West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Family and friends will gather in Portland next month to celebrate the life of George B. Ransdell, and are sharing this remembrance with the community:
Rufus and Mildred Ransdell of Seattle gave birth to George Bock Ransdell on January 9th, 1943. He spent his childhood in Seattle along with sister Linda Ransdell Gurnari, graduating from West Seattle High School in 1961.
Following graduation, George joined the military, serving in Germany and Fort Knox. In 1963, George married classmate Joan Frances Pickart, together parenting three daughters: Monica Lynn Ransdell, Jennifer Lynn Ransdell, and Joanna Lynn Ransdell Biron. In 1967, George and family moved to Portland, Oregon, for a job transfer. In 1989, George met and married Arlene Jensen. He and Arlene shared their time living in Portland near George’s daughters and grandchildren Violet, Vincent, Everett, Castle, Evan, and Lillian, and living in Tempe, Arizona near Arlene’s children and grandchildren. George moved permanently to Tempe, Arizona in 2017.
George spent his life dedicated to his love of family and his activities within the Mormon church, which he joined in 1963. He was a collector of vinyl records, VHS movies, and all things collectable, which developed into his favorite hobby, selling on eBay. George and Arlene with their beloved dog Turbo led active, joyous lives together until a tragic auto accident on February 21, 2019 took their lives. They will be greatly missed.
George and Arlene will be laid to rest at the Skyline Memorial Gardens, Portland, OR. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held on April 14th from 12 pm to 3 pm at the McMenamin’s Kennedy School, Portland, OR.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
It’s high-school baseball time! Chief Sealth International High School‘s field took the field this afternoon and evening, hosting three other schools for a jamboree at Southwest Athletic Complex – a series of three-inning games. Head coach Ernest Policarpio is kicking off another season leading Sealth’s team:
Sealth beat Nathan Hale HS 6-0 in its first of two jamboree games – here’s Liam Moe on the mound:
At today’s jamboree, the Seahawks also hosted Washington and Mt. Rainier, which will be their first opponent as the season officially begins at 10 am Saturday (March 9th) at SWAC (2801 SW Thistle).
P.S. On Friday, March 15th, at 4 pm, Sealth will host West Seattle HS for the first of two scheduled games between the teams this season.
African American History Month has stretched into March this year at local schools – in part because of the days lost to the snow in February. These photos are shared by Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark, from what he described as ” a night of camaraderie, celebrating Black history and family involvement.”
He adds:
Thank you to Ms. Brown, Ms. Fields, all of our amazing scholars and their families, all of the guest presenters, performers, and speakers, the Masons, Mr. Walton, Kashauna, Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Russell, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Smith, Ms. Selina, all of City Year, Ms. Farah, Ms. Hamilton, Ms. Kugisaki, Ms. Frost, Ms. Bordeanu, Ms. Bock, Ms. Fondale, Ms. Sebastian, Ms. Bennett, Ms. Azevedo, Ms. Tschida, Mr. Tomas, Ms. O., Mr. Lai, Ms. Lehman, Mr. Haessly, and everyone else who helped or attended this special event!
The principal continues:
It was a terrific evening of community celebrations, scholar performances, learning together, inspiration and celebration of amazing culture and community! Go Dolphins!
Something cool at YOUR school? Let us know – thank you!
Have you sent your suggestions yet? Before the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce celebrates local businesses and community advocates at the annual Westside Awards breakfast event on April 30th, 
they want to hear who you would nominate! You still have time, so hurry up and go to this page on the Chamber website to suggest nominees for Westside Business of the Year, Westside Emerging Business of the Year, Westside Not-For-Profit of the Year, Westsider of the Year. As a reminder, the eligibility criteria are:
*Nominees will have made a major or visible contribution in the past year that reflects commercial growth and achievement, innovation, creativity or community involvement.
*Contributes and promotes the economic growth, stability and improvement of West Seattle.
*Gives generously of themselves and/or staff in time and resources in community activities.
*Consistently excels in customer service and business conduct.
The nomination deadline is a week from tomorrow – March 15th. Wondering who’s won before? See the list here. You’re welcome to send nominations whether you’re attending the awards breakfast or not’ if you are,- get your ticket(s) here.
