West Seattle, Washington
11 Wednesday
(Orchid rock rose, photographed at Don Armeni by David Hutchinson)
Quick look at 4 highlights for your Monday:
DRUMMING CIRCLE: 3 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle. (4217 SW Oregon)
COMMUNITY ORCHARD MEETUP: 5-7 pm today and most Mondays, you’re invited to visit the Community Orchard of West Seattle on the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus for a meetup/work party. Bring gloves and water and be ready to help and learn! (6000 16th SW)
TINKERLAB ACADEMY: FUTURE FASHION: 6-8 pm at Delridge Library: “In this three-part series, learn basic circuitry and sewing as you add LEDs to textiles to create Future Fashion. Drop-in activities will also be available each week.” Part of the ongoing free STEM-based Tinkerlab craft activities; all ages welcome. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
ALL-AGES MONDAY QUIZ: 7:30 pm at The Skylark. Prizes! (3803 Delridge Way SW)
LOOK AHEAD … to the rest of this week and beyond, via our complete-calendar page!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:56 AM: Good morning! Full sunshine and no incidents in/from West Seattle so far.
8:19 AM: Still nothing of note. So we’ll take a moment to remind you that, just south of here, the Highway 509 northbound paving project is now under way. Ongoing updates are on this WSDOT page (scroll down to 509); this week’s plan:
Sunday, June 4, to the morning of Friday, June 9 – The left lane of northbound State Route 509 between South 168th Street and South 112th Street will be closed from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly.
Sunday, June 4, to the morning of Friday, June 9 – The left lane of southbound State Route 509 between South 168th Street and South 112th Street will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly.
Wednesday, June 7, to the morning of Thursday, June 8 – The southbound State Route 509 ramp to South 146th Street will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
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.
One day after what he had proclaimed to be Gun Violence Awareness Day in Seattle – concurrent with other designations nationwide – Mayor Ed Murray quietly participated in today’s Alki rally, joining the “Wear Orange“ group that had walked from Anchor Park.
Murray didn’t speak. Two moms who lost their sons in deadly shootings did. The first, to homicide … the second, to what claims even more lives every year: Suicide. Some in the crowd could be heard crying as Rachel Smith-Mosel told the story of how her 20-year-old son Brennen Smith was able to get a gun in minutes while waiting weeks for mental-health care (we recorded her story in two parts):
(The health-care organization that made her son wait in 2015 later changed its policies, according to journalist Jesse Jones‘s report.)
Smith-Mosel’s requests to the crowd included that they support gun-safety education in schools and that they talk with their families about suicide prevention: “More access to mental health, less access to guns.”
The rally’s sponsors, Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety, also displayed 93 pairs of orange shoes, one for each person shot to death on an average day in the U.S..
A week and a half ago, one of those lives was lost steps from the site of today’s rally, when 23-year-old Jordan Thomas was shot and killed at 62nd/Alki. His death was mentioned in organizers’ introductory remarks. His killer remains at large. Organizers stressed, “This is not about a gun debate, this is not about gun control – this is about doing what’s right for our kids.”
Didn’t register in advance for the first-ever Loop the ‘Lupe tomorrow (Sunday, June 4th)? No worries – you can sign up starting at 11 am at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th SW/SW Myrtle), just east of Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s Walmesley Center, home of numerous community-assisting programs and beneficiary of Loop the ‘Lupe.
It’s a four-event extravaganza, with the following starting times: Senior Saunter at 1 pm, Youth Dash at 1:30 pm, 5K at 1:45 pm, Obstacle Course at 2:10 pm; all four events are explained here.
Looks like comfortable weather for walking/running/dodging!
Thanks to Vy Duong for the photo of a bungalow demolition today at 1118 Alki SW. The 97-year-old house and its 75-year-old neighbor at 1122 Alki SW are to be replaced by a six-story, 11-apartment building. (We first mentioned the project in December 2015.) County records say the two sites were sold in late April for $1.5 million each.
(UPDATED SUNDAY with another photo)
Thanks to parent Steve White for the report and photos on West Seattle High School musicians’ cross-country journey!
The Jazz 1 and Jazz 2 bands (directed by Ethan Thomas) flew to New York City yesterday to participate in a workshop at Lincoln Center. While here we are also touring the 9/11 Memorial, seeing a Broadway show and some other sights. Last night we attended the “World of Monk” concert at Lincoln Center featuring the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra led by Wynton Marsalis.
And tonight, their travels took them to “The Lion King” at the Minskoff Theater.
ADDED SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Another photo from Steve, who reports: “The group went on tours of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Empire State Building and are spending the evening in Times Square.”
The musicians are headed back home on Monday.
Before we get back to reports on what happened today – a couple quick reminders about tomorrow, starting with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society-presented tour of Sea View Hall in South Alki. Here’s a video invitation:
The 1905-built log house at 4004 59th SW is the site of this year’s SWSHS “If These Walls Could Talk” tour, a drop-in, self-guided event, 3-5 pm Sunday – full details are on the SWSHS website.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
AUTO THEFT: Darlene‘s silver 2009 Chevy Traverse, personalized plate MGICIAN, was stolen Thursday night/Friday morning near 17th/Dawson. If you see it, call 911, and refer to police report #17-196428.
