West Seattle, Washington
05 Monday
(WSB photo from 2018 Laps With Lou)
It’s one of June’s most joyful events – for 20 years now, Lou Cutler has led a daylong walk/run-a-thon at Pathfinder K-8 on Pigeon Point, raising awareness and money for Make-A-Wish. Lou taught PE at Pathfinder until retiring, but has continued to return each year for one day of leading students and community members in the number of laps equal to the years he’s celebrating with his next birthday later in the month – this year, that’s 72. Laps With Lou has historically been on a school day, but this year it’s happening on a Saturday. While that means no all-school laps – a highlight of years past – it means more community members can stop by and join Lou for a lap (or all 72).
It’s happening on Saturday, June 17th; Lou expects to start his first lap around 8 am, with students and alumni expected to show up around 9, and then a break at 11 am, when Lou plans to speak to everyone about Make-A-Wish, which will have volunteers and staff on hand. Plus, Lou adds, “We are going to have a former Make A Wish kid of mine, Jacob, D-DoubleJ, has volunteered to be the DJ and Teacher Andy will once again man the megaphone!” He’s also working to organize a potluck reunion of Pathfinder families past and present after the laps, 2:30-5 pm ish.
You can lend your support just by showing up on Saturday, June 17th, and/or you can donate online to support Make-A-Wish work – here’s Lou’s page.
(Photos courtesy Rose Feliciano)
Back on Saturday night, we reported on the plight that had befallen the unofficial tribute to Rolf Neslund – “patron saint of the broken bridge” (explained here) – along the bike/foot path by the West Seattle Bridge. Today, the sculpture mysteriously installed three years ago is standing again, thanks to this trio:
That’s Rose Feliciano in the foreground, local preservationists John Bennett and Mike Shaughnessy with the statue. Mike is one of the people who reached out after we noted we hadn’t been able to reach the installation’s original creator(s); Rose is the first person who emailed us to report Rolf had taken a tumble; she then took him into protective custody for fear of theft (it has happened before). After Rose reported the restoration, Mike added, “Special thanks to Sandy Brown for the free concrete pedestal pieces. And of course the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.” (And thanks to the others who offered to help.)
That’s the team at Lake Washington Physical Therapy-West Seattle (WSB sponsor), which just celebrated its second anniversary at 1309 Harbor Avenue SW. Co-proprietor Mark Bouma tells WSB, “Last week was our patient appreciation week, which marked 2 years of being in business. We celebrated our wonderful community, patients, and business partners that have allowed us to thrive. There were plenty of raffles, balloons, roses for patients, and LWPT spirit all week!” Here are two big reasons to visit LWPT in the weeks ahead:
This week – West Seattle Art Walk:
We are once again participating in the West Seattle Art Walk this Summer. Barbara Fugate is our curator and has just transformed our clinic with new art from many local West Seattle artists. Here is a video produced by one of the artists which highlights the process of selecting and hanging the paintings while showcasing some of the new artists in our exhibit. We hope to see everyone at the Art Walk on Thursday, June 8th at 6:30 pm.
After that, you have four opportunities to enjoy a workout with a view during Summer Rooftop Classes:
We are bringing back our summer rooftop classes this summer!
(The view from LWPT building’s rooftop deck)We love to support and spread the good word about other local health and wellness businesses so more of the community can experience them. All of these classes raise money to benefit local West Seattle charities, such as WestSide Baby. After each class, participants will have the opportunity to enjoy refreshments and have some time to meet the instructors, learn about our businesses, and chat with neighbors in the community!
Here is the summer rooftop class lineup:
Saturday June 17th at 9 am: StarCycle Rooftop Spin Class with live DJ
Saturday, July 8th at 9 am: StarCycle Rooftop Spin Class with live DJ
(Purchase a StarCycle credit here; reserve a StarCycle bike here)
Sunday, August 6th: HIIT Lab Rooftop Bodyweight Bootcamp
Saturday, August 26th: Fit4Mom Rooftop Class
(Sunday photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s what’s ahead for the rest of your Monday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LOW-LOW TIDE, WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: Out to -3.7 feet at 12:26 pm; Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists will be at Constellation Park (63rd/Beach Drive) and Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) 10:30 am-2:30 pm.
MONDAY MOVIE: 1 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), “Terry’s Greatest Movies You’ve Never Heard Of,” today featuring “Blue Skies” (1946). Free popcorn! Contact SCWS to register in advance.
