West Seattle, Washington
06 Sunday
Police are investigating an armed robbery at the 35th/Barton 7-11. Few details but the robber has been described over emergency radio as Black, male, 6′ tall, in a black hat, black hoodie, and blue jeans, armed with a handgun. He was last seen running northbound on 35th. This comes just one day after the nearby Lucky 5 was held up at nid-afternoon Friday.
Thanks to Jerry Simmons for the photo from the starting line of tonight’s Alki Beach Sunset Run. As previewed here Friday, the 5K returned this year, two years after its debut. Not much of a sunset tonight, given the cloud cover, but pleasant weather for running. Racers headed out from the promenade toward Duwamish Head and back. Results will eventually turn up here.
P.S. Next big run along West Seattle’s shore is the Orca Half on September 18 and 19.
ADDED SUNDAY: The results (link above) are online now and show 400+ finishers, plus the wide age range of participants – youngest 7, oldest 77!
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports on this Saturday, and both involve catalytic converters:
THEFT: The catalytic converter was taken from M‘s vehicle at 4:50 am in Gatewood, near California/Othello. Police report filed. No other details. (Added: M’s vehicle is a Toyota RAV4.)
ATTEMPT: Received late this afternoon:
Just thwarted a second attempt on my Prius in my driveway on Beach Drive. Interrupted thief while he was jacking up the car; he ran without the jack to a waiting older Lexus compact sedan, white, lic BXT—-, reported to SPD. I ran to get my phone, during which he came back for his jack and fled.
One week from tomorrow, an outdoor celebration is planned to celebrate the past, present, and future of West Seattle’s Tilden School. At the heart of it, the school’s founder. Here’s the announcement:
Whitney Tjerandsen of Tilden School Retiring
Almost 37 years ago, Whitney Tjerandsen had the same angst as many other West Seattle parents: how to find the right school for her own soon-to-be Kindergarten son. The difference was that she had taught in the Berkeley Public Schools for 12 years, so she really knew what she was looking for: a school where he, and any child, would learn and thrive.
She found one on Capitol Hill, only to face a waiting list that was completely full. Words from the director of that school kindled a spark: “You are a teacher! Use your teaching skills and love of kids and their learning – and start your own school.”
With Whitney ‘s boundless and newly focused energy, she did just that. Putting the word out to the West Seattle community, the first year of Tilden School began with 12 students and ended the year with 17; the next year, it grew to 35; the next 78, and so on. Tilden School was a reality! As the school grew, Whitney hired a cadre of like-minded teachers with the same love of kids and philosophy of teaching.
What makes Tilden School unique? Keeping the class size small (no matter the looming waiting lists) allows individualized education. Whitney herself meets with each child every few weeks, K through Grade 5, to review their reading progress, to help them utilize the crucial phonics and syllabification rules to open up the sounding out of new words that make a reader and writer.
Ever dramatic and engaging, she wears her Super-E cape to teach those logical, and illogical, rules of English words. After all, knowing “I can teach a rock to read,” (and has the rock that proves it!) inspires children to tackle learning, even the difficult tasks.
She holds high expectations for each child, while building in the structure to help them succeed-not only academically, but personally. Just as important as strong academics is expecting and promoting the qualities of “responsible, good people” in society who know how to treat one another with kindness and respect.
Children learn to be responsible for themselves and celebrate who they are without needing to see themselves as better than anyone else, not as competitors, but with each as an important part of the whole.
This Covid year, Tilden continued to welcome and nurture children from K through 5th grade, and it became Whitney’s retirement year. It was not an easy decision, because in her words, ” I LOVE it! And I will so miss the kids and teachers.” The stars aligned and it became the right time. One of the Tilden teachers, Sarah Shearer, was ready to take the lead, so the school will continue.
Some favorite teachers and staff will also be retiring this year: Elaine Connell, Jan Foster, Karin Beck, and Administrator Monica Riva. Tilden teachers are also what makes Tilden a special place. Drawn to a small school after working a decade or more in public schools, they all relished the opportunity to get to know each child. Whitney describes her teachers as: “dedicated, hardworking, calm, smart, able to balance leadership with kindness, having a sense of humor, and a sense of what is right.” And so much fun!
What is next for Whitney in retirement? She will still take a small part in Tilden School, meeting individually with each student for reading skills. She will continue with her small part of the former Lou Magor and Whitney music program. They were friends for almost 50 years–since he was her director in the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. She feels that she could never fill his shoes, but will do her part, admittedly with a heavy heart.
She won’t have to find new hobbies in retirement because now she will have time to revel in her varied interests and skills-gardening, music (chamber music on cello, barbershop singing, 2 choirs, fiddle lessons, ukulele with the kids, learning crumhorn and alto recorder) and she has two grandchildren who live nearby, which is just a joy!
If you experience a Whitney “celebrity sighting” as a current student or family, be sure to catch her eye, and as a Tilden alum or family, expect her\ to swoon in delight and ask for a life update!
Join us to celebrate the retirements:
Sunday, August 29 from 3-6 p.m.
