West Seattle, Washington
15 Thursday
On this somber anniversary of deadly attacks followed by years of war, a garden gathering in West Seattle today sowed seeds of hope for peace.
The new Children’s Peace Garden outside Fauntleroy UCC Church is centered on a Peace Pole installed by the Rotary Club of West Seattle, one of a quarter-million placed by Rotarians around the world. This morning’s gathering was a celebration of the garden’s completion. Many people worked to bring it to reality:
Third from right in the photo above is Jenny Mandt, who designed the garden. At right is Keith Hughes from the West Seattle Rotary, who explained that the Peace Pole and Children’s Peace Garden embody two of the organization’s seven pillars of service – promoting peace and supportihg education. Also from the Rotary, third from left, was Christine Peak, who leads its Peacebuilding Services Committee, and noted that the Peace Pole project dates back to 1976. They are meant to be a welcoming gesture, she explained. Second from left above is Greg Dirks, Fauntleroy Church’s vice moderator, who observed that “we all have a role to play in fostering peace.” This, it’s hoped, will be a place to reflect. Also – as the church is co-housed with Hazelwood Preschool and the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) – it’ll be a place for children to ponder peace as they see the garden and pole each day.
The dedication event also celebrated peace through music, with a song led by Bronwyn Edwards:
A plaque is yet to come for the garden. It will read, in English and Lushootseed:
This garden is dedicated to the children of the Fauntleroy community. As they gather in this space, part of the traditional homeland of the Duwamish People, may they understand the power of peaceful coexistence amongst all peoples that we symbolize here. As these plants grow, may the children grow to know that whoever they are, they are welcome in this place of beauty and hopeful peace. May peace prevail on Earth.
The next Peace Pole to be planted in West Seattle by the Rotary is planned for C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), with a ceremony planned on the United Nations’ International Day of Peace. September 21st.
8:07 PM: A Seattle Fire ‘full response’ is headed to the 4300 block of SW Graham [vicinity map] for a report of “an exterior fire extending into a building.” Updates to come.
8:10 PM: The response has been downsized. SFD says the fire was small enough that the occupant put it out.
(WSB photo)
8:20 PM: At the scene, firefighters tell us this was actually a “small brush fire” on the alley between The Bridge and a house to its west.
8:02 PM: Thanks to everyone who has sent photos of tonight’s “so long, smoke” sunset:
David Hutchinson‘s photo features sunset-watchers looking toward the Olympics, which were invisible behind the wildfire smoke at the same time a night earlier. Here’s a wider angle from Jan Pendergrass:
8:33 PM: Thanks to Mike Burns for the time lapse:
ADDED: From Greg Moore at Luna/Anchor Park:
And from Vicki Takahashi:
After logistics challenges, Seattle Public Schools has moved student meal pickup during the Seattle Education Association strike to city facilities, starting Monday. Here are the West Seattle locations:
Alki Community Center – 5817 SW Stevens
E.C. Hughes Playground – 2805 SW Holden
Hiawatha Playfield – 2700 California Ave SW
High Point Community Center – 6920 34th Ave SW
Highland Park Playground – 1100 SW Cloverdale
Puget Ridge Playground – 6029 21st Ave. SW
Roxhill Park – 2850 SW Roxbury
Southwest Teen Life Center / Pool – 2801 SW Thistle
The meal-pickup hours are the same as they were at campuses last week, 10 am-1 pm. While the SPS culinary-services team is preparing lunches, the city announcement says, community volunteers will be assisting with distribution.
P.S. Tomorrow is also when the city will start opening some drop-in “recreation activity hubs,” including Alki and High Point Community Centers.
4:32 PM: Seattle Public Schools has officially canceled classes for a fourth day as the Seattle Education Association strike continues. The district just sent this update:
Seattle Public Schools (SPS) and Seattle Education Association (SEA) are making good progress on negotiations as they worked throughout the weekend but have not yet reached an agreement. We continue to bargain and remain ready to start school as soon as an agreement is reached.
