day : 21/06/2017 12 results

“We did it – we made it!” So exulted featured much-honored Mahala Provost at tonight’s Chief Sealth International High School graduation, before her show-stopping musical performance.

The hour-and-a-half ceremony celebrated Provost and more than 230 other Class of 2017 graduates – who principal Aida Fraser-Hammer (below with district Superintendent Dr. Larry Nyland) said she would remember warmly because their first year at Sealth was hers too.

Here’s our video of the Class of 2017 entering Southwest Athletic Complex as the ceremony began:

Their principal also hailed the grads’ achievements, including hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships and shouted out to valedictorians Michelle Ly and Tommy Nguyen, and salutatorian Amy Ly. The program also listed 54 grads who made the National Honor Society (3.5 grade-point average or higher). Proud family and friends cheered loudly throughout the ceremony:

And the grads beamed:

Their featured speakers, Kaitlin Andrade and Sean Jenkins, shared memories, promising their classmates they’ll all be together again “at the reunion in 10 years”:

Staff speaker Matthew Schiavo honored the school’s international focus, greeting the grads in multiple languages, and exhorting them to “be your own #1 fan”:

And after the diploma pickups and the tassel-turning, it was time to move on, as the decorated caps showed in a multitude of ways:

They left the stadium through a receiving line of their now-former teachers and other Sealth staffers, perhaps with a memory of their principal’s declaration, “We are Seahawks – we are made to fly; we are made to soar.”

This was the first of two Wednesday night graduations at SWAC – our report on the second, West Seattle HS, is coming up.

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FOLLOWUP: South Park trouble spot ‘abated,’ again

June 21, 2017 10:59 pm

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| South Park | West Seattle news

Six months ago, we covered a walking tour in South Park led by neighbor Jeff Hayes, showing ongoing trouble spots to a city delegation including Councilmember Lisa Herbold and representatives of various departments. It was illustrative not just for people in or interested in South Park, but anywhere in the city, West Seattle included, where there are trouble spots for which neighbors are trying to get city help. In Hayes’ neighborhood, some situations have improved – we reported in January about the new ownership for vacant commercial spaces – and some are still problems, like the one the city “abated” again today.

This house is next to Hayes, at 1037 South Cloverdale, and he says this is the third time in six months that crews have been sent in to clean up. Much of the work had been done before we got there this afternoon, but they were impounding a vehicle (top photo) and a pickup truck bed that had been turned into a trailer (photo above this paragraph) – Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Officer Todd Wiebke told us at the scene that it had stolen tabs. He also told us two more houses in the area have abatement set for later this week.

We asked one of the agencies involved in the cleanup today, the city Department of Construction and Inspections, for details, and spokesperson Wendy Shark replied, before the cleanup: “We have an abatement order to remove outdoor junk and other miscellaneous items from this property … The conservation corps will be assisting us with the clean-up, Bio-Clean will assist us with the removal of any hazardous waste on the property and SPD will be there as well.” The line item on the SDCI website traces back to a complaint originally made in January, one of many involving this address over the years. (The backstory of the house and its owner was told in this radio report last year.)

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@ WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Gang briefing; crime trends

June 21, 2017 7:41 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Crime trends, community Q & A, and a briefing you might call “Gangs 101” were all part of last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting at the Southwest Precinct.

CRIME TRENDS: Capt. Pierre Davis opened the meeting with the latest, saying the precinct is “putting out as many resources” as it can, since “things get a little bit more boisterous” in the summer around here. That includes pulling SWAT officers for extra patrols, the precinct’s Anti-Crime Team, and the full-time bicycle squad, “able to patrol our hot-spot areas.”

One bright spot: Non-residential burglaries are down 2 percent – “we’re arresting a ton of people out there.”

No other stats were mentioned as attendees jumped right to community Q & A: Read More

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SUNDAY: This year’s West Seattle Garden Tour will be hot in more ways than one

June 21, 2017 6:57 pm

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| Gardening | West Seattle news

(Photo by Nancy Wilcox)

That’s the “Corner Paradise,” one of 12 gardens you can visit this Sunday during the 2017 West Seattle Garden Tour. It’s a self-guided event, 9 am-5 pm on tour day, but you have to have a $25 ticket book, which includes the locations and maps, and you have to get it in advance, so you have a few more days to do that – here’s how and where. The tour is a fundraiser for local nonprofits – here’s who’s benefiting this year.

Sunday’s forecast is for hot weather, possibly into the 90s, so WSGT’s Aubbie Beal tells WSB, “We are encouraging people to be prepared for heat and sun (sunscreen, hats, water). We will sell water in a few (not all) gardens this year because of the heat, but people should always plan to carry their own.”

