West Seattle, Washington
23 Tuesday
One of tomorrow’s big stories will be whatever happens when the full City Council takes up the proposed “sweetened-beverage tax” at its 2 pm meeting. Our area’s City Councilmember Lisa Herbold tried last week to cut it from one and three-quarters cents per ounce to one cent per ounce, and include “diet” beverages, saying that combination would still raise more money than the higher tax without “diet” beverages. But her proposals didn’t get committee approval, and she voted “no” on the tax as currently proposed. Herbold still tried to make her case one more time in her weekly newsletter/blog post. Will any of her colleagues change their mind? We’ll likely find out tomorrow. Meantime, the Seattle City Council Insight website breaks down why the bill is being pushed toward a final vote tomorrow, days after its non-unanimous committee passage – saying it’s related to the timing of a an expected referendum if the tax passes. Here’s the agenda for tomorrow’s 2 pm meeting at City Hall, which will have a public-comment period, and will be live on Seattle Channel.
If you have memories of “Mr. Herk” to share – that can help with a special sendoff that’s in the works! Here’s the announcement:
Please help us in honoring a special teacher who has served our local community.
After 34 years of teaching, Jim Herk, kindergarten teacher at Genesee Hill Elementary, is retiring this June.
“Mr. Herk” taught for 14 years at MLK, Jr. Elementary in Seattle before switching to Schmitz Park Elementary where he has been teaching kindergarteners for 20 years (this year at the new Genesee Hill Elementary). Acknowledged by many as the “Kindergarten Whisperer,” Mr. Herk is known for his calm and unruffled demeanor. He has helped more than 700 youngsters successfully acclimate to their first year of elementary school, from the most rowdy to the most timid of children. Mr. Herk is known for leading the traditional school Halloween parade, the annual Kindergarten Pumpkin Patch trip, and the annual Kindergarten Graduation BBQ and low-tide party.
We need your help! Please send photos, well wishes, and stories to HerkRetirement@gmail.com by Monday, June 12th. These will be organized into a Memory/Retirement Book for Mr. Herk. We can also include notes posted to this blog post. Photos do not have to include Mr. Herk. We also want photos of your child in Kindergarten or photos that highlight the school Halloween Parade or Low-Tide Graduation BBQ.
Please also spread the word to parents and students who may have had Mr. Herk as a teacher years ago. Help us fill the book and send off Mr. Herk with great memories and appreciation.
Just a few scenes from today’s first-ever Loop the ‘Lupe fun(draiser) today at Walt Hundley Playfield, benefiting the community activities at the Walmsley Center at nearby Our Lady of Guadalupe. Its namesake, OLG pastor Father Jack Walmesley, is at right below, with City Councilmember Lisa Herbold:
Four events comprised Loop the ‘Lupe – Senior Saunter, Kid Dash, 5K, and the obstacle course (our top three photos). Here’s the kids-race winner, Hailey Foster:
Here’s how the 5K began:
The 5K winners – David Garcia and Amy Woolsey:
Local broadcaster and longtime OLG parishioner/booster Brian Callanan emceed:
Community sponsors for the event are listed here, including WSB sponsors Alki Dental, West Seattle Runner, West Seattle Thriftway, and Wyatt’s Jewelers.
Congratulations to Chief Sealth International High School alum Nicole Roed for a big athletic achievement in her college career at Cal Lutheran in Southern California – she just received Division 3 All-America honors from the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches.
According to this report on the Cal Lutheran website, Roed “started 26 times and appeared in 28 games overall (and) paced the offense as a utility player, scoring a team-high 47 goals with a .495 shooting percentage on the season. She was a balanced player who added 21 drawn ejections, 15 steals, 12 assists and seven field blocks.” This is her sophomore year at Cal Lutheran. Thanks to proud mom Cori Roed for sharing the news!
Something new at West Seattle’s only off-leash area, at Westcrest Park! Thanks to Kevin McMahan for the photos and report:
Aidan McMahan, along with other Scouts from his West Seattle Troop 282, installed three agility structures (Saturday) at Westcrest Dog Park as a part of his Eagle Project.
The structures are now open for business.
Special thanks to Westcrest Off-Leash Area, Coalition for Off-Leash Areas (C.O.L.A.), Alki Lumber, and Seattle Parks for their assistance in making this happen.
More news of West Seattle achievements at the Seattle Public Schools middle-school science/engineering fair this past Thursday night! The report and photos are from Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark:
On Thursday evening, Denny Dolphins attended the annual SPS District Science and Engineering Fair at the Museum of Flight. As always, our entire science department was in attendance to support our scholars as they presented their great, innovative projects. A big thank you to our awesome science teachers: Mr. Shigenaka, Ms. Sanchez. Ms. Frost, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Evans, Mr. Nelson, Ms. Koressel, and Mr. Albrecht!
We’re proud of all the scholars that represented Denny and hope they had a great time celebrating their accomplishments with their peers from across the district. Dolphins that took home awards from the event inlcude:
6th Grade
Award for Best Environmental Sustainability Project:
Andrea Alcantar & Ella Christensen7th Grade
Award for Best Field Study Project:
Joselyn Panganiban8th Grade
Judge’s Special Recognition Award – Engineering Design with Largest Social Impact:
Etnna Elizalde Castañeda8th Grade
Rosalind Franklin Award for Excellence in the Life Sciences:
Ilse Schmitz & Kate Viacrucis
(Thanks to the school administrators, teachers, staffers, and families who continue to share news about student accomplishments, and other information, with WSB so that we can let the entire community know – editor@westseattleblog.com any time – and if it’s urgent/breaking, text/call 206-293-6302 – thank you!)