CRAFTING AND CREATIVITY NIGHT: 6-10 pm at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.
OPEN MIC: Weekly BedHead Open Mic continues at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (4201 SW Juneau), 6:30 pm – info in our calendar listing.
D&D: Open D&D starts at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), all welcome, even first-time players. $5.
FAUNTLEROY MEDITATION: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation event at the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
ALKI MEDITATION: Free twice-monthly Dharma Community meditation, 7-8:30 pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds).
PLAY TRIVIA! Two options tonight for playing trivia – 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MONDAY MUSIC: Live music with The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
Have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar ? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Seven weeks after the news of Leticia Martinez‘s death, her family is sharing this remembrance with word of her Celebration of Life on July 1st:
Leticia Martinez, loving mother and beloved daughter died tragically on April 1st, 2023, after attending a Mariners game in Seattle at the age of 58.
Leticia is survived by her son Patrick Cosman, her parents Guadalupe and Lino Martinez, sisters Maria Arvizu, Elizabeth DeGeare and Laura Martinez-Dicus, brothers Rafael Martinez and Ricardo Martinez, nieces Maria Arvizu-Gonzalez and Lina Dicus, nephews Brian Nateras and Finley Dicus.
Leticia was born in San Diego California on March 26th, 1965. She graduated from San Dieguito High School in 1984 and moved to Seattle in 1996. In 1998, she welcomed her son Patrick into the world. In 2005, Leticia opened Café Rozella, which was a vital part of the White Center community for over ten years. Many multi-cultural and diverse events were held at the Café including musical performances, community support groups, and dancing, all showcasing Leticia’s love for her community. In 2007, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels named her “a force of change.”
Leticia loved spending time with her family, taking walks on Alki Beach, cooking, and had a love for fashion. She was a devoted mother and made many lasting friendships. She was actively involved in her Buddhist community, where she found peace and happiness. She touched many people with her kindness and willingness to lend a helping hand to those in need. Her unselfish nature and trust in others also led to her being taken from us too soon.
Leticia will be deeply missed by friends and family and those who knew her.
A Celebration of Life will be held to honor Leticia on Saturday, July 1st, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Alki Masonic Center, 4736 40th Ave. SW, Seattle.
If I should go tomorrow
It would never be good-bye
For I have left my heart with you
So don’t you ever cry
The love that’s deep within me
Shall reach you from the stars
You’ll feel it from the heavens
And it will heal all scarsDonations can be made to her GoFundMe page “Justice for Leticia,” which will help support Leticia’s son, legal costs, and memorial expenses.
(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 Monday, June 5th.
WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunny, breezy, high near 70. Sunrise was at 5:14 am; sunset will be at 9:03 pm.
SCHOOL
This is the last week of school for Summit Atlas middle/high school in Arbor Heights (35th/Roxbury). Other local schools’ last days are between June 13th and June 30th.
TRANSIT
Metro – Regular schedule, but trip cancellations and temporary route suspensions can and do happen at any time.
Water Taxi – Continuing the spring/summer schedule, including late-evening runs Friday and Saturday nights.
Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule; sailing cancellations remain possible on short notice, so check here for alerts/updates and 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: Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed to see if 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!
Two more small local businesses hit by crime:
TONY’S MARKET BURGLARIZED: We just heard from Tony’s Market proprietor Joey Genzale about this by phone. Overnight, someone broke into his business at 35th/Barton and got away with thousands of dollars in produce. Nothing else stolen, he told us – only the produce. The display boxes were left in disarray. He’s hoping somebody saw something – maybe a vehicle there late last night (he left around 9 pm) or early today? We’ll be following up on this tomorrow.
BUSINESS VAN STOLEN: This 1995 Ford Econoline van belonging to the proprietor of 9th & Hennepin Donuts was taken while he was at the commissary kitchen, a friend tells us on his behalf:
My friend Justin Newstrum is the owner of beloved 9th and Hennepin Donuts. His van, which is outfitted as a camper, was stolen while he was working at 5604 Delridge Way SW today. He’s currently making a police report.