PREVENTION ADVICE: Auto theft is up in the Southwest Precinct this year – Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Burbridge says that 215 cases were reported in the SWP jurisdiction (West Seattle and South Park) January through April of this year, compared to 179 in the same period last year. Here’s a one-sheet with SPD advice for protecting your vehicle(s).
ROCK THROUGH WINDSHIELD: A texter reports this vandalism in Arbor Heights early today:
It happened near 42nd and 100th.
Also:
NEXT WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL MEETING: The special guest booked by WSCPC president Richard Miller will talk, and answer questions about, gangs – 7 pm June 20th at the precinct, 2300 SW Webster.
Above (or in PDF here), you can see and learn about the nine West Seattle/South Park park/street projects that made the ballot for the first-ever Your Voice, Your Choice “participatory budgeting” vote. We first told you about the voting plan back in January, followed by the project-suggestion period in February, and then the final 10 for the West Seattle/South Park area in April (from 211 suggestions). Now the official ballots are out with nine projects in each city-council district; you can vote for three. $285,000 is allotted to each district (ours is #1), and that will cover three projects. Voting starts today and goes through the end of the month. You can start the online voting process by going here – or look for in-person voting at these upcoming West Seattle/South Park events and meetings listed here and below:
South Park Pride Picnic
Sunday, June 04, 2017
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Duwamish River Park, 7900 10th Ave SWestwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council
Tuesday, June 06, 2017
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Seattle Public Library – Southwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave SWNorth Delridge Neighborhood Council
Wednesday, June 07, 2017
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SWWest Seattle Farmers Market
Sunday, June 11, 2017
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Farmers Market, 44th Ave SW & SW Alaska St or park at Alaska & 42nd Ave SWStewart Manor Resident Council Meeting
Monday, June 12, 2017
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Stewart Manor, 6339 34th Ave SWMorgan Junction Festival
Saturday, June 17, 2017
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Morgan Junction Park, 6413 California Ave SWDelridge Neighborhood District Council
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW
The city says paper ballots also are available at all city-run community centers and libraries; the votes will be counted after June 30th, and winning projects announced by July 18th. Everyone 11 and up is eligible to vote.
Two more hours to go celebrate fly fishing at Emerald Water Anglers‘ (WSB sponsor) Fly Fest at Me-Kwa-Mooks Park. You can browse gear including demonstration rods, get casting instruction, and more – plus the schedule includes one more presentation this afternoon – “Fly Fishing Cascade Mountain Creeks” at 2:30 pm. When we stopped by, it was guide-cookoff lunchtime:
In the foreground, EWA proprietor Dave McCoy was making spring salmon pizza on a naan-bread base, and in the background, Hilary Hutcheson was cooking up a version of Philly cheesesteaks with elk. She’s the special guest tonight at EWA’s Junction shop (4502 42nd SW) for the 7 pm Seattle premiere of the Costa film “SLAM,” billed as “the engaging story of three female anglers from different walks of life in pursuit of the same epic challenge – landing a grand slam in the Keys – with just a few days to accomplish it.” Free, but tickets are required – check availability here. Meantime, Fly Fest continues at Me-Kwa-Mooks (4503 Beach Drive SW) until 4 pm.
Today, you don’t have to wait for a whale sighting off West Seattle shores to learn about the “Whales In Your Neighborhood” – just go check in with The Whale Trail and friends at Constellation Park before 2 pm, as previewed on our calendar. It’s part of Orca Awareness Month – next local event, a cleanup at Alki one week from today and a Whale Trail-presented talk on vessel traffic’s effect on whales – info’s all here.
Meet Stannis. He’s the 10-week-old Newfoundland puppy who’s just joined the family of Dutchboy Coffee proprietor Jenni Watkins, and today he’s making his public debut at the stand in Highland Park.
When the stand opened in January, we introduced you to its namesake – Dutchboy the Newfoundland. Heartbreakingly, he died a few months ago. While no beloved pet can ever be replaced, there’s room in the heart to love again, and so here’s Stannis of Court Royal. You can stop by and say hi until 1 pm today; he’ll make other periodic appearances. And any time this month, there’s something else special to see at The Dutchboy:
The stand has been featuring local artists, and Jenni’s husband Todd Watkins created the photography that’s on display this month – you can admire it from the ordering window while you’re getting your coffee. The Dutchboy is on the northeast corner of 16th and Holden.
(Above, Dahlia Sebastian; below, Rowan Preedy)
Congratulations to the Madison Middle School students whose scientific achievements landed them in a districtwide spotlight! Thanks to science teacher Fred Jenner for the photos and report:
Madison MS had four finalists submitting projects at Thursday night’s District Science Fair at The Museum of Flight. Sixth graders Elliott Allen, Dahlia Sebastian, Rowan Preedy, and Ian Iserman showed their projects to a large crowd of visitors and twenty plus judges. Dahlia Sebastian’s engineering project “The New and Improved String Instrument Cleaner of the 21st Century” won Best Overall project for engineering design and Rowan Preedy’s engineering project “Automated Chicken Door Closer” won Most Original Engineering Project award for the entire district’s 6th grade category field of projects.
(Above, Elliott Allen; below, Ian Iserman)
This year there were more engineering design projects than science inquiry projects. Congratulations to all of them for their awesome work and for making Madison Middle School proud!
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