West Seattle, Washington
03 Sunday
(Photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Chief Sealth International High School celebrated a memorable fall sports season this week. Among the highlights, the Sealth slowpitch-softball team made it to the state tournament. But Wednesday night’s celebration banquet actually began with a big moment for a spring-sports star:
Seahawks pitcher Nestor German ceremonially signed his letter of intent to attend Seattle University. Sealth athletic director and baseball coach Ernest Policarpio called him one of the “hardest-working kids” he has known in his 15 years at the school. Nestor offered words of gratitude for his coaches, family, and Seattle U offering “this opportunity at the next level.”
Also in the spotlight – the fall sports’ Seahawk Award winners:
The awards honor work ethic and “being a total team player.” Each athlete received the award from their coach(es). In order of presentation – Carmen Yoshitomi, girls’ soccer coached by Mike Rillo:
Volleyball, Eve Elmore, coached by Dez Johnson:
Slowpitch, Leslie Rivas, coached by Alex Alicea:
Football, Zach Cunningham, coached by Ted Rodriguez:
Girls’ swimming, Lola Taylor, coached by Stephanie Hunt:
Cross-country, Cedric Gackenbach, coached by Alexia Ramos and John Ramos:
Golf, Koen Shaw, coached by George Cano:
Along with the awards, coaches offered brief summaries of season highlights, and there was a lot of gratitude to go around – for assistants, trainers, school administration, parents, and warm words from the AD for athletics secretary Debbie Taylor. Some of the coaches’ recaps provided reminders of how hard the students work to achieve in athletics as well as in classwork. Swim coach Hunt, in her first year, noted that the girls practice before school – 6:30 am, two days a week. “It takes a lot of heart, a lot of guts, and they’ve come in every day with a smile.” She also noted that one of their divers, Maggie Schiltz, competed at state. Football coach Rodriguez said 17 of his 26 players received all-league honors, and declared Policarpio “best athletic director in the district.”
Next up – winter sports, starting with the boys’ basketball jamboree one week from tomorrow.
Back on Wednesday, we reported on a spike in residential burglaries in West Seattle. After a comment on that story tonight, reporting another break-in, we checked back with the Tweets by Beat log, and note that it’s continuing, with at least six residential break-ins in the past two days, all on the south half of the peninsula:
-8100 block 29th SW
-8800 block 16th SW
-7700 block 28th SW
-7800 block 39th SW (as reported in the aforementioned comment)
-7500 block California SW
-4000 block Othello
After the last story, Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Danner asked that we remind you she offers “free residential safety/security assessments, as well as burglary follow-ups” – she’s at jennifer.danner@seattle.gov – in case you’re not sure your home is as burglary-resistant as it could be.
Checking the city’s Early Community Outreach for Design Review calendar, we see 2 more West Seattle projects have set meetings. These are casual drop-in meetings at which you can ask the project team questions and offer early design feedback, not the big formal board meetings (which may or may not come later):
APARTMENTS AT 3417 HARBOR SW: We first reported on this back in April, a 5-story apartment building planned just north of the West Seattle Bridge. An Early Design Review Community Outreach Meeting with architects Atelier Drome is now set for Tuesday, December 17th, 6:30 pm at Hiawatha Community Center (2700 California SW). The project files show the team has continued talking with the city in the ensuing months; last month, for example, their request to avoid sidewalk improvements on the 30th SW side of the site was rejected. (Side note: Our April report mentioned the site was listed for sale for $2.5 million. Records show it sold last month for $2.1 million.)
TOWNHOUSES AT 2330 ALKI SW: We first wrote about this plan in September. 17 townhouses are proposed to replace a single-story apartment complex. Caron Architecture has an Early Community Outreach meeting scheduled for 6 pm Thursday, December 19th, at Alki Community Center (5817 SW Stevens).
(WSB file photo: Some of what was raffled off at a past Turkey Bowl)
‘Tis the season to give. The West Seattle-based Beer Church has done that every holiday season for more than 20 years via its beer-and-bowling benefit, the Turkey Bowl, and you’re invited to the party Saturday night at West Seattle Bowl. The lanes are sold out, but, Kim Sharpe Jones of the Beer Church says:
We encourage the community to come join the fun.
– enter to win target raffle prizes (tickets are $5, must be present to win; drawing will be around 7:15 pm)
– bring non-perishable food donations or monetary donations for the food bank
– try a Beer Church IPA – a collaboration beer by Two Beers Brewing, Georgetown Brewing and Airways Brewing to benefit Northwest Harvest
Stop by WS Bowl (39th/Oregon) between 5:30 pm and 8 pm tomorrow and be part of it.
(WSB photo, 35th SW south of Avalon, last Sunday)
Back in spring, SDOT said work on the 35th SW stretch of the Avalon/35th repaving-and-more project was expected to last into November. Now that November’s almost over, some WSB readers asked about a status update beyond the weekly progress reports. So we asked SDOT about that yesterday. Here’s the reply:
Based on our initial schedule, we expected work to continue on 35th Ave SW through November as we have expressed in past [mailing-list emails].
The overhead signs that you may have seen along the corridor refer to November as a completion date for the intersection at 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way. We anticipate wrapping up work at this intersection next week, prior to Thanksgiving.
In the first week in December, we plan to continue work on 35th Ave SW and progress towards working at the 35th Ave SW and SW Alaska St intersection and on SW Alaska St.
