West Seattle, Washington
18 Monday
(Photo by Peter Commons)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
MOBILE BLOOD DRIVE: If you can donate blood, you’ll find the mobile donation van at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) today, by the Clock Tower, 10:30 am-4:30 pm, closed for a break 12:30 pm-1:30 pm. Walk-ups welcome. (6000 16th SW)
PHYSICAL THERAPY NIGHT: Monthly assessment event at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), 5:30-7 pm – details in our calendar listing. (2743 California SW)
NEW ALL-GENDER SCOUTING GROUP: Tonight’s the first evening meeting for the new all-gender scouting group, part of the Baden-Powell Service Association, forming in West Seattle: “The group is divided into Chipmunks (age 2-4), Otters (age 5-7), Timberwolves (age 8-11), Pathfinders (age 12-17), and Rovers (ages 18+).” 6-7:15 pm at High Point Library. (35th SW/SW Raymond)
FREE FAMILY ZUMBA CLASS: 6 pm at Lil’ Bug Studio, a new series of family Zumba classes is starting, and the first one is free. (10007 13th SW)
EVENING BOOK GROUP: 6:45 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library. This month’s title is “My Brilliant Friend” by Elena Ferrante. All welcome! (2306 42nd SW)
MONDAY NIGHT MEDITATION: 7 pm at Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor): “Each week we will explore a different aspect of Buddhist psychology and the practical ways we can apply it within our modern, busy lives.” This week, the topic is “Consideration for Others.” (5639 California SW)
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far this Monday. While it’s a federal holiday, it’s not observed locally, so transit and schools are on normal schedules.
8:39 AM: ‪A stalled/stuck semitruck is blocking Genesee’s eastbound lane 2 blocks west of Delridge. SPD is directing traffic‬.
(Photo by Jim Spraker)
Thanks for the Sunday sunset photos!
(Photo by Chris Frankovich)
The week will start with sunshine, the forecast says, before the clouds take over.
(Photo by Carol Ann Joyce)
If the forecast holds true, this might have been our last colorful sunset for a while.
(Photos courtesy Friends of Dragonfly Park)
Some of your neighbors spent part of the weekend giving TLC to some of the peninsula’s special spots – among them, Dragonfly Park in North Delridge, just upslope from Longfellow Creek. Above, the volunteers from Friends of Dragonfly Park who weeded and mulched on Saturday morning.
Laura Bruco from Friends of Dragonfly Park says they’ll “likely have another event within the next few weeks” since they didn’t have quite enough mulch and burlap to accomplish everything they had hoped to. They’re also expecting Seattle Parks to bring in equipment to do some work on the open areas soon too. After that, Laura says, “we’ll be focusing on fundraising and planning for new plantings next year.” You can find the group online here, and you can reach Laura at lauramaybruco@gmail.com. (And there’s more backstory in the garden-work-party announcement we published earlier this week.)
16 dogs and their people showed up for this afternoon’s Blessing of the Animals, presented in the West Seattle High School parking lot every fall by neighboring St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. It’s always held on a Sunday near the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, and the faith leaders offering blessings usually include a Brother from the Order of Saint Francis – this year, Br. Paul Dahlke:
Also blessing the animals in attendance, Rev. Kate Wesch, on her first Sunday as St. John’s new Rector:
Her daughter Avery was there too, with Riley, who she’s been dog-sitting:
This was the 10th year for the blessings at St. John’s, dating back to 2008.
Looks like NB 99 has reopened. Did we miss the announcement @wsdot_traffic @seattledot ? pic.twitter.com/0RBkS6hrtH
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) October 8, 2017
Crossing the eastbound West Seattle Bridge about 10 minutes ago, we noticed the ramp to NB 99 was open again, unannounced. And now WSDOT has confirmed the closure is over – Highway 99 is open again both ways.
4:27 PM: Thanks to the texter who just mentioned that some residents along Harbor and Alki Avenues in the Duwamish Head area have been without power since midday. The Seattle City Light map says 91 customers – no businesses in that area, so the number would all be residences – are out, and currently estimates restoration by early evening. “Equipment failure” is blamed.
6:19 PM: City Light map says everyone’s back on. (If you’re NOT – be sure to call SCL at 206-684-3000 to be sure they know!)
ADDED MONDAY MIDDAY: While at an unrelated City Light media event today, we asked spokesperson Scott Thomsen for further info about this outage’s cause. He tells us, “It was caused by a failed lightning arrester.” (Don’t know what that is? Here’s an explanation.)
