day : 14/10/2024 9 results

SPORTS: Cross-peninsula volleyball battle as league-leading West Seattle HS hosts Chief Sealth IHS

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand. Above, WSHS #6, junior Jas Daily)

The big high-school sports excitement on the peninsula this fall is on the court, not the field. West Seattle High School‘s volleyball team is leading the Metro League. Chief Sealth International High School is right behind them. The two met tonight for the first time this season, at the WSHS gym. Big draw on both sides:

The Wildcats took the match in three straight sets.

(Above, WSHS #2, senior Sadie Miller)

(Above, CSIHS #8, senior Allison Ohta)

Scores were 25-12, 25-11, and, with the Seahawks trying to rally for a comeback, 25-18.

(Above, CSIHS #2, senior Charlotte Lindow)

(Above, WSHS #5, sophomore Zoe Hanson)

Also seen on the court – dinosaurs:

No, it’s not early Halloween; WSHS has launched student dino racing at home matches, to win free pizza. WSHS (9-0), led by head coach Scott Behrbaum, plays again at home tomorrow night (Tuesday, October 15), vs. Ballard; Chief Sealth (12-2), led by head coach Lorraine Toilolo, is on the road tomorrow, at Seattle Academy, also at 7 pm,

From park to politics, here’s what Morgan Community Association will hear/talk about Wednesday

This week brings several community meetings of note – including the Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly gathering, 7 pm Wednesday (October 16), in person at the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation‘s lower-level community room (7141 California SW) or online.
This meeting is always wall-to-wall with important community info, so if you’re interested in Morgan Junction (and often lower Gatewood) matters, be there. The agenda says discussion topics will include what’s next for the Morgan Junction Park expansion, where contaminated dirt was recently dug up, and plans to add an “all-wheel area” to the park (here’s our most-recent update). Traffic safety, police updates, and a new business will get some time too, as will the race for City Council citywide Position 8 beteen Tanya Woo and Alexis Mercedes Rinck. All are welcome, no RSVP or membership required – just show up or click in!

HALLOWEEN 2024: Around-the-clock haunt

As we continue spotlighting West Seattle Halloween decorations, here’s a haunt to see day or night!

Thanks to the texter who sent day and night views of that house on SW Andover just west of 42nd SW. Want to show us yours (or a display you’ve admired)? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! (See what we’ve published already by scrolling through our Halloween-coverage archive here.)

HOLIDAY PREVIEW: Christmas Ship scheduled for two West Seattle stops this year

(WSB file photo)

Thanksgiving is still six and a half weeks away, but yes, we’re ready to talk (a bit) about the holidays – with seasonal calendar listings starting to come in. One that might interest you for early planning: The Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship is making only two West Seattle visits this year, both on the same night – its first night of the year, Saturday, November 23. On that night, the Pacific Sound Chorus will be on board to serenade both passengers on the ship and spectators onshore. The Christmas Ship will visit Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW) 5:35-5:55 pm that night, and Alki Beach Park (2665 Alki SW), 8:35-8:55 pm. Weather permitting, a bonfire is planned at Alki, with Seattle Parks.

Young performer in the family? Or anyone seeking inspiration? ‘Call Me Dancer’ benefit screening for theater at Chief Sealth IHS

“The show must go on!” That’s the timeless motto for performers – even when they’re faced with adversity such as lack of resources – but they’re never without hope. The theater program at Chief Sealth International High School will get to ensure shows keep going on, if you lend a hand – by attending the upcoming benefit screening the award-winning film featured in the trailer above, “Call Me Dancer.” In case you haven’t already seen this in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s the announcement:

Friday evening, October 25th, at the Chief Sealth International High School Performing Arts Center: ‘Call Me Dancer’ is truly an amazing film, and anyone who wants some inspiration and lifting up will adore it.

A truly great film is always interesting in itself, but soars above the subject matter as well — to astound and
inspire, to draw out strong emotions from the viewer and, ultimately, to make us look at our own lives in a
different way. The true-life adventure Call Me Dancer does all of this and more, winning it prizes and accolades
all over the world. It soars and twirls and summersaults and inspires, while telling the story of Manish Chauhan, a young Indian street dancer pursuing his unlikely but burning passion to become a ballet dancer. Shot in India, UK, Israel and the US, we get to experience Manish’s incredible charisma and talent, as well as his wonderful family and some of the extraordinary people who help change his life. The film is directed by Leslie Shampaine and Pip Gilmore, and features music from legendary singer/songwriter Jay Sean and hip-hop artist/rapper Anik Khan, with a sublime score by Nainita Desai and Nina Humphreys.

The non-profit BAYFEST Youth Theatre runs the drama and performing arts program at Sealth, but we have recently suffered an almost total funding cut from Seattle Public Schools, due to their current huge budget crisis (and of course the arts seem always to be one of the first things to go…) But the Show Must Go On, and we have gotten exclusive rights to hold a screening of the film Call Me Dancer, which has won awards all over the world in the past year, as a fundraiser for the program, which we are very excited about. Besides being VERY anxious to sell as many tickets as we can to raise program funds, this is a rare opportunity for people to see this wonderful and inspirational film.

GET YOUR TICKET(S) HERE

Some tickets might be available at the door, but the price is lower in advance; a share of the proceeds also will benefit West Seattle Performing Arts. The film is just under an hour and a half, in English and (subtitled) Hindi. The screening will be followed by an audience Q&A.

