West Seattle, Washington
16 Friday
Seattle Public Schools classes are scheduled to start one week from tomorrow – if the district and its teachers union, the Seattle Education Association, reach a contract deal. The current contract expires tomorrow, and that’s also when the union is having a general membership meeting – online – to discuss a strike-authorization vote. The SEA says its board has approved that vote and, according to a statement from SEA president Jennifer Matter, “we expect secure online voting will take place over the weekend.” The two sides are still negotiating. In the meantime, tomorrow morning they’re planning “sign waving, demonstrating, and other actions in front of school buildings” before their workday begins. The union says this one-sheet compares the two sides’ positions, with special- and multilingual-education support atop the priorities. For its part, the district published this statement today. The last SEA strike was in 2015.
The National Weather Service has just added two days to the Heat Advisory alert – originally set to expire tomorrow night, now in effect through Friday night. The NWS says temperatures will cool a bit on Thursday but then rise again Friday. Today’s official high at Sea-Tac was 90, so this year has tied the record for most 90-or-warmer days in a year, 12 … so far.
Head coach Jeff Scott and the West Seattle High School Wildcats are getting ready for football season, with the home opener against Renton at 7 pm Friday (September 2nd) at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle). Before they take the field, the team is hoping for an assist from you – they’re fundraising for costs beyond what basic funding covers: Uniforms, equipment, training for coaches. If you can contribute, here’s the link.
That’s a historic photo of what was the Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist, at 42nd/Lander, more recently known as The Sanctuary at Admiral. In 2009, the city Landmarks Preservation Board designated it as an official city landmark. It’s spent much of the time since then as an event venue, but now it’s up for sale – one of two city landmarks in West Seattle that are currently on the market, along with the Campbell Building in The Junction. The Sanctuary is a 9,000-sf building on a 10,000-sf lot, according to the brochure for the $3.5 million listing, which touts the 93-year-old building’s “endless potential.”
This week and next week, the Skunk Works Robotics program is having open houses for students interested in participating. They’re based a bit south of West Seattle but have many participants from our area. Here’s the invitation:
Skunk Works Robotics is a competitive robotics team based in the Highline area. It is affiliated with 4-H and accepts members from any school, including homeschoolers. The team utilizes a workspace graciously provided by Highline Public Schools.
The Skunk Works team has been in the Highline area for 16 years and has won numerous awards as part of FIRST Robotics. Skunk Works is looking for new members who want an opportunity to build and utilize their skills in CAD, public speaking, programming, graphic design, statistical analysis, wiring, marketing or parts fabrication to compete at the highest levels of high school robotics. The team functions as a business and students learn marketable skills and teamwork under the supervision of mentors.
Meetings in the fall are twice a week. The team meets 4 days a week and on Saturdays when the competition season begins in January. We are accepting students in grades 8-10 at this time.
Skunk Works will have two open house sessions, September 1st and September 8th. Both will run from 6:30-8 pm. We ask that a parent or guardian attend this meeting as well. Please fill out this Google form and indicate which date you would like to visit.
If you’re a West Seattle Brewing Company customer, you’ve probably already heard that they’re losing their Alki Tap Shack location (2536 Alki SW) because its site and that of Ampersand Coffee next door are being renovated/redeveloped. Not a huge project – more on that later – but nonetheless, the old one-story spaces that hold both businesses will be replaced. WSBC’s Tap Shack has announced September 30th as its last day, but starting the farewell party early, and has just sent word of what it calls “Finale Week” – four days with special performances:
– Thursday 9/8 @djbigugly 7:00-10:00
– Friday 9/9 @smokeybrights 7:00-9:00
– Saturday 9/10 Urban Achievers; a Led Zeppelin tribute 5:00-8:00
– Sunday 9/11 The Whopper Johns 4:00-6:00
In connection with “Finale Week,” WSBC plans to release limited-edition Tap Shack merch on September 9th, and later this week, they promise a full restock of their original merch.
After the September 30th closure, you’ll still be able to patronize West Seattle Brewing at their main location, 4415 Fauntleroy Way SW which they call the “mothership.”
