VIDEO: Fall 2018 Duwamish Alive! begins with honors for champions of our area’s only river

October 20, 2018 9:58 pm

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| Environment | West Seattle news

(WSB photos: At T-107, by Patrick Sand; at Longfellow Creek, by Leda Costa)

In the hours before the sun broke through today … 15 sites along Seattle’s only river and in its watershed got some love from hundreds of volunteers during the fall edition of the twice-yearly mega-work-party known as Duwamish Alive! But first … it was time to celebrate its champions:

At center above, Willard Brown, recently retired from the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, was honored as a Green-Duwamish Champion. (The Duwamish River begins as the Green River.) His award was presented at a Duwamish Alive! event along Longfellow Creek in North Delridge – with emcees including State Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon – while at T-107 Park on the river, the opening ceremony included honors for another “champion,” Port of Seattle biologist George Blumberg:

The Duwamish Alive! opening there was emceed by James Rasmussen, who leads the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition. He spoke of T-107 Park’s importance as “the only place where the old river still lives,” and told the story of how it was spared from development by the discovery of archaeological significance – “my ancestors reached up and saved this place.”

He and Chris Wilkie from Puget SoundKeeper both spoke of the river’s significance to salmon runs and how that in turn affected the fate of endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales. Here are both of their speeches on video:

There also was advocacy for the environment-related initiative on the November 6th ballot, I-1631. Sameer Ranade from Front and Centered advocated with poetry:

The Duwamish Valley Youth Corps stopped for a photo op before it was time to grab shovels and get to work:

At T-107 Park, they and other volunteers were planting on the shore, while others took to the water for cleanup work:

As always, the kayaks were courtesy of West Seattle’s Alki Kayak Tours/Mountain to Sound Outfitters. Back at Longfellow Creek, volunteers were digging in too:

The Longfellow Creek included the first-ever Arabic-language Duwamish Alive! group. Among the participants were Nada Almaslmani, below left, visiting from Jordan:

With Nada in our photo, West Seattleite Bridgett Chandler. Fall is considered perfect for planting so roots can grow before the ground gets too cold in the winter – then they’re perfectly set to grow full-speed-ahead in spring.

The next Duwamish Alive! event will be in spring. But you don’t have to wait that long to spend a little time doing a lot of good in local parks and other greenspaces. Our calendar features work parties every weekend

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First beer, now boxes: See what’s just been added to help save West Seattle Junction ‘free’ parking

October 20, 2018 6:34 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

If you go out for dinner and/or drinks in The Junction tonight – or head to the West Seattle Farmers’ Market tomorrow – you might notice boxes like that one in the Junction Association-operated “free parking lots.” The five boxes, installed this afternoon, are the newest fundraising tool in the effort to keep those lots available and free.

While WSJA says its agreement with the lots’ owners, Trusteed Properties, doesn’t allow charging for parking, this is strictly a request for donations. Can’t or don’t want to donate? No problem. You can still park for free for up to three hours as always. But if you can donate – bring a few bucks next time you’re headed that way, and look for the boxes.

BACKSTORY: The fundraising push is an attempt to help cover a dramatically higher property-tax bill for the lots that’s passed through to the Junction Association and the community businesses that comprise it. They’ve secured a temporary reprieve from the county, which collects property taxes, but that runs out soon. Other fundraisers so far have included Save Our Lots beer and online donations. If your business wants to show its support – here’s a kit!

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen white SUV; casing on video; car prowls

October 20, 2018 5:34 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports and a reminder:

SUV STOLEN: The photo is from C:

The white Escalade, plates BBY1547, was stolen from behind a residence on Alki this morning. Call 911 if you see it.

CARS CASED: D sent this video:

This video of someone casing our vehicles was taken at 0130hrs on Friday the 19th in the Fairmount area – 36th and Raymond. Nothing was stolen from us but my neighbor’s red Subaru was parked out on the street and it was stolen. Unknown if this individual was involved.

