West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
During Mayor Jenny Durkan‘s West Seattle “town hall” in February (photo at right), Highland Park Action Committee vice chair Gunner Scott invited her to visit HP – and she accepted. HPAC has been working since then to get a commitment for a date, and they finally have one. HPAC announced today that the mayor will be guest speaker at their June 27th meeting. It’ll move up half an hour as a result – 6:30 pm (doors open at 6:15 pm) at Highland Park Improvement Club (1116 SW Holden). From HPAC’s announcement:
We have requested the focus of the Mayor’s remarks to address the infrastructure needs of Highland Park, specifically, the Highland Park Way & SW Holden St. intersection. This has been HPAC’s preponderant infrastructure project, which we have been working to bring to fruition for many years. Further, Highland Park has been working to make this intersection safer in varying capacities for well over 70 years!
Here’s our coverage of SDOT’s update on that project at last month’s HPAC meeting.
That’s the completed “tiny house” built by Holy Rosary Catholic School students. We reported last month on the project that Mike Ritscher’s seventh- and eighth-grade wood-shop students had been working on, and the plan to donate it to LIHI, which operates several encampments around the city. Today was pickup day.
Sent along with the “tiny house” were messages from the students, like this one:
While the city pays for some operating costs at encampments, we’ve learned while covering months of meetings of the community advisory committee for Camp Second Chance (the only city-sanctioned encampment in West Seattle) that it doesn’t pay for tiny houses, so those are all provided via donations.
12:49 PM: Just in from the mayor’s office:
Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan and members of the City Council including Council President Bruce A. Harrell, Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, Councilmember Lorena Gonzalez, Councilmember Lisa Herbold, Councilmember Rob Johnson, Councilmember Debora Juarez, and Councilmember Mike O’Brien released the following statement announcing the consideration of legislation to repeal a tax on large businesses to address the homelessness and housing crisis:
“We know that there are strong passions and genuine policy differences between neighbors, businesses, community leaders, and people across our City on how to best address our housing and homelessness crisis. This crisis has been years in the making and there are no easy solutions. The crisis is tied to a range of complex causes, including lack of affordable housing, unmet mental health and substance abuse issues, and systemic racial disparities in our foster care, criminal justice and educational systems.
“In recent months, we worked with a range of businesses, community groups, advocates, and working families to enact a bill that struck the right balance between meaningful progress on our affordability and homelessness crisis while protecting good, family-wage jobs. Over the last few weeks, these conversations and much public dialogue has continued. It is clear that the ordinance will lead to a prolonged, expensive political fight over the next five months that will do nothing to tackle our urgent housing and homelessness crisis. These challenges can only be addressed together as a city, and as importantly, as a state and a region.
“We heard you. This week, the City Council is moving forward with the consideration of legislation to repeal the current tax on large businesses to address the homelessness crisis.
“The City remains committed to building solutions that bring businesses, labor, philanthropy, neighborhoods and communities to the table. Now more than ever, we all must roll up our sleeves and tackle this crisis together. These shared solutions must include a continued focus on moving our most vulnerable from the streets, providing needed services and on building more housing as quickly as possible. The state and region must be full partners and contribute to the solutions, including working for progressive revenue sources. Seattle taxpayers cannot continue to shoulder the majority of costs, and impacts.”
The signature-gathering drive to put the head tax on the ballot had been widely reported to have already gathered more signatures than needed.
1:01 PM: Here’s the announcement of a special council meeting at noon tomorrow to consider the proposed repeal. Here’s the agenda; its accompanying “fiscal note” points out that “… King County Elections will bill the City some additional cost for having the repeal measure on the November 2018 ballot. If the City acts to repeal this legislation without the referendum, these additional election costs will be avoided.”
1:49 PM: Both of the two councilmembers who did not sign on to the repeal plan have commented via Twitter. Citywide Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda issued her statement here, saying she will not support the repeal. Councilmember Kshama Sawant calls the repeal move a “backroom betrayal.”
West Seattle’s biggest party of the year is one month (plus two days) away. The West Seattle Junction Association is providing the official neighborhood notification about Summer Fest, and as a festival co-sponsor, we’re sharing it with you:
WHAT: West Seattle Summer Fest
WHERE: West Seattle Junction – California Ave SW from SW Edmunds St to SW Genesee St, SW Alaska St from 42nd Ave SW to 44th Ave SW
DATE(s): July 13-15
TIME(s): 10 am – 11 pm Friday and Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm Sunday
WHO: West Seattle Junction Association
CONTACT: Lora Swift 425.445.5672 Oliver Little 206.403.8507
On July 13th-15th, our organization The West Seattle Junction Association will be producing a special event in the Junction neighborhood called Summer Fest. The Junction Neighborhood has hosted Summer Fest for 36 years. We are thrilled to host Summer Fest in your neighborhood and it’s important to us that we are communicating clearly with you, the neighbors.
EVENT DESCRIPTION:
• Event hours are from Friday, July 13th 10 am to Sunday, July 15th 5 pm.
• We will be loading in beginning at 6 pm on July 12th, and will load out until 11 pm on July 15th.
• We will leave your neighborhood as we found it: litter and recycling will be handled by Recology and Waste Management.
