West Seattle, Washington
09 Saturday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
That “bag of bullets,” as one neighbor described it, is part of the reason why residents of one Highland Park neighborhood gathered for a “Living Room Conversation“ with police.
The neighbors who organized it, after surfacing safety concerns to various city departments, invited us to sit in on the recent gathering in the living room of their home near Westcrest Park. They were joined by SPD Sgt. Dorian Korieo, whose community-outreach-centered work supervising 32 people includes the living-room program (launched more than a decade ago), and Officer German Barreto, community-liaison officer at the Southwest Precinct.
“It’s your chance to ask a police officer (something) without there being a crisis,” explained Sgt. Korieo.
A question came quickly: “How can we help you?”
“We’re hiring,” Korieo smiled.
But you might not be looking for work, police or otherwise. So another way you can help is to report everything, the SPD reps said. “Mayor Harrell is very clear – if it doesn’t have a stat on it, it didn’t happen.”
The city is still accepting feedback on the Draft One Seattle Plan – the every-10-years update to the Comprehensive Plan that outlines the vision for shaping the city’s growth over the next 20 years. If the open house four weeks ago (WSB coverage here) didn’t answer all your questions, you might want to be at a meeting Monday night (April 29) featuring a presentation tailored to three West Seattle neighborhoods – Admiral, Alki, and Fauntleroy. It’s starting at 6 pm at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill) and will feature a presentation by the city’s point person on the draft plan. We’re told the meeting was put together by City Councilmember Rob Saka‘s office; his chief of staff Elaine Ikoma Ko said members of the three neighborhoods told them they didn’t know much about the plan, even as the May 6 deadline for comment approaches, so they arranged for the briefing. It’ll focus on how the plan might affect zoning. Though Admiral, Fauntleroy, and Alki are the focus, people from other neighborhoods are welcome too. (The city’s open houses, meantime, wrap up with an online version on Thursday, May 2.)
Just in via text, the second F-350 theft we’ve heard about this week:
Unfortunately, the West Seattle Rock Club show had a sad ending — one of our vendors had his truck stolen at 3:55 today from the Masonic Hall parking lot. 1999 green F-350 with silver canopy. License plate # (updated) B54044H. Stolen by thieves in a copper-colored truck with a triangle on the tailgate.
Call 911 if you see it. Police incident # is 24-115274.
Reminders about two big Sunday events on West Seattle streets in the next three weeks:
(Course map, from Emerald City Ride website)
EMERALD CITY RIDE ON MAY 5: One week until the Cascade Bicycle Club‘s ride across the westbound West Seattle Bridge and around the peninsula. It starts and finishes in SODO and gets going at 7 am next Sunday, May 5. Registration is still open. (The bridge’s westbound lanes will be closed to traffic 5:30-9:30 am that morning; the eastbound lanes will not be affected.)
WEST SEATTLE 5K ON MAY 19: You also still have time to sign up for the peninsula’s first big 5K of the season, three weeks from today. The run/walk coordinated by the West Seattle High School PTSA starts (9:30 am) and finishes on Alki Avenue near the Bathhouse, out and back along the waterfront. Proceeds go toward programs supporting WSHS students. Be sure to sign up by May 12th – fees go up in the last week before the race. (The WS5K also involves a road closure – Alki/Harbor Avenues, 8 am to ~11 am on race morning.)
As previewed here, the Morgan Junction All-Wheels Association held its first community meeting on Saturday, at By and By Skate Shop. We dropped in briefly and counted about 20 people there.
The group’s focus is adding an “all-wheels area” to the south end of Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW) when the park’s expansion to the north is built. So what happens next after this gathering? We asked MJAWA’s Matthew Lee Johnston:
Community input now gets internalized by the design team, who will be working on three alternatives based on the feedback they’ve gathered from the community. We got over 100 responses to the online survey, with over 76% of the responses coming from West Seattle, which Grindline says was their most successful survey they’ve facilitated! The three alternatives will be presented by the team at the Morgan Junction Community Festival, where we will be gathering input and feedback on those design concepts.