There will be no school on Monday, Sept. 12 for all grades, including pre-school and kindergarten. A message was sent to families and staff this afternoon. It is posted to the website.
We will update families and staff on the status of school for Tuesday on Monday afternoon.
ADDED 8:50 PM: An update from SEA arrived a short time ago:
The 6,000 members of Seattle Education Association are continuing their strike for student needs, calling on Seattle Public Schools to provide adequate student supports, reasonable workloads, and respectful pay. Educators are becoming increasingly frustrated with the school board’s unwillingness to listen to students and educators and commit to providing the supports and staffing needed to succeed. Picketing will resume at 8 a.m. Monday at all Seattle schools.
The Bargaining Team met in-person with SPS and the mediator Saturday and Sunday, working about 14 hours on Saturday and remaining at the table today at this hour.
BACKGROUND: District updates are here; union updates are here. SEA’s contract expired August 31st, almost three months into negotiations; the strike began on what was supposed to be SPS’s first day of classes, Wednesday. This is SEA’s first walkout since 2015. That strike, like this one, started on a Wednesday; a tentative agreement was announced the following Tuesday morning.
ATTEMPTED SHOPLIFT-TURNED-ROBBERY: Thanks for the tip. This happened at Junction True Value about an hour and a half ago. We talked to a witness who just spoke with police. She said a man and woman had armloads of merchandise and tried to leave without paying. Staff and customers intervened and got the items back; she said some scuffling was ensued, which is what turned it from shoplifting to robbery. The witness said the would-be robbers ran out to a waiting getaway car with a third person driving. She described the two as a Hispanic man, 5’7″, in sunglasses and a ball cap, who limped as he crossed the street to the getaway car, and a Hispanic woman, 5’3″, very long hair. She described the car as a silver Honda type car, with CD and 91 in the plate. If you have any information, the SPD incident number is 22-242742.
ADDED MONDAY: A few other details in the SPD summary:
… When confronted by employees one suspect lifted the bottom of her shirt so the employee could see she had a silver handgun in her waistband. Suspects left the store but dropped all the items. Witness supplied a license plate for the suspect vehicle; however, when officers went to the address of the registered owner, they discovered the license plate had been stolen previous to the attempted robbery.
STOLEN BICYCLE: From Chris:
My wife’s 2013 Giant road bike was stolen from our garage yesterday between 7 am and 7 pm. I have filed police report T22022820.
We’re waiting to hear back regarding where this happened.
DUMPED SCOOTER: Another Chris sent this photo and report:
Found this abandoned scooter, probably stolen and left in pieces. Corner of 39th Ave sw and SW 98th St in Arbor Heights.
PACKAGE TAKEN: From Trevor:
Package theft that occurred (Saturday) at 6:30 am. 36th Ave Sw & SW Edmunds St near Providence Mount St. Vincent. Luckily is wasn’t anything super valuable but wanted to spread the word so people can be on the lookout for this person and truck. The truck looks to be a older model Ford Ranger.
After years of community requests for them, speed humps have just been installed on Alki Avenue SW. This set is in between 57th and 58th; the other set is being put in right now just east of 63rd. We noted on Friday that SDOT planned the installation for this weekend (along with a long list of other work, mostly in preparation for the West Seattle Bridge’s expected reopening one week from today); outlines for the speed-hump locations appeared a little over a week ago.
If you have any connection to the Admiral area, the Admiral Neighborhood Association would love to see you Tuesday. ANA is having a general meeting at 7 pm at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill). Concerned about crime/safety? An update from the Southwest Precinct is planned. Want to talk about the recent Admiral Junction Funktion street party? They’ll be doing that too. And you can find out in advance about what’s planned in Admiral this fall. Just show up! (Inbetween meetings, you can also check out the group’s website, connecttoadmiral.org.)
(Pileated Woodpecker, photographed in Lincoln Park by Kathryn Smith)
One week until the West Seattle Bridge is scheduled to reopen. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s what’s happening today:
TRAFFIC ALERTS: Here’s what SDOT has announced for today:
-We’re repaving the street near California Ave SW and Ferry Ave SW.