Very early Friday morning, a motorcyclist was seriously hurt on the southeast edge of West Seattle. His family is looking for information on what happened. From Tonya:
My husband was involved in a probable hit-and-run accident on his motorcycle, sometime between 2-3 AM, Friday, October 6th, right where SW Roxbury turns into Olson Place [map]. He was found unconscious and injured after being thrown off his bike, and doesn’t remember the incident at all. If anyone was in the area or has heard anyone talking about seeing this, please contact the police!
Tonya says her husband was headed south/east, toward 509, and rides a copper Harley. His injuries include a fractured vertebra. If you have information for police, the incident number is 17-371222, according to Tweets by Beat.
(WSB photos)
8:58 AM: Don’t bother trying to go to the Chase drive-up ATM at Edmunds/44th in The Junction – our photo shows what you’ll find. A texter said the ATM was taken before 6 am and that a forklift was still at the scene then (we checked with TrueValue across the street and they told us it wasn’t theirs). We are working right now to find out more from police.
9:16 AM: We couldn’t find officers in the area, though two SPD vehicles were nearby, so we went to the Southwest Precinct to ask. The desk officer told us the theft happened around 3:30 am and confirmed a forklift was left at the scene and has since been impounded; no other details yet because everyone working the case is still out. This is the second such theft in The Junction in less than a year, after the US Bank ATM heist a block away last January, also early on a Sunday morning. (added) And it’s the third in West Seattle in a year and a half, after an ATM was stolen from South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) in May 2016 and turned up in an Arbor Heights yard.
ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: No new information available from police yet. But we asked a regional spokesperson for Chase whether/when the ATM would be replaced; she said plans are already in the works and that it would be “later this month.”
(Least sandpiper, photographed at Constellation Park last weekend by Mark Wangerin)
A semi-quiet Sunday, with these highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
NEW RECTOR: Saint John the Baptist Episcopal Church‘s new spiritual leader has arrived and the community is invited to meet her:
The Reverend Kate E. Wesch joined the parish as Rector this week and will preside over Eucharist and deliver her first sermon in that capacity during services at 8 and 10:15 a.m.
All are welcome to the following events:
8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist
9:00 a.m. – Reception with pancake breakfast
10:00 a.m. – Sunday School for Elementary and Middle School
10:15 a.m. – Holy Eucharist with full choir
11:15 a.m. – Coffee and fellowship hourAdditionally, Rev. Wesch and Br. Paul Dahlke, OSF will preside over the annual Blessing of the Animals at 1:00 p.m. in honor of Saint Francis.
More on that later in this list. (3050 California SW)
FITNESS FOR VITALITY RUN SERIES: You can still sign up at the last minute for today’s runs along Alki – 2K, 5K, 10K all start at 9:30 am – full details here. (60th SW/Alki SW)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in the street in The Junction. (California between Oregon and Alaska)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Could be a good day to check out the home of West Seattle’s history. Open noon-4 pm. (61st SW/SW Stevens)
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: 1 pm in the West Seattle High School parking lot, neighboring Saint John the Baptist Episcopal Church welcomes everyone to bring their animal companions to be blessed. (3000 California SW)
CLARA BAKER: Nationally touring singer-songwriter stops at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) to perform, 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
LADIES’ MUSICAL CLUB: “LMC Opera presents the Italians: from Verdi to Verisimo” at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 3 pm. Free. See the program in our calendar listing. (2306 42nd SW)
PREVIEW THE WEEK AHEAD … via our complete calendar!
7:43 AM: While half of the scheduled Highway 99 closure continues this morning – northbound, between the West Seattle Bridge and Battery Street Tunnel – there’s a problem south of the bridge you might need to know about: A crash that “knocked over a light post” is blocking 99 (East Marginal Way) both ways at Hudson [map], per WSDOT, which warns that repairs “will take a few hours.”
12:51 AM: Still blocked:
Reminder: E Marginal Way S at S Hudson St is closed to all traffic due to earlier collision. A pole is being replaced. Use alt routes. pic.twitter.com/xPrS2OYB1E
— seattledot (@seattledot) October 8, 2017
3:01 PM: Now open – repair work’s done, says SDOT. (But northbound 99 remains closed for the weekend-long tunnel-related work, so if you are headed northbound from there, you won’t get much further. Whenever that is over, we’ll have another separate update.)
(WSB photos and video by Patrick Sand)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
~60 people sang, prayed, and pondered in a candlelight circle tonight outside Fauntleroy Church, during an emotional vigil that went beyond mourning the 59 lives lost in the Las Vegas massacre.
