West Seattle, Washington
28 Sunday
(Sea Scouts’ Yankee Clipper, sponsored by West Seattle Lions Club in 7/22/23 Grand Parade)
The bands played, the flags waved, the floats rolled, the dancers twirled … And then, in the days and weeks after the West Seattle Grand Parade, the bills march in. Total cost of the July 22nd parade was $10,600, according to Keith Hughes, chair of the West Seattle Grand Parade Association. The biggest cost is renting the street-closed/no-parking signs – $6,200 – and the parade permit, which runs $2,000. Sponsorships are covering $8,500 so far – leaving more than $2,000 still to be raised. So Keith has put out a call for help:
To the West Seattle Business Community:
The West Seattle Grand Parade was truly grand this year, with over 75 entries. However, the number of sponsors was down and the street permit fees and barricade fees were both up significantly. The result of this is that the Parade Association has a shortfall and needs your help to pay the bills and be able to continue the Parade next year. If your company is able and willing to be a Grand Parade Sponsor at $250, $500, or $1000, please let me know and I will send you the Sponsorship packet so you can see how your sponsorship will be recognized and shared with the public. Thank you.
We asked if smaller donations would be accepted too: “Yes, small donations will be greatly appreciated. They can mail a check to WS Grand Parade, 3618 SW Alaska St., Seattle 98126, or they can call me and I can take credit card donations via Square. 206-932-9696.” (For business sponsorship info, you can call or email khughes3247 (at) gmail.com.
Hate to bring it up, but Seattle Public Schools‘ summer break has just five weeks left. And next week, the district starts having community meetings to talk about the “well-resourced schools” concept that’s expected to lead to school closures. So in advance of that, and whatever other SPS issues are on your mind, our area’s School Board Director Leslie Harris is having a community meeting Saturday (August 5th). 2 pm, Southwest Library (9010 35th SW). She’s promising her legendary lasagna, too. Drop in with questions or just to listen in.
(July photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
With one of only two state-ferry docks in the city of Seattle – the only one in a primarily residential neighborhood – West Seattle has a unique role in the system. So Washington State Ferries is hoping you’ll answer a survey about when, how, and where you use its boats. It’s part of a passenger-demographic study that WSF plans to send to the state Legislature in December. You can take the survey in English or in Spanish. This survey is open through the end of the month.
ADDED FRIDAY: The phone option is working now – 877-586-1133.
Thanks to a reader who asked us about this incident; we asked SPD and they in turn have just posted about it on SPD Blotter:
Yesterday, police responded to an attempted luring of a minor in the 1100 block of Southwest Cloverdale Street within Highland Park playground.
Officers arrived just before 5:00 p.m. and spoke with the victim’s mother, who reported a man grabbed hold of her four-year-old son near the bathrooms of the park.
The male suspect was described to be a White male, who was approximately 70-80 years old, wearing a red shirt, black shorts, and black tennis shoes. He was also clean-shaven and bald with sunspots on his head. The suspect had left the area prior to police arriving at the location.
If anyone has information about this incident, please call 911 and reference incident #2023-220035.
The newest numbers from Tuesday’s election are just out. Here’s how the top three contenders for Seattle City Council District 1 are doing now:
Maren Costa 8,363 32.95 %
Rob Saka 6,143 24.20 %
Phil Tavel 5,130 20.21 %
In short – Costa’s percentage has risen, while Saka’s and Tavel’s have fallen. This is with (corrected) 34.8 percent of D-1 voters’ ballots counted, up from 25 percent yesterday; as of mid-afternoon today, King County Elections says it’s received 36.4 percent of D-1 voters’ ballots. (That’s just a fraction of a percentage more than yesterday, so from hereon out it’s a daily trickle of new ballots.) Next update, Friday afternoon.