So bottom line, 35th SW work will NOT be completed this month.
Meantime, since SDOT’s media team sent that answer to our question, the project team’s official weekly update has arrived, with some elaboration:
We are wrapping up installing new signs along the corridor to help guide people driving and biking. As you adjust to the new channelization, please drive carefully and allow everyone a little extra space.
We will not be working Thursday, November 28 or Friday, November 29. We hope you have a happy Thanksgiving!
Zone F (SW Alaska St from 35th Ave SW to 36th Ave SW):
We will begin work in Zone F as soon as the week of December 2 to complete concrete and utility improvement work. Construction here is expected to last a few months. We will provide more information about what you can expect during the first few weeks of construction next week.
Please expect:
Left turns for people traveling northbound on SW Avalon way at the 35th Ave SW intersection is now restored
Traffic delays at the 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way intersection due to temporary lane reductions
One lane of travel in each direction on SW Avalon Way
Right turns in and out of driveways at this time
Work is continuing in Zones C, D and E. See our website or most recent email updates for more information on what’s taking place.
When will work be completed on this project?
We anticipate completing work as soon as Spring 2020. We will continue to keep the community up to date on the latest schedule information.
Another new addition to the mini-business hub just north of Luna Park:
Orange Twist is pleased to announce the opening of their studio located at 3400 Harbor Ave SW, #104. Artist and West Seattle resident Claire Jauregui started Orange Twist in 2008 as a way to foster connections between people while injecting humor and handcrafted design into everyday life. Her smart, funny, eco-friendly goods are made with recycled and organic materials and screenprinted by hand in Seattle.
Claire has participated in West Seattle community events including Summmer Fest, Alki Art Fair, Harvest Fest, and Fauntleroy Fine Art and Holiday Gift Show; she is on the board of Seattle Print Arts; and has co-organized screenprinting work parties since 2017.
Claire will use the cozy, 120 sq. ft studio located in West Seattle ActivSpace to showcase her own work and that of local artists. She also plans to host exhibitions, classes, lectures, meetups, letter writing parties, political actions, and more.
Through December Orange Twist Studio features Seattle-area artists:
-Orange Twist cards, prints, and baby one-pieces
-Eco-friendly screenprinted clothing from Shino Mikami of Uzura
-Modern concrete vessels from Terra Link and Jacob Rideout of The Savvy Heart
-A selection of modern subtly-textured jewelry designs from Adia Mei Jun Bobo of Rain City Forge
-Natural, plant-based handmade soap, candles, and body butters from EstrellaPlease join Claire at the Orange Twist Grand Opening Event on Saturday, November 23 from 12-6 pm for refreshments, art, gifts, and more.
After that, she plans “open studio” there every Friday and Saturday, noon-6 pm.
Commenters have wondered if The West Seattle Turkey would find a safe place to hang out until Thanksgiving was over. This photo just might be the answer. It’s from Chris at Compass Construction, which has West Seattle’s only current tower crane up and running along Fauntleroy just south of Alaska: “It looks like our feathered friend found a new perch on our tower crane!” This is the first turkey sighting we’ve heard of outside the south/east Admiral area since it settled in that area last spring.
(Common Merganser, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Here are highlights for the rest of your Friday! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE GARDEN CLUB: 10:30 am-2 pm at Daystar – you are welcome for any part of the day. (2615 SW Barton)
FRIDAY AFTERNOON MOVIE: “Songcatcher” (2000) at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 1 pm. $1 members/$2 nonmembers, popcorn included! (4217 SW Oregon)
THE WESTY TURNS 5: Celebrate starting at 4 pm with specials, free games, a celebratory IPA, and more – details here. (7908 35th SW)
JULIAN FOREST: Singer-songwriter performs live at the Pacific Room on Alki (WSB sponsor), 7 pm. No cover. All ages. (2808 Alki SW)
BOBCAT BOB: Popular performer at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)
‘HEAD OVER HEELS’: 7:30 pm curtain for the second night of the new musical at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) – check here for tickets. (4711 California SW)
‘THE ORIGINALS’: 8 pm curtain for this world-premiere play at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
THE HONKY TONKERS: Get in the swing of things at 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. $8 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
PREVIEW THE WEEKEND … via our West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar!
The photos and report – with a community invitation – are from the Highland Park Elementary PTA:
Art has arrived on the Highland Park Elementary playground! Thursday morning HPE PTA volunteers and some of our fifth graders began forming a Salmon Mural made up of wooden “fish” painted by students, staff, and community members.
This is just the beginning of a permanent art installation that will be added to every year as our school family grows; a visual representation of how we all swim together. Big thank you’s to Principal Dysart for supporting the PTA’s vision, art teacher Monika Kuhlmann for bringing this project to life, and everyone who has given their energy and support to our school. Come celebrate with us on November 23rd [tomorrow] at 9:30 am for a fun Kickball Saturday where we’ll continue to build our community and play!
(WSB file photo)
Reminder that if you or someone you know eeeds help getting a Thanksgiving feast on the table, tomorrow is the day that Eastridge Church gives hundreds of turkeys and bags of groceries to anyone show shows up. It starts at 9 am Saturday outside the church, which has a West Seattle location at 39th/Oregon in The Junction. Coats are available too. This all will last as long as supplies do, usually at least a couple hours.
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