West Seattle, Washington
15 Saturday
Thanks to Trevor Simonton for the photos from Sunday, taken from the shore at Lincoln Park. He writes:
My wife and I saw some kind of porpoises (and a harbor seal) fishing off of the Fauntleroy ferry terminal … I thought it would be fun to share some pics.
We would love to get some opinions on what kinds of fins we saw… maybe Harbor Porpoise? Dall’s Porpoise? (on the far right of the pic of the paddleboarder there’s a harbor seal’s head… he was bobbing up and down along with the porpoises)
Trevor’s photos included one that needs no ID help:
As for the fins – even with a species guide like the one offered by The Whale Trail, we couldn’t tell. Can you?
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Masked country crooner Orville Peck and his band played for a packed house Monday night during their in-store performance at Easy Street Records.
Peck, known for his unique leather-fringe mask and throwback sound, played songs from his debut album Pony, released in March on Seattle’s own Sub Pop Records. His local show on Saturday night at Barboza was sold out, which made his free all-ages performance at Easy Street an even stronger draw.
Here are two video clips of the performance:
The crowd spilled out onto the sidewalk next to California Ave., where a little drizzle didn’t spoil the fun:
Upcoming in-store shows are listed on Easy Street’s website, including Justin Townes Earle this Thursday (May 23) and Silversun Pickups on May 31st.
3 golfers from West Seattle High School will compete in the state tournament, which starts tomorrow. The report and photos are from head coach Joel Snow:
West Seattle High School Golfers are off to the State Tournament!
On Tuesday, May 14th, the West Seattle Girls Golf Team competed at the District Tournament at the Riverbend Golf Course in Kent. Lauryn Nguyen, Dalaney Pham, Jora Tillman, Maria Grossi, Helen Schlachter, and Emily Buchanan represented West Seattle High School. Although we missed out on sending a team to the State Tournament the girls played well and competed against the best girls’ teams from Seattle and Bellevue.
We did have two girls qualify as individuals for the State Tournament. Sophomore Lauryn Nguyen continues to play great golf and added the District Championships Individual Title to her Metro League Championship Individual Title. Lauryn shot a 3 under par 69 to win by one stroke in a match that wasn’t decided until the 18th hole where Lauryn scored a two-putt birdie to earn the one stroke victory. Sophomore Dalaney Pham has also earned a spot at the State Tournament with a score of 88 and a top 10 finish in the Individual category.
Representing the West Seattle High School Boys team at the State Tournament is Senior Cameron Smith. At the District Championships for boys, which was previously held back in October, Cameron shot a 77 and a top 10 finish in the Individual category.
The State Tournament will be held on May 21st and 22nd in Olympia.
Congratulations to all the girls who competed in the District Championship Tournament, to Lauryn for her Individual Title and to Lauryn, Dalaney, and Cameron for making it to the High School Golf State Tournament!
For information on the West Seattle High School Golf Team please contact Coach Joel at wshsgolfteam@outlook.com
At our West Seattle Bee Festival booth on Saturday, the bird we have uncreatively nicknamed “The West Seattle Turkey” was Topic A with those who stopped by to say hi. So we’re sharing news of three sightings today. Above is a photo sent by Lily this afternoon when the turkey turned up in the 3200 block of Walnut SW, just a bit south of West Seattle High School, where Zoe caught this quick clip:
Zoe reports, “The turkey that has been roaming around was behind the woodshop at West Seattle High School this morning. A fun addition to 4th period. And it was still in the area this afternoon – this photo’s from Ray:
Ray saw it this afternoon on the northeast side of the WSHS campus. As Rose reported last week, the turkey seems to have settled in the general east Admiral area. Sightings began in southwest West Seattle three weeks ago. No one’s come forward to say they’re missing a turkey; we’ve checked with the Seattle Animal Shelter and they’re mystified too.
The photo and report are from Sarah Blum with the Duwamish Rowing Club:
Jyvon Camarillo and Alek Gastmans from Duwamish Rowing Club won bronze Friday 5/17 in Men’s Youth Novice Doubles at Youth Regional Rowing Championships, Vancouver Lake, WA.
There were over 750 crews competing from over 30 teams including singles, doubles, fours, quads, and eights in both Novice, Jr Varsity and Varsity levels. Duwamish Rowing Club had one single, four doubles and two fours.
All the youth worked hard through the winter and spring to prepare and gave each race their best.
