West Seattle, Washington
16 Saturday
(Bettie Williams-Watson, photographed this afternoon at MLK Medal recipients’ reception by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Bettie Williams-Watson has been doing “the work” for more than 30 years.
Her work with sexual assault and abuse survivors might seem to resonate more in this time of #MeToo.
But in the communities where she helps survivors – “We’re not there yet.”
The West Seattle resident’s organization is called Multi-Communities. She works with “predominantly African American faith communities, where we are still trying to break the silence and shame that exists.” And her work just earned her another award – today the King County Council honored her with the MLK Medal of Distinguished Service.
She started with a simple hope: “If I could just help one survivor, one woman and her child or children, be able to heal from the impact of physical and sexual violence, that it was worthwhile … now it’s been my shopping cart to push around for the last 33-plus years … I’m a 33-year-plus overnight sensation.”
While the #MeToo movement has erupted in a big way in the entertainment industry, government, and other arenas, Williams-Watson says, in her arena, “it’s a whole different ballgame because people have a hard time naming their experiences still … we are not there yet … In communities of color, we’re still wrapping our brain around, yes indeed, I was sexually abused … yes indeed, someone in leadership who had more power over me (did something that) was wrong, and it violated me … it’s hard to wrap your brain around. … Someone that loves us wouldn’t hurt us, my God, not a family member .. not a trusted person you’ve had a relationship with for years and years … you have built up other parts of that relationship that are really impacting and powerful so you can’t wrap your brain around the fact that person could indeed hurt you, could violate you, could kill you…”
We are assembling the list and making the map for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, now just 12 days away – 330+ sales all over West Seattle (and a bit beyond) are registered for Saturday, May 12th. Official sale-day hours are 9 am-3 pm, but some sellers are starting earlier, some are ending later, another reason this looks to be the biggest WSCGSD yet. As we doublecheck the listings and locations, we’re making notes – for example, here are a few of the unique items we’ve seen so far: Coke machine, Dictaphone, pizza oven, vintage Barbies, a massage chair, skylights, congas, and two cars for sale. You’ll see all the listings when we publish the map/list – clickable and printable versions – next Saturday, here and at westseattlegaragesale.com.
P.S. If you have just a bit of stuff to sell and you didn’t get a spot at the multi-seller Hotwire courtyard, here are two other possibilities – the White Center Chamber of Commerce invites community members and business owners to be part of the flea market they’re planning in the parking lot at 9834 17th SW, 10 am-2 pm on sale day, and in West Seattle, The Kenney is renting tables on its big lawn, $25 for a 10×10 space with a 6-foot table and two chairs, proceeds benefiting its Resident Fund – call Danette, 206-938-6985.
So many people showed up for Fauntleroy Church‘s Recycle Roundup on April 22nd, it was a record-setting event, Judy Pickens tells WSB. With 500 vehicles – the most ever – “1 Green Planet relieved West Seattle of 14.6 tons of recyclables for responsible disassembly.” The fall edition will be in September – no date yet, but we’ll announce it when we find out. And in the meantime, the West Seattle Junction Association will have a drop-off recycling-and-more event in late June.
Two cases of vandalism vs. cars in West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
WINDOWS SHOT OUT: The photo is from Megan in Highland Park, who reports: “3rd time my car windows have been shot out on 9th Ave SW, in front of my house. So frustrating.”
And in Gatewood…
PAINT VANDALISM: The photo and report are from Charis:
Wanted to share as I am curious if this happened to others last night. Our car (picture) and our neighbors’ cars were tagged last night or early this morning. It was in the Gatewood area (near 39th/Southern). One car was tagged with SUCC. Not sure of the meaning. And if someone does, please share. Just a reminder that neighborhood watch efforts are important (we are thankful for ours).
Another one of the fun events getting ever-closer is the West Seattle Outdoor Movies series, presented by the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) with the West Seattle Junction Association in the “festival street” outside the Y. Every year, WSB readers help determine the lineup; this year, the YMCA and WSJA have pre-vetted a list of 9 movies from which they hope to present 6 favorites, so you’re invited to speak up for one you really want to see, or which six you would pick, or even rank all nine in your order of preference:
• Coco
• Jumanji
• Black Panther
• Wonder Woman
• Star Wars: Last Jedi
• Paddington 2
• A Wrinkle In Time
• Peter Rabbit
• Secret Life of Pets
The series runs six consecutive Saturday nights, starting July 21st. Please post your vote/ranking/etc.in the comment section below!
