Family and friends will gather Thursday to remember Gregory L. Bentler, and are sharing this with the community:

Greg passed away peacefully at home on June 6th, 2018, after a two-year battle with a brain tumor. He was born in Seattle on July 20th, 1974 to Wayne and Mary Bentler, along with his twin sister Elizabeth, joining sisters Christine and Sharon. He grew up in Arbor Heights, where he met his best friend Dan Vornbrock in kindergarten. Greg attended Holy Family Elementary and then Kennedy High School. He began working at MacDonald-Miller his senior year and continued on with MacDonald-Miller, where he completed an apprenticeship in sheet metal.

In 2000 he married his love, Kristin Keller. They were blessed with three children, Annie, Julia, and William, and settled in West Seattle to raise their family.

Greg was a true outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, and all outdoor adventures. He enjoyed fishing for salmon and halibut in Alaska and off the Washington coast, as well as fishing for trout in the state’s many lakes. He also enjoyed exploring back country trails on a quad or snow mobile.

Greg was a true family man who spent many summers camping with his friends and family carrying on the traditions of his childhood and creating new ones with extended family and friends. He was a true believer in the motto “work hard, play hard,” and an excellent provider for his family. He enjoyed taking his family crabbing and fishing in Puget Sound, which was often followed by a stop at the marina for ice cream. Winters included taking the kids to the mountains for ski lessons, inner-tubing, and picking out the perfect Christmas tree.

Three years after graduating from Kennedy High School, Greg bought his first real estate investment, which led to a successful career as a general contractor with his lifelong friend Dan. Restoring and remodeling houses led to the formation of Brace Point Carpentry and a focus on new construction.Greg took great pride in having designed the house currently under construction for his family.

Greg led by example. He was solid, kind and generous with his time and knowledge. No matter what time the phone rang he was willing to help. He was the one you called upon, whether in an emergency or simply for advice. Greg had a kind heart and touched everyone who knew him.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, June 14th at 1 pm at Holy Rosary Church, 4139 42nd Ave SW. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, a remembrance may be made to Cancer Care Alliance, Providence Hospice of Seattle, or Holy Rosary School.

Share Memories of Greg on the online guestbook at www.emmickfunerals.com

Arrangements entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Services – West Seattle

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

West Seattle whale-watching: Sighting today, naturalists Sunday

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to Kersti Muul for calling our attention to an Orca Network-reported sighting of orcas between Vashon and Southworth, headed northeast “toward Seattle,” as of about an hour ago. Tomorrow, Kersti will be one of three Whale Scout volunteer naturalists helping celebrate Orca Month with you on West Seattle beaches – she’ll be at Lowman Beach [map], Thorly James will be at Colman Pool [map] in Lincoln Park, and Susann Babaei will be at Constellation Park [map]. That’s noon-2 pm Sunday, and they’ll be ready to talk with you about “Whales in Your Neighborhood” while scouting for them!

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3 ways to celebrate Pride Month with West Seattle YMCA

June 9, 2018 3:26 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Triangle | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(WSB photo)

June is Pride Month, and the front-desk decorations are just one way the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) is celebrating. From executive director Shalimar Gonzales:

For more than 165 years, the Y has played a central role in knitting together the vibrant fabric of America. We believe the Y must continue to lead the way to a brighter future by following our belief that we are stronger when our doors are open to all. We want to ensure all people- across all dimension of diversity- feel welcome and valued as part of the Y family.

At the Y, we use the month of June to celebrate and highlight our LGBTQ+ community, members, and staff. We honor those who have done the hard work for equity and have dedicated the Y to be among them. We remember the brutality and inhumanity that has been and is perpetrated against our LGBTQ+ family. And most of all we honor all those who are living life as their authentic selves and those who are on the path to that discovery.

No matter who you are, you are seen, appreciated and celebrated at the Y.

The West Seattle YMCA has several opportunities for folks interested in showing their support:

· Through June 30: Toiletry Drive for LGBTQ+ Youth. This month we are supporting Lambert House, an LGBTQ drop-in youth center on Capitol Hill. They have requested sock and travel size personal care products to support LGBTQ youth throughout Seattle that access their services.

· June 28, 6:30-7:30 pm: Drag Queen Story Hour: Join special guest, Mama T, for a fun-filled hour of stories, photos, and fun! Sharing stories that celebrate inclusion, acceptance, and diversity, Mama T will provide a fun and lighthearted story time at the West Seattle YMCA for kids and their families. Feel free to bring your pillows, blankets, or favorite stuffed animal! Light refreshments will be available. Hold your spot by (going here).