The festival will be at Morgan Junction Park on Saturday, June 15.
Story by Tracy Record
Photos/video by Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers
The West Seattle Food Bank is providing food to 30 percent more people than it did a year ago.
If that sounds like a big increase, consider this: The need for another WSFB service, emergency financial assistance, has gone up 300 percent.
All that is part of why every dollar given at the WSFB’s “Instruments of Change“ dinner/auction mattered so much. The crowd gathered Saturday night at The Hall at Fauntleroy heard about the people behind those numbers – an average of 500 families served every day that the Food Bank’s 35th/Morgan HQ is open for distribution, home deliveries to 400 more families every week, more than 400 students getting “backpacks” of food to take home for the weekend, when there’s no school meals to stave off hunger. And the WSFB operates the Clothesline clothing bank, too, whose clientele has doubled.
To help pay for all those services for another year, hundreds of supporters not only bought tickets to the dinner, but also had the opportunity to give more in multiple ways at the event, such as the traditional “dessert dash”:
There was also bidding on auction items – the silent auction included this bicycle:
The live-auction options included a West Seattle “staycation” that went for $400 and an annual favorite, the taco-and-margarita party with WSFB executive director Fran Yeatts and former operations manager Lester Yuh (auctioneer Matthew DiLoreto awarded two, at $2,600 each)
Before the bidding, Yeatts took the microphone to speak about the WSFB’s “explosive growth” as well as a big upcoming staff change and a highlight of the night – the annual Instrument of Change Award, presented this year to C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) proprietors Pete and Cameron Moores.
As Yeatts explained, C & P supports the food bank in myriad ways – from regular musical fundraisers tp Pete’s weekly volunteer delivery-driver shift!
Also speaking was the new WSFB board president, Joe Everett, who you might know as the longtime City Attorney’s Office liaison at the Southwest Precinct. He spoke about how his public-service career has shown him so much of what happens “when our social safety net fails” but he’s heartened at the support for the work WSFB does “to stop those things before they happen”:
A video produced by Straight 8 Films was shown later, introducing gala-goers to WSFB clients and volunteers, with the observation “None of us ever expect to be in need … but it happens … and when it does, you can expect the West Seattle Food Bank to be here.”
Earlier in the program, there were shoutouts for some of the elected officials past and present who were in attendance. We photographed them, and a few others, during the “happy hour” that opened the event. First, from left, State Rep. Emily Alvarado, State Senator Joe Nguyen, and Deputy King County Executive Shannon Braddock:
Below, former State Rep. Eileen Cody and former King County Councilmember Joe McDermott:
Below, WSFB’s outgoing development director Breanna Bushaw (thanked by Yeatts in her speech) and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce executive director Rachel Porter:
And incoming WSFB Development Director Robbin Peterson with executive director Yeatts:
If you couldn’t get to the event, you can help WSFB in multiple ways every day of the year – here’s how.
(WSB was a community co-sponsor of this year’s Instruments of Change.)
That van belongs to Alex, who reports via email: “I came home from work on Saturday (4/28), to find out my van was stolen from 42nd Ave SW, just off of Juneau. It’s a blue 2004 Chevy Astro van with black wheels and black front bumper. License plate number CFH2656.” Police report # 24-114825. Call 911 if you see it.
UPDATE: Alex says the van’s been found.
Your next chance for free shredding is happening now. The John L. Scott Real Estate Westwood (WSB sponsor) spring shredding event is happening in the northwest lot at Westwood Village (northwest of the ex-Bed Bath and Beyond, southwest of the post office). Look for the White Center Food Bank van – they’re also collecting donations (non-perishable food and/or cash) for WCFB again this year.
They’ll be there until noon.
Family and friends will gather Tuesday (April 30) to remember Doreen Gilbert. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with the community:
Doreen Gilbert, born in August of 1928, in Port Angeles, WA, peacefully passed away on April 1, 2024, in Seattle at the age of 95.