Plate # is C14296S. (added) Police report # is 23-154959. Here’s an interior photo:
7:13 PM: The remains of old pilings are part of what comes into view when low-low tides arrive on local shores. The photo above is from Theresa Arbow-O’Connor. Today’s low-low tide was out to 3.3 feet; Brandy DeWeese also sent photos, showing some of the sealife revealed by the receded tide under and near the Fauntleroy ferry dock:
The low-low tide will be out even further the next two days – -3.7 feet both days, at 12:26 pm Monday, and at 1:13 pm Tuesday. Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists will be out both days too – 10:30 am-2:30 pm Monday, 11 am-3 pm Tuesday, at Constellation Park (63rd/Beach Drive) and Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) both days.
ADDED 9:22 PM: Curry Gibson sent this pic of kelp crabs:
ADDED 11:45 PM: Thanks to SF for this montage:
Summertime is internship time! West Seattle writer/educator Julia Douthwaite Viglione has an opportunity to share:
This summer a new course will be offered for kids at the South Park Community Center and you can help!
It’s called Write YOUR Story.
Opportunity for two unpaid internships, for 18- to 24-year-old people who seek to learn some aspects of teaching writing and working with children.
Help plan and co-teach “Write YOUR Story” at the South Park Comm. Center on Thursdays, 4:30-5:30 pm, from late June to early September, during summer session 2023 with local writer / professor, founder of WYS.
Volunteer; unpaid but rich in possibilities…
Prerequisites for application: High School juniors or graduates, detail-oriented. Applicants will submit a cover letter and a one-paragraph writing sample to juliawsea@gmail.com by June 6, 2023.
That’s Tuesday – so apply fast if interested!
4:21 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for the report: Transient killer whales are northbound, headed through the Southworth ferry lane at last report, visible from West Seattle (through whitecaps, since it’s a breezy afternoon).
4:55 PM: Now visible north of Blake Island, Kersti reports in comments.
The banners are up for this year’s Morgan Junction Community Festival, now exactly two weeks away! The Morgan Community Association will present the festival 1-4 pm Sunday, June 18, at Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW). Yes, that’s Father’s Day – MoCA says it’s a great place for Dad and the kid(s) to go together. Here’s the festival overview from MoCA’s Michael Brunner – starting with the three performers:
Mikey the Rad Scientist has been teaching and singing nature songs for over ten years and makes science fun by using stories, songs, props and movement to reinforce student’s learning.
The Potholes are a five piece funk-pop fusion band that performs covers as well as songs from their just released EP “Public Transportation.” The Potholes are all West Seattleites, and students at West Seattle High School. They were featured at last year’s West Seattle Summer Fest and Harvest Fest.
Gary Benson is a Seattle-based singer and acoustic guitarist who plays in the style of the iconic musical figures that he grew up listening to, including James Taylor, CSNY, the Beatles, Allison Krauss, and Shawn Colvin. His folk-based acoustic style has been very popular in the open-mic scene in Seattle, where he plays regularly, along with summer festivals and farmers’ markets. He has performed at the Morgan Junction Festival for many years.
This year we will also host non-profit booths and tables. Participants will include 34th District Democrats, Seattle Be Prepared, Southwest Historical Society, The Whale Trail, and Westside Healthy Empowered Youth. Each will offer important information updates to the community, and several will feature fun children activities as well.
Community business co-sponsors of the festival include WSB.
Speaking of clean water … if you share your life with a dog, there’s easy action you can take. A local student is teaming up with West Seattle-based Poogooder for a new initiative that includes a community event today. Just out of the WSB inbox:
Watershed Woof! is a local community engagement initiative to help raise awareness of stormwater pollution and simple ways we can all help keep our waters cleaner and healthier, such as reducing the amount of wayward dog poo left on the ground. It’s a collaboration between Lori Kothe from Poogooder and Mac Callahan, a West Seattle resident and Maritime High School student who is focusing his freshman end-of-year project on preventing dog-poo pollution in our Duwamish River Watershed. Includes an informative web page with videos by Mac and others (watershedwoof.com), a fun event today (June 4) from 3-6 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), and a Poogooder prize drawing with goodies from Poogooder, Pawsitively Kleen, and Good Dog Daycare (enter on the website by June 5). We ask everyone to visit the Watershed Woof! page and share what they learn with others for a happier, healthier community and planet.
Two more areas are reporting brown water today – Highland Park (18th/Cloverdale) and Arbor Heights. Lately it’s usually been because of hydrant testing stirring up “sediment” (mostly rust) in the lines, but if it happens to you, please report to Seattle Public Utilities, as it’s also sometimes first word of a line break. 206-386-1800 is their 24/7 hotline. And while the utility says the discoloration is not toxic, you definitely don’t want to do laundry until it’s cleared.
