West Seattle, Washington
18 Wednesday
Whether they’re coming back next year or moving up, Genesee Hill Elementary School students finished their school year with a gift for next year and beyond. The mural you see above, painted by students led by Urban ArtWorks, has replaced this drab wall:
The costs were covered by Genesee Hill PTA fundraising; Urban ArtWorks was chosen from four local artists who bid on the project. The planning process began in March, in art workshops with all 530+ GHES students. Their ideas were consolidated into a design in April. Teaching artist Lis Rafailedes, below with GHES principal Liz Dunn, was there working with the young artists when we visited on Monday:
The students painted the mural over multiple days this month, concluding with kindergarteners:
You can see the mural from SW Genesee, on the south side of the campus.
A similar project resulted in a mural at Lafayette Elementary four years ago.
Family and friends want to remind all those who knew and loved Leticia Martinez that the community celebration of her life is tomorrow (Saturday, July 1st) in West Seattle. Everyone is welcome at Alki Masonic Center (4736 40th SW) between 1 pm and 4 pm. Leticia, who was 58 years old, has been gone now for three months. The original announcement of her memorial was in her obituary, published here June 5th. As noted then, crowdfunding via the GoFundMe page “Justice for Leticia“ continues, to help support Leticia’s son, legal costs, and memorial expenses.
Two West Seattle 7-11 stores were robbed early this morning, five miles and 21 minutes apart, likely by the same people. 911 first got a call around 4:29 am from a witness who said that from outside the Harbor Avenue 7-11 (2429 Harbor SW), he believed he saw the clerk being robbed. Police got there and confirmed that’s what happened. The incident summary says the three robbers held up the clerk at gunpoint and got away with cash, cigarettes, and beer. They were described as Black, male, wearing black and red masks, black hoodies, and one in sweatpants bearing a Chicago Bulls logo; the clerk said they left in a white car. Then at 4:50 am a 911 call came in reporting a robbery at gunpoint at the Highland Park 7-11 (1600 SW Holden), and police say the description was pretty much the same – with an added detail on the car: Nissan 4-door. Cash and cigarettes were taken in this holdup. If you have any information, the SPD incident numbers are 23-182672 for the Harbor Avenue robbery, 23-182682 for the one at 16th/Holden.
Thanks to Angelica Mendoza-De Lorenzo at Denny International Middle School for the report and photo:
As the 2022-2023 school year comes to an end, we say goodbye to two amazing staff members at Denny. Mr. Bolma has been a Counselor at Denny Middle School for 20 years and 40 years as an educator. His dedication to our students and service to our school has not gone without recognition , always willing to support and guide students in need.
Ms. Clausen is saying goodbye to the Denny Community after 33 yrs of working with us. She began the Proyecto Saber program at Denny and later moved on to be the leader in our Dual Language Program. Her passion and dedication to her school community is inspiring! Her many transformational programs at Denny are Ms. Clausen’s legacy and we are committed to continue: Summer Enrichment programs, La Posada in December, and Positive Discipline workshops for parents. Ms. Clausen has a special place in her heart for the Latino community and culture, having helped and guide immigrant students through the education system for many years.
We had a staff celebration on Wednesday followed by a surprise mariachi performance by Mariachi Real Seattle today as we wish the very best to both retirees.
3:39 PM: Seattle Police say 16th SW is blocked both ways near Cloverdale because of a crash response. A motorcycle and car are reported to be involved. No further details yet; avoid the area.
4:49 PM: SFD has closed out the response. We’re checking on the rider’s condition and whether anyone else was treated.
5:24 PM: SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells WSB that the 48-year-old woman riding the motorcycle was in stable condition when taken to Harborview.
After the icon showing a swimming advisory for Lincoln Park beach vanished from the state’s beach-status map, it wasn’t clear whether the advisory was still in effect. So we asked Public Health today and they confirmed the advisory was lifted Thursday – just in time for the long holiday weekend.
With the Seattle Public Schools year ending this afternoon, it’s a particularly memorable last day of school at Alki Elementary – their century-old building is set for demolition and replacement. Julie sent the photo, explaining that it was taken by drone last Friday, with students and staff in their Alki-A-Thon shirts for the PTA-fundraiser walkathon held that day, using the opportunity to get one last look at the old building. (The exact demolition date is pending, as the project’s permits are awaiting the outcome of appeals filed against the zoning exceptions – “departures” – the district needs to build a taller school with an illuminated sign and no on-site vehicle parking; a late July hearing is scheduled.) Alki classes will be held for the next two years at the former Schmitz Park Elementary, which has hosted West Seattle Elementary for these past two years while that school’s building was being expanded.