She married George W Gilbert Jr on August 20th, 1955 at Queen of Angels Catholic Church. She was a beloved elementary school teacher in the Seattle School District for over 30 years and later found joy working at the Admiral Bakery.
Doreen dedicated her time to various volunteer endeavors, including St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, Discovery Shop, tutoring at Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Mt St Vincent.
Kind, generous, and always smiling, Doreen was an animal lover who found happiness in spending time with her pets, friends, and tending to her garden. She was a loyal supporter of the UW Huskies, enjoyed theater performances, and cherished her travel adventures.
Doreen is survived by her daughter Nancy, son-in-law Doug, and nieces Margaret, Phoebe Ann, and Enid. She was preceded in death by her husband, identical twin sister Edith and brother-in-law Jim, her parents Elsie and Fred, her brother-in-law and sister in law, Phoebe and Dick and her nephew Scott.
Doreen’s warm presence and dedication to her community will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Seattle Humane Society in her name.
A service will be held on April 30th at 2:00 pm at St John the Baptist Episcopal Church in West Seattle.
(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)
Here’s what’s up today, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more):
LOW-BRIDGE CLOSURE, DAY 9: If all goes as planned, this is the final day that the West Seattle low bridge will be closed to road/path traffic for communication-and-control system upgrades and will reopen no later than early the morning of April 29. More closure details from SDOT here (including how to get free rides on the Water Taxi or Metro buses).
HIGH POINT LIBRARY CLOSED: The branch at 3411 SW Raymond is closed Sundays through at least early June as part of a schedule shuffle as the system deals with staffing shortages.
FREE SHREDDING & FOOD DRIVE: 9 am-noon, John L. Scott Real Estate Westwood (WSB sponsor) hosts its annual free shredding event. They’ll be set up again in the northwest parking lot at Westwood Village, and accepting donations for the White Center Food Bank – food and/or cash.
MINI-POLAR PLUNGE: 9 am every Sunday, you’re welcome to join a group plunge into Puget Sound off Alki – meet at Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki).
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meets at 9 am Sundays at rotating locations – today it’s Dough Joy Donuts (4310 SW Oregon).
NATIVE ART MARKET: Second day, 10 am-5 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: The market is open today, 10 am-2 pm as usual, on California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon, offering spring vegetables, flowers, and fruit, plus baked goods, cheese, fish, meat, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from cider to kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, candy, more! Here’s today’s vendor list.
GRIEF WALK AT SCHMITZ PARK: At 10 am, join a guided forest walk to “listen to grief” – as explained in our calendar listing. Meet at the SW Hinds entrance to the park.
WEST SEATTLE ROCK & GEM SHOW: 10 am-5 pm, second day of the West Seattle Rock Club‘s annual show and sale at Alki Masonic Hall (40th/Edmunds), free admission.
SEATTLE RESTAURANT WEEK TRUCK VISIT: The Anthony’s truck Finn, part of Seattle Restaurant Week, visits Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) 1-6 pm.
POP-UP CERAMICS CLASS: 3 pm at Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW), register here.
CLOSING DAY FOR ‘ENGLISH’: The popular play has been selling out the house at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor), 3 pm. Check with the box office if nothing’s available online via the link in our calendar listing.
THE HELLFLOWERS AT EASY STREET: 5 pm live in-store performance, free and all ages. (4559 California SW)
DENNIS JAMES & THE MIGHTY WURLITZER: Silent movie with theater organ! Doors 7 pm, show 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) – tickets here.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Your weekend’s finale can be music by the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8-10 pm.
Are you planning something that should be on our community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basics – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
11:18 PM: We just got a call from Southwest Precinct police about a sad case they are handling tonight, and they asked if we could help them solve it: People called 911 around 8:30 tonight to report a little boy crossing the street alone at 35th/Avalon. Nobody had reported a missing child, and police checked apartment buildings in the area but so far haven’t figured out whose child he is. They say CPS is on the way, to arrive after midnight, but maybe you know of someone looking for their child who hasn’t yet called police. They describe him as Black, maybe 5 years old or so but not very communicative, at least 3 feet tall, wearing pajamas with a blue top and multicolor bottom, maroon and tan Crocs shoes and black socks. If you have any information that might connect him with his family, call 911. The SPD incident number is 24-114442.