Two West Seattle business notes that you might say are from the cutting edge:
SNIP-ITS COMING TO THE JUNCTION: You might have noticed the flyer posted on the door at the south end of the Sisson Building, at 4506 California SW, where Quail Park Memory Care Residences of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) had a temporary pre-opening office. Snip-its is the new tenant, part of a national chain of kids-haircut salons. The local proprietor will be West Seattle resident Duc Quan, who tells WSB, “I’ve always wanted to open a Snip-its in WS and this ideal location became available.” Target opening time frame: Late April/early May.
ALKI MOVE: We mentioned back in October that Salon West had moved from 7009 California SW in south Morgan Junction – a future redevelopment site – to 2738 Alki SW. We’ve since learned (thanks to Lori, who sent the announcement) that Sophia of West Seattle Kids Salon is now co-(re)located there too.
(WSB photo of Camp Second Chance entrance, December 2017)
Will city-authorized encampment Camp Second Chance have its stay on the city-owned Myers Way Parcels extended, or will it have to move, as current city law would require? As reported here earlier this week, the Highland Park Action Committee has sent the city a letter opposing an extension, following its “listening session” and a community survey. That meeting was held the same week that the Westside Interfaith Network gathered C2C supporters in Fauntleroy. Will the city convene its own meeting regarding the potential extension, as it did a year ago? The city’s homelessness-response spokesperson Will Lemke says none is planned “but that could change,” and sent us this statement on the renewal decisionmaking process.
The City continues to gather information, including community input, on next steps for Camp Second Chance. A final decision has not been reached.
The City has and continues to engage a diverse range of community stakeholders; including Highland Park Action Committee, members of the Camp Second Chance advisory committee, residents of Arrowhead Gardens, homeless service providers, residents of and near Camp Second Chance, and the faith community to learn more about their experiences with the program.
We also take program performance, siting, and Citywide shelter resources into consideration during this process.
All of these factors will be taken into consideration as the City makes a final decision that best serves the community and residents of the village. Ultimately, programs like Camp Second Chance are designed to get vulnerable people the critical stability and help they need to get on a path to housing—Camp Second Chance has done that for people.
Thousands of people are living unsheltered on Seattle’s streets. Solutions to this crisis are complex and require not only substantial resources from the City, but engagement from communities to help inform and support programs. We appreciate our community partners and will continue to listen while we develop our plans for Camp Second Chance.
The city has said previously that you can comment via email at homelessness@seattle.gov. We asked exactly who has the final say – the mayor or someone else; Lemke replied, “Ultimately, the City is working collaboratively (which includes the Mayor’s Office) internally and externally to develop next steps.”
The camp’s official authorization is ending its second year, but it arrived at the site more than half a year earlier, moving from a church in South King County. According to the most recent report presented at Sunday’s monthly meeting of the camp’s Community Advisory Committee, 51 people are currently at the camp, which continues converting tent sites to “tiny houses” with the help of community donations and volunteers.
(WSB photo from last week’s open house)
Sound Transit is extending its “scoping period” for commenting on the West Seattle to Ballard light-rail project. That’s according to an email announcement sent today to the project’s Stakeholder Advisory Group. The timeline for decisionmaking is NOT going to be extended, the SAG was told, but the current “scoping period” for comments is now going to remain open until April 2nd. As noted in our daily highlight list, one more “open house” (third and final in the series that started last week in West Seattle) is planned, downtown tonight; you also can get your commnts into the official record:
*Via the online open house
*Email: wsbscopingcomments@soundtransit.org
*Voicemail: 833-972-2666
*Postal Mail: West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions, c/o Lauren Swift, Sound Transit, 401 S Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104
Two meetings in West Seattle next week will feature ST reps and are open to all:
*Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council, 7 pm Monday (March 11th), Pathfinder K-8 (1901 SW Genesee)
*Delridge Station Community Workshop, 6:30 pm Tuesday (March 12th), Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW)
Today we welcome Habitats LLC as a new WSB sponsor. Here’s what they would like you to know about what they do:
We are a small team of enthusiastic horticulturalists that offer solutions and personalized garden services ranging from fine garden maintenance to design and installation. Habitats is proud to be based out of West Seattle.
As your landscape undergoes seasonal changes, Habitats ensures that the aesthetic value, health, and functionality lasts through every month of the year.