Family and friends are remembering Michael R. Butler and sharing this with the community:
Michael Richard Butler of Seattle died on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. He was born on August 19, 1935, and lived to be 87 years old. He was the youngest child of Mayo Philbrick Butler and Jeannette Florence (Hainsworth) Butler.
He is survived by his wife Betty M. (Kidder) Butler and three sons, Michael P. Butler (Puyallup), Todd K. Butler (Ketchikan, Alaska), and Brett H. Butler (West Seattle). Mike was the grandfather of Natasha M. (Butler) Whipple, Jason R. Butler, Melissa B. Butler, and Tanner K. Butler. He was the great-grandfather to seven great-grandchildren.
After graduating from West Seattle High School in 1953, he attended the University of Washington, where he was a member of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering. After graduation he served six months active duty in the Army and 9½ years in the Army Reserve. He was honorably discharged in 1968 as a Captain in the Army Corps of Engineers. After active duty, he began working for the family business, Butler Construction & Engineering Company. They built many highways, bridges, and buildings in the Pacific Northwest.
He was a lifelong member of the Seattle Yacht Club. He joined in 1954 as a junior member to participate in the yacht club’s junior sailboat racing program. Soon after, in 1955, Mike’s father also joined and had the family cruiser “Paramour” built. One of Mike’s greatest pleasures was cruising in the Paramour throughout Southeast Alaska and the British Columbia coast with family and friends.
He enjoyed learning family history and was always involved in a history project. His family were early residents of West Seattle, in the Admiral district, and helped develop the area. He assisted his niece Barbara Pope with stories and photos when she wrote “A History of Butler Construction Company, 1908-1992.” He was a member of the Southwest Historical Society and the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum and contributed some early family photos to the history book of West Seattle, “West Side Story.”
Remembrances can be sent to Southwest Seattle Historical Society or the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum.
(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)
(Saturday post-sunset – photo by Doug Eglington)
Here’s what’s on the list for the second half of the weekend, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LOW-LOW TIDE, WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists will be out 9:30 am-1:30 pm at Constellation Park (63rd/Beach) and Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), as the low tide goes out to -3.3 feet at 11:42 am.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm; the market offers spring produce as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, plant starts, more. Here’s today’s vendor list. (California SW between Oregon and Alaska)
SOUL SPA: Inner Alchemy is hosting Soul Spas on Sundays at Jet City Labs (4547 California SW) during Farmers’ Market hours, 10 am-2 pm: “a fun community experience of meeting our talented local healers, makers, and artists right alongside the Farmers’ Market. Mini-sessions, shopping, connecting, and Timmy cooking brunch!”
PIZZA FUNDRAISER: The West Seattle High School Chinese Culture Club will benefit from part of the proceeds at MOD Pizza (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW location) today, 10:30 am-10 pm, if you mention the fundraiser – info is in our calendar listing.
DELRIDGE DISC-O ULTIMATE TOURNAMENT: Hat tournament for middle- and high-school players, 10:30 am-5 pm at Delridge Playfield South (Delridge/Alaska). Details in our calendar listing.
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK OPEN: 11 am-8 pm daily through Labor Day. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Second Sunday of the season for free tours of historic Alki Point Lighthouse (3201 Alki Avenue SW), 1-4 pm (last tour starts at 3:45 pm).
END THE WEEKEND PEACEFULLY: Inner Alchemy offers Kundalini Yoga, Meditation, Breath Work, and Gong Bath from 7-8:30 pm at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska). RSVP/fee info is in our calendar listing.
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
Have an event – one-time or recurring – to add to our calendar? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The photos are from Bill, one of several people who have emailed us in the past few days to report that tragedy has befallen a rogue West Seattle art installation – the trailside tribute to Rolf Neslund, “patron saint of the broken bridge,” placed and announced in September 2020, half a year into the West Seattle Bridge’s closure. The sculpture and its pedestal have gone sideways.
(Tipsters’ assessment is that it fell because its wooden pedestal rotted, not because of vandalism.) If you’re new around here, Neslund was blamed for the 1978 ship collision that forced the old West Seattle Bridge to be replaced. He subsequently retired and was murdered by his wife in 1980. HistoryLink summarizes the strange story. Anyway, the sculpture was nothing official – it was announced by a mysterious person claiming to be ‘Lars Fujikawa of the Delridge Maritime Historical Society.” The first installation was stolen barely a week after its placement; the replacement was installed by “Lars” (and friends?) about a month later. So the question arises now, in pixels rather than a Bat-signal in the sky – “Lars,” where are you? Can you make Rolf an upstanding sculpture again? (We emailed the account from which the sculpture news arrived in 2020, but no acknowledgment so far.) Or – anyone else able to ride, sail, etc., to the rescue?