SUNDAY, 6:55 PM: We just talked with a Southwest Precinct lieutenant who confirms that the child’s family has been found. He didn’t have full details but says it was some sort of issue involving the child’s care provider while the child’s parent(s) were at work overnight.
Thomas J. Garrett, known to those who loved him as “Tommy Joe,” was the 81-year-old man killed by a hit-run driver this past Monday night at 15th/Roxbury. Family members gathered there for a vigil this afternoon.
His daughter told us Mr. Garrett lived on Capitol Hill much of his life and went to Garfield High School with Jimi Hendrix. He himself was a musician and his career included many achievements including work as a TV-news photographer. His nephew talked more about Mr. Garrett’s life as traffic roared by on Roxbury:
His family says they don’t know why Mr. Garrett was in the area Monday night. They do know King County Sheriff’s Office deputies have yet to find his killer and are still seeking information on this vehicle (as reported here Thursday):
Call 800-222-TIPS if you have any information. Meantime, they are planning a memorial for him at a Buddhist temple in the Central District. And they want to ensure no one forgets him, or what happened here.
Thanks for the tips. Customers of Sound Credit Union have received the company’s announcement that it plans to close its West Seattle Junction branch at the end of June. Here’s the announcement in its entirety:
As a member-owned financial cooperative, we continually analyze our branch locations to best serve you, our valued members. We have made the difficult decision to permanently close our West Seattle Branch, located at 4730 California Ave (SW), on Friday, June 28, 2024.
That’ll be this year’s second financial-institution closure in West Seattle, following the March closure of Wells Fargo‘s Admiral branch. It’ll be at least the second branch closure for Sound Credit Union, after its First Hill shutdown (corrected date) in March 2023. Sound Credit Union opened in the 4730 California mixed-use building as the first-ever tenant in that space, more than eight years ago. Last year, the branch was robbed three times.
Looking for something to do indoors now that the weather’s turned drippy? From our very long Saturday highlight list, this is the first day of this weekend’s West Seattle Rock and Gem Show. Every year, members of the West Seattle Rock Club spend the weekend at the Masonic Hall (40th/Edmunds, enter off the parking lot) showing and selling treasures from the Earth:
Admission is free.
The show continues until 5 pm today and again 10 am-5 pm on Sunday!
Continuing with today’s recycling theme – a different take on recycle/reuse, the classic rummage/yard/garage sale. The PTA/PTSAs of Highland Park Elementary and Pathfinder K-8 are teaming up on this “give and take” sale today – taking donations, with the motto “Give what you can, take what you need.”
Among those making this happen at the HPE campus (1012 SW Trenton) are Gretchen, Haley, Sher, and Ellen:
The sale’s on until 3 pm!
Big demand for free dropoff recycling of what you can’t put out at the curb! The spring Recycle Roundup is happening in the Fauntleroy Church lot (9140 California SW) until 3 pm, and organizers tell us the drive-up line was more than a block long before it began. This one catches up quickly, and DTG Recycle – new parent company of longtime partner 1 Green Planet – has multiple trucks on site.
Here is the list of what they will and won’t take this time. You have until 3 pm to get there, but organizers remind you, please don’t wait until the last minute, so they can close on time without people still waiting. If you can’t get to today’s event, the church usually does it again in fall; also, Seattle Public Utilities‘ “Where Does It Go?” page can help with recycling/disposal options.
(Caution, ducks crossing! Erskine Way, texted photo)
Welcome to April’s final weekend! Lots of highlights and other info for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LOW-BRIDGE CLOSURE: The West Seattle low bridge is in the 8th day of its closure to road/path traffic for upgrades and should reopen by early Monday morning. More closure details from SDOT here (including how to get free rides on the Water Taxi or Metro buses).