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SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier

June 21, 2017 4:31 pm

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| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to Gary Jones for the photo of the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, seen off Alki Point today. Gary says the ship is a “Martha L. Black-class light icebreaker and tender from the Canadian Coast Guard, named after a former Canadian Prime Minister.” We haven’t yet found what it’s doing here, but it’s homeported in Victoria, B.C., so it’s not too far away from home.

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ATTENTION, DELRIDGE BUSINESSES: This survey is for you!

June 21, 2017 2:34 pm

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| Delridge | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

The Delridge Business Survey and Outreach Project is on!

The goal: Reaching, engaging, and learning from Delridge’s many businesses, to gather information that will support “community-led business development in the area,” which hasn’t before had a “shared Delridge economic development vision.”

The project is an offshoot of the Delridge Action Plan, and funded by a city grnat, but, Delridge-area businessperson Parie Hines of LD Arch Design (WSB sponsor) tells us, it’s “led by neighborhood residents and businesses, in addition to the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association and the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce.”

If you have a business in the Delridge area, between SW Spokane and SW Sylvan Way (South Delridge is not included in this project) – they want to hear from you. “Neighborhood ambassadors” will be making in-person visits in the weeks ahead, and you might get a phone call, but even before someone contacts you, you can answer the survey right now or as soon as you have a few minutes to spare – find it here.

Once the survey is complete, Hines says, the project report, summarizing findings and priorities, will be public in August. Project background is also viewable on the DNDA website and the West Seattle Chamber website.

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YOU CAN HELP: West Seattle High School football team crowdfunding for equipment, supplies

June 21, 2017 12:55 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(WSB photo, September 2016)

As first reported here last March, West Seattle High School‘s football team has a new head coach, Marcis Fennell. As he and his team get ready for the fall season, they are asking for community help with equipment and supplies that they need for success and safety. WSHS athletic director Corey Sorenson explains, “Basically we have far more kids out for football this year than we currently have proper equipment for. Having a high number of kids turn out for a sport is a good problem to have. Unfortunately it’s also an expensive problem. The headset system for our football coaches is also inoperable. This usually runs around $20,000. We also need to purchase shoulder pads, agility bags, etc.” They’re hoping WSHS alumni and other community members can help, and they’ve set up a GoFundMe page here.

P.S. Here’s a look at next season’s schedule.

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West Seattle helicopter flyovers = Training on Vashon

June 21, 2017 11:01 am

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| Helicopter | West Seattle news

For everyone wondering about this (we’ve just answered several inquiries): We just got confirmation from the King County Sheriff’s Office that the helicopter some are seeing/hearing is Guardian 2 (a military-surplus UH-1 Huey), going back and forth to Vashon because of an all-day SWAT-team-training exercise on the island.

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West Seattle Wednesday: CSIHS and WSHS graduations; summer parties at Community General Store, Delridge CC, Origins; more…

June 21, 2017 10:57 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Band-tailed pigeon, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

For the first full day of summer, here are the highlights, most from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

WATER TAXI PIER 50 OPEN HOUSE: 3:30 pm-6:30 pm, look for the Water Taxi tent at Pier 50 to find out more about the changes coming later this summer when the Colman Dock project moves into construction mode – a temporary service interruption followed by longer-term (but not permanent) dock-location and schedule changes. (See our previous report for more backstory.)

END-OF-SCHOOL-YEAR PARTY: Though the last day of school isn’t until Monday (for Seattle Public Schools, anyway), you can celebrate early at Delridge Community Center, 4-6 pm. Details here. (4501 Delridge Way SW)

‘HELLO, SUMMER’ PARTY AT ORIGINS: Origins Cannabis (WSB sponsor) is hosting a party 4-7 pm with “summer specials, local food, local music, local fun.” (4800 40th SW)

POP-UP CLOTHING GIVEAWAY: The West Seattle Helpline‘s Clothesline has another pop-up event at High Point Library, 4:30-5:45 pm, with free clothing for anyone in need, no questions asked. (35th SW/SW Raymond)

CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION: First of two graduation ceremonies tonight at Southwest Athletic Complex. 5 pm. (2801 SW Thistle)

COMMUNITY GENERAL STORE SOLSTICE PARTY: 5-8 pm, stop by the Community General Store and celebrate the first full day of summer on the patio. “We’ll celebrate with music, food, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and outdoor fun.” (5214 Delridge Way SW)