Leading them, above, were West Seattle’s three United Church of Christ pastors, from left, Rev. Diane Darling of Alki UCC, Rev. Leah Atkinson Bilinski of Fauntleroy UCC, and Rev. Andrew Conley-Holcom of Admiral UCC. Their voices rang clear in the night with grief and anger – and even a prayer of confession, that “I confess I believed things would get better on their own, and I confess that I was wrong.”
There were questions – including those raised in Bob Dylan‘s “Blowin’ in the Wind,” the first song led by Bronwyn Edwards and Leann Conley-Holcom, with readings between the verses:
As the names of those who died in the massacre were read – “so many lost” – there were a few words about each. Someone celebrating their 23rd wedding anniversary. Someone celebrating their 28th birthday. A father there with his four grown children. Off-duty law enforcers. The mother of a 6-week-old baby. A 67-year-old woman. And when Seattle resident Carrie Parsons‘ name was read, Rev. Atkinson Bilinski noted that Ms. Parsons was the “close friend of the granddaughter of a Fauntleroy Church parishioner.”
A chime sounded after each name and description … and the last name read was that of the killer, noting that he left behind his family, as well as a nation “confused and heartbroken.” And it was noted that the massacre took the spotlight from others around the world who are in pain and suffering, from hurricane and earthquake victims to those in our country experiencing racism and other social injustice daily. Gun-violence statistics were read, including the fact that “most gun deaths are suicides.”
Ultimately, however, the vigil’s message was that of hope, with the candles representing “the light of love” – hope that with action, with collaboration, change can be made. In that spirit, the final song was “Somewhere to Begin” by T.R. Ritchie:
As the vigil ended, participants were invited to continue lighting candles and to write notes of appreciation to local first responders.
We are told the notes will be taken to a local fire station on Sunday.
9:07 PM: That’s Lynn‘s car – and it’s been stolen in Arbor Heights. It’s a 1993 blue Honda del Sol with license ADX 9023. Call 911 if you see it – and refer to SPD incident number 17-373378.
UPDATED SUNDAY MORNING: Lynn updates via text that Seattle Police called to say they found her car in South Park, “stripped.”
(WSB photo from September 29th)
More than a week after the fire at the Green Acres apartment complex north of Morgan Junction, Jilyan at nearby C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) has continued coordinating efforts to help those who were affected, and says one person still needs help in two ways – urgently:
Urgent help needed!!! Please bring packing supplies (boxes, tape, bubble wrap etc) to C & P Coffee between now and Sunday night.
Some of you may have seen the fundraising that’s been organized for Green Acres. Everyone seems to have the help they need with the exception of one resident. I have been meeting with her, and the apartment manager to try to figure out how best to help her.
Joanie is still living in her apartment, with no electricity, because she has nowhere to go (and is not able to tackle this task on her own). Seattle Housing Authority will pay her rent and utilities once she finds a place but offers no assistance with moving or the cost to move/store belongings (understandable).
On Monday, a group of amazing C&P community members will be moving her belongings out and setting up a storage unit for her. This is how the money raised from GoFundMe and cash donations will be used.
We need boxes, Rubbermaid tubs you’re willing to part with, anything to pack up an apartment. If you are available Monday to help us move stuff with a truck, please contact me as soon as possible. If you know of an apartment Joanie can rent (section 8), please contact me. jilyanmp@gmail.com
West Seattle, you’re amazing! I know this community can help one of our own that is so unexpectedly displaced.
C & P is at 5612 California SW and is open until 9 tonight, and 7 am-7 pm on Sunday.
From WSDOT:
Inspectors for the Washington State Department of Transportation completed their work early and reopened southbound State Route 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle for the remainder of the weekend.
Drivers, please note: Northbound SR 99 remains closed between South Spokane Street and the Battery Street Tunnel for work related to the future SR 99 tunnel.
Northbound SR 99 and the viaduct will reopen to traffic by 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 9.
That video clip from California tells the story of the Threshold Choir, which is expanding into West Seattle. The announcement is from Susan Moskwa:
Are you a woman who loves to sing? Are you drawn to offering your voice as an instrument of kindness to those who are seriously ill or dying? Are you interested in joining a supportive community of women who gather regularly to rehearse and sing at the bedside?
If your answers are yes, yes, and yes, then you are invited to attend a Threshold Choir introductory meeting in West Seattle.
Threshold Choir is an international choir with chapters in over 150 communities throughout the United States and in seven other countries. Our mission is singing for individuals at the thresholds of their lives. Our Seattle chapter is called Seattle Threshold Singers.
This fall the Seattle Threshold Singers will begin rehearsing in West Seattle. We are holding two introductory meetings to provide information about our plans: Saturday, October 21st from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., and Wednesday, November 8th from 10:00 a.m. – noon.