After a year as acting and then interim chancellor of the Seattle Colleges system, Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap is now its permanent chancellor. The system includes West Seattle-based South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), of which Dr. Rimando-Chareunsap served as president before taking on the role of running the system. She was one of three finalists after a nationwide search. From today’s announcement:
Dr. Rimando-Chareunsap has dedicated much of her career to Seattle Colleges. She stepped in as acting chancellor in July 2022 while maintaining her role as president of South Seattle College. She previously served as vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion for the district, and has held other important roles across the system for more than 20 years. She was recognized as a rising star in 2019 by the Aspen Institute, which selected her for its prestigious Presidential Fellows Program.
She holds a B.A. in English and Ethnic Studies from Washington State University (WSU), a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, and a Doctorate of Education from WSU.
So what’s next for SSC leadership? Here’s how today’s announcement answers that question:
The search for a new interim and then permanent president at South Seattle College will commence shortly. Dr. Jean Hernandez, an educational leader with nearly four decades of experience, joined South Seattle College as interim president on Nov. 30, 2022, and served in the role through the academic year.
Along with SSC, the Seattle Colleges system includes North Seattle College and Seattle Central College, plus five specialty centers.
(Seattle Parks photo)
Right now, Delridge Community Center is open Mondays-Fridays, 9:30 am-6:30 pm. The city announced today that its hours will expand starting Monday, September 11th, to Mondays-Fridays, 9:30 am-9 pm, plus Saturdays, 9:30 am-6 pm. It’s one of eight community centers around the city that will get added hours with Seattle Park District funding; it’s one of West Seattle’s only two city-run community centers currently in operation, as Hiawatha CC is closed for eventual renovation and Alki CC has only been in use for child care.
(Photo by Jamie Kinney, from Blue Angels’ Seattle arrival on Wednesday)
12:26 PM: Particularly if you’re in south West Seattle, you’ve likely noticed the increase in air traffic the past hour and a half or so. No, it’s not just the Blue Angels, but it’s because of them – route changes for Sea-Tac takeoffs. Today is the longest practice day for the Blue Angels, so this will be happening through 3 pm or so. (And for those who have asked, no, the practices do NOT require I-90 bridge closures any more, so this isn’t affecting traffic on the ground.) The full Seafair airshow, with other visiting aircraft, happens Friday-Sunday – schedule here.
ADDED THURSDAY EVENING: A closer look from Alki photographer David Hutchinson, in a popular viewing spot – the Costco parking lot:
Thanks for the tips. Demolition has begun at Alki Elementary. First to go, the old portable on the north side of the school. The work is not affecting traffic on the adjacent streets (at least so far), though debris hauling might change that. This is proceeding though the city Hearing Examiner’s Office has yet to issue its decision on appeals of some of the project’s zoning exceptions; as we reported, the appeals were argued in a daylong hearing last week, and a ruling is promised by mid-August. The project will demolish and replace the main school building but not the gym, which it shares with adjacent Alki Community Center.
10:17 AM: Thanks to everyone who sent pics/questions after a large, dark plume of smoke started billowing from Bainbridge Island. According to an alert from Bainbridge Island city government, it’s from a “working structure fire” in the Falk Road area (map). No other details.
12:42 PM: The Kitsap Sun has since published a story saying the fire was at a two-story house and is blamed on oil-soaked rags.
(Steller’s Jay, photographed by Jerry Simmons)
Here’s the list of what’s up for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SUMMER SCRAMBLE STARTS: This is Day 1 of the scavenger hunt, but it’s not too late to join! Here’s an update from organizers:
From the West Seattle Time Bandits to the Scurvy Sea Cats and the Meowrmada of Mischief, over 50 teams have already registered for the West Seattle Summer Scramble yARrrr Pirate Adventure, which begins today – Thursday the 3rd – and runs through midnight on Sunday the 6th. Explore West Seattle Parks and hunt for augmented reality pirate kittens (and hidden physical caches!) using your wits and your phone.
Register your team and download the clues at:
wondersinaliceland.com/summer-scrambleNot sure how to hunt pirates? Avast! We’ve made a short training video called “Learn how to Hunt Pirates in 100 seconds”
Get some exercise, try out some new technology, and earn prizes!! Twenty West Seattle businesses have sponsored a treasure chest and filled them with a freebie, a discount, or some other goodies especially for the Scramble. Find all 20 and be entered into a drawing for 1 of 3 Grand Prize Treasure Chests. Start yARrrr adventure today!