The plan is different for Ampersand, which has announced it will be open in its current building through October 30th, and then:
We will be consolidating our operations into the ‘Tacontainer’ that previously resided next to Ampersand over the last 2 years. Initially it will be located right in front of Ampersand and then will move around the property to accommodate construction.
We will be focusing mostly on coffee and our food menu will necessarily be smaller. We will no longer making things in-house and will be out sourcing products from local businesses.
They’re expecting to move back into the new building once it’s complete.
The owners of the site are the Schilling family, which has bought and renovated other Alki sites, most notably the historic Homestead/Fir Lodge (now home to Il Nido) as well as the Shoremont Apartments. City records say the project will “renovate” the two commercial spaces and add a residential unit above, with the end product a two-story building.
It’s a celebration of community, and teamwork to get help to people who need it. On Saturday, September 10th, three West Seattle service clubs – the Kiwanis, Lions, and Rotary – will lead a community-wide food drive to collect donations for the West Seattle Food Bank.
On that day from 9 am to 1 pm, at most if not all local grocery stores, you’ll find volunteers from the clubs, as well as youth from the Kiwanis-supported Key Clubs at Chief Sealth IHS and West Seattle HS, ready to receive your donations. The final list of participating stores will be available in a few days – we’ll add that to our calendar listing and subsequent previews/reminders. Meantime, here’s what the WSFB needs most (including a few non-food items).
(Monday night photo by Chris Frankovich)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BLOCK DROP DIY CLEANUP: The program is on hiatus until Friday – preview what’s ahead here.
DONATE FOOD: Admiral Church‘s summer food drive is accepting donations again today, 11 am-1 pm (4320 SW Hill)
WADING POOL & SPRAYPARK OPEN: With a sunny, warm afternoon ahead, the Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) wading pool will be open, noon-7 pm. Also, Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open 11 am-8 pm.
COLMAN POOL: The outdoor pool at Lincoln Park will be open to the public today as its 7-days-a-week schedule continues, noon-7 pm.
NO CITY COUNCIL MEETING: The council’s on end-of-summer break until after Labor Day.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Longstanding weekly 4:30-6 pm sign-waving demonstration at 16th/Holden. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
‘ART, ARTISTS, AND THE NARRATIVES OF LOSS AND RESILIENCY’: As previewed here, this special event at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond) is part of a series intended to combine art, presentation, performance, and discussion to help change the narrative around gun violence. All welcome, 6-8 pm.
STORYTIME IN THE GARDEN: Bring your little one(s) for a story followed by a garden activity, at the Delridge P-Patch, 6 pm (5078 25th SW).
POTENTIAL CUB SCOUT IN THE FAMILY? Pack 282 welcomes you to a parents’ meeting tonight at 6 at West Side Presbyterian Church (3601 California SW) – details in our calendar listing.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, go play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
FAMILY GAME NIGHT: Meeples Games (3727 California SW) welcomes families 6-8 pm to this weekly hosted game-playing night.
WEST SEATTLE TOASTMASTERS: You’re invited to their online meeting tonight – learn to become a confident communicator! – starting at 6:30 pm.
TRIVIA X 3: Three of the venues where you can play tonight – 7 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), 7:30 and 8:30 pm at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska).
BELLE OF THE BALLS BINGO: Play bingo with Cookie Couture at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm. Free, all ages!
You can always see more on our calendar – and if you have something to add for the future, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The family of Wilma Ann Waters is sharing this remembrance:
Wilma Ann Waters, a long-time West Seattle resident, passed away on January 26th after a brief illness. She was 93.
Wilma was born to Louis and Philomena Swan on December 9, 1928 in Interior, SD. A hardscrabble life growing up in the Badlands instilled in Wilma an impressive work ethic and sense of frugality that served her well throughout her life. The family migrated west to Albany, Oregon in 1936 in a Model A Ford, with four kids. She attended Albany High School in Albany, Oregon, where she graduated in 1946. She then attended Oregon State University for 2 years before moving to Portland, where she met and married John Norton Waters, a highly decorated World War II combat veteran, on April 29, 1950. Nort and Wilma eventually settled in the Seahurst neighborhood in Burien in 1960. Nort died in 1969 in a float-plane accident. He was the love of her life and she never re-married. She lived in Seahurst until 1990, before moving to West Seattle, where she lived until she died.