Sent by Mike:
Our truck was stolen last night from the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center parking lot [4408 Delridge Way SW] sometime between 10 pm last night and 8 am this morning. Plate C70273K. If anyone sees this truck, please let us know at thezombiemullins@ gmail.com or text to 513-313-0630.
ADDED: Further descriptive info from Mike, who says the truck belongs to his teenage son, who’s been working to restore it: “It’s a dark blue full size 2nd generation Dodge Ram 2500, with a rusty hood that also has a big dent in the front of the hood and a half-broken grill; it has an American flag sticker and a big Bass Pro Shops sticker on it.”
FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Thanks to a reader tip, Mike and son got the truck back. It had been abandoned by the West Seattle Corporate Center in North Delridge.
(Today’s sunrise – photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Quieter Friday than usual, with holiday-weekend getaways beginning, but if you’re not leaving town, here’s the list!
GARDEN CENTER OPEN: Need more plants for your garden, containers, etc.? You can shop at the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Garden Center, open with a wide variety of student-grown plants, until 2 pm. (North end of campus, 6000 16th SW)
MOUNTAIN TO SOUND OUTFITTERS SALE: Through Sunday, take 15 percent off your purchase of one in-store item at Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor)
SPRAYPARK OPEN: 11 am-8 pm, Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open daily.
FREE LUNCH: The Junction Church (4157 California SW) invites you to a free sit-down lunch, 11:30 am-12:30 pm.
DELRIDGE AND HIAWATHA WADING POOLS OPEN: Noon-5:30 pm. (4501 Delridge Way SW and 2700 California SW)
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
COLMAN POOL OPEN: Also at Lincoln Park, the outdoor salt-water pool is open noon-7 pm daily through Labor Day. See the session schedule here.
SCRABBLE CLUB: You’re invited to play 12:30-1:30 pm at Margie’s Café inside the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: 1-6 pm on the north side of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor), student-produced wine by the glass or bottle.
VISCON CELLARS: Tonight, stop by Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) for wine by the glass or bottle, 5-9 pm (5910 California SW).
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Mia Day, Mirabai Kukathas, Brenna Bruce, live at The Skylark , doors at 7, music at 8, $10. (3803 Delridge Way SW).
HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH: The musical continues at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor). Our calendar listing includes the ticket link.
FIREWORKS SHOW DOWNTOWN: In case you hear fireworks in the distance – tonight there’s a show following the Mariners game.
Something to add to our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
10:14 AM: Thanks to Dina Johnson for the report and photos:
At 6 am today a “clunk” sound alerted us to a snapped utility pole/street light, leaving a live wire across the sidewalk on SW Henderson street between 12th & 13th Aves.
Passersby called it in to the city.
The impact miraculously caused no damage to the property, but the pole remains across the sidewalk, wedged against a retaining wall.
The rotted utility pole had been marked by the city several years ago, but never replaced.
SCL says it’s “accelerated” its pole-replacement program recently, and through April had replaced more than 560 citywide.
11:13 AM: Dina says the wire has been removed; the metal part of the pole is now wrapped in “caution” tape.
9:22 AM: If you noticed emergency-response activity beneath the 1st Avenue South Bridge this morning, it’s related to what Seattle Police say is now a “death investigation.” It started as a Seattle Fire water-rescue response before 7 am; SFD eventually tweeted that they were looking for a missing bridge operator, and then reported that the Coast Guard later found a body that matched the missing person’s description. We’ll be following up with agencies including WSDOT, which owns the bridge as it’s part of a state highway, and will add any more information that emerges.
9:56 AM: According to archived audio from the initial response, the operator was last seen arriving at work at 10 pm last night and discovered missing when the next person arrived at 5:30 and found the workspace empty but the person’s belongings all still there. They looked extensively around the area before calling in authorities an hour-plus later.
6:00 AM: Good morning. Welcome to Friday, June 30th – four days until the Fourth of July, last day of June, last day of school for Seattle Public Schools.
WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Clouds, then clearing, high in the mid-70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:15 am; sunset will be at 9:11 pm.
(Thursday’s sunset – photo by Carol Ann Joyce)
TRANSIT
Metro – Regular schedule, with trip cancellations and temporary route suspensions possible.
Water Taxi – The West Seattle WT is on its regular schedule. (Here are changes ahead for the Fourth of July and All-Star Week.)
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. See Vessel Watch for boats’ locations.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge – east-end vicinity:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – alternate route across the river:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities). Thank you!
| 2 COMMENTS