· Join the West Seattle and Fauntleroy YMCA without paying a joining fee through Sunday, June 10th, using the code “PRIDE.”

The Y’s main West Seattle location is in The Triangle at 36th/Snoqualmie; in Fauntleroy, it’s at 9140 California SW.

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West Seattle weekend scene: Setting salmon fry free at Fauntleroy Creek

June 9, 2018 1:54 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

ORIGINAL REPORT, 1:54 PM: Get over to Fauntleroy Park and see what it’s like to set salmon fry free in the creek, as thousands of students have done via the Salmon in the Schools program. They had 200 leftover fry this year and are offering community members the chance to walk to the bridge over the creek (from the park entrance at Barton/Henderson) and release them. Volunteers are there to guide you, until 3 pm.

5:13 PM: Added a few more photos. Above, the stars of the show; below, more of the people who stopped by to participate:

Shoutouts to this year’s Salmon in the Schools program at the creek were in our June 1st wrapup of the school-visit season.

ADDED: Here’s a photo of the volunteer crew, shared by Mark Ahlness (see comments):

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West Seattle weekend scene: Community barbecue sizzles at Roxhill Park

June 9, 2018 12:38 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:38 PM: The sun made an unforecast appearance and there’s a good crowd at Roxhill Park for the first community barbecue organized by neighbors working to get more community involvement with the park – the cookout tent in our top photo is just part of it. Stop by for not only your free food, but also to find out more about what’s at the park, to share your ideas about potential future events and activities, and to connect with other groups and agencies.

We spotted Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner and West Seattle Emergency Communications Hubs‘ Cindi Barker, among others.

It’s on until 2 pm, just past the playground along 29th south of Barton. More photos later!

4:24 PM: Photos added above – plus, other barbecue scenes – that was Earl Lee on the grill:

Visitors got a chance to learn about wildlife in the park:

And support from nearby community groups – here’s Highland Park Action Committee vice chair Gunner Scott:

And, courtesy of organizer Kim Barnes, video from local musicians who played after our visit:

Eric and Ludovic, Roxhill Elementary parents, played music from Burkina Faso. Missed the party? Keep up with Roxhill Park’s community-centered future at roxhillpark.org.

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FOLLOWUP: Councilmember Herbold announces new steps toward vehicle-noise crackdown on Alki (and elsewhere)

June 9, 2018 10:17 am

| 80 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(SPD mobile precinct and Alki traffic, May 2017 WSB photo)

For almost two years, we’ve been chronicling a new focus on the chronic vehicle-noise issues in the Alki/Admiral area, and Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s work to address it. In her weekly update, she announced she’s introducing new legislation this week to help police crack down – and an SPD community meeting next Tuesday:

As a beachside neighborhood and a regional destination, the Alki neighborhood and nearby areas face unique public safety and health challenges, especially during the warm-weather months. Residents, community groups, and visitors from elsewhere have expressed concern about public safety, and the growing impact of motor vehicle-related noise issues.

During the last two warm weather seasons, I’ve asked SPD to add additional officers; SPD recently announced they’ll be doing enhanced patrols this summer as well. I thank them for doing this.

I’ve also been working with community members to address vehicle noise in the Alki neighborhood since last year, when together we developed the Alki Public Safety and Health Survey. The survey showed noise from modified vehicle exhaust systems as the #1 community concern.

On Monday I’ll be introducing legislation to address vehicle exhaust system noise in the Alki neighborhood.

The legislation, if passed, will simplify enforcement by allowing officers to issue citations for muffler and engine noise that “can be clearly heard by a person of normal hearing at a distance of 75 feet or more from the vehicle.” This is the standard used for the City’s motor vehicle stereo noise law (SMC 25.08.515 (A)(2), in effect since 1989.

The current City law that covers motor vehicle exhaust noise requires use of sound meters, which are time-consuming and require calibration, and are thus very difficult to use for enforcement. This was underscored as a problem by SPD in their report to Council re: enforcement of vehicle noise on Alki. While there are muffler laws on the books, they are specific to whether the muffler is modified, rather than the amount of noise being made, and since it is difficult to determine whether mufflers have been modified, are consequently also difficult for police officers to enforce.

The legislation will be heard at the June 13th meeting of the Gender Equity, Safe Communities, New Americans and Education Committee chaired by Councilmember González. This meeting starts at 9:30 a.m., with public comment at the beginning.