WEST SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAY DROP-IN EVENT: 5:30-7 pm at Southwest Library, find out more about the “most promising route” for the future greenway, and share your feedback. Also be sure to answer the online survey. Here’s our original report. (9010 35th SW)

LADIES NIGHT: First-ever Ladies’ Night at Junction True Value, 6-8 pm – details in our calendar listing. (4744 44th SW)

ORCA HALF REGISTRATION + YOGA: Tonight’s group run at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), 6:15 pm, includes your chance to register for the September 24th Orca Half and a yoga session. (2743 California SW)

DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm at Neighborhood House High Point. We’ll add agenda highlights later if/when we get them. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

FREE CONCERT BY CHARMS: In-store at Easy Street Records, 7 pm, Seattle trio Charms performs live. Free. All ages. (California/Alaska)

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION: Second of two graduation ceremonies tonight at Southwest Athletic Complex. 8 pm. (2801 SW Thistle)

DEADGRASS: Grateful Dead meets bluegrass, 8-11 pm at Parliament Tavern. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

THE FUTURE AWAITS … look ahead days, weeks, months via our complete-calendar page.

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PEACE IN THE HOOD: Southwest Youth and Family Services adds job fair to basketball tournament

June 21, 2017 9:37 am

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

One week from today – June 28th – is the annual Peace in the Hood basketball tournament presented by North Delridge-headquartered Southwest Youth and Family Services. There’s something extra this year, and it’s not too late to be part of it. Here’s the announcement:

Peace in the Hood is a collaboration with Worksource and our Violence Prevention programs in Seattle and South King County. This year we are pairing the event with a job fair for the youth – over 30 vendors will be there to provide job opportunities, and some are even doing interviews on-site.

Vendors interested in attending can register here: peace-in-the-hood-jobfair.eventbrite.com

Registration starts at 2 pm. Tournament starts at 3 pm.

Location: Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center

Tournament Team requirements:

· The following age groups must be in your team and all members of your team must fit the age group: 12-14 or 15-18.

· All teams can be Co-Ed

· Each team is allowed one substitute, but the substitute must fit the age range of your team

· If you are in the age group 15-18 you are allowed but not required to have one adult community partner (Mentor, Case Manager, Outreach Worker, etc)

· Early registration is encouraged due to limited spots, each team must have 1 Team Captain and contact the Registration Coordinator Waz Thay: wthay@swyfs.org or 206-937-7680 or visit the Log Cabin Teen Center.

· Day of registration will be on a first come first serve basis.

Questions? E-mail jcox@swyfs.org, wthay@swyfs.org, or iokeke@swyfs.org.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: First full day of summer

June 21, 2017 6:59 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

6:59 AM: Good morning, happy Wednesday, and welcome to the first day of summer. No incidents so far in or from West Seattle. Two transportation-related events this afternoon/evening:

WATER TAXI CHANGES: At the downtown terminal, Pier 50, King County will have a tent 3:30-6:30 pm for more information on the location and schedule changes coming up later this summer when Colman Dock construction begins – here’s our original report.

WEST SEATTLE GREENWAY: Second of two drop-in events is tonight, 5:30-7 pm, at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), to find out about and comment on the “most promising route” for the greenway – here’s our original report.

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WELCOME, SUMMER! Solstice sunset views, including Alice’s eclipse-enhanced event

June 21, 2017 1:08 am

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| Skies Over West Seattle | West Seattle news

David Hutchinson saw it from Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza …

Jen Popp was looking toward downtown …

And Alice Enevoldsen was at Solstice Park, as summer arrived after 9 o’clock tonight:

During her 33rd quarterly seasonal sunset watch, Alice was mostly looking ahead to the rare sight that’s now exactly two months away – the August 21st solar eclipse that will be visible in totality as close as parts of Oregon.

Those who joined her at the park of course also got the chance to learn about and commemorate the changing of the seasons – this year, the solstice moment was less than half an hour after sunset, which was mostly obscured by clouds, aside from the show of pink in the photos atop our story.

So, back to the eclipse: While it won’t be total up here, you’ll still see it at about 90 percent, Alice pointed out. The most important thing is HOW you view it, so you don’t damage your eyes. You can create pinhole viewers or else get a special type of eyewear – cardboard glasses like the ones she showed are on sale at the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) library – they look cheap, she acknowledged, but they get the job done.

The most important thing in eclipse eyewear, she said, is to adhere to ISO 12312-2 – explained on this NASA webpage that’s all about safe eclipse viewing. For general eclipse info, she recommends MrEclipse.com.

P.S. Alice won’t be in West Seattle to lead an eclipse-viewing party but she’ll be talking with local skywatchers and will let us know if anyone else plans to.

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