P.S. Whether or not you want to offer an opinion on the movies, here’s another way to be part of WSOM – sponsorship! We’re already in again this year as media sponsor. But lots of support is needed – renting popular movies for public screenings gets more expensive every year! There are a variety of sponsorship levels (see them here) – as WSJA’s Lora Swift puts it, ways to “power up.” Whichever level you choose, you can sign up and pay here.
P.P.S. Almost forgot to include the link to last year’s lineup!
We’ve heard from another candidate who has entered the race for our area’s 34th District State Senate seat, open since Sen. Sharon Nelson is not running for re-election. Here’s the announcement from Joe Nguyen‘s campaign:
Joe Nguyen, a Senior Manager at Microsoft who was born and raised in the 34th Legislative District, announced he would run for State Senate. The son of Vietnamese refugees and father of two, Nguyen aims to succeed retiring Senate Majority Leader Sharon Nelson for the open seat. He is off to a strong start with an early endorsement from Senator Bob Hasegawa.
Nguyen’s involvement in the Seattle area is lifelong, multi-faceted and represents a lived experience that is deeply connected with the values of hard work and service in this community. His mother escaped Vietnam with his sister on her back – and floated for weeks in the Pacific until seen by a Coast Guard plane and picked up by a cargo ship. He was born and raised in White Center/Burien, where his parents settled.
At Microsoft, Nguyen is working to provide accessible job training resources that empowers all people
with the right – often new – skills needed to succeed in this rapidly changing, technologically dependent economy.“As the father of two young children and husband to an all-star educator, there is no issue more important than education,” said Nguyen. “Our state should be a national leader, not only in providing the kind of education that sets our kids up for success, but in reducing inequity and disparity. Fully funding our state’s obligation for education is essential, but it is not enough. Our teachers need better pay and benefits; our kids need resources in the classroom and beyond – whatever it takes so all students arrive at school ready to learn and thrive.”
Nguyen serves as the Associate Board Chairperson at Wellspring Family Services, which partners with families experiencing homelessness. This year, he helped Wellspring promote and advocate for legislation that will incorporate training in trauma-informed child care for early learning providers in Washington. This legislation was signed by Governor Inslee in March.
Nguyen is committed to finding solutions, so our residents can afford to stay here. “Seattle grows more unaffordable every day. People are worried they will no longer be able to live in their homes because they can’t afford the taxes. Health care costs, property taxes and rents are rising faster than wages. Despite Washington having one of the fastest growing economies in the nation, many residents right here in the 34th, don’t have any access to that prosperity.”
Nguyen was appointed by the King County Council to the Community Advisory Committee for the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO). He serves as a bridge between the community and the King County Sheriff’s Office in efforts to hold law enforcement accountable for providing fair and just police services to the public. “Along with law enforcement de-escalation resources and training,” Nguyen said, “Washington must implement solutions to decrease the epidemic of gun violence. There were nearly 700 firearm-related deaths last year in the state. We need stronger gun laws and policies to protect our children and save lives.”
Nguyen attended Highline Public Schools, John F. Kennedy High School in Burien, and graduated from Seattle University, where he was a two-term student body President. He lives with his wife Tallie, a former Highline Public School teacher who taught for a decade, and their two children near the West Seattle Junction.
“I am excited for the opportunity to amplify the voices and ensure a seat at the table for all our
neighbors, community members, business owners, teachers, immigrants, union workers and families that make our community such a special place to live.”America is made greatest by its immigrants and refugees. If elected, Nguyen would be the first legislator of Vietnamese heritage in Washington and despite being one of the most diverse communities in the state, he would also be the first legislator of color from the 34th district.
The first candidate to announce in the race was Shannon Braddock, earlier this month. Formal filing happens the week of May 14th; the primary election is on August 7th.
(Photo by Eric Bell, who spotted this open-water swimmer and others while kayaking off Alki on Sunday)
Opportunities for your West Seattle Monday:
GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE: If you can donate blood, and are on the peninsula this afternoon, consider donating at the mobile blood drive outside the Masonic Center, 12:30-3 pm – details here. (4736 40th SW)
DELRIDGE TRIANGLE PLANNING: As previewed here last week, Friends of the Delridge Triangle are moving ahead with plans to get help making it more of a “safe and usable community space,” and you are invited to bring your ideas and energy tonight, 6:30-8 pm at Two Fingers Social (all ages welcome) right across the street. (9211 Delridge Way SW)
FAMILY STORY TIME: Bring the kids – all ages – to High Point Library, 6:30-7 pm. (35th SW/SW Raymond)
POSTSEASON BASEBALL: After their Saturday win (WSB coverage here), the West Seattle High School Wildcats play Ingraham at 7 tonight at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center. (1321 SW 102nd)
SEE WHAT’S UP FOR TOMORROW AND BEYOND … via our complete calendar!