You can cheer the DRC on their home river during the Dieter Hotz Regatta on July 27th.
Playground projects everywhere! Here’s the latest announcement we’ve received – can you help!
STEM is Taking First Steps for New Playground
Louisa Boren is taking the first steps to improve the school playground by applying for several Seattle City Grants. One requirement is that a steering committee is created. The committee should represent school families and community members. We are looking for community members to join the Playground Building Steering Committee.
If you know of somebody, outside of STEM, that wants to help create a fun, safe space for Delridge families to access, please have them call or email Adrienne Ollerenshaw:
louisaborenplaygroundcommittee@gmail.com
The school is at 5950 Delridge Way SW.
12:45 PM: The photos are from Luna Park Café proprietor John Bennett, who wants to be sure you know there IS parking for his business and others nearby while road work has the east side of Avalon off-limits.
“Seattle Department of Transportation has arranged for us to use the park-and-ride lot underneath the West Seattle Bridge for temporary parking for the Luna Park business district,” Bennett tells WSB. “Due to construction and loss of parking on Avalon Way, we encourage our customers to park there. It is a little walk but there is plenty of parking there.” The city has said the SW Orleans street end used as public parking between LP Café and The Shack will remain open but that can fill up fast.
ADDED 2:14 PM: One more sign to underscore the point:
(WSB photo, last week)
Eight months after West Seattle-residing Chef Mike Easton announced he would open Il Nido in the historic Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge, he revealed today that it’s opening tomorrow (by reservation). He is renowned for Il Corvo downtown; in the announcement last September, he described the plan for Il Nido as “absolutely Italian, driven by market produce.” As we reported days after that announcement, when the Homestead’s refurbished neon sign was returned and reinstalled, Il Nido will be the main tenant, but Dennis Schilling, who bought the Homestead (damaged in a 2009 fire) in 2015, is still the building’s owner.
(WSB file photo from Float Dodger 5K)
Wondering about upcoming run/walk events now that the 2019 West Seattle 5K (WSB coverage here) is over? We are exactly two months away from the return of the Float Dodger 5K, on the West Seattle Grand Parade route right before the parade July 20th! West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) presents the Float Dodger 5K and put it on hiatus last year, but this year it’s back, with proceeds benefiting the West Seattle Helpline. Discount registration is available now online, or fee-free at WSR (2743 California SW). The Float Dodger 5K is accompanied by prizes, a post-race beer garden, and even a costume contest!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:58 AM: Good morning. One problem so far – a blocking vehicle on S. Dearborn between the NB 99 exit and 1st.
TRAFFIC/ROAD WORK REMINDERS: Here are 3, including changes in the Avalon/35th work zones.
7:09 AM: Another blocking-vehicle report, this one from the scanner – Sylvan Way @ Sylvan Heights Drive (map).
7:45 AM: Crash on NB 99/509 just south of 1st Av S Bridge.
8:17 AM: The Dearborn blockage has cleared.
Tonight the Alki Masonic Lodge in The Junction honors outstanding local students. Chief Sealth International High School principal Aida Fraser-Hammer shares word of her school’s honorees:
Chief Sealth International High School is pleased to announce that Lance Allan Angeles, Clayton Church, Della Floyd, Kelly Le, Quoc Ly, Toan Nuynh, Sheila Richardson, and Elena Ruiz will be honored on Monday night at the 41st annual awards ceremony of the Alki Masonic Lodge #152 as the top eight students of the Junior Class. These outstanding students have demonstrated that they are accomplished scholars with excellent academic, civic, inter-personal and community-based skills.
Each junior will receive a framed certificate of achievement and a monetary award. In addition, the Lodge committee will announce the names of two of these scholars at the ceremony who will receive an engraved plaque and an additional monetary award. These two students will also have their names engraved on the perpetual plaque which is on display at Chief Sealth. The Award program will start at 7:00 PM on Monday, May 20, at the Masoni Lodge, 40th Ave SW and SW Edmunds St. Refreshments will be served immediately after the ceremony. Faculty, family, and friends are encouraged to attend as we recognize the accomplishments of these outstanding students.
We are also proud to recognize the top two students from last year’s awards ceremony, Olivia Palmer and Asher Didier, who were invited by the Masonic Lodge as speakers at this year’s ceremony.
These two will also compete with other students in the West Seattle region for a scholarship of $1,000.