During the first years of their marriage, Wilma and Nort moved around the west coast, living in Seattle, Mineral, Shasta, San Mateo, and Yakima, before finally settling down in Seahurst in 1960. Nort was a land developer and built several apartment complexes in the greater Seattle area. After Nort’s death, Wilma was able to save his businesses, most notably, keeping Tama Qua Apartments and managing it until she sold it in 1983. She was a successful businesswoman at a time where men dominated the industry. She was very business savvy and immensely respected.
Wilma was an amazing athlete. She started running at the age of 51, running at a 7 min/mile pace at 62 years old. She ran races for over 30 years, winning dozens in her age groups. Her favorite road race was the Rhody Run, where she set multiple age-group records that lasted for years. In her late eighties, she traded running for walking and walked many of her favorite runs with her grand and great-grandchildren. She remained active through her later years, walking daily over 3 miles, mainly on Alki beach. She also loved golf and skiing. She joined Rainier Golf & Country Club, where she was a member for nearly 20 years. She loved to play golf with her grandchildren, getting them lessons and into Rainer’s junior program. At 92, she convinced her great grandkids to participate in drive, chip and putt competitions. She and her friends from St. Francis Parish in Burien went on many beach and ski vacations together. These were big multi-family events. Her favorite destinations were the Oregon Coast, usually Gearhart or Cannon Beach, and Sun Valley, Idaho, where she maintained a residence.
Wilma was known for her fashionable style, delicious cooking, and her preference for driving high-performance sports coupes. She was also very devoted to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Wilma believed that having and raising children was the greatest thing anybody could accomplish. She excelled at everything she did. She never talked about her many extraordinary successes, always gracious and humble.
As a devout Catholic, Wilma rarely missed Sunday mass. She was an active member of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Burien for over thirty years and then Holy Rosary Parish of West Seattle for the last 30 years. She had all her children attend Catholic schools and contributed generously to Catholic Charities and Mt. St Vincent.
Wilma enjoyed a challenging and vigorous life. She was fiercely independent, had a very healthy lifestyle, was financially successful and relished her role as her family’s beloved matriarch. She was preceded in death by her husband, two sisters, and a brother. She is survived by her sister, Jane Fournier of Green Valley, AZ; five children, Jonete Rehmke, Gayle Dunham (Jim), Linda Fitzgerald (Mike), John Waters (Monica), Paula Waters; eight grandchildren; and fifteen great-grandchildren. A Catholic burial service was held on March 25, 2022 at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon, where she was interred with her husband Nort.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to the Providence Mt. St. Vincent Foundation in West Seattle, First Tee of Greater Seattle, or Catholic Charities, USA.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
11:03 AM: Two-car crash at Olson/2nd, east end of the Roxbury corridor. Police and fire responding.
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Earlier:
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday, August 30th.
WEATHER
Sunny, breezy forecast, high in the 80s.
BACK TO SCHOOL
Today’s the first day for Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School (34th/Myrtle). Here’s our list of who’s already started and who’s coming up.
FERRIES, BUSES, WATER TAXI
Ferries: WSF continues the 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
Metro buses are on their regular weekday schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations/reroute alerts.
The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.
ROAD WORK
Watch for bike-lane work along Andover/26th/28th/Yancy (Sunday photo above). Here’s the construction notice. Also, spot paving on California north of Admiral.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
891st morning without the West Seattle Bridge. 19 days until the day SDOT expects to reopen it – September 18th. Here’s our report on another visit to the work zone last week.
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use until the high bridge reopens; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)
1st Avenue South Bridge:
South Park Bridge:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are tweeted by @wsdot_traffic.
All city traffic cams can be seen here, many with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
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