LIBRARY CLOSURE: The Southwest Library is closed Saturdays through June 4.
WATER TAXI’S LATER-EVENING RUNS: Second weekend of spring/summer season the West Seattle Water Taxi, which means later-evening runs tonight.
WEST SEATTLE RUNNER GROUP RUN: The store‘s where to meet for the weekly free group run at 8 am. (2743 California SW)
FREE! HEAVILY MEDITATED: Arrive by 8:50 am for community meditation at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska). Free event every Saturday but please register.
FAUNTLEROY CHURCH RECYCLE ROUNDUP: 9 am-3 pm, bring your recyclables to the church parking lot (9140 California SW) for free drop-off recycling – but check this list first to see what they will and will not take.
WHITE CENTER SPRING CLEAN, SECOND ROUND: Help clean up the south end of downtown White Center – meet your fellow volunteers at 9 am in the Saar’s parking lot (16th/107th).
ALL-WHEEL AREA COMMUNITY MEETING: 10 am-noon at By & By Skate Shop (4502 California SW), come hear and talk about the plan for an “all-wheel area” at Morgan Junction Park.
SHELTER VOLUNTEERING: As explained in our preview, outdoor help is needed today at 10 am at Westside Neighbors Shelter (3618 SW Alaska).
NANTES PARK VOLUNTEERING: 10 am-1 pm, come help weed and mulch at this little park! (5062 SW Admiral Way)
DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY, WITH SHREDDING: Bring your no-longer-needed prescription medication – and your shreddable items, plus food-drive donations – to the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster) lot, 10 am-2 pm – more info here.
ROCK AND GEM SHOW: 10 am-5 pm today and Sunday at Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds) – free admission – displays and activities for all ages.
SALE AT HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY: Unique rummage sale:
It’s time for the Spring Rummage Sale at Highland Park Elementary: April 27th from 10:00 am-3:00 pm! This year, Pathfinder K-8 PTSA and Highland Park Elementary PTSA are joining forces to bring this event to our West Seattle community – come show up for your schools and neighbors!
This is a give and take event. Give what you can, take what you need. Kids grow fast; let’s move some resources around our community! Books, puzzles, games, youth/infant/adult clothing, shoes, kitchen items, sporting goods, garden tools, toys, linens, etc.
(1012 SW Trenton)
TOOL LIBRARY SALE: Big sale at the West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW), 10 am-3 pm.
SPRING NATIVE ART MARKET: Today and Sunday, 10 am-5 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
ARK PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-noon, you’re invited to visit. (4113 SW 102nd)
SSC GARDEN CENTER: Plants await you at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, 10 am-3 pm.
MORNING MUSIC: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.
FAMILY STORY TIME: 10:30 am-11 am at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – see full details in our calendar listing.
FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
WHITE CENTER LIBRARY GUILD SALE: Rummage-sale items and vegetable starts, 11 am-3 pm. (1409 SW 107th)
FLASH TATTOO OPEN HOUSE: Kingtide Ink welcomes you in for a flash tattoo, 11 am-8 pm (4222 SW Walker).
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: The home of West Seattle history is open for your visit, noon-4 pm. (61st/Stevens)
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)
VISCON CELLARS: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Open 1-6 pm at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
READY FREDDY PREP PARTY: Free 45-minute event with disaster-preparedness coach Alice Kuder of Just In Case (WSB sponsor), 2 pm at West Seattle Coworking (9030 35th SW) – email alice@justincaseplans.com to be sure there’s room.
(added) VIGIL: 3 pm vigil in memory of Thomas J. Garrett, the 81-year-old man killed by a hit-run driver, at 15th/Roxbury.
NEPENTHE’S WALK-IN MASSAGE CLINIC: 3-5 pm, show up at Nepenthe (9447 35th SW) with a specific problem to be addressed by massage, and you’ll get a free (gratuities appreciated) trial of their work.