Thank you to the Masonic Lodge #152 for its continued support of students in the West Seattle region and for recognizing these outstanding Chief Sealth scholars.
As we head for a new week, a few things you need to know:
AVALON SHIFT: Reminder from Friday’s update on the Avalon/35th/Alaska project – this starts tomorrow:
Crews are scheduled to begin work on the west side of SW Avalon Way from SW Manning St to SW Charlestown St (Zone A) on Monday, May 20. During construction, we will maintain access to SW Orleans St. SW Manning St will be closed starting Monday through the next few weeks. Local access will be maintained to the alley.
For the rest of what’s up, read the full update here.
SPEED HUMPS: Looks like the Beach Drive speed humps, which SDOT promised to replace after removing them in January, are about to return. The curbs adjacent to those specific sections of Beach Drive (south of Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook) are signed as “no parking” for work starting tomorrow. Just before the repaving work north of the park last month, SDOT noted it was working to schedule the replacement.
Also an alert if you haven’t encountered this already:
NO (BIG) TRUCKS: Two readers noted there’s new signage attempting to keep big trucks from trying to use the narrow route where there’s a sharp curve at 20th/21st east of Delridge. You might recall that a truck got stuck for hours there recently. There’s new signage on the east end of the route too.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Even with ~800 people all participating in one event, today’s 11th annual West Seattle 5K on Alki was highlighted by personal stories. Like the runners who were all Schmitz Park Elementary classmates and now high-school seniors:
The 5K is about high school, in fact – West Seattle High School‘s PTSA presents it. As the WS5K starts its second decade, it has a brand-new race director, Katie Hudson:
The top finishers, meantime, included spouses from Vashon Island. First to cross the finish line, Brian Folts, in 16:36:
Monica Folts was the second female finisher, 19:00:57.
Other top finishers in a bit – but first, here’s everybody leaving the starting line at Alki at 9:20 this morning:
At the start of our video, you hear the voice of Eric Radovich, who has emceed the WS5K most years. The sendoff for the runners and walkers also included WSHS principal Brian Vance, declaring “Westside is the Best Side!”
Now, the other top finishers – first and third female, Adrienne Glasheen (18:56, bib #5) and Jennifer Santoyo (19:19, bib #742):
Second and third male finishers, Victor Ordaz (17:00, bib #653) and Tao Norsen (17:03, bib #655):
Tao is just 14 years old! Lots of other young participants, some running, some not:
Finishers of all ages got a cowbell greeting from this spectator:
Cowbell for the West Seattle 5K finishers! pic.twitter.com/KqIyvVJuUV
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) May 19, 2019
One more note: The West Seattle 5K is dog-friendly, too:
Full results are here.
ADDED 11:20 PM: John Saalwaechter again made a time-lapse video along the route:
4:29 PM: Thanks to Jim Edwards for the photo! Again this year, West Seattle High School musicians are in British Columbia for Victoria Day weekend – show above are band members performing outside the Parliament buildings. Tomorrow, they’re in the Victoria Day Parade.
ADDED 8:28 PM: Two more photos, sent by WSHS music director Ethan Thomas, who notes that the WSHS orchestra also made the trip as well as the band:
The band had several performances over the weekend including two pep band performances in front of the Parliament Building, the annual Parade of Bands, Drumline Battle, and finishing with the 121st Victoria Day Parade Monday morning.
Our Orchestra (directed by Taylor Fritts) had a 2-hour workshop at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and also performed in front of the Parliament Building.
(WSB photos)
Full house at Highland Park Improvement Club last night for the centennial edition of HPIC’s annual wine-celebration fundraiser Uncorked.
The event has grown – not only in attendance (it sells out every year) but also in scope – used to be the attendees brought the wine; this year, the wine was all provided, from 10 wineries. Eventgoers enjoyed a spread of appetizers, too:
And more opportunities to support HPIC – a community-owned-and-operated venue that hosts countless events and classes every year – were available via a silent art auction and basket raffle:
Community sponsors (including WSB) supported the event too. HPIC was incorporated in November 1919, originally the Dumar-Outland Improvement Club (read more history here). Next monthly event is the Corner Bar on Friday, June 7.