SUNDAY UPDATE: Rose, the first person who sounded the alarm about this, has taken Rolf and plaque into protective custody. If “Lars” – or anyone else interested in helping – sees this, email us and we’ll connect you.
That’s the start of the largest of five events comprising Loop the ‘Lupe today at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point, steps away from Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose social-service community work benefits from its proceeds. Those runners were off on the Family Wave of Loop the ‘Lupe’s 5K obstacle course; below, the smaller group for this year’s new addition, an Elite Wave with two extra obstacles for those seeking even more of a challenge – a barrel crawl and teeter-totters:
The other events were the 5K Fun Run, Senior Saunter, and Youth Dash – but since Loop the ‘Lupe is the only local 5K offering obstacles, they’re the main attraction:
Organizer Brian Callanan said registration passed 700 people, the biggest Loop the ‘Lupe in its seven-year history. Lots of community business participation, too, such as Hannah from HIIT Lab leading the pre-race warmup:
West Seattle School of Rock provided student musicians to keep the event rocking:
WSB was a community co-sponsor of the event, as were other local businesses including WSB sponsors Lake Washington Physical Therapy-West Seattle, West Seattle Runner, and Verity Credit Union.
By the time we got to West Seattle High School for this afternoon’s return of the All-School Reunion, everybody was in breakout rooms. But if you like classic cars, you can take a look at another component of the revived reunion – the mini-show just outside the north side of the school. Our photos above and below show classic MGs of different eras.
And a classic Ford:
At 7 pm, the alumni party moves to Whisky West (6451 California SW) for the afterparty, until midnight, featuring WSHS alums who are members of The Nitemates. P.S. If you missed it previously – current WSHS students are organizing a car show for June 17th.
5:16 PM: Seattle Fire has a water-rescue response headed by land and sea for a kayaker reported in trouble off 5200 block of Beach Drive.
5:19 PM: And the kayaker is reported to have made it to shore. … so they’re canceling the response.
We’re continuing to keep track of brown-water reports, since there’s no public log for them. This afternoon, Dani reported, “Just letting you know that we’re experiencing brown water. We notified SPU and they let us know they are doing maintenance on a fire hydrant that will affect the water for anywhere from 1-24 hours. For reference we are near Alki off Admiral and Lander.” Earlier we got a report of a hydrant-testing sighting but no accompanying water discoloration at the time. If it happens to you, report it to SPU ta 206-386-1800.
Beautiful afternoon for an outdoor concert – as Sounds from Around the World Festál continues at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska). Boka Kouyaté and The Djeliyah Band started the day.
They were the first of four bands/performers scheduled to perform until 7 pm.
Comfort Food is scheduled to be onstage now, followed by Lion of Judah Band at 5 pm. The event was produced by Janean Wyvold of Urgent Africa:
This is one of three free community events funded by neighborhood-recovery grants the city made available through the West Seattle Junction Association.
(Also published on partner site White Center Now)
With a nonstop slate of entertainment, 100 vendors, sidewalk food and beverage cafés, a kids’ area, and more, we’d call this the biggest White Center Pride Street Festival yet. 16th SW is closed to vehicle traffic on the blocks both south and north of SW 98th. At the north end, DJ Baby Van Beezly was spinning:
At the south end, Aleksa Manila was leading story time by the King County Library System van:
Steps away, there’s wrestling outside Lariat Bar:
At 16th/98th, you’ll find the White Center Pride organizers – we photographed Kyle, Eliot, and Terry:
Stop by their booth to find out more about WC Pride, including the online silent auction to fund future outreach work, and the optional bracelets you can buy for local specials during the festival. P.S. The vendors include community organizations and businesses from West Seattle as well as White Center. And West Seattle Pride events are ahead too – watch this category of our event-calendar listings.
Thanks for the tips, and to Erin for the top photo. The front of the AT&T store at Jefferson Square is smashed in – but this was NOT a burglary, it was a crash. The car is still in the store:
No injuries. One witness says it was apparently a case of gas pedal/brake pedal confusion but we were unable to confirm that with police.
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