We will meet and greet, sing songs, and answer questions about the international Threshold Choir organization as well as our local chapter.
This is an all-volunteer group. We honor all spiritual paths and have no religious affiliation. There are no auditions but we do ask that you can carry a tune and have time to attend two rehearsals a month.
Rehearsals will be the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 10 to noon in West Seattle. If you are interested but cannot make this particular rehearsal time, let us know. At this time, you can either come to rehearsals in Seattle’s north end or wait to see if evening rehearsals will be offered in the south end.
Find out more about the Threshold Choir on its website; if you are interested in joining and/or have questions, you can e-mail west.seattle.threshold.choir@gmail.com.
(WSB photos: Signs at ‘A Grand Affair’)
Speaking of the West Seattle Food Bank … one week after its “A Grand Affair” cocktail-party fundraiser (WSB coverage here), we have word that its results were even grander than last year. From WSFB’s Judi Yazzolino:
The West Seattle Food Bank would like to graciously thank our sponsors, Board of Directors, donors, guests, and our dedicated and hardworking volunteers for making the 2nd annual A Grand Affair cocktail benefit at Westland Distillery on Friday, September 29th, such a big success. We raised more than $48,500 – 16% over last year – to continue the programs needed to help those in our community in need of food and other services.
Guests were winning millions at the casino-style gaming tables; tasting Westland Distillery’s delicious whisky, Peel & Press’s Aviation Cocktail, The Bridge’s Lavender Drop, or Husky Deli’s Beer Float, generously bidding on unique auction items, or raising their bid cards for the thousands in our community in need of a little help.
Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors!
We’d like to thank the sponsors who generously supported A Grand Affair: The Muckleshoot Tribe, HomeStreet Bank, Quail Park Memory Care Residence of West Seattle; BECU, Ventana Construction, FASTSIGNS, West Seattle Blog, & Westside Seattle. Thank you so much for your continued support. Thank you so much to all of the businesses and individuals of West Seattle! All proceeds from A Grand Affair will ensure that the thousands of children, seniors, and adults served by the West Seattle Food Bank will have access to quality, healthy food and other needed services.
Couldn’t be there? Lots of ways to help WSFB – money, food, volunteering, more – any time.
Going grocery shopping? And/or, have some non-perishable food already on hand that you can donate? Until 2:30 pm, you can help the West Seattle Food Bank at West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor) during the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate (also a WSB sponsor) “Give a Day Away” food drive. In our photo above are Debbie Kerns and Michael Mallagh, two of the BHHS NW agents who are outside the store volunteering – pick up the WSFB needs list on your way in!
(WSB photos. Above, Dazor and Sophie)
No matter how dirty your car gets, you’re probably not going to find someone cheering when you wash it – unless it happens to be a car wash by and for cheerleaders. That’s exactly what’s happening right now at West Seattle Autoworks (35th SW/SW Webster; WSB sponsor), where Seattle Lutheran High School cheerleaders are raising money by washing cars:
Stop by before 3 pm. No set price – whatever you can donate.
Northbound 99 is closed between the West Seattle Bridge and the Battery Street Tunnel (that’s why the right lane’s blocked off in the “live” webcam image above), and scheduled to remain closed all weekend; southbound 99 is closed until 6 pm tonight and scheduled for a 5 am-6 pm closure again tomorrow. So here are highlights of what you can do without heading east! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more):
SWIMMING WITH BRICKS: Along the Alki promenade this morning:
A West Seattle man will attempt to swim one mile in Puget Sound with a brick in each hand. The swim will commence from the Bathhouse at Alki Beach at approximately 8:30 am. The swimmer is Sam Day, 53, an artist and wedding painter, who swims regularly at Alki Beach with the Notorious Alki Swimmers throughout the year. The idea for swimming with bricks came from his Danish great-great grandfather, who, according to family lore, swam around a tall ship with a brick in each hand.
