West Seattle, Washington
18 Thursday
The film embedded above tells the story of a West Seattle man who touched lives around the world, and lived his in a big way, and this weekend brought word he is gone too soon. Family, friends, and fans are mourning Mark “Monk” Hubbard, who founded and led renowned skatepark design/build company Grindline. The company announced his death on Instagram; Q13 quotes a friend as saying he died at the West Seattle home he shared with his wife and three children. Grindline designed and built the Delridge Skatepark; Mr. Hubbard got a big shoutout when its grand opening was celebrated at Delridge Day in 2011. The Roxhill Skatepark, built a year later, was also a Grindline project, and Mr. Hubbard’s company helped prep the adjacent site where Roxhill Playground was overhauled. That’s not the only example of his West Seattle community involvement – WSB archives include a shoutout for his concrete work paving the way for a new Snack Shack at the Pee-Wee baseball fields in Riverview last year. No word yet on a memorial; we’ll update if/when one is announced.
ADDED SATURDAY: His family sends word of the June 22nd (next Friday) celebration of Mr. Hubbard’s life at Delridge Skatepark, 3-6 pm.
9:10 PM: What started as a Seattle Fire “heavy rescue” to Delridge/Graham is being downsized. According to radio transmissions, the initial report was about someone possibly trapped under a vehicle. Updates as we get them.
9:14 PM: All SFD crews except one engine have been canceled. Delridge is reported to be down to one lane at Graham, though.
(WSB photo)
Renovation work continues at Southwest Athletic Complex, and Seattle Public Schools says it’s on track to be temporarily open for the June 21st high-school graduations between work phases. So far, district spokesperson Tom Redman tells WSB, the surface demolition of the existing track is complete, as is the new track’s base layer, with top-coat installation expected to have been finished by the end of the week. Here’s what’s next:
*Line painting is scheduled for the week of June 11th and the track will be complete on June 15th (minimal odor)
*Field turf replacement is scheduled to commence on June 25th
*Baseball infield will start June 25th, complete July 20th
*Softball infield will start June 28th, complete July 31st
*Utility Field will start August 1st, complete September 27th
*Project substantial completion October 3rd
Redman’s update also recapped what’s being done – “the resurfacing of the stadium track, new stadium synthetic turf field with cork infill, resurfacing of the baseball and softball infields, conversion of the overflow baseball infield to synthetic turf with cork infill, a new shotput cage, upgrade lights to the scoreboard, new high-jump mats, elevator upgrades, and new fence in security-problem areas.” Work on the $1.5 million project began in May.
Story and photos by Randall Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The clouds and rain held off just long enough for Southwest Little League to hold its 2018 picnic and Home Run Derby at Steve Cox Memorial Park on Saturday.
While attendees began enjoying the food prepared by league board members and other volunteers, the official program began with the presentation of the league´s Coach of the Year award, which was given to third-year coach Josh Wells:
Following the coach award, trophies were awarded to the winners of the morning’ś Home Run Derby. One champion from each of the leagué’ś five competition divisions — Majors, AAA, AA, Coach Pitch, and Tee Ball — was recognized for hitting the longest fly ball in their peer group.
Majors: Grayson Leui Steele (201 feet, 6 inches)
This 21-year-old playground on Puget Ridge, known as the “tot lot,” is getting an overhaul. Community members were invited to stop by this week for a look at the plan.
It’s mostly keeping the same footprint:
But the surface will be leveled so it’s accessible to more users; a trail around the playground is getting some attention too, and of course the play equipment will be replaced. A forest theme was most popular with participants in a previous meeting, so that’s the type of equipment that’ll be provided – some examples were shown:
Among those who stopped by in last Wednesday afternoon’s sunshine to find out about the plan were some present and future users, who even had their own version of the public meeting staple known as a sign-in sheet:
Parks staffers say they expect to start work this fall. If you have any last-minute comments but couldn’t get to the meeting, libby.hudson@seattle.gov is who to contact.
One of the concepts still under consideration for Sound Transit light rail in West Seattle has the working title “Pigeon Ridge/West Seattle Tunnel.” The first part of that is actually a reference to the Pigeon Point neighborhood in northeastern West Seattle, and tomorrow night (Monday, June 11th), the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council hosts ST reps during its meeting, for a briefing and Q&A. All are welcome; it’s at 7 pm at Pathfinder K-8 (1901 SW Genesee).
A bit later than projected, northbound Highway 99 has just reopened, post-Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon.
P.S. You can always check our collection of SDOT and WSDOT traffic cameras here.
Thanks to Lisa for sending the photo with the news that the Pathfinder K-8 girls won the Seattle Public Schools volleyball championship this weekend! Their opponent was Broadview-Thomson. First volleyball championship for Pathfinder, Lisa says!
Two reports of up to six orcas seen south of Alki Point in the past hour. Kersti Muul says they were headed southwest toward Blake Island/Manchester. It’s been squalling again, so you would want to take an umbrella as well as binoculars if you go look!