More youth soccer tryouts ahead! Tim McMonigle sends word of the HSA Select tryouts that start next week:
HSA Select is a program that was started in 2015 to fill the gap between recreational soccer (West Seattle Soccer Club) and premier soccer (Highline Premier FC). Highline Premier FC tryouts were just announced, and we are now announcing tryouts for the HSA Select program. It is a very popular offering, starting with two teams in 2015, six teams in 2016, ten teams in 2017, and we’re planning for twelve teams this year.
The 2018 HSA Select program is for 10-15 year olds (birth years 2003-2008), with tryouts in May and practices and tournaments starting in June (2003 birth year has already had tryouts). The season goes from Sept to Dec, with an optional state tournament in January.
Here are the tryout dates, all at Walt Hundley Playfield – 6920 34th Ave SW, West Seattle
Girls – 2008 – U-11
May 7 & 9
5:50-7:10 pmBoys – 2008 – U-11
May 7 & 9
5:50-7:10 pmGirls – 2007 – U-12
May 11 & 14
5:50-7:10 pmBoys – 2007 – U-12
May 7 & 9
7:15-8:40 pmGirls – 2006 – U-13
May 11 & 14
5:50-7:10 pmBoys – 2006 – U-13
May 22 & 24
6:15-7:45 pmGirls – 2005 – U-14
May 15 & 16
5:50-7:10 pmBoys – 2005 – U-14
May 15 & 16
5:50-7:10 pmGirls – 2004 – U-15
May 15 & 16
7:15-8:40 pmBoys – 2004 – U-15
May 15 & 16
7:15-8:40 pm
If there are any changes, they’ll be posted here, so check before you go.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:27 AM: Good morning! No traffic incidents or transit alerts of note in/from West Seattle so far on this final day of April.
8:10 AM: Trouble in the HOV lane on the NB First Ave S Bridge.
9:27 AM: For later commuters: Crash at 35th SW and SW Snoqualmie. SFD en route to check on at least one person who might be hurt. (added) Texter says it’s blocking the northbound side.
Our video is from Sound Transit‘s briefing at the Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting last Thursday. It didn’t exactly pick up where the West Seattle/Ballard light-rail projects’ Stakeholder Advisory Group had left off just two nights earlier (WSB coverage here), but it did aim to clarify what the next public-participation meeting, next Saturday’s West Seattle “neighborhood forum,” is meant to accomplish. The three ST staffers who briefed and answered questions from JuNO attendees attempted to clarify how, while the Stakeholder Advisory Group has recommended “alternatives” to move forward, those aren’t the final say – what ST hopes to hear from neighborhood participants are potential “refinements.” Maybe even, they said, “mix and match” elements of possible alternatives. So if you weren’t at the JuNO meeting – or at the West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting where we’re told the same team appeared earlier that night – watch and listen, and then be at next Saturday’s neighborhood forum: 10 am-12:30 pm May 5th, Masonic Center, 4736 40th SW.
(WSB photo by Leda Costa, from 2017 West Seattle 5K)
So many fun spring/summer events are getting ever closer – like this one! We are now exactly three weeks away from the West Seattle 5K, the annual run/walk along Alki that raises money for the West Seattle High School PTSA to help students. It starts from and finishes at 61st/Alki, beginning just after 9 am on Sunday, May 20th, and while you can register that morning, it’s so much more convenient to sign up in advance – so you can do that right now, by going here. (And there’s a discount code – MAYDAY5 – good through May 7th, to save you $5.) Here’s what else organizers want you to know: “Prizes for top three male and female finishers. … Rain or shine. Strollers and leashed dogs okay. Race fee includes t-shirt and chip timing.” WSB has co-sponsored the WS5K every year since it started. See you there!
Thanks to Carolyn Newman for the photos! A few hours ago, the yachts in the Clipper Round-the-World Race headed out of Elliott Bay, northbound in Puget Sound toward the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the open ocean.
According to the race website, the next leg takes the crews to Panama, and that should take about 26 days. Of course, a fireboat salute was part of today’s sendoff.
The race has its own online tracker, which shows them passing south Whidbey Island right now. The finish line is in the UK, three months away.
Thanks to Kristen for the photo and report:
Both the 6th-grade and 7th-grade Holy Rosary boys’ volleyball squads have made it though playoffs to play in (tonight’s) CYO championship games @ Blanchet HS. Above, 7th grade boys, coached by Steve Fredrickson and Paul Barton; team from top center – Ryder M. (#14), P.J. B. (#10), Ethan A. (#6), Carter J. (#4), Jameson Y. (#33), Jack N. (#13), Torin H (#3), George J. (#11).