You’re welcome to cheer him on. (60th SW/Alki SW)
DRAGONFLY PARK GARDEN PARTY: 9 am to noon, Friends of Dragonfly Park would love your help as they provide TLC to this special spot in West Seattle. Tools provided. More info in our preview. Even if you can only help for part of that time, just go show up! (28th SW south of SW Yancy)
‘ART INTERRUPTIONS’ WALK: Also in North Delridge – 10 am-noon, join a guided walk in North Delridge along the temporary art installations we first showed you two months ago. Here’s the newest map:
Meet at Cottage Grove Park for the 1.8-mile walk. As shown on the map, there’s a shorter “family-friendly” loop too. (5206 26th SW)
BEAUTIFY STEVE COX MEMORIAL PARK: This White Center park used by so many from WC, West Seattle, and beyond, needs TLC too. Be there 10 am-noon today to help out. (1321 SW 102nd)
SEATTLE LUTHERAN CHEERLEADERS’ CAR WASH: Need your vehicle washed? 10 am-3 pm, stop by West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor) and the Seattle Lutheran High School Cheerleaders will handle it! By donations – no set price. (35th SW/SW Webster)
SEE ART, MAKE ART: At Southwest Library, as part of the monthlong celebration of art that also features the Community Art Showcase, you’re invited to make “felted monsters” with Lene Sangster, 1-3 pm. Free. (9010 35th SW).
OKTOBERFEST AT OUNCES: 2-10 pm at Ounces in North Delridge, you’ll find biers, brats, Bavarian music, costume contest, more. All ages. (3809 Delridge Way SW)
‘SCREENAGERS’: Worried your kids are spending too much time with screens? This is the film to see – with them. Free screening at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), 3:30 pm – presented by West Seattle Cooperative Preschools, with a short facilitated discussion afterward. (6000 16th SW)
WEST SEATTLE MEANINGFUL MOVIES: This month it’s “What the Health” – info here. Doors open 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House High Point. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
VIGIL FOR LAS VEGAS: 7:30 pm in the Fauntleroy Church parking lot – inside the sanctuary if it’s raining. (9140 California SW)
THE ESOTERICS IN CONCERT: New choral music, 8 pm at Holy Rosary. Ticket and program info here. (42nd SW/SW Genesee)
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Down 21-0 two-thirds of the way through the first quarter of Friday night’s homecoming game, West Seattle High School‘s varsity football team refused to give up.
Led by quarterback Anthony Coats (#8, above), who threw and threw and threw – and ran, too – the WSHS players battled back to a 21-all tie with visiting Nathan Hale before the second quarter was half over.
(#3, Leland Gropper)
After that, though, Hale managed to pile up another 20 unanswered points before halftime – and it was 41-21 at the half.
(WSHS head coach Marcis Fennell)
Neither team added points in the third quarter. In the fourth, the Wildcats got into comeback mode again, and made up half the gap with a field goal and TD – but that’s as far as they got, and the final score was 41-31.
Also at Southwest Athletic Complex: At halftime, the WSHS Marching Band put on a show:
'Sweet Caroline' from the West Seattle HS band at halftime. pic.twitter.com/cHF9UF40EE
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) October 7, 2017
Besides the full band, directed by Ethan Thomas, the drumline entertained, too:
Lots of pink on the field, because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month:
And though the weather was the worst it had been for a game night so far this year – windy and drizzly – the fans kept the energy level up too:
This was also the last home game of the year for the Wildcats, who are 0-6 so far the season. Next Friday (October 13th), they play in Renton, at Liberty High School, 7 pm.
One football final score so far tonight – according to the Metro League website, it was a road win for Chief Sealth International High School tonight, 40-0 over Ingraham at Northwest Athletic Complex. The Seahawks are now 4-2. Next week, they play a home game vs. Sammamish at Southwest Athletic Complex, 7 pm Friday, October 13th.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
ABANDONED, LIKELY STOLEN BICYCLE: The photo and report are from Guy:
I found this abandoned bike last night at about midnight in the alley behind our house, between 45th and 44th Ave SW, in the block between Alaska and Edmunds. With the amount of foot and vehicle traffic that goes on in the alley, I’ve brought it inside in the hope that if it was stolen, someone will see it on your site and claim it in the comments.
Or, you can e-mail us at editor@westseattleblog.com and we’ll connect you.
CAR WINDOW BROKEN: From Konin:
Just wanted to report that when my wife and I came home from the hospital, I noticed that my car’s driver-side window had been broken in what looks like a stolen car attempt. We had been at the hospital since September 30th for the birth of our first child and upon returning home Wednesday, October 4th, I noticed the broken window. We talked to our neighbor and said they first noticed it late Monday night, October 2nd. We live (on) 41st Ave Sw right across from the entrance to the QFC parking garage entrance/tanning place which is a pretty well-lit area with lots of hustle and bustle, and I was parked right out front of our place on the street, so it is a bold attempt at a car theft in such a public place. I think car theft because nothing was stolen, nothing was even gone through in the glove box or anywhere else, or the alarm and/or location scared the would be thieves off before they could do more damage. Just want to let you know in case anyone else had a similar occurrence and to just forewarn others that may read this story that live nearby.
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