Our area has the city’s longest stretch of contiguous forest – the West Duwamish Greenbelt – and it was the place to be to celebrate National Trails Day this weekend. Paul West from the West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails group shared the photos from Saturday’s guided hikes; below, Patti Bakker from Seattle Parks told hikers about the city’s forest-management plans:
The trailhead closest to Saturday’s hiking area is at 12th SW/SW Holly (map), if you want to go explore on your own. You can also help out in the forest – next work party is June 17th.
More car-window vandalism – this time, at least 10 victims. That’s how many a police officer told us they had heard of, so far, when we went over to check out multiple reports of windows smashed on cars parked along the southbound side of 49th SW south of Admiral.
(Thanks to everyone who called, texted, and e-mailed about this.) We found nine of them, six of them between SW Forney and SW Hanford [map]. One neighbor whose car wasn’t affected told us it might have happened around 2 am, when he heard some kind of noise, but we talked to some of the victims and they said they didn’t hear or see anything until they went out to their cars this morning.
So far there’s no suspect description, and no word yet of any security video, so if you live in the area and have a camera focused on the street, check it if you haven’t already.
P.S. If you need to contact police and refer to this situation, there’s at least one police-report number already associated with this, according to Tweets by Beat – 17-199427.
(Black-headed grosbeak, photographed in West Seattle by Mark Wangerin)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, highlights for your Sunday:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in the street in The Junction. (California between Oregon and Alaska)
LOOP THE ‘LUPE: As previewed here again last night, last-minute registration and check-in starts at 11 am at Walt Hundley Playfield – the four events and their starting times are strong>Senior Saunter at 1 pm, Youth Dash at 1:30 pm, 5K at 1:45 pm, Obstacle Course at 2:10 pm. (3401 SW Myrtle)
ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE: Community Acupuncture Project is celebrating 8 years with a open house 11:30 am-1 pm. (4545 44th SW)
COLMAN POOL’S 2ND PRESEASON WEEKEND: Swim sessions noon-7 pm at the outdoor saltwater pool on the shore at Lincoln Park – here’s the schedule. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW – walk in from either end of the park)
ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: 1-4 pm (last group admitted at 3:40 pm), free tours resume at Alki Point Lighthouse. (3201 Alki SW)
‘IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK’: Tour 1905-built Sea View Hall during the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s annual event. Self-guided tours 3-5 pm; more info on the SWSHS website. And check out Paul Dorpat’s “Now and Then” feature on Sea View Hall at seattletimes.com. (4004 59th SW)
SEATTLE METROPOLITAN SINGERS: 3 pm concert at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, themed “By the Sea.” Read about them here. $10 suggested donation. (3050 California SW)
SEATTLE GIRLS CHOIR: SGC‘s Prime Voci performs “Voices from the Infinite” at Holy Rosary Church, 3:30 pm: “works by composers exploring our place in the universe.” Free. (42nd/Genesee)
LIVE AT C & P COFFEE: Lundin Family Tree w/ Janet & the Curmudgeons, 3-5 pm live music at WSB sponsor C & P Coffee Company. (5612 California SW)
RELAY FOR LIFE TEAM FUNDRAISER: 4-8 pm, raffle for Team Dougie Fresh at The Skylark. Drop by, donate, eat, drink. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
CAMP SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: All are welcome to the committee’s meeting at the camp, 4 pm. (9701 Myers Way S.)
SUPER JAM: Live music at Parliament Tavern, 7 pm, to benefit Lois Hayashikawa Levin’s Cancer Recovery Fund. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(Photo by Jean Sherrard)
Usually the biggest excitement at the annual West Seattle High School All-School Reunion is indoors.
(WSB photos from here on down)
Not this time.
With WSHS celebrating the 100th anniversary of the building’s opening, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and WSHS Alumni Association collaborated to organize a “Group Hug” photo outside the school’s historic north entrance. SWSHS executive director Clay Eals said the Pacific Rim Equipment-provided lift had the highest-ever potential altitude (43′) for one of their trademark photos:
(2 am update) Photographer Jean Sherrard‘s view from up there is atop this story. (Back to original report) He’s at center in the photo below, with SWSHS’s Brad Chrisman at left and Eals at right:
The hundreds who gathered for the photo enjoyed music by the West Seattle Big Band – founded as a WSHS alumni group, now directed by Jim Edwards:
The @wsbigband outside West Seattle HS centennial celebration/ All-School Reunion pic.twitter.com/wOWW48E26B
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) June 4, 2017
The crowd also heard from one of their most famous fellow alums, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Class of 1980:
Some alums streamed back inside after the photo, through the doors beneath the balloon arch:
One display remained – every year the reunion gives a special spotlight to whichever class is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its graduation, and this year, it was the Class of 1967:
After the memories, music, and photography, alums were invited to continue the celebration an afterparty at Whisky West in Morgan Junction.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: A downloadable version of the photo is now available from SWSHS, with video from the lift and the ground to be added within a few days.
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