6th Grade Boys play @ 5:00 pm vs. St. Anne
7th Grade Boys play @ 6:30 pm vs. ASB (Assumption St. Bridget)Good luck, Gators!
If you want to cheer them on, Blanchet is at 8200 Wallingford Ave N.
It’s prime time for gardening – so don’t let your broken tool(s) keep you from getting out and working in the yard, or courtyard, or P-Patch plot – take it to the West Seattle Tool Library before 4 pm and the WSTL/Sustainable West Seattle folks will be happy to help. Thanks to Julie for the photo! The WSTL is at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), on the northeast side of the building.
It rocks … it sparkles … it entertains … it educates! All of the above can be said about the West Seattle Rock Club‘s annual show, and if you haven’t been yet, you still have time to get there.
Of course, you’ll see rocks and gems. You’ll also learn about some of them, courtesy of enthusiasts including local kids:
You can find out where the items on display are from:
And you can find out how they were obtained:
The show’s free … some items are on sale if you’re interested in shopping … otherwise, just wander! It’s inside the Masonic Center at 4736 40th SW until 5 pm.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports this morning:
CAR BREAK-IN NEAR LINCOLN PARK: Athena‘s car was broken into between 10:30 pm Friday and 8:45 am Saturday. Stolen items included a black Victoria’s Secret gym bag with a cream/light-green purse inside, some apparel items including blue yoga pants and pink tennis shoes, plus toiletries including “many small samples of Aveda and Origins skin-care products,” and two pairs of ear buds. We’ll add her police-report number when we get it.
DUMPED BICYCLE: Melinda just spotted this at 26th and Adams in North Delridge:
(Osprey, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
What’s ahead for the rest of your Sunday:
SPRING INTO ACTION FOR HPIC! Highland Park Improvement Club‘s springtime freshening-up work party could use some volunteer help today. Just show up, 10 am-2 pm. (1116 SW Holden)
WEST SEATTLE ROCK AND GEM SHOW: Second day of this free, fun show at the Masonic Center, 10 am-5 pm. (4736 40th SW)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS MARKET: Now that spring has fully arrived, new produce, products, and plants are arriving every week! See what’s fresh, 10 am-2 pm in the street in The Junction. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
GARDEN TOOL REPAIR MEETUP: Got garden tools to get into shape for the season? Bring them to the West Seattle Tool Library between noon and 4 pm! (4408 Delridge Way SW)
FREE FUN RUN BENEFITING JDRF: Noon-4 pm, with free run starting at noon from Ounces. Details here. (3809 Delridge Way SW)
SPRING POP-UP SHOP FUNDRAISER: From noon-4 pm, Miss Sheryl’s Ballet in White Center is having a pop-up shop/bake sale/photo op with Moana (2:30-3:30) – details here. (9650 16th SW)
LADIES OF SOUND: Musical duo from LA performs at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
‘AN OCTOROON’: Matinee performance of the award-winning play at ArtsWest, 3 pm. (4711 California SW)
7:14 AM: Thanks for the texts! That tree is blocking Jacobsen Road (map) right now, so if you’re trying to get to/from Beach Drive, you’ll have to take a different route. We hope it has been reported already – if not, 911 is appropriate for something blocking a road, and/or the 24-hour SDOT dispatch center, 206-386-1218.
12:30 PM: Still closed at last report – please let us know if you find otherwise. Apparently wires are involved and so City Light was involved as well as a SDOT tree crew.
5:58 PM: As noted in commenters, crews arrived around 3:30 pm. Apparently there is a major incident up north that kept them busy. We took this photo around 5 pm:
Our photographer is going back shortly to check again.
7:03 PM: It wasn’t open when we looked again around 6:30 but commenters say it is now. Thanks for the updates!
The West Seattle Food Bank serves an ever-increasing number of people in our community – when we saw executive director Fran Yeatts at a recent event and asked her what’s new, she said that continues to be the biggest thing for WSFB, staying ahead of the rising tide of need. There are many ways you can help, and a big one is coming up two weeks from tonight – the Food Bank’s annual Instruments of Change fundraiser. It’s happening the night of Saturday, May 12th, at the Seattle Design Center. Your night out includes drinks, dinner, a dessert dash (preview the treats here), auction bidding (preview your options here), and the chance to cheer West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) as this year’s Instrument of Change honoree. We’re a media sponsor and we look forward to seeing you there. Don’t have tickets yet? Go here!