The Mariners are playing another home game against the Twins this afternoon and if you’re at the game, there’s somebody special to root for – the 2019 Honorary Bat Girl, who’s from West Seattle. The photo and news release are from the team:
A West Seattle woman who credits her interest in the latest technology for discovering her breast cancer at an early stage has been selected as the Seattle Mariners Honorary Bat Girl for 2019. Dianne Munroe will be recognized on Sunday, May 19, and throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Mariners take on the Minnesota Twins.
The Honorary Bat Girl program was created by Major League Baseball in 2009 to raise awareness and support for the annual “Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer” initiative. Starting this year, MLB is partnering with CrowdRise to host a fundraising contest for each Honorary Bat Girl to raise money to benefit Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C) and Susan G. Komen. The winning Bat Girl will receive a trip to the 2019 World Series. All funds raised through the initiative will be donated to SU2C and Komen. More information is available at HonoraryBatGirl.com, and the Mariners Honorary Bat Girl’s fundraising page is at this link.
Mariners Honorary Bat Girl
Dianne Munroe spent much of her 34-year career in health care designing treatment and care facilities. In the 1990s, as her work focused on spaces for women’s breast health, she became an advocate for regular mammograms. With a Masters in Engineering Management, it made sense to her to take advantage of the latest technology, too.
So when she had the chance to undergo new 3D imaging at the Franciscan Breast Center in Burien in 2016, she opted to wait a few months past her normal mammogram schedule to use the new equipment.
“And they found something. I guess that’s the blessing in the whole thing. Had I not done that, I probably would have had the (2D imaging) and I probably would have gone 14 or 15 months with nothing. I would never have detected mine. It was small and very deep and the machine is what picked up my cancer,” said Munroe.
Because her cancer was detected early, the tumor was small. Munroe underwent a lumpectomy and radiation therapy at Highline Cancer Care Center. She is now cancer-free, and her physician, Dr. Ani Fleisig, a CHI Franciscan surgical oncologist, says early detection often leads to a good outcome.
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Neighbors and community leaders gathered Tuesday night at the Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting to talk about neighborhood outreach, music, the local library, emergency preparedness and other topics.
The ANA meeting, held at The Sanctuary at Admiral, was the group’s first meeting since March, and was led by president David Hancock. Highlights below:
COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT & ADMIRAL UCC CHURCH SITE: Hancock gave an update on efforts that have ramped up in the past 4-6 weeks to do a full “community needs assessment” of Admiral residents and business owners, the goal being to identify ways to make the area a better place to live and work. Hancock said the approach would be to do a “deep dive” survey, likely a combination of doorbelling and tabling at events along with an online survey, throughout the neighborhood including the Admiral urban village (where there is a higher percentage of renters and businesses) as well as homes across the area (see more about the neighborhood on ANA’s website and the city’s 2018 Admiral Snapshot.) Hancock said the idea was prompted by discussions with Pastor Rev. Andrew Conley-Holcom, whose Admiral Congregational UCC Church is in the midst of evaluating options for its own future as it relates to how the 27,000-square-foot property could best serve the community, as we reported from ANA’s December meeting.
We start with the event that will fill the street along the shore with hundreds of runners and walkers:
WEST SEATTLE 5K: The first big run/walk of the year takes off from 61st/Alki just after 9 am – remember that Alki Ave. will be closed for a few hours because of the 5K. Starting at 8 am, you can register by the Alki Bathhouse if you’re not already signed up. Proceeds benefit the West Seattle HS PTSA; community sponsors include WSB. (2701 Alki SW)
SPEND YOUR MORNING RESTORING: Friends of Lincoln Park would love to see you 9 am-noon.
Join this hardy group to show some love to the park. All ages welcome. Details here. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
PEONY AND BAMBOO FESTIVAL: 10 am-4 pm at Seattle Chinese Garden again today. The garden is on the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. (6000 16th SW)
(Lincoln Park on Saturday, photographed by Anjanette Nelson-Wally)
LOW-LOW TIDE: Another beach-walking opportunity! Today, the tide is out to -2.2 feet at noon.
COLMAN POOL’S 2ND PRESEASON WEEKEND CONTINUES: Again today, noon-7 pm, you can swim in West Seattle’s only public outdoor saltwater pool, on the shore at Lincoln Park. See the schedule here. (8603 Fauntleroy Way SW)
JAMTIME: 1:30-4 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)
SKYLARK ART MART: 3-7 pm, things to see, buy, listen to! More info in our calendar listing. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
‘OFFICE HOUR’ AT ARTSWEST: 3 pm matinée for Julia Cho‘s drama at ArtsWest; tickets available online here. (4711 California SW)
QUEEN CITY FUTSAL: This indoor-soccer league is wrapping up its season in style:
5 PM ALL-STAR GAME
The All-Star game will consist of 2 players from each of the 6 teams that played during the spring season that did not make it to the final.5:50 PM RAFFLE TIME!