• During the event hours, we expect between 5,000 to 15,000 attendees per day.
• Streets may be closed or have limited vehicle and/or pedestrian access between the hours of 4 pm on July 12th through 11 pm on July 15th.
• We will have amplified sound during the hours of 12 pm to 11 pm on July 13th and 14th and 12 pm to 4 pm on July 15th.
• Sound will be from the North stage on California Ave near Genesee. (See map)
We are working closely with the City of Seattle Special Events Committee to minimize the impacts of the
event. Our goal is to create an enjoyable and positive experience in your neighborhood.If you or any of the surrounding residents and businesses have questions or comments about impacts of
this event, please email us at:Lora Swift, Executive Director, West Seattle Junction Association lora@wsjunction.org
Chris Swenson, Chair, City of Seattle Special Events Office chris.swenson@seattle.gov
And there’s lots more festival info online here.
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, as a new week begins:
GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE: 1-7 pm blood drive at Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood, closed for a break 3-4 pm. (39th SW/SW Thistle)
LEARN TO ROW! The Duwamish Rowing Club has sessions this month, for both youth and adults, and the next one starts tonight – this one’s for youth:
DRC will be offering 3 three weeklong learn-to-row classes this June. Two sessions will be for adults and one session for youth, ages 10 to 18.
For Youth (ages 10 to 18):
Session #2
· Monday, June 11th at 6-8 pm
· Wednesday, June 13th at 6-8 pm
· Sunday, June 17th at 9 am to 12 pmNo experience necessary; we teach everything you need to know. Adult classes are for 18 and up. $60 for three classes (7 hours of instruction) – scholarships available. Please contact rowdrc@gmail.com if the fee is a hardship. Cash or Check to ‘SPARC’, sorry no credit cards.
Tonight is dry-land training, at South Park Community Center. (8319 8th Ave. S.)
EVENING BOOK GROUP: 6:45 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library. This month’s title is “Men We Reaped” by Jesmyn Ward. All welcome! (2306 42nd SW)
SOUND TRANSIT LIGHT RAIL DISCUSSION: Sound Transit reps will be at the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council tonight to talk specifically about the future West Seattle light-rail line’s North Delridge/Pigeon Point prospects. All welcome. 7 pm, Pathfinder K-8. (1901 SW Genesee)
MADISON CONCERT: The Madison Middle School Orchestra performs at the school at 7 pm. (3429 45th SW)
CAROLINE ROSE IN-STORE: 7 pm at Easy Street Records, Caroline Rose performs a free all-ages in-store concert with songs from her new album. (California/Alaska)
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:57 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far this morning.
STADIUM ZONE: The Mariners are back home starting tonight, vs. the Angels @ 7:10 pm. That means extended Water Taxi service tonight.
8:45 AM: Emergency response at the south end of the 1st Avenue South Bridge – a reported motorcycle/car collision.
8:56 AM: That incident is closed out already. Meantime, if you are traveling the California SW corridor in Fauntleroy, between the church and old schoolhouse, police are responding to a report of a man behaving bizarrely, in and out of the road, and having tried to board a bus (but the driver wouldn’t allow him to, per the scanner).
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.
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.”
Just one week until the next major summertime community celebration in West Seattle – the Morgan Junction Community Festival is next Saturday, June 16th, in and around Morgan Junction Park [map]! It’s presented by the Morgan Community Association. We’ve already previewed one festival event, the Bark of Morgan – you and your dog(s) are invited to be part of it! – and other highlights will include the ever-popular Bubbleman performing 10:45-11:30 am, plus live music, community groups and vendors, and Seattle Parks with info about the long-planned park expansion. Another festival feature – food! That includes the Saturday barbecue at nearby West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor):
We photographed Michele and Curtis at today’s benefit barbecue; next Saturday, starting at 11 am, barbecue proceeds all benefit the festival, to help keep it free and fun for everyone. (Sponsors are a big part of that too, and WSB is again part of the sponsor team.) Other food options at the festival will include The Tamale Guy, Jones Barbecue, CJ’s Hot Dogs, and Sweet Bumpas Ice Cream. Tomorrow – we preview the entertainment and activities! Festival hours next Saturday are 10 am-4 pm, and we hope to see you there.
Thanks to John Christensen from Denny-Sealth Performing Arts for the report!
The Chief Sealth HS Music program was in Los Angeles / Disneyland last weekend for the 2018 Music in the Parks / Disney Magic Music Days. During the Music program they were awarded for their performances.
(Photos courtesy Zachariah MacIntyre)
Choir received First Place AAA HS Choir and Best Overall (Excellent Rating) – Brittany Delong – Director
Orchestra received First Place AAA HS Orchestra and Best Overall (Excellent Rating) – Jorge Morales – Director
Jazz Band received First Place AAA HS Jazz Band (Superior Rating) – Marcus Pimpelton – Director
Eli Allen-White was awarded the Outstanding Jazz Soloist Award.
We are proud of them.
You can cheer the Sealth musicians in person next Wednesday – the final orchestra/band concert of the year is at 7 pm (June 13th).
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)
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!
| Comments Off on Mayor finally sets the date for Highland Park visit