LIVE AT EASY STREET RECORDS: (Update, sorry for original error, The Hellflowers’ show is SUNDAY, not today)
(added) DINNER AT THE EAGLES: 5:30 pm, dinner and music:
Saturday the 27th.. Anne Weglin and her crew are taking over the kitchen again and making an outstanding meal. Starting @ 5:30 pm for $15 they’ll have “Chicken Marbella with Saffron rice, Salad and Lemon bars for dessert.” The proceeds of this meal will be going to Fogerson Athletics who provides athletic equipment and scholarships for local families in need! We will also have a band playing from 7-10. Join us in jamming out to the Soulful 88’s –
West Seattle Eagles this Saturday the 27th until we sell out, cash only
(4426 California SW)
INSTRUMENTS OF CHANGE: If you have tickets, tonight’s the West Seattle Food Bank‘s benefit gala dinner/auction,, 6-9 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW).
LIVE AT C & P COFFEE: Singer-songwriter Paul Gerard at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm, all ages, no cover.
ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: 7-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)
THE BYRD ENSEMBLE: As previewed here, the acclaimed chamber-vocal ensemble is singing a program featuring Allegri‘s “Miserere” at 7:30 pm tonight at Holy Rosary Catholic Church (42nd/Genesee), and you can get 30 percent off general, senior, and/or student tickets by buying online with the code WSBLOG30.
AT KENYON HALL: Tonight’s originally schedule flamenco performance is canceled, according to the KH website.
FINAL WEEKEND FOR ‘ENGLISH’: The play by Sanaz Toossi, directed by Naghmeh Samini, continues at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7:30 pm. Ticket link and more info are in our calendar listing; online tickets are sold out but you can check with the box office.
DRAG AT THE SKYLARK: Tonight’s the night for the monthly West Seattle drag extravaganza West End Girls, hosted by Cookie Couture at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW) – doors at 7 pm, show at 8 pm, all ages, tickets online or at the door.
BEATS: Saturday night DJs at Revelry Room – 9 pm. Tonight, DJ Robin Burrowes debuts in the Room. (4547 California SW, alley side)
KARAOKE: Saturday night, sing at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW), starting at 10 pm.
Planning a happening? If the community’s welcome, your event belongs on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
ORIGINAL REPORT, 1:46 AM SATURDAY: What started as a report about a fight east of Schmitz Park has turned into a gunfire investigation. Police have told dispatch they’ve found at least one casing in the 3000 block of Garlough SW (vicinity map). No reports of injuries but officers have told dispatch this might be related to an attempted auto theft. No other details so far.
ADDED TUESDAY: Here’s the police-report summary:
At approximately 0130 hours, multiple callers reported that six people were in a physical altercation in the area of Garlough Av SW and SW Hanford St, when one of the parties involved fired a gun. All participants were said to have then fled in a vehicle, traveling northbound. Officers arrived and canvassed the area for evidence, finding a spent shell casing. There was no indication that anyone was shot and an area check for possible suspects met with negative results.
Summer break is now two months away, and it’s been a while since we reminded you about some local options for camp. When last we spoke with Erin Rubin from Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) and Mode Music and Performing Arts, she said they still have some openings, so check it out if your summer’s not yet all booked:
ARE YOU READY TO ROCK WITH MODE MUSIC STUDIOS?!
It’s time for a summer of Rock Bands with Mode Music Studios! We’re offering camps for ages 6-11 and 12+ this time around. Camps run 9-12:00 for our 6-11 crowd and 12:30-2:30 for our 12+. Finish up the week with a Saturday live performance at our favorite neighbor venue, The Skylark, next door!
Turn it into a full day of camp for our 6-11’s by signing up for an afternoon of music and theatre classes at our nonprofit MMPA – keep scrolling for more info and sign up for a rock band at the link below!
MMPA PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN MUSIC AND THEATER SUMMER CAMPS – LET’S GET CREATIVE!
All of our MMPA camps are offered as half and full days at a pay-what you can rate, so they’re accessible to everyone. Half-day camps run 9-12:00 and 12:30-3:30 and are available for grades K-5. Hang with us for lunch in-between and double up for a full day of fun! Don’t miss out on another creative summer with us. Click the link below to sign up!
