West Seattle, Washington
23 Saturday
Last weekend, we noted that Arbor Heights teen Joseph Meats was collecting drop-off donations for the West Seattle Food Bank. Now, the results! From Judi Yazzolino at WSFB:
Joey & his Dad, Tony, delivered all the food Tuesday for a total of 565 pounds of food & pet food. He also did a fundraiser on Facebook & our website for a total of $305. We love Joey and his parents; they have been incredible supporters of the West Seattle Food Bank for many years and now that Joey is a teenager, he has started volunteering here at the food bank as well.
Missed the chance to donate? At least two local Halloween attractions in our guide (the Meeds Haunted House and Nightfall Orphanage) are collecting nonperishable food, so take some with you when you head out!
We often publish remembrances about people who have died; tonight, we have one about a cat. An extraordinary cat, as her human companion Dr. Jean Nokes-Ghivizzani explains:
For over a quarter of a century, a 6-pound fluffy calico cat named Luna has graced Falconridge Farm in the Highland Park area of West Seattle.
She was the greeter, the guardian, a rider of horses, and put the rodents on notice. She was one of a litter of kittens abandoned in South Park and brought to Falconridge as a young kitten, arriving mid-April 1994 on the full moon.
Luna became a celebrity and was a feature on the International Discovery Channel, appeared in the Seattle Times, the West Seattle Blog, and KING-TV. Because Luna was an amputee, she had a fan club of other amputees for whom she was an inspiration.
Just before submitting her Great Animal Videos TV audition tape, Luna came into the barn dragging her hind leg, which had a compound fracture, and after 2 surgeries, it was finally removed. Prior to that time, Luna had spent about 16 hours each day on a horse.
She slept in the middle of their backs at night, curled up in their hay where the horses gently nibbled around her, rode out to the pastures on her equine friends, jumped on passing horses and rode double behind the surprised riders.
Luna was practicing sitting on a trotting horse for TV shortly before her accident. What had occurred was not clear but what was clear was that Luna was not going to be held back. 2 days after returning to Falconridge after her amputation, she was up on top of the stall dividers, and yes, back on a horse. Her balance was off a bit and she would go backward, but one of her Falconridge friends took her to her own chiropractor. After a few weeks of adjustments, Luna was much improved and resumed riding, although she preferred her mounts to be walking or dozing.
On September 16th, 2019, her solitary hind leg gave out. She went home with her human Mom and after a night in her cozy bed with care, catnip, and her favorite toys, she made it clear she could not go on. She is mourned, missed, and celebrated simultaneously. Luna is a legend and now has joined the dynasty of distinguished Falconridge barn cats, all of whom lived through their mid-twenties. She left no trainee.
We asked Dr. Nokes-Ghivizzani about Falconridge Farm’s status, since you might recall that it was for sale for a while two years ago. She replied, “Falconridge is thriving. The facility is being used (not leased) exclusively by a horse rescue and all is well, as my late husband used to say. A small part of a feature-length film will be shot there this year.”
Thanks to the reader who sent photos tonight of the Genesee Hill house – mentioned in the WSB West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide – with more than 100 carved pumpkins on display!
Jason told us he displayed more than 50 last year, and doubled it this year.
You can see them through Halloween in the 5200 block of SW Dakota.
(WSB photos)
6:26 PM: One minute into overtime at Walt Hundley Playfield, the West Seattle High School girls’ soccer team broke a 1-1 tie with Holy Names and won their first game of the Metro League 3A tournament.
(WSHS #3, Lilli Bedell)
Next they play the winner of tonight’s (corrected) Garfield-Seattle Prep game.
(WSHS #8, Isabella Colberg)
7:50 PM: Photos added.
ADDED THURSDAY MORNING: The bracket is finally updated. WSHS will play Seattle Prep at 7 pm Saturday (November 2nd) at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
Thanks to Lynda for the tip: Shack Coffeehouse has announced it’s closing after this Friday. From its Instagram page:
As you all know it has been a rocky last couple of months for us here at The Shack. Construction has caused a drastic cut in business and it is sadly time for us to close our doors. Our last day open will be Friday Nov. 1st, 7:30AM-1PM. All merch such as sweatshirts, t-shirts, water bottles, coffee cups and reusable tote bags will be 50% off! Stop in and grab one to remember us by! We thank you for your support, and you can still see some of your favorite baristas working at @hotwirecoffee so feel free to swing by and see them! Thank you West Seattle!