BIZNOTE FOLLOWUP: Sandwich truck Aimee Owenz opening in ex-Tony’s lot

(Photos courtesy Aimee Owenz)

After Tony’s Market announced its impending closure in August, we learned a food truck with Cuban sandwiches was on the way to its lot, which already hosts a Mexican-food truck. The sandwich truck’s owner then turned up in a comment thread on another food story, and promised to update us when she was ready to open. Now, after soft-opening last weekend, the Aimee Owenz truck will officially open tomorrow. Proprietor Jenn tells WSB, “We are tentatively planning to be open Tuesday through Saturday 11 am-7 pm. We are working on our website and will be adding DoorDash too.” In the meantime, here’s the menu. And here’s a photo of their Cuban sandwich:

The Aimee Owenz truck is on the east side of the lot at 35th/Barton.

P.S. We asked Jenn about the truck’s name: “It’s mine and my brother’s middle names and while we were waiting for the city approval for our truck, our mom unexpectedly passed away. We feel even more proud to honor her. She liked the way Aimee was spelled and Owenz is a family name, so in a serendipitous way she named it.”

VIDEO: Fauntleroy Creek awaits salmon, after the annual gathering to welcome them

(WSB photos, video)

It is now the season of suspense for those who care for and about Fauntleroy Creek: When will coho salmon spawners show up? Wondering about questions like that is what concluded this year’s gathering to welcome them, with singing, drumming, and more. Some of the ~100 people who showed up visited the creek after ceremonially placing stones on a banner in the center of their circle:

The gathering was just yards from the creek, in a courtyard outside the home of creek stewards (and Salmon in the Schools volunteers) Judy Pickens and Phil Sweetland. Judy told the crowd she was “delighted you all are interested in this little creek of ours.”

More than a quarter-century has passed since Judy and other volunteers led the restoration that brought salmon back into the creek. Now, each year the work to keep it accessible includes clearing logs from the creek’s mouth near the ferry dock (that was done three weeks ago). Now it’s time to watch, wait, and count – Dennis Hinton told the gathering that while the high tides are high enough now for salmon, there’s not enough water in the creek for them until we get more rain.

(Even that might not bring immediate results, he noted, since the first spawners didn’t show up until early November last year.) Learning about the creek and fish was a lesson for all ages in attendance:

The music-making was again led by Jamie Shilling:

She was joined this year by Chaz Hastings, a tabla drummer who Judy also noted is a “newly minted creek volunteer”:

The gathering was, as always, brief, with a few familiar songs paying tribute to the creek and the fish, and a chance for the kids to imagine what it might be like to be a fish:

Dappled late-afternoon sun came through the creekside trees, as organizers observed they couldn’t remember the last time this mid-October gathering was greeted by 70-degree warmth. Likely it’ll be colder, and muddier, by the time the fish make their appearance; as Judy told the gathering, once that happens, volunteers will likely host an “open creek” day so you come down to creekside to try to see them yourself (watch for announcements here on WSB). It’s impossible to predict how spawning season will go – last year, watchers counted 34 coho; the year before, 254.

Our West Seattle list – including holiday closures/changes – for today/tonight (updated)

(Photographed on 26th SW south of Roxbury by Gill Loring)

Here’s our highlight list for the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

CLOSURES/CHANGES FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY/COLUMBUS DAY: Libraries are closed … many Seattle Parks programs/facilities are closed … It’s a postal holiday and banking holiday … Street parking is free today in Seattle neighborhoods where the city charges for it.

COMMUNITY CUP SHOWCASE: Multiple artists’ cup creations are on display all month at Dubsea Coffee (9910 8th SW), open until 2 pm.

CUPCAKE ROYALE’S LAST DAY: After 19 years, today is closing day for Cupcake Royale‘s West Seattle café at California/Alaska, 10 am-5 pm.

ART SALON: Monthly “safe space for creative people to gather,” 4-6 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).

(per commenter, every other week now, next one is October 21) FOOD TRUCK IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: Rotating weekly food-truck visit, 4000 block of SW 107th, 4 pm.

GET CRAFTY: 6-10 pm, Monday brings “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.

D&D: Weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, including first-time players.

SPORTS: The undefeated West Seattle High School volleyball team hosts Chief Sealth International High School, 7 pm. (3000 California SW)

MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA! Three places to play tonight – 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander); 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)

MEDITATION IN FAUNTLEROY: You’re invited to free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.

MEDITATION IN ALKI: The Alki Dharma Community also hosts Monday night meditation at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), 7-8:30 pm.

MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: The Alley in back of Bonjour Vietnam is open – tonight, live music from The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.

SING! 9 pm start for Monday night karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).

If you have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar, please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

TRAFFIC, ROAD WORK, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Monday notes

6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, October 14th, Indigenous Peoples Day in our state and 16 others, Columbus Day federally.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Rain expected by afternoon, high in the low 60s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:27 am, while sunset will be at 6:21 pm.

ROAD WORK

*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project continues; the north half of the bridge remains closed, with one lane each way on the south side, until the project switches sides, which SDOT now says is expected to happen around October 28th. Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.

*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.

*The south Beach Drive gas-pipeline project continues.

TRANSIT

No changes for Indigenous Peoples Day:

Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, plus the “unscheduled third boat.” Check for alerts here.

Metro buses todayRegular schedule.

Water Taxi todayRegular schedule.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:

Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:

Low Bridge – Looking west:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!