CAR PROWLS: From David – “I live in North Admiral on corner of Walker and 49th – I just wanted to let you know that we found our cars had been gone through last night.”

SIDE NOTE: Last community meeting of the year at the Southwest Precinct, with a chance to bring up community concerns to local police, is the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting at 6:30 pm Tuesday (October 23rd) – all welcome.

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TRAFFIC ALERT: NB Highway 99 reopens

October 20, 2018 3:28 pm

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| Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

From WSDOT:

The final scheduled inspection of the Alaskan Way Viaduct is complete and State Route 99 northbound is now open through Seattle – with the exception of the Royal Brougham Way on-ramp. Construction crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation expect to open the on-ramp at Royal Brougham Way by 7 p.m. tonight, Oct. 20.

Southbound lanes of the Alaskan way Viaduct/SR 99 remain closed all weekend for construction and will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22. The southbound highway is closed between the Battery Street Tunnel and South Spokane Street.

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DEVELOPMENT: Early Community Outreach date set for 5009 Fauntleroy Way SW

October 20, 2018 1:13 pm

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| Development | West Seattle news

The third West Seattle informal community meeting in the city’s new “Early Community Outreach for Design Review” process is set for October 30th. If you have questions or comments about the project proposed at 5009 Fauntleroy Way SW, that’s the date you’re invited to drop in 5-7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) and talk with members of the project team. According to what’s online so far, this project will replace a 70-year-old duplex with three rowhouse-style townhouses and three single-family homes, with six offstreet-parking spaces. The new Early Community Outreach phase of the process is meant to offer neighbors a chance to get involved relatively early on. We covered the first two West Seattle meetings held as part of this process, both last month – this one for five townhouses at 1772 Alki SW, then this one for eight townhouses at 5616 California SW. Also participating in this process, though no meeting date is set yet, will be 1604 SW Henderson.

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FERRY ALERT: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth back to 3 boats

October 20, 2018 11:08 am

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| Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

M/V Cathlamet went back into service this morning, after mechanical trouble took it out on Friday, so the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is back to 3 boats.

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VIDEO: ‘This one’s for Nino.’ Halftime tribute to Nino Cantu, ‘the heart and soul’ of Southwest Athletic Complex

October 20, 2018 8:32 am

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| Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

“This one’s for Nino.” Chief Sealth International High School football players dedicated last night’s game to Nino Cantu, the longtime grounds manager at their home field, Southwest Athletic Complex. Mr. Cantu died suddenly a week earlier. His friend Doree Fazio-Young led the halftime tribute:

The team kept the ovation going, chanting Nino’s name, and went on to win the game, 42-37, over Roosevelt. Seattle Public Schools paid tribute to Mr. Cantu in this statement:

We are deeply saddened by the loss of a beloved staff member, Nino Cantu. Nino passed away on the night of October 11. He had been a valued SPS colleague for 18 years and was the heart and soul of the Southwest Sports Complex. His dedication to student athletes in Seattle and beyond showed every day in the pride he took in his facility as well as the enthusiasm he brought to every event at his complex. Everyone that knew Nino was touched by his energy and enthusiasm for life. His bombastic style and huge grin would greet old friends and new. He was one of a kind and his passion for life never failed to lift the spirits of those around him. You could not speak with Nino and not end up with a smile on your face. His passing has deeply affected our community. We are grateful that his legacy and leadership will live on for many years to come.

Mr. Cantu was just 51 years old.

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Amazing array of alternatives for your West Seattle Saturday!

October 20, 2018 6:03 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Pileated Woodpecker eating Pacific Madrone berries, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Welcome to Saturday – and a sizable stack of options. First:

TRAFFIC/TRANSPORTATION ALERTS: Southbound Highway 99 closed late last night and that’s supposed to continue through the weekend. Northbound Highway 99 is scheduled to be closing right about now and reopening by 5 pm. We’ll update if anything changes (early reopenings, etc.). … Check here on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry run’s status, since it was down a boat for much of Friday.

