West Seattle, Washington
24 Sunday
Story and photos/video by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
It was a full house at at Easy Street Records on Saturday night for a free in-store performance by Guster.
The band, formed in Boston in 1991, is touring in support of their new album “Look Alive.” Their appearance featured a 30-minute set and a meet-and-greet autograph session with fans, before the band headed downtown for a sold-out show at the Showbox.
Singer and guitarist Ryan Miller thanked fans for their support, noting that the band had previously played at the Easy Street location in Queen Anne (closed in 2013) many years ago, but it was their first time at the West Seattle store.
Here’s a snippet of video from the performance:
Next up on Easy Street’s in-store calendar: Cold Soda, 7 pm next Saturday (February 23).
9:40 PM: Another big police response tonight -this one is happening right now in the 35th/Roxbury vicinity. Per radio communication, they’re investigating a reported burglary at a residence. They’ll be searching the area with K-9 assistance.
10:16 PM: No further details. Police are still at the scene in the 9400 block of 35th SW but the wider search is reported to be winding down.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
FIRST REPORT, 8:31 PM: Just over at Sammamish HS in Bellevue, an overtime heartbreaker for the West Seattle High School girls, losing to Garfield in the district semifinals, 65-59. They play Lake Washington for third place at 10 am Monday, same location but in the lower gym. Full story and photos to come.
ADDED 11:55 PM: This one was intensely fought all the way. Garfield was the tournament’s top seed, West Seattle fourth, but the Wildcats had the Bulldogs in check for a good long time.
6:45 PM: Thanks for the tips. A big police response at 35th/Fauntleroy this past hour; one resident tells WSB they were told to stay in their apartments while police were in search of a robbery suspect. We have a crew on the way to find out more.
6:57 PM: Police tell WSB’s Christopher Boffoli that they’re seeking a suspect in the robbery of a salon at the Aura Apartments building on 35th just south of Avalon. They are still there talking with victims/witnesses. No description made public yet.
7:06 PM: More info from SPD: The salon was robbed at gunpoint. Description only – so far- “white male in a black jacket and blue pants, silver gun, small umbrella.”
FIRST REPORT, 6:38 PM SATURDAY: Just over at Sammamish High School – a slowdown offense did not serve the West Seattle High School boys well in their district-semifinal match against Ingraham, which took the victory, 57-46. The WSHS boys play again here at 11:45 am (correction) Monday, vs. either O’Dea or Rainier Beach. More later.
ADDED EARLY SUNDAY: A frenetic, strange start for this game, before it moved to a pace so slow that the halftime score was only 18-17 (West Seattle with that one-point edge).
Just two weeks until the Highland Park Elementary School PTA hopes to see you at its 2nd annual auction – a good deal for a good cause, $40 gets you food (including dessert) on Saturday, March 2nd, with an “Alice in Wonderland” theme:
Your grin will rival the Cheshire Cat’s after scrumptious nibbles and games that may make you lose your head! Don’t be afraid to go a little mad bidding for items to raise vital funds so students can continue to get curiouser and curiouser!
Buy your ticket(s) here. The even is set for 6-9 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club (1116 SW Holden).
That’s a video tribute produced by Northwest Kidney Centers in memory of Bill Peckham, a West Seattle resident known for his advocacy on behalf of dialysis patients – himself included. With his Celebration of Life planned one week from tomorrow, we received this remembrance to share with the community:
Bill passed away on January 18, 2019, at the far-too-young age of 55, surrounded by his friends. He died at Swedish Cherry Hill from complications relating to sepsis. Having survived a heart attack, several strokes, and staph infection in November, Bill was never able to fully fight off the blood infection.
Bill was born August 30, 1963, in Evanston, Illinois, to James and Susan Peckham. He joined his proud brothers Charlie and Jimmy and lived his pre-college years at the family home in Wilmette, Illinois.
Bill graduated from Central Washington University with a degree in accounting and marketing. After graduation, he was ready to take on the world – both in business and in travel. But a diagnosis of kidney failure in his early 20s radically changed the course of his life. Bill received a transplanted kidney from his brother, Jimmy. However, the transplanted kidney soon failed and Bill knew it was only a matter of time before he needed to start dialysis.
Before going on dialysis, however, Bill travelled for several months around the world, thinking that this would be his only opportunity to do so. That travel adventure was cut short when he contracted dysentery while trekking in Nepal.
For many years, Bill thought kidney disease was the end of his life as he knew it. But with the incredible support of the staff at Northwest Kidney Centers (NKC), Bill learned to take charge of his own life. He soon learned to dialyze at home, where he did so successfully for nearly 20 years. In total, Bill lived well on dialysis for 28 years – a remarkable achievement.
Even with his kidney disease, Bill lived an incredibly full life. He worked full time making signs for Triumph Expo and Events and continued to travel, visiting 34 countries and dialyzing in 23 of them. He considered dialysis a back-door look into other cultures.
Bill inherited his love of travel. John Ledyard, Bill’s ancestor and namesake (middle name Ledyard), sailed with Captain Cook and attempted to traverse the USSR, among other great travel adventures. His grandparents also were inveterate travelers, having sailed around the world twice for months at a time, leaving delightful diaries of their voyages. Bill also traveled often with his family growing up.