We believe that skilled and attentive care is the key to bringing out the best in your ever-evolving residential garden. We specialize in meeting your garden’s changing design and maintenance needs, so the balance and beauty of your natural spaces remain consistent throughout the year. As we make these small renovations to the design and function of your garden, Habitats also provides all weeding, pruning, mulching, and other aspects of care needed through the changing seasons. We offer multiple programs to fit specifically with your garden’s needs.
Habitats’ design philosophy is centered on the creation of sustainable, low-maintenance landscapes that will captivate your interest all year long. We can meet with you on an hourly basis to discuss your garden and landscape needs. The focus of Habitats‘ Design/Build service is on residential landscape projects. We partner with reliable contractors for project installation when needed.
At Habitats LLC, we are dedicated to our clients and all of their landscape needs. Please visit our website to learn more and to schedule a consultation.
We thank Habitats LLC for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
(Short-lived snow decorated a tree near 35th/Thistle, photographed by Beth Kaplerik)
Snow’s melting, so it’s on with our spotlight of scheduled highlights for the rest of today/tonight:
BASEBALL JAMBOREE: Season-opening jamboree hosted by Chief Sealth International High School also features 3 other teams, 3-7 pm at Southwest Athletic Complex. (2801 SW Thistle)
SOUND TRANSIT LIGHT RAIL OPEN HOUSE: Missed the one in West Seattle last week? There’s one downtown tonight, 5-7:30 pm, Union Station. Meantime, you have until March 18th to comment via the online open house. (401 S. Jackson)
BILL DAVIE: Folk singer/songwriter/poet, live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm, no cover, all ages. (5612 California SW)
NORTH HIGHLINE UNINCORPORATED AREA COUNCIL: 7 pm, the community council for White Center and other areas just south of West Seattle meets for the first time this year. Here’s the agenda. NHUAC meets at the North Highline Fire District HQ. (1243 SW 112th)
WEST SEATTLE SOUL: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. $10 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
WHAT ELSE? See for yourself, via our complete calendar!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:16 AM: Good morning! Some snow on the ground where we are. How about you?
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY: The Weather Service has one in effect until noon.
SCHOOLS: Seattle Public Schools on time … Our Lady of Guadalupe 1 hour late
RIDE2: Canceled for the rest of the morning
6:37 AM: No snow-related trouble or changes to report. Just the advice to take extra time when you head out! … If you’re wondering about schools, no word on that front so far either. Highline Public Schools south of us has made a point to say it’s planning to open on time.
6:47 AM: Some scattered Metro changes are starting to come in – for example, Route 128, which serves West Seattle too, is on snow routing “in the Tukwila, Park Lake, and White Center areas due to road conditions.”
6:57 AM: First school delay in – Our Lady of Guadalupe will start an hour late, 9:15 am dropoff. … Snow in multiple areas of West Seattle, though NOT everywhere in the city. Photo from Michele in Highland Park:
7:12 AM: Seattle Public Schools has just reaffirmed, it’s on time.
7:24 AM: Where we are – just over 300′ – even the side-street surface is no longer snow-covered, so this seems to be more like the typical short-lived Seattle snow than what we all experienced in February. Nonetheless, be extra careful, since it’s still likely to be slick, especially as you get to your bus/car/etc. … Just went out to check – photo added. Lightly raining; can hear the snow melting.
7:39 AM: New Metro alert about snow routing – ALL buses in this area. A texter also says Route 125 is definitely snow-routing so “there may be some real unhappy people up the hill.” Speaking of hills:
Thanks to @janeydangerous for tweeting that photo of the SW Genesee hill east of Avalon.
8:22 AM: The melt continues. Major roads are bare and wet.
8:43 AM: Metro just sent an alert (and tweet) that Ride2 is canceled in West Seattle for the rest of the morning.
8:56 AM: Metro says the C Line is back to regular routing … If you’re just headed out onto the eastbound bridge, heads-up – there’s a report of wires down on the 1st Avenue S. exit ramp.
9:07 AM: The SDOT camera on that ramp shows the right lane currently blocked.
9:13 AM: The entire 1st S. offramp is now closed.
9:40 AM: Metro has resumed regular routing.
10:04 AM: The 1st Avenue S. ramp situation is, according to scanner traffic, also affecting surface Spokane on the eastbound side. City Light has to do pole work to resolve the situation.
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