Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda’s Q&A, plus crime-stats update, @ West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network

| Neighborhoods | Safety | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, Tuesday night)

City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda was the spotlight guest at this month’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting. Before the Q&A with her, WSBWCN heard the local crime/safety update:

CAPTAIN’S UPDATE: Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis said they’re working on strategy for the warmer months and also planning a variety of “emphasis” enforcement focuses. Crime dropped during the recent snow, he noted. “Rogue street robberies” centered on cell-phone thefts continue to be an issue but they’ve identified suspects and are “developing the probable cause” to make arrests.

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West Seattle’s Tibbetts United Methodist Church defying denomination’s discrimination decision

March 1, 2019 8:29 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

The photo is from the Rev. Sarah Casey, pastor at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), who wants you to know that despite a move in the parent denomination to discriminate against LGBTQIA people, the West Seattle church is and will remain “a place where ALL people have the opportunity to grow spiritually in Christian community.” Here’s the email she sent to the congregation earlier this week:

It is with deep sadness that I share with you that the General Conference of the United Methodist Church has voted to adopt the Traditional Plan. This means that there is no way forward for the UMC that affirms the call to discipleship and sacred worth of LGBTQ+ persons.

I struggle to find the words to express the outrage, disappointment, and grief I am feeling. I know I am not alone in this.

I do not know what will happen in the months ahead. I do not know how our denomination will move forward, if there will be a schism, or how this tragedy will continue to unfold.

This is what I do know: I know that for 110 years Tibbetts UMC has baptized babies that have bloomed into straight and LGBTQ+ disciples. I know that there is no legislation or ruling that can override or take away our baptismal covenant: that we are loved by God. I know that we have and will continue to encourage and celebrate our LGBTQ+ siblings in Christ. Their stories are part and parcel to the identity of our faith community. Without them, there is no us.

The mission of Tibbetts is “To seek to be an all-inclusive congregation that provides dynamic ministries for all ages. We are committed to discipleship through outreach, community service, and spiritual growth.”

Our mission has not changed.

The church is not God. The Book of Discipline is not Jesus. Our love for one another is bigger than the Traditional Plan, bigger than the institutional church, bigger than hate.

I hope you will make it a point to be present in worship on Sunday as we weep and mourn what has happened, and as we celebrate and affirm that God is still God, we are still Tibbetts, and we will continue to proclaim the inclusive Gospel of Christ that loves and accepts ALL people.

We will celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion, and there will be a seat for each and every one of us at God’s table.

The pastor tells WSB, “Our Tibbetts leadership team met Thursday evening and we are in full agreement that our congregation will continue to be open and affirming of LGBTQ+ persons as we believe it is a faithful reflection of the Gospel.” She adds, “Our Bishop in the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference, Elaine Stanovsky, is committed to full inclusion. What that looks like in the coming months and years is yet to be seen. Our Bishop has indicated that we are not going anywhere, implying progressive/affirming churches are not going to exit the denomination.” But what would happen if the denomination leadership decided to enforce the new policy “remains unclear.” She added in our followup exchange:

My personal hope is that progressive Methodists will see this as an opportunity for rebirth, to create a new expression of Methodism that is inclusive and affirming of all people, while remaining grounded in Wesleyan theology and practice. The two are not mutually exclusive, and the reality is that our Wesleyan (Methodist) tradition actually does lend itself to full inclusion! Our practices are rooted in the baptismal covenant, that each and every person is loved and valued by God. How can we claim all people are made in the image of God and then tell people they cannot be who God created them to be? We do not get to decide how divine presence manifests itself in our world!

She is not alone in her sentiment, according to reports like this one from the New York Times.

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CONGRATULATIONS! Local students compete in Global Reading Challenge semifinals

March 1, 2019 6:48 pm

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| West Seattle books | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Strategy time! Thanks to Shannon McDonald for the photos from the Central Library downtown, as Pathfinder K-8 fourth and fifth graders competed in the Global Reading Challenge semifinals today.

Shannon reports that students from Alki Elementary and Genesee Hill Elementary also made it to today’s round, which was won by North Seattle’s McDonald International Elementary. This year’s final is March 19th; here are the books used in this year’s GRC.

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VIDEO: Ticket time for 2019 Taste of West Seattle!

March 1, 2019 4:00 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news

West Seattle Helpline shares that video invitation as tickets go on sale for the most delicious fundraiser of the year.

(WSB photo from 2018 Taste of West Seattle)

Here’s the announcement:

We are excited to announce tickets to the 14th annual Taste of West Seattle are now on sale!