Shack staffers told us business dropped by half within the first few weeks of the Avalon roadwork five months ago; then last month, the owners listed it for sale. Before it became Shack Coffeehouse, the little building at 2920 Avalon Way had been Java Bean for almost 20 years.
3:36 PM: As previewed last night, West Seattle High School students have joined the Admiral District trick-or-treating lineup this year, with a “trunk-or-treat” arrangement of decorated cars between the southwest edge of Hiawatha and the northwest edge of the WSHS campus. Worth a look even if you don’t want candy!
Otherwise, looks like this year’s participants are mostly along California, both sides of Admiral. More photos in a bit; Admiral trick-or-treating continues until 6 pm.
4:23 PM: Working our way north, above is A Kids’ Place Too Dentistry for Children (WSB sponsor); below, Admiral Bird:
Fun costumes spotted, too:
Tomorrow, two more business-district trick-or-treat events – Magic of Morgan (3-5 pm) and Westwood Village (4-6 pm).
Businesses in booming Morgan Junction have decided to join the list of local business districts hosting trick-or-treat events. Zoe from Youngstown Coffee Company (6032 California SW) came up with the idea for “Magic of Morgan” – 3-5 pm tomorrow (Halloween), “Businesses will be handing out candy and goodies and Youngstown Coffee will be doing pumpkin decorating.” For 21+, she adds, Beveridge Place Pub has a doggie-costume contest starting at 6 pm. The businesses listed are primarily on both sides of California north of Fauntleroy; Zoe says you might see some last-minute additions. We’re adding this, meantime, to the WSB West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide.
Thanks for the tip! Striping is under way today on repaved Avalon Way; SDOT had said in its most-recent weekly update that it expected the work to start this week. Previously, the striping wasn’t expected to happen until spring; SDOT now says that’s when it’ll install some of the final touches such as flex posts for the bike lanes. You can see the final design here (PDF).
Since 2006, a spirited group of residents and friends has transformed a yard in southeast Admiral into the stage for Skeleton Theatre, a multimedia extravaganza starring animatronic skeletons. They’re at it again for Halloween 2019, bringing back their space epic “Ulna 13.” Skeleton Theatre tends to be more goofy than spooky, so it’s safe even for the easily scared. Just look and listen for the crowd at 36th/Hanford [map] Halloween night and Friday (November 1st), a free 20-minute show running continuously 6-9 pm both nights.
P.S. “Ulna 13” was originally presented six years ago – here’s our coverage from that Halloween.
(Downy woodpecker, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
First, from the WSB West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide:
ADMIRAL DISTRICT TRICK OR TREATING: Participating merchants welcome trick-or-treaters, this year the day before Halloween! 3-6 pm. (All directions along California/Admiral, also 42nd north and south of Admiral)
STORY TIME: Halloween Story Time at Paper Boat Booksellers, 6 pm. (6040 California SW)
And from the year-round WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOCCER: Metro League tournament play at Walt Hundley Playfield at 4 pm, West Seattle HS vs. Holy Names. (34th/Myrtle)
NEW CRUISE TERMINAL: The Port of Seattle is having three information/input meetings about its proposal for a new cruise terminal at Pier 46. First one is at the Georgetown campus of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), 5:30-7:30 pm, as previewed here. (6727 Corson Ave. S.)
KENNEDY HS OPEN HOUSE: 6:30 pm open house at Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien. (140 S. 140th)
(Amateur radio is for all ages! WSB photo from 2018 Field Day)
In case you haven’t already seen these in our calendar – amateur-radio classes are coming up in West Seattle! From David Hillier with the West Seattle Amateur Radio Club:
Amateur radio is a fun hobby and a great way to help the community. You see us helping with communications at the West Seattle Grand Parade and at the Harvest Festival parade every year, for example. Amateur radio is also excellent for emergency preparedness. When the big one hits, one of the first things to go is communications.
Getting a license is not complicated. You simply must pass a 35-question exam. You don’t need to know Morse code. Let us help you get your license! We are giving a Technician (first level) class the weekends of November 2-3 and 9-10. We are giving a General (second level) class the weekends of November 9-10 and 16-17. The class is structured such that you can take both courses if you like. The classes are free. The exam (which we provide as part of the class) costs $15. It will be held at South Seattle College.
The classes are sponsored by the West Seattle Amateur Radio Club, Seattle Office of Emergency Management, and the Auxiliary Communications Service. Info on the first series is in our calendar here; the second one, here.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:56 AM: Good morning. No alerts/incidents in our area so far.
ADMIRAL NOTE: Be extra careful traveling through the Admiral District this afternoon – trick-or-treaters will be visiting businesses 3-6 pm.
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