-We’ll be pouring new concrete panels on 16th Ave SW and SW Webster St. Traffic will be maintained in both directions as we complete the work however you may experience delays.
-We’re installing speed humps on 16th Ave SW and on Alki Ave SW at 58th Ave SW and 63rd Ave SW.
-We’ll be working at Chelan Ave SW and SW Spokane St (by Fire Station 36) to return the signal to how it operated before the bridge closure. The signal will be turned off for a period of time, and uniformed police officers will be directing traffic while we complete this work.
-On Sunday night from about 8:30 PM through Monday morning at 6 AM, we’ll be working on the southbound onramps to the West Seattle Bridge to update the travel lane striping
-We’ll be installing new directional signs at the Chelan 5-way intersection. Work is anticipated to begin as early as 7 AM and conclude by 4 PM.
CHURCHES WITH ONLINE SERVICES: We’re continuing to list these – see today’s list here.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market is open with late-summer produce as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, prepared food, and more. Here’s today’s vendor list. California SW between Oregon and Alaska.
PEACE GARDEN DEDICATION: 11 am at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), dedication of a Children’s Peace Garden centered on a Peace Pole placed by the Rotary Club of West Seattle.
PAPER BOAT TURNS 3: Celebrate the third anniversary of Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW) with a sale and treats/drinks all day (open 11 am-5 pm)
THUNDER ROAD GUITARS NOW OPEN SUNDAYS: As noted here, Morgan Junction music shop Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor) is now open Sundays, too – 11 am-5 pm.
MOUNTAIN TO SOUND OUTFITTERS CLEARANCE SALE: 11 am-5 pm today, shop for deals on gear to enjoy the rest of the season before M2SO (3602 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) shifts focus for the mountain season!
SPRAYPARK: Highland Park Spraypark will be open 11 am-8 pm (1100 SW Cloverdale) daily for one more week.
SAN GENNARO FESTIVAL: Happening in Georgetown but with major West Seattle ties, the Italian street fair is back, with food, shopping, music, more. 11 am-4 pm today. (1225 S. Angelo)
FREE CLASSES AT WEST SEATTLE NURSERY: 11:30 am, class on native plants; 1 pm, class on organic gardening; 2:30 pm, class on fall perennials. (California/Brandon)
LAST DAY FOR ALKI ARTS POP-UP: Noon-5 pm on southeast corner of California/Oregon, your last chance to check out this weeklong pop-up.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The Southwest Seattle Historical Society museum< is open on Alki, and you can visit noon-4 pm, (61st/Stevens)
C & P COFFEE ART JAM: 3-5 pm, as explained here, Still Life Art Jam at C & P Coffee Company. (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor)
(Drone photo by Denise Simens – WS Brewing party Saturday evening)
FINALE WEEK AT WS BREWING’S ALKI TAP SHACK: With closure looming for West Seattle Brewing‘s Alki outpost, as reported here, they’re having a celebratory “Finale Week” including live music. Today, 4-6 pm, it’s The Whopper Johns. (2536 Alki SW)
NEED FOOD? White Center Community Dinner Church serves a free meal (take-away available) at 5 pm Sundays at the Salvation Army Center in South Delridge (9050 16th SW).
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 9 pm to 1:30 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
Have an event to list for our calendar? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
4:42 AM: Thanks for the tip. SFD sent a “full response” to a fire reported in the mixed-use building on the southwest corner of Fauntleroy/Edmunds just before 4 am. The fire is reported to have been small and quickly extinguished, with no injuries, and most of the responding units have been dismissed.
4:49 AM: At the scene we’re told the fire was in The Sisters Beauty Bar, one of the businesses in the building, involving some “contents” that caught fire. So far, firefighters told us, it does not appear suspicious.
2:13 PM: We contacted SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo to verify that’s still the case. His reply: “I spoke with our investigators and can confirm this incident is not under investigation for suspicious activity.”
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