses and cuts of staff.

These additional displacements deeply affect our school’s ability to offer the stable teaching core necessary to run a school which serves so many specialized populations. Our school cannot absorb or buy back staff. We do not have deep-pocketed PTSA dollars or grant dollars or other funding streams that other schools might use to offset such cuts. These shifts in FTE will cut deeply into the arts and CTE and have a significant impact on core academic programs for students. These programs allow us to close the opportunity gap for our students by providing IB for all and by creating programming that is working to affect real change for all of our students, including our disproportionately high specialized populations. These changes in enrollment will jeopardize these successful programs.

We as a staff would like to propose these solutions for the 2016/17 budget cycle. Here are our recommendations:

· Grant our mitigation requests for an IB coordinator and our immersion classes from the first round of difficult budget requests.

· Hold Chief Sealth harmless from these FTE changes for one year until the permanent West Seattle boundary decisions are finalized at the district level this fall.

· Re-evaluate our budget AFTER the District counts, which will include the nonresident and transfer students to Sealth, international students, and waitlisted students whose placements have not yet been finalized.

· Fund advanced learning in the WSS at Sealth, Ingraham, and Rainier Beach beginning in the fall of 2016/17.

Sincerely,
Staff from Chief Sealth International High School

They are gathering signatures of support via this online petition including the letter.

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FOLLOWUP: Charges filed against accused gun-waving car-prowl suspects
June 24, 2016 10:10 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Charges are now filed against both suspects arrested in West Seattle Tuesday night for allegedly breaking into a car on Alki and then waving guns and other items in two incidents including the car prowl’s aftermath. (Our original report is here; our first followup is here.)

25-year-old Jory L. Preston and 19-year-old Justin M. Hoyt are both charged with second-degree vehicle prowl and second-degree theft. Preston also is charged with second-degree unlawful-firearm possession, as he is a convicted felon and not allowed to have a gun. The incident that led to the conviction, for domestic-violence assault, was covered here five years ago – Preston turned himself in at the Southwest Precinct after police, eventually including SWAT team members, sought him at a Delridge apartment building. He originally was charged with two counts of assault for a situation involving a former girlfriend, and struck a plea bargain, pleading guilty to one count, sentenced in September 2011 to the month and a half he had served by the time of the hearing. )

The charging papers filed today tell the same story detailed in our report last night on their bail hearing, with a few additional details – the amount of property they are accused of stealing is listed as more than $1600; also, police say Hoyt, despite having a Glock .380 semi-automatic handgun in his front pants pocket, did not have a concealed-pistol license. The charging papers say that while Hoyt has no felony record, he has convictions for being a minor intoxicated in public in 2013 and for hit and run in 2014. And while his bail was set at $100,000 in this new case, the jail register says he is being held without bail for a Cowlitz County warrant alleging failure to appear in a case of driving with suspended license. Preston’s bail remains at $100,000. Both will face arraignment next – no date on the docket yet, but likely week after next.

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West Seattle scenes: School’s-out street party
June 24, 2016 8:56 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle schools

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(WSB photos)

The street party is on, rain or shine – note the jackets accompanying the leis – on a block of 48th SW near Ercolini Park tonight. The occasion: Today was the last day of classes for Seattle Public Schools, and these neighbors are Schmitz Park Elementary families, marking a double-milestone occasion: This was their students’ last day at Schmitz Park, with the new Genesee Hill Elementary opening in September.

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The band Däd – with the umlaut! – was delayed a bit due to the rain, but the show must go on:

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Greeters Amy and Brooke explained part of the inspiration for the party was the pig-roast prize won at the school fundraising auction; a few of the neighbors had the winning bid. Summertime also brings “Aloha Friday” get-togethers at the park, and since the last day of school was a Friday this year, the theme just fit:

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P.S. Thanks for calling to let us know about the party!

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West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty past and present gather on White Rose night
June 24, 2016 8:25 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty past and present gather on White Rose night
 |   West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

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(WSB photos)

Tomorrow at the Seafair Pirates’ Landing on Alki Beach, you’ll see West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty, likely including some who were at last night’s Hi-Yu White Rose Ceremony at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Admiral. In our photo above are, from left, Junior Court past and present, 2016 Princess Sara Henggeler, 2016 Queen Amelia Kline, 2016 Princess Stephanie Moore, 2015 Queen Emily Cain, 2015 Princess Audrey Kline. Also on the 2016 Junior Court but not at last night’s event, Princess Cailyn White.

The event also celebrated Teen Ambassadors Callie McFadden, Louis Quantreille, Lily Trinneer, and Alyssa White. 2015 Senior Court Queen Kelly Crum is completing her reign:

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Here’s this year’s Senior Court candidate Haley Beebe:

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Hi-Yu Teen Ambassadors earn service hours; the Senior Court is eligible for scholarships.

Along with seeing Hi-Yu representatives at the Seafair Pirates event tomorrow, you’ll see them often around West Seattle in July, including the Concert in the Park featuring the West Seattle Big Band at 7 pm Tuesday, July 19th, on the east lawn at Hiawatha, and four days later, in the West Seattle Grand Parade, with their award-winning float – Seattle’s last traveling community float. Hi-Yu also can always use more members and volunteers – get in touch to find out how to help.

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SATURDAY: Tour The Kenney with Southwest Seattle Historical Society
June 24, 2016 5:00 pm
|    Comments Off on SATURDAY: Tour The Kenney with Southwest Seattle Historical Society
 |   The Kenney | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

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We’ve already previewed some of tomorrow’s big events – and here’s another: The Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s annual benefit tour, “If These Walls Could Talk,” takes you behind the scenes at The Kenney. Its century-plus-old grounds include the city-landmarked Seaview Building (with the cupola you see in our photo taken earlier this week at sunset from nearby Solstice Park). The SWSHS site has full details on the 3-5 pm tour, including a video invitation from the great-great-great nephew and niece of The Kenney’s founders Samuel and Jessie Kenney. Admission by donation, $10 for SWSHS members, $15 non-members. (The Kenney is at 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW.)

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UPDATE: Crash at 35th and Avalon
June 24, 2016 3:31 pm
|    Comments Off on UPDATE: Crash at 35th and Avalon
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WSB photo)

3:31 PM: A two-vehicle crash at 35th and Avalon is tying things up right now at that busy intersection. At the scene, our crew was told one person is hurt and going to the hospital via private ambulance. Avoid the area.

3:39 PM: Per scanner, “all eastbound lanes on Avalon are clear” at the crash scene.

3:47 PM: Tow truck is reported to be on scene now – lanes will be blocked temporarily until it’s done.

4:04 PM: SDOT cameras show the scene is clear.

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