Hiawatha Park (2700 California SW)Please help us spread the word to current families, past students and their own growing families, past parents.
That “hammer cage” is one reason the 2021 USA National Masters Throws Championships are being held at West Seattle Stadium this weekend – meet director George Mathews explains the stadium is one of very few venues around the country where multiple throwing events can happen concurrently. (His Seattle Masters Athletic Club built the cage 20+ years ago.) Today is the first day of the two-day championships, with pentathlon competition – hammer, shot put, discus, javelin, and weight throws. Masters athletes in these sports range in age from 25 into the 100s.
And if that all looks challenging – Mathews – himself a repeat national and world champion – tells us tomorrow’s competition includes the ultraweight throws – up to 300 pounds:
Mathews says spectators are allowed, but they’re adhering to strict COVID-safety protocol – screening plus vaccination proof required for entry.
Tomorrow’s throwing is scheduled to start around 8 am.
The oldest athletes registered to participate this year, by the way, are in the 90-to-94 age range. There are nine people in their 80s. This is the first time the championships are happening here since 2018. (P.S. Thanks to the texter who tipped us about this weekend’s event!)
As spotlighted in today’s event list – two more hours to help Girl Scout Troop 41169 get to Savannah, Georgia, the birthplace of Girl Scouting. Their yard/bake sale continues until 3 pm at 3711 42nd SW. Angela sent the photo and says, “20+ families have contributed to this incredible sale! Quality housewares, furniture, tools, bikes, great clothes, amazing toys and games, classroom materials, and more! Plus our West Seattle famous lemonade and bake sale treats!! Come say hi and support these awesome girls!”
After a pandemic year off, the Great Cross-Suund Race returned to the waters off Alki this morning, with 32 entries taking on the seven-mile course to Blakely Rock and back. With the blast of an air horn, they started at 9 am off the east end of the promenade.
Finishing first, 50 minutes and 42 seconds later, was the same pair as the previous Great Cross-Sound Race in 2019 – Evan Jacobs and Tyler Peterson. They also set the race record 15 years ago – 49:44 in 2006.
The race is organized by the Sound Rowers and Paddlers open-water club. They kept time from a spot on the boardwalk near the Alki Bathhouse, same area that racers launched from, and returned to.
Full results will be online later.
Happy Saturday! Here’s what’s happening:
TRAFFIC ALERTS: Weekend work continues at Highland Park Way/West Marginal, scheduled until 1 pm today … NB 26th SW remains closed between Barton and Roxbury … On SW Alaska in The Junction/Triangle, work is planned this weekend, “updating the bus lane signs and re-marking lane striping,” mostly at night … If you see major road work that we haven’t mentioned, please text us when you can safely do so – 206-293-6302 – thanks!
THE GREAT CROSS-SOUND RACE: As previewed here, Sound Rowers and Paddlers are back with their annual (except for last year) race from Alki to Blakely Rock and back, 9 am.
FUNDRAISING YARD/BAKE SALE: 9 am-3 pm at 3711 42nd SW, it’s a multi-family yard and bake sale helping a Girl Scout troop raise money to travel.
ANOTHER FUNDRAISING YARD/BAKE SALE: Longfellow Creek P-Patch, 10 am-3 pm, 25th/Thistle. Raising money to benefit the garden, buying new tools, hoses, chip drops.
SEE TODAY’S OTHER SALES: Big day for yard sales – see what’s listed in the WSB Community Forums.
LAFAYETTE KINDERGARTEN PLAYDATE: 10 am at Hiawatha Playground (2700 California SW), the PTA is sponsoring another playdate for families with incoming kindergarteners.
FREE WRITING GROUP: Hybrid weekly group starts today at 10:30 am – details and registration link are in our calendar listing.
MAXMOBILE AT WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY: 11 am-2 pm, West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor) says the Seattle Humane MaxMobile will be visiting with adoptable pets.
WAGYU SMASH BURGER POP-UP: 11 am-1 pm, Lady Jaye (4523 California SW) is only making 100 of them – details here.
FUN WITH FURRY FACES FOUNDATION: 2 pm-6 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW), paint with your pup, sing karaoke, bid in a silent auction, more, all to keep F3 helping pets and their people.
‘FLUTES IN THE FOREST’ CANCELED: Just in case you missed that news – watch for a new date!
LEARN TO CAN: When last we looked, spaces were still open in Delridge Grocery Co-op‘s online class at 5 pm today – details in our preview.
ALKI BEACH SUNSET RUN: 6 pm, 5K, starting in five waves near the Alki Bathhouse (60th/Alki), running/walking partly on the trail, partly on the street (but no road closures, organizers tell us). If you haven’t registered yet, you have to do it online.
WEST SEATTLE DRAG SHOW WITH DOLLY MADISON: 8 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW; WSB sponsor), this week is a Madonna-Rama!
OPEN MIC ALL-STARS AT THE SKYLARK: Tonight at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), Dreamspeak, Lahaina Noon, Zach Tupper, and Zoser. $10 cover, doors at 8, music at 8:30. 21+.
Anything we’re missing? Got a future listing? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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