Any human being that comes to support will automatically be entered into a raffle for some cool prizes and Queen City swag!6 PM FINAL
At 6 PM, come watch Megalodon and Nomads go head-to-head to see who will take the throne and be named Queen City’s Spring Season QUEEN CHAMPION.
Salvation Army gym in South Delridge. (9050 16th SW)
DRUNKEN OWL THEATER: Monthly event at Parliament Tavern, 7 pm. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
YES, THERE’S MORE … on our complete calendar.
…it was apparently fireworks. Police have been out looking around after multiple reports of possible gunfire in east West Seattle; texts we received speculated the location to be anywhere from West Marginal Way to Roxhill Park. According to radio communication, they didn’t find evidence of gunfire anywhere but they did find one person who saw fireworks, and they subsequently found fireworks debris at 27th/Elmgrove.
Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
THEFT SUSPECT SOUGHT: From Jason at Bellevue Rare Coins in The Junction:
This suspect ran with high value item (over $4,000) from the West Seattle location of Bellevue Rare Coins at 5:22 pm today (Saturday, 5/18). There is a $500 reward for any information leading to the suspect’s arrest.
The SPD incident # is 2019-179175.
CONDO BUILDING BREAK-INS: The video was sent by Barbara:
The break-in is one of two that happened at her condo building at California/Juneau May 9th and 11th; suspect photos are at this link. If you have any info, the SPD incident # is 2019-166843.
MORE CONDO BUILDING BREAK-INS: This alert was circulated by Mark Jaroslaw of Alki Blockwatch:
It has come to our attention that three Alki BlockWatch condos – two along Harbor Ave and a third along Alki Ave – had their front-entry KnoxBox broken into between the end of April and the beginning of May. In two of the cases, the small locked box that holds master keys or fobs for fire and police personnel, was literally pried or broken off the exterior wall between midnight and 4 a.m.
In the third case, the thief penetrated the box and stole the master key.
It was further reported that within days of the break-ins, thieves at two locations returned to the scene of the crime with the master key. But by that time, the condos had already replaced the box and re-keyed the building. Apparently deterred, one thief attempted to break into the condo by prying off the faceplate of the front-entry intercom.
In one of the three break-ins, two thieves wearing gloves – a woman in her 20s with long blonde hair, and her boyfriend – somehow managed to get into the building, steal some lobby mail, and broke into a car downstairs. In the second occurrence, the thief broke into downstairs storage lockers and main storage room.
One of the condo surveillance cameras videotaped the thief in the act of breaking into the KnoxBox,
and police they know his identity. Apparently this is his MO.There are more than 4,000 KnoxBoxes on condos and commercial buildings throughout Seattle. The
recent West Seattle break-ins aren’t the first time these crimes have been reported. In the summer of
2016, KIRO-TV reported that thieves struck KnoxBoxes throughout city, and it occurred again – on a
smaller scale – two years ago this month.
P.S. If you have concerns/questions for police, the next West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting is Tuesday (May 21st), 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).
The namesake blossoms were on full display for day 1 of the Peony and Bamboo Festival at the Seattle Chinese Garden on Puget Ridge. Thanks to David Hutchinson for sharing photos, including the lion dance:
And the Tai Chi demonstration:
The festival continues on Sunday, 10 am-4 pm; the garden entrance is on the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
Big weekend for celebrating wine in West Seattle. Here’s how it began – with the Spring Wine Walk in The Junction. 15 non-food-and-drink businesses hosted wineries; tickets – sold out in advance! – got you 10 tastings and some swag. We stopped by the WSB sponsors that were hosting wineries – above, Menashe and Sons Jewelers; below, Click! Design That Fits:
And at VAIN, the winery was also a WSB sponsor, Welcome Road Winery (whose own wine room is just up the street at 3804 California SW):
See the full list of wineries and venues here. Next month, The Junction hosts what you might call a “beer walk” – or run – June 15th, tickets still available.
Second orca alert of the day! This time from Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales, reporting northbound orcas in the Fauntleroy ferry lanes. Let us know if you see them!
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