SPRAYPARK OPEN: Daily operations continue through Labor Day at Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.
BLUE ANGELS: They’re practicing today, so you’re likely to see/hear them – photographer Jim Clark posted this schedule in Wednesday’s comment thread:
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Blue Angels #1-#4 Practice Flight
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM – Blue Angels #5-#6 Practice Flight
2:20 PM – 3:20 PM – Blue Angels #1-#4 Practice Flight
SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS: Here’s the list of local sites where free food is available for kids on weekdays this summer, 11:30 am-1 pm lunch, 2-3 pm snacks.
HIAWATHA WADING POOL OPEN: Noon-5:30 pm. (2700 California SW)
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
COLMAN POOL OPEN: Also at Lincoln Park, noon-7 pm – here’s the schedule of sessions.
DROP-IN ASSISTANCE: Neighborhood House has resources to help with a variety of things – noon-1:30 pm today, drop in to talk about rent assistance. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
LOW-LOW TIDE: -2.9 feet at 12:44 pm.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to see where they’re playing today.
THURSDAY FOOD-TRUCK POP-UP: 4-8 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), Birrieria Pepe el Toro will be visiting.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Also at HP Corner Store, meet up at 6:30 pm for a 3-mile run!
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at The Good Society (California/Lander) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run – more in our calendar listing.
SILENT BOOK CLUB ON THE BEACH: The Silent Book Club of West Seattle is changing things up for August, with two events, night and day – the first is tonight, 7 pm, at Alki – see our calendar listing for details.
THURSDAY NIGHT CORNHOLE: Go play at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm.
JOKES IN THE JUNCTION: 8 pm comedy show at Great American Diner (4752 California) – check here for tickets.
There’s even more in our calendar!
Family and friends will gather August 12th at a funeral mass for Sofia Escandar. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing now:
Born on December 14, 1930 to Soren and Anna Hovsepian in Tehran, Iran. She was a proud housewife, mother, grandmother, and a great-grandmother.
Sofia also ran a small specialty embroidery bedsheet business from home, an entrepreneur way ahead of her time. She attended a Catholic nuns Boarding School in Isfahan, Iran for six years, the best years of her childhood. She returned to Tehran teaching elementary French class and later meeting Alexander Escandar.
After moving to the states, with her adorable accent, she managed to get involved with a few volunteer groups and keep herself busy. Mom was a very social person, enjoyed her friends, her Church, and the YMCA Community and her coffee dates with her friends. Mom especially loved her neighbors. Most of all, mom’s greatest joy was cooking, especially when she had her family around her to enjoy.
Sofia leaves behind her oldest daughter, Stella Shahbazian (Hermes and grandchildren – Niko & Armand). Also, her son, Edgar Escandar [Wilma and grandchildren – Emmanuelle (Henry and great-grandchildren – Chloe and Vivianne), Talia, & Darius (Andrea)]. She also leaves behind her youngest daughter, Jacqueline Espinosa (André and granddaughter – Alexandra); and Grandchildren – Vida & Tiffany from Pierre, her late son. Sofia passed away peacefully on August 1, 2023 with her family at her side. She has joined her beloved husband Alexander, her beloved son Pierre, and her only sibling Adolf.
A funeral Mass will be held at Holy Rosary on Saturday, August 12th, at 10 am. Any memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Sofia’s favorite charity, or Holy Rosary Church.
(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)
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, August 3rd.
WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunny, high near 80. Today’s sunrise was at 5:49 am; sunset will be at 8:41 pm.
(Thanks to Ryan Osher for sending this photo of Alki’s Wednesday-afternoon waves)
ROAD WORK
Drove West Marginal on Wednesday afternoon and it appears “quiet zone” work has indeed started north of the Duwamish Longhouse – here’s the announcement from last week.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro – regular schedule – check here for advisories.
Water Taxi – regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service. Check Vessel Watch to see where the boats are.
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!
| 5 COMMENTS