Though Seattle Parks paused the plan to set up pickleball courts on a Lincoln Park slab that once held tennis courts, its final fate has yet to be announced. Last night, before giving the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners a presentation about Parks’ “Pickleball and Tennis Vision,” deputy superintendent Andy Sheffer said they were “on the cusp of a decision” about it. Superintendent AP Diaz also promised that “more information on Lincoln Park is coming.” But that was all meant mostly to make sure those in attendance who were interested in LP – the subject of several public comments at the meeting’s start – knew it would not be specifically addressed in the presentation. Here’s what was:
Parks officials said that pickleball is growing, and while they said their presentation did not include “solutions” for addressing the need, they promised it would lay out a “path to find solutions.” That path includes designating four “hubs” around the city, two each for pickleball and tennis. Locations were listed for three, but not for the south pickleball hub (which would be for the area including West Seattle, though not necessarily in West Seattle):
Here’s how a hub would work:
No prospective sites for the “south” hub were mentioned; early in the presentation, this slide showed where dedicated pickleball and tennis courts are located in the city now:
You can see the full slide deck here. There was a heavy emphasis on encouraging use of pickleball rackets using noise-reduction technology, as part of the “vision,” to address persistent concerns about the sport’s noise; the Parks officials also promised to improve communication, in part by setting up online and in-person groups.
No timeline was mentioned for the next update.
ORIGINAL REPORT: We’ve gotten some questions about whether Seattle Public Utilities is planning a West Seattle compost giveaway this year. One has appeared on SPU’s Beyond the Cart page: 10 am-1 pm Saturday, May 4, in the Westcrest Park P-patch parking lot. SPU reminds those interested, “These events give away bulk compost, so remember to bring a shovel and a container to load and haul your compost.” There’s a limit, too, although not listed currently on the SPU page.
ADDED TUESDAY: Important additional info from SPU:
This year, Seattle Public Utilities is adopting a more focused community approach by hosting smaller compost events. The primary objective is to channel resources towards communities that historically face challenges in accessing composting. This more targeted approach is being led by community partners, like Grow Northwest, in West Seattle.
Those who attend will be provided up to 6 cubic feet of compost (unlike previous years where SPU offered a maximum of 14 cubic feet).
To mitigate traffic congestion and enhance accessibility, vehicles will not be permitted to drive up to the compost collection area. Attendees will be directed to park nearby and access compost on foot.
3:05 PM: If you’re noticing police activity in the Westwood Village/Roxhill Park area, it’s because of a shoplift-turned-robbery at the shopping center. According to the dispatch, Ross security tried to stop a shoplifter, who subsequently flashed a gun. They were last seen heading toward Roxhill Park. We haven’t heard a description so far. The Guardian One helicopter is arriving to help with the search.
3:08 PM: According to the description just given to the helicopter crew, they’re looking for a “light-skinned Black man, 25-30, 5’10”, medium build, black face cover, black hoodie with a tie-dye shirt.”
3:22 PM: No one matching that description was in view from the air, so the helicopter has moved on.
5:48 PM: Commenters say the robbery was at Marshalls, not Ross, though the latter is what was initially dispatched. A final written report won’t be available before Monday.
Providence Mount St. Vincent‘s centennial celebration opened ceremonially, including the opening of a time capsule, with a little help from a team from West Seattle’s Nucor steel mill, which produced steel that built “The Mount” a century ago.
It’s a day full of history, including photos and items dating back to the elder-care and rehabilitation facility’s early days in the 1920s.
Both County Executive Dow Constantine and Mayor Bruce Harrell issued proclamations in honor of the occasion:
Reflections about the Sisters of Providence founding The Mount were shared by Providence executive Dianna Reely, after an introduction by emcee Brian Callanan:
A rededication ribbon-cutting followed:
As noted in our calendar listing, you still have time to go to The Mount (4831 35th SW) and participate in today’s celebration – with an ongoing open house this afternoon and a free family movie at 5 pm.
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