In addition to muffler noise, my office also closely examined City laws for motor vehicle stereo noise and screeching tire noise. Both rated high as community concerns in the survey.

Working with the City Attorney’s Office and SPD, we’ve been able to clarify that the current City motor vehicle noise laws for stereo noise and screeching tire noise can be enforced as written. My office also worked to clarify that noise meters are not needed to enforce these motor vehicle noise laws, and it is not required to have a complaint from someone separate from the officer. Some sections of the noise code do require meters, and a constituent complaint.

This legislation will apply citywide, on city streets. Although the legislation mentions “highways,” in the Seattle Municipal Code section for noise enforcement, this just means any City road.

Also, the SW Precinct (2300 SW Webster St) will be hosting a community meeting the evening of June 12th at 6:30 p.m. to hear Southwest Precinct Captain Pierre Davis’ plans to address noise and speeding in Alki. SPD has committed to emphasis patrols (i.e. extra officers) in Alki during the warm weather months. I thank them for their commitment, and for reaching out to Alki residents early in the warm weather season.

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What awaits you on your West Seattle Saturday

June 9, 2018 6:07 am

| Comments Off on What awaits you on your West Seattle Saturday

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Band-tailed Pigeon, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

TRAFFIC ALERT REMINDER: Highway 99 lane closures today south of the stadiums – here are details.

But why leave the peninsula? Your options include:

PUGET PARK TRAIL HELP + BARBECUE: As previewed here, you can do a world of good on the Puget Park trails today if you can give some time between 9 am and noon. A barbecue will follow! (19th/Dawson)

LOW-COST LIFE JACKETS: Adult and kid sizes available. Take advantage of the opportunity to get a deal on these life-savers. 10 am-2 pm at Southwest Pool. (2801 SW Thistle)

PRANIC HEALING: Free monthly community Pranic Healing group at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 10 am. (4217 SW Oregon)

BENEFIT BARBECUE LUNCH: Buy your lunch at the West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) barbecue tent, and proceeds benefit Pencil Me In For Kids. 11 am until ~3:45 pm. (4201 SW Morgan)

BARTON STREET P-PATCH PARTY: 11:30 am-2:30 pm, stop by and tour the gardens, with the community pizza/bagel oven scheduled to be fired up too. (34th SW/SW Barton)

ROXHILL PARK COMMUNITY BARBECUE: Noon-2 pm, enjoy a free community barbecue with neighbors and offer your ideas, hopes, and dreams for the park’s future. Rain or shine! Near the play area. (29th/Barton)

NEW EXHIBIT AT LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: “Fired Up: Neighborhood Fire Stations on the Duwamish Peninsula” has its grand opening today, noon-2 pm at the museum. (61st SW/SW Stevens)

ACUPUNCTURE ANNIVERSARY: Noon-2 pm, join the 9th-anniversary celebration at Community Acupuncture Project of West Seattle. (4545 44th SW)

COMMUNITY SALMON RELEASE: We’ve shown you students visiting Fauntleroy Creek for years to release salmon fry – now it’s your turn, as previewed here! 1-3 pm, enter Fauntleroy Park from the SW Barton side and walk in to the big bridge. (3951 SW Barton)

FOOD BANK BLOCK PARTY: 1-4 pm outside the White Center Food Bank, entertainment, food for purchase, and more! Details in our calendar listing. (8th SW/SW 108th)

FOR CHARLEENA: 2-7 pm wellness/healing workshops at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, explained here. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

ALBUM SIDE SATURDAY: Inside the historic Highland Park Improvement Club building, 4-8 pm, all ages are invited to enjoy music, dinner, dessert, more fun. Bar’s open, too. (1116 SW Holden)

BOOK EVENT AT CAMP LONG: At 4 pm, Jeff Smoot talks about and signs his book “Schurman Rock: A History & Guide.” (5200 35th SW)

CHRISTY MCWILSON: She’s at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) tonight, 7 pm! (5612 California SW)

ALL-AGES DANCE PARTY: 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall, “Pickled Okra and Charmaine Slaven invite you to an evening of fun and frolicking.” Ticket info is in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)

THE ESOTERICS: 25th anniversary concert, 8 pm, Holy Rosary. Program and ticket details are in our calendar listing. (42nd SW/SW Genesee)

SO MUCH MORE! See it all on our complete calendar page.

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