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
BURGLARY ATTEMPT: From Mitchell:
Friday morning, April 27th at around 5:35 a.m., a man tried getting into my house. He was pushing on the windows and tried to open the sliding glass doors located on the back of my house. I called the police and shortly after I watched the person walk off my property down Fauntleroy SW. Police responded, but said they couldn’t do much as the person did not enter the home and they did not see him in the area.
My home is about a block from Gatewood Elementary on Fauntleroy Way SW. Closest street intersection: SW Mills St. and Fauntleroy Way SW. If you could post a notice to the community, that would be appreciated. Maybe just a note to keep windows and doors locked even as we move into the warmer months.
STOLEN AND DUMPED PURSE? Not far south of there, later in the day on Friday, Tom found potentially stolen/dumped items:
Walking the dog around 5 PM on 4/27 and spotted a purse that appears to have been tossed in the bushes near the corner of SW Cloverdale St and Fauntleroy Pl SW. Contains a pair of shoes, a sports bra, and a receipt. Owner can contact me at TL98136@gmail.com.
We asked Tom if he had taken possession of the items – he went back for them and the jacket/yoga pants in the purse (which he thought might also be a gym bag) were gone, but he has everything else, so if you’re missing something in that area, contact him.
(First two photos courtesy Tamsen Spengler)
If you live/work in the High Point area, the Neighborhood House center is where you’d go in case of catastrophe – it’s the local Emergency Communication Hub. And it was one of three West Seattle hubs “activated” by volunteers this morning for the drill we previewed earlier this week.
As announced, volunteers ran through a scenario in which not only was there a massive power outage, cellular communication was out too. That’s when point-to-point radio communication comes in handy – the next photo shows Shane Marr, longtime GMRS Net Control operator:
(This photo and next two, courtesy of Karen Berge)
The message board is always key to a hub – it’s where resources and needs would be tracked:
Not sure where your nearest hub is? Go here to find it. And remember – it’s an all-volunteer effort – here are High Point’s new hub captains, Johnny Schmidt and Robert Landis:
Karen Berge adds, “One very cool aspect of today’s drill was that we had two observers who drove down from British Columbia to watch this field exercise. They said that they learned a lot from watching us, as they are in the early stages of setting up a hub there. Conversely, during our debrief after the exercise, we learned some useful things from them.”
(Photo courtesy Seattle Parks)
This weekend we’ll be featuring some of your summer-camp options, since school’s out in just two months. First: Sheila Brown from Camp Long wants to make sure people know about the new Survivor Quest Summer Youth Camp, a day camp to introduce “youth ages 12-15 to wilderness survival, backpacking skills, first aid, environmental science, and more. As explained on Parkways:
In an effort to individualize education, campers are given the opportunity build some of the SurvivorQuest curriculum. On the first day of each five-day session, campers and counselors will plan the week’s activities together to incorporate campers’ goals into the planned survival and environmental learning objectives. Not only will they learn survival skills and environmental science, but they will get to choose outdoor skills to focus on for the week.
Another component of this camp is that six of the eight sessions of SurvivorQuest include Camp Long’s 4-H Challenge Course and the famous Schurman Rock for facilitated rock climbing. … Camp Long’s Challenge Course facilitators follow the principles of Experiential Education, with heavy focus on team-building, communication, decision-making, and accountability.
SurvivorQuest starts the week of July 2nd and runs for eight weeks. Each session lasts five days, Monday through Friday. The camp is held at Camp Long, except for the weeks of July 23rd and 30th, which will be at Schmitz Park, and will not include the 4-H Challenge Course. Sessions cost $325, with scholarships and sibling discounts available. … For more information or to register your teen, call Camp Long at 206-684-7434.
You can also use the Seattle Parks online system – go here and look for activity camps at Camp Long.
(First 2 and last 2 photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
12:06 PM: The rain lifted (mostly) just in time for this morning’s postseason rematch between West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth International High School at Southwest Athletic Complex. The Wildcats won, 4-1, and will play Ingraham HS next, 7 pm Monday at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center. Photos to come!
ADDED 8:14 PM: A few game highlights, with help from WSHS parent Porter Hammer, who shared the next photo of Wildcat junior pitcher Ruben Gut, who threw a complete game – 71 pitches in 7 innings – and sophomore catcher Ulysses Hammer:
Gut also had 4 strikeouts and gave up only one run, a homer by Chief Sealth sophomore Nestor German in the top of the seventh. He and Hammer each accounted for one of West Seattle’s RBIs, with Nathan Villegas getting the other two. Another play of note in the game, Wildcat Kai Osaka scoring on a passed ball by Sealth catcher Jess Brown:
This was the final game of the year for Sealth head coach Ernest Policarpio and team.
The next game for first-year West Seattle head coach Bryan Tupper and team is another win-or-go-home.
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