This local, community-based food fair 6-9 pm May 23rd at The Hall at Fauntleroy is the largest event of its kind in West Seattle. We will feature food and drink from over 40 different restaurants, breweries, wineries, coffee shops, bakeries, chocolatiers, specialty food stores, and more!

The Taste of West Seattle has drawn a sell-out crowd of more than 500 people from West Seattle and throughout King County for the past five years in a row. All proceeds from the event support the West Seattle Helpline’s homelessness-prevention emergency assistance programs for low-income individuals and families in West Seattle and White Center who are recovering from an unexpected hardship.

You can find out more information, and buy tickets at tasteofwestseattle.org

Here’s our coverage of last year’s Taste of West Seattle.

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West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2019: One month until registration opens!

March 1, 2019 3:41 pm

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| Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

Now that it’s March, we are just a month away from the start of registration for the 15th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day! This year’s WSCGSD is Saturday, May 11, 2019. If you’re new: Garage Sale Day is one day with hundreds of sales around West Seattle. It’s the one event WSB presents each year; a community-connection nonprofit called Megawatt launched it in 2005, then sought someone to take it over after 2007, and that turned out to be WSB, so we’ve presented it on the second Saturday in May each year since 2008. Registration starts in early April; we publish the map and listings one week before The Big Day. Here’s our as-it-happened coverage from last year’s WSCGSD – here and here. Watch here for the announcement when registration opens the first week of April!

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BASKETBALL: West Seattle HS girls win third game @ state tournament

March 1, 2019 12:14 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Thanks to @WSHSAthletics1 for the photo! We couldn’t be at the Tacoma Dome this morning but we’ll be there tomorrow at 8 am as the West Seattle High School girls take on Snohomish HS for fourth place at the state 3A basketball tournament. The Wildcats earned the ticket to that game by defeating Roosevelt this morning, 50-42.

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West Seattle Junction merchants have a few questions for you

March 1, 2019 11:11 am

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(Heart of The Junction, as seen via ‘live’ SDOT cam)

The West Seattle Junction Association – the organization that is made up of, and represents, area businesses – hopes you can spare a few minutes for a survey. They’re looking at the year ahead, with issues including – but not limited to – the future of the parking they offer “free” to shoppers. According to WSJA executive director Lora Radford, a big goal of the survey is to “help us understand why people are visiting the Junction.” No end date for the survey, but as always, the sooner the better – it’s short! Just go here.

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7 for your West Seattle Friday

March 1, 2019 9:40 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(WSB photo: Doc Maynard and Spirit of Kingston on West Seattle Water Taxi run earlier this week)

Highlights on this first day of March:

BASKETBALL: 10:30 am at the Tacoma Dome, the West Seattle High School girls continue play at the state 3A basketball tournament, vs. Roosevelt – winner advances to Saturday’s 4th-place game. (2727 East D St.)

BINGO! 11 am-2:30 pm, it’s Friday Bingo at the Senior Center of West Seattle. Info’s in our calendar listing. (4217 SW Oregon)

FREE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: Principia College musicians on tour, performing at Daystar Retirement Village (WSB sponsor), 2:30 pm, all welcome. (2615 SW Barton)

WSHS BIG BAND DINNER DANCE: As previewed here earlier this week, tonight’s the night to enjoy, and support, great music! 5:45-9 pm at West Seattle High School – ticket info here. (3000 California SW)

CORNER BAR: Highland Park Improvement Club‘s centennial celebration continues at the monthly pop-up bar starting at 6 pm – get the newest details on the HPIC website. (1116 SW Holden)

DESTINATION DELRIDGE – GOLDEN ROUTES: Benefit for Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, 6 pm at Metropolist in SODO – more info here. (2931 1st Ave. S.)

ACOUSTIC ALT-FOLK: That’s what Darren Senn will perform at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) tonight, 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

PREVIEW THE WEEKEND … via our complete calendar!

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YOU CAN HELP! Celebrate spring with a ‘Tropical Night’

March 1, 2019 9:09 am

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| How to help | West Seattle news

Now that it’s March, spring is in sight. On one of the first nights of the new season, you’re invited to a tropical-themed celebration on behalf of Concord International Elementary – here’s the announcement:

Join us March 22nd for our annual dinner party and auction—an evening of great food, drinks, live music, and live and silent auctions supporting the Concord International Elementary PTA in one of the coolest neighborhoods in Seattle — South Park!

All proceeds go toward the support of educational programs for children at Concord Elementary, a high-poverty school in our neighborhood.

Treat yourself to an evening of fun while helping to provide high-quality educational opportunities to children in South Park. See you there!

The event starts at 7 pm at South Park Hall (1253 S. Cloverdale). Your ticket is available here.

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