(WSB photos, except last image)
Every fire station has a story. The history of West Seattle’s five Seattle Fire Department stations, plus a few others present and past in the greater WS/South Park/White Center area, is the subject of the Log House Museum‘s new exhibit “Fired Up: Neighborhood Fire Stations on the Duwamish Peninsula.” We stopped by for its opening celebration on Saturday. You’ll also see the history of a few of West Seattle’s bigger fires, like this one a century ago:
We also noticed this souvenir of sorts from a big fire 21 years ago:
Even a memory from West Seattle’s short-lived history as a city all its own:
The exhibit’s guest curator Bob Carney was among those talking with visitors on Saturday:
Jeff McCord – executive director of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, which is headquartered at the museum – was there too, and shared with us this photo of Seattle Fire personnel who visited on Friday night during a sneak peek.
You can see “Fired Up” – and the rest of what’s on display at the museum – Thursdays through Sundays, noon-4 pm, at 61st and Stevens [see a map here]. Admission is free (suggested donation $3 adults, $1 kids; SWSHS is an independent nonprofit).
Received via text from a resident in the 3700 block of Belvidere [map]:
Last night at 1:20 am while I was asleep on our downstairs couch, lights on, TV blaring. I was awakened by someone starting to enter from our sliding back door. As I jump up to see if it’s an animal, I’m startled to find a 5’10-6ft white male trying to enter our home. I stand across from him paralyzed, realizing there is nothing keeping him from entering. I’m 8 months pregnant and fully aware that I cannot move quickly; my husband and 2 year old daughter are asleep upstairs. I start to scream for my husband, the man continues to stand at the door, poised to come in as I continue to scream. Finally, my husband wakes up and upon hearing my husband’s voice he begins to leave. Police arrive at 2:20, explain they had cleared the area, but found no one. The brazen way this man entered and occupied home, and probably would’ve still proceeded if he could validate I was home alone. Which makes this particularly threatening.
(Saturday evening photo by James Bratsanos)
We start our Sunday list with today’s big traffic alert:
NORTHBOUND HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE: From the West Seattle Bridge to Green Lake, the NB 99 closure is scheduled to continue until ~2:45 pm for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. P.S. You can check the traffic cameras here.
Now, what’s happening on the peninsula:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, more fresh vegetables and fruit are appearing every week! Plus local meat, cheese, fish, bread, beverages, and much more, in the street in the heart of The Junction. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)
GREYHOUND MEET-AND-GREET: 11 am-1 pm, Greyhound Pets Inc. will be at Admiral Mud Bay, ready for you to meet “these gentle souls.” (2611 California SW)
WHALES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: In honor of Orca Month, Whale Scout has three naturalists out in West Seattle today, noon-2 pm, to talk with you about whales and help you look for them: Lowman Beach [map], Colman Pool [map] in Lincoln Park, and Constellation Park [map].
COLMAN POOL: The salt-water pool on the shore at Lincoln Park concludes another pre-season weekend with noon-7 pm swim sessions today. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Another round of free weekly tours of historic Alki Point Lighthouse with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, 1-4 pm. (3201 Alki SW)
SINGER-SONGWRITERS: Sarah O’Dea & Maddy Smith perform at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
LOOK INTO THE FUTURE … via our complete calendar page!
At least three rowers from West Seattle are at the Youth National Championships this weekend in Northern California. First, Steve Cameron sent this report on two of them:
Your readers may be interested to know we have two high school athletes from West Seattle (Fauntleroy to be exact) competing at the US Rowing Youth National Championships this weekend. Rowing does not make the news too much but there are over 1,000 teens in Western WA who are rowers.
Rohin Petram is a Junior, rows for Vashon Island, and attends Vashon High School. He is a lifelong resident of WS and has grown up in the Fauntleroy neighborhood. He competed in a single this weekend and just missed the Grand final but will compete in the B Final on Sunday afternoon. He will be a Senior next year and is set to have an amazing year in 2018/2019.
Mackenna Cameron in a graduating Senior at Chief Sealth International High School. She is also born and raised in West Seattle and lives in Fauntleroy. Mackenna rows for Green Lake Crew, a Seattle Parks and Rec facility. She is in the Woman’s 8+ boat and they finished second in their Semifinal Saturday morning and at 10:30 am on Sunday morning they will row for the US Rowing Youth Women’s 8+ National Championship. There were 24 teams from across the US who earned a spot in the National Championships and it is down to six teams competing for the title tomorrow, including Green Lake Crew.
Mackenna’s Green Lake Boat has had a great year winning the Women’s Youth 8+ titles at the Husky Open in April, the Brentwood Regatta on Vancouver Island, the Eleanor McElvaine Cup at the 2018 Windermere Cup Regatta in Seattle, and in late May, they won the US Rowing Youth NW Regional Championships in Vancouver, WA to earn a spot at this weekend’s National Championships in Rancho Cordova, CA, outside of Sacramento. After this weekend, Mackenna and her teammates are headed to England to compete in three regattas, including the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames.
Mackenna will also join the University of Washington Huskies Crew in the Fall of 2018.
Here are links to Sunday’s races:
Livestream available after 8:00 am.
Results Page – Updates live as the race finish.
We also heard earlier about West Seattle High School senior Reed Lower making it to the nationals.
He rows from the Mount Baker Club house, his mom Kathy Lower explained. His boat, the Men’s V4+, was one of four from Mount Baker that qualified for nationals. Kathy says Reed “plans to row D1 at Santa Clara University.”
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