In addition to his love of travel, Bill had a passion for dogs. One of his college dogmates was Tyler, an Australian Shepherd. Smitten by the breed, all of Bill’s dogs were Aussies: Brainy, followed by Cairny, and finally Banjo.
Bill was also a fierce advocate for patient care. He was an active volunteer for NKC and served on their Board for many years, including a term as Board Chair. Many know Bill through his advocacy work at NKC, from his blog “Dialysis from the Sharp End of the Needle,” and from his lobbying efforts in Washington State and Washington, DC.
Bill was pre-deceased by his parents, Jim and Sue Peckham, and his brother, Jimmy Peckham. He is survived by his brother Charlie, his dog Banjo, and many friends.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be held Sunday, February 24, at 2:00 at Northwest Kidney Centers – Seattle Kidney Center – 548 15th Ave (corner of Cherry and 15th). All are welcome.
Remembrance donations can be made to Northwest Kidney Centers, PO Box 3035, Seattle WA 98114-9900 – or via www.nwkidney.org/give.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
At center of the photo provided by Sound Credit Union is Madison Middle School librarian Stacia Bell. We got a tip that she had received their Educator of the Month award, so we requested the photo and news release:
Sound Credit Union selected Madison Middle School Teacher-Librarian Stacia Bell as February’s Educator of the Month.
Ronnie Applewhite nominated Bell. He explains “Since she took over the library a few years ago, it has become the most popular place in the school. Mrs. Bell personally engages with each and every student and tries to find out what inspires them and what kind of stories they like, while at the same time encouraging them to step outside their comfort zone and try different reading genres.”
According to Applewhite, Bell transformed the library this past summer, making it a comfortable place to congregate and quietly socialize, by adding new shelving and furniture, most of which she purchased herself.
“Now, a student can come in after lunch, grad a book and plop down on a couch or a giant beanbag,” Applewhite says.
“We are humbled to be able to support our local educators. By helping students develop a desire to read, Mrs. Bell is opening a whole new world for them. We’re pleased we have the opportunity to help recognize educators who are connecting with students and making a difference in our community,” says Sound Credit Union VP of Public Relations Jennifer Reed.
The Educator of the Month program recognizes the tremendous impact educators make in a community. Winners receive a $500 classroom scholarship and treats for their class. To nominate an educator to be recognized as Sound Credit Union’s Educator of the Month, visit soundcu.com/educator.
That’s the big dumpster you’ll find on the west side of the West Seattle Stadium parking lot until 3 pm, if you just can’t wait for snow-delayed garbage pickup any longer. As announced by the city, you can bring your trash – no recycling or yard/food waste, just trash – here (4432 35th SW) for free dropoff, today only. Seattle Public Utilities has people there to help if you need it – otherwise, drive/ride up, drop off, leave, no waiting while we were there. Residents with delayed pickup are also welcome to bring a carload or truckload of trash, recycling, and/or yard/food waste to South Transfer Station (130 S. Kenyon) until 5:30 today or 8 am-5:30 pm Sunday, for free.
(Another “snowbird” photographed by Mark Wangerin – varied thrush)
Happy weekend! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
MINDFULNESS MEDITATION: 9 am; details in our calendar listing. (5601 California SW)
FREE TRASH DROPOFF: 10 am-3 pm at West Seattle Stadium, the city will accept garbage dropoffs because of the pickups missed during the snow. (4432 35th SW)
WSHS ALUMNI FUNDRAISER: 10 am-6 pm, CAPERS in The Junction is donating part of today’s proceeds to the West Seattle High School Alumni Association – you can support them just by shopping.
WEST SEATTLE MOMENTIA MIX: 10:30 am-noon at Camp Long, “free social event for community members with memory loss and their families and friends.”
(added) TALK WITH YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: 3-5 pm at Delridge Library, drop in and talk with Seattle Public Schools board president – and West Seattle/South Park elected rep – Leslie Harris. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
BASKETBALL: After Friday victories, West Seattle High School‘s basketball teams are in the district semifinals today, both games at Sammamish HS in Bellevue: The boys vs. Ingraham at 5 pm, girls vs. Garfield at 6:30 pm. (100 140th Ave. SE)
GUSTER AT EASY STREET: Signing and free in-store concert at Easy Street Records, 6 pm. Details here. (California/Alaska)
NATASHA STRUELENS: Solo artist at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
‘ONCE ON THIS ISLAND – THE MUSICAL’: Second night for Twelfth Night Productions‘ new show, directed by Harry Turpin, with Faith Bennett Russell as Artistic and Cultural Adviser. 7:30 pm curtain at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
ABBAGRAPHS & DJ DISCO ROYALE: 8 pm at Parliament Tavern. Wear your best ’70s threads! $8 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
SEE WHAT ELSE IS UP …browse our complete calendar!
The West Seattle High School boys’ basketball team has advanced to the district semifinals after Friday night’s overtime win over Mercer Island. Playing at Sammamish HS, the Wildcats came from behind to defeat MIHS 50-44. Next up for head coach Keffrey Fazio and his team, Ingraham HS at 5 pm Saturday, also at Sammamish HS (100 140th Ave. SE, Bellevue).
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