And now, from our calendar and Halloween Etc. Guide:

SALTY HALF MARATHON: No same-day signups for this half-marathon, so we’re just mentioning it in case you wonder about those runners who’ll be out this morning headed from Don Armeni Boat Ramp to Lincoln Park and back starting at 8:30 am. No road closures. (1222 Harbor SW)

THIS YEAR’S FINAL TAI CHI AT THE BEACH: 9 am at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, it’s your last chance until next year to experience by-donation Tai Chi with Lao-Shi Caylen Storm. (61st SW/Alki SW)

DUWAMISH ALIVE! 10 am-2 pm at multiple locations along the Duwamish River and in its watershed, hundreds of people will be busy with a variety of tasks. If you didn’t register in advance, take a look at the site list and just show up somewhere not marked “full”!

PANCAKE BREAKFAST/BENEFIT: 10 am-1 pm, pancakes for a cause at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, benefiting SafeFutures, “a West Seattle nonprofit that has served WS and South King County for over 20 years by empowering and advocating for immigrant and refugee youth from low-income communities and communities of color.” (4408 Delridge Way SW)

SEATTLE YARN GRAND-REOPENING PARTY: The shop’s new owners invite you to stop by and celebrate 10 am-6 pm: “There will be a couple of pop-up shops, a needle tasting (3 PM), giveaways, cookies, and more.” (5633 California SW)

WOMEN-ONLY SELF-DEFENSE CLASS: 10 am-noon at Combat Arts Academy, for ages 13+, donation-based. Details in our calendar listing. (5050 Delridge Way SW)

WEST SEATTLE SKI SWAP: 10 am-5 pm, it’s day one of shopping the ski and snowboard swap presented by Mountain to Sound Outfitters at the VFW Hall. (3601 SW Alaska)

SEE ART, MAKE ART: 10:30 am at Southwest Library, you’re invited to be a creator in this week’s project! (9010 35th SW)

INDULGE DESSERTS GRAND OPENING: The new dessert shop we told you about last month is celebrating its grand opening 11 am-9 pm today (and noon-5 pm Sunday) with “a drawing for free cupcakes, and a limited supply of small freebies for little kids.” (9003 35th SW)

HARBOR SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Ferry over to Vashon Island and visit independent K-8 Harbor School (WSB sponsor) during this noon-2 pm open house. (15920 Vashon Hwy. SW)

CHURCHILL’S CLUB: Next best thing to time travel! Fall event with Somewhere In Time, Unlimited, 12:30-5:30 pm at Whisky West (WSB sponsor), as explained here. (6451 California SW)

SPIDERS OF THE DUWAMISH: Talk and walk. Free! 1-3 pm, starts at Duwamish Tribe Longhouse. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

BEER GARDEN TRICK-OR-TREATING: Bring the kids to trick-or-treat around the beer garden at Ounces in North Delridge, 1-4 pm. (3809 Delridge Way SW)

SEATTLE LUTHERAN HOMECOMING GAME: 1 pm at West Seattle Stadium, cheer for Seattle Lutheran High School as they play football against Tacoma Baptist. (4432 35th SW)

TALK WITH YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: 3-5 pm at Delridge Library, community-conversation time with West Seattle/South Park’s Seattle School Board director, and board president, Leslie Harris. Comments? Questions? Concerns? Bring ’em. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

SEE ART, E-ART: 4-5:30 pm at Southwest Library. “Learn to create in 3D with Putty 3D, a digital sculpting tool for the iPad.” Bring your own iPad or use one that belongs to the library. (9010 35th SW)

WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK BENEFIT: Tonight at the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Brockey Center – 6 pm reception, 7 pm dinner, and tickets will be available at the door if you don’t have yours already! More info here. (6000 16th SW)

ROO AND THE FEW: 7-9 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), live music for your Saturday night. (5612 California SW)

WHAT ELSE IS UP? Check our complete calendar and Halloween Etc. Guide!

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