West Seattle, Washington
25 Tuesday
We start today’s list with what’s both an event reminder and a 
traffic alert:
WEST SEATTLE 5K: At 8 this morning, Alki SW will close, between 63rd and Don Armeni, for the ninth annual West Seattle 5K run/walk. It’s a benefit for West Seattle High School, with sponsors including WSB. If you’re not signed up, you can still be part of it – last-minute registration starts at 8 near the start of the course. Race starts from 61st/Alki around 9:20 am. (61st/Alki)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in the street, in The Junction. The Master Gardeners are there too for free plant/gardening advice! (California between Oregon and Alaska)
SECOND GEAR SPORTS BENEFIT FOR GATEWOOD ELEMENTARY: Get geared up for summer at Second Gear Sports (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction today – open 11 am-5 pm – 10 percent of the day’s proceeds go to the Gatewood Elementary playground project! (6529 California SW)
FAUNTLEROY SCHOOLHOUSE CENTENNIAL: Today’s celebration starts with the “group hug” photo outside the schoolhouse at 11:30 am – all welcome to be part of it to show your appreciation for this historic building! – and continues with snacks, speakers, stories, performances – including Bubbleman! – and more. (9131 California SW)
JAMTIME, LIVE: Old-timey music and bluegrass with Jamtime, at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 1-4 pm. (5612 California SW)
COSTUMED BIKE PARADE: Part of the community-organized Alki Daze celebration – starts at 2 pm. (63rd/Alki to Don Armeni and back)
STREETCAR HISTORY: 2 pm at Delridge Library, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and Seattle Public Library present this month’s edition of Southwest Stories – as previewed here last night, streetcar/railway historian Mike Bergman takes a look back at the Highland Park/Lake Burien line that went through much of eastern West Seattle, and beyond. Free! (5423 Delridge Way SW)
MEDIEVAL WOMEN’S CHOIR PREVIEW: 2 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, join members of the choir for a preview of their upcoming concert – details in our calendar listing. (2306 42nd SW)
RICHARD RUSSELL AND FRIENDS: 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall – details in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)
RED SEA: 8 pm-11 pm, “Alternative Eastern European rock” at Parliament Tavern. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
Thanks to Jim Edwards for photos of West Seattle High School‘s band (above) and orchestra (below), performing in Victoria, B.C. today.
It’s Victoria Day Weekend and that means a showcase of visiting high-school groups. If you happen to be up there this weekend too, look for the WSHS musicians near the Parliament Buildings at 5 pm Sunday. Then on Monday, it’s the Victoria Day Parade.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
CAR WINDOW SMASHED: The photo above is from Deborah in the 4100 block of Beach Drive SW, who says, “My car, parked in the apartment parking lot, had its rear passenger window smashed in around 5:00-5:20 this afternoon. Nothing was removed from the car, and no signs of tampering to the ignition and steering column. Called it in to the police, but they’ve not had any similar reports in the area.”
PACKAGE PROWLER: The photo above is from a reader who says this person was prowling their neighborhood on Thursday afternoon, in the 5600 block of 40th SW, “looking under vehicles and pretending to check the garden of the area. He looked over our gate for packages or anything that could be grabbed; he has rain boots on that come just below the knee, green shorts, a black hoodie with an insignia, black hat, sunglasses, and it looked to be dark brown hair.” One neighbor reported a stolen item; the suspect was reported to be associated with a silver Ford Focus Coupe, tinted windows. Police were notified.
TUESDAY: WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THERE WAS AN INTRUDER IN YOUR HOME? That’s the focus of next Tuesday’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting, 6:30 pm at Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster). The presentation will feature Community Police Team Officer Todd Wiebke. All welcome – in a Block Watch or not.
(Seattle Municipal Archives photo of what’s described as the Highland Park-Burien line’s Hillside Station – possibly in Riverview – 1915)
13 years before light rail’s scheduled return to West Seattle, you’re invited to learn about one of the streetcar lines that rolled through our area decades ago. At 2 pm tomorrow (Sunday, May 21st), streetcar historian Mike Bergman is the featured speaker in the Southwest Seattle Historical Society/Seattle Public Library-presented series SouthWest Stories, telling you about the “History of the Highland Park & Lake Burien Railroad.” Here’s his video invitation, courtesy of SWSHS:
SW Stories rotates between library branches, and this time you’ll find it at the Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW).
(Photos courtesy Potter Construction)
4:42 PM: Today was a special work day for crews from some members of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties – the annual Ramp-A-Thon, donating time to build mobiity ramps for residents in need. Among this year’s participants, longtime WSB sponsor Potter Construction.
The Potter crew built a ramp for a resident in Burien.
Around the region, since Ramp-A-Thon began in 1993, the association says, participants have built more than 440 ramps, with $1.7 million in in-kind donations.
ADDED 8:17 PM: The Master Builders Association shared a photo, from the one Ramp-A-Thon site today that was in West Seattle:
The company that built this ramp is Bellevue-based JM Riley.
Congratulations to the Denny International Middle School Dolphins for winning this year’s West Seattle Cup – the report and photos are from Denny principal Jeff Clark:
There is some great middle-school boys’ soccer being played in West Seattle this year! Going into today’s West Seattle Cup match, which is sponsored by the West Seattle Soccer Club, Denny and Madison were the two top teams in the city — neither team had lost a game previously.
The trophy has been at Madison this past year, but now is going back to Denny after the Dolphins came out on top with a 6 to 1 victory today.
Both teams have a lot to be proud of this season and will probably meet again in the playoffs. Thank you to the West Seattle Soccer Club for your support. Great job to all of the players and coaches at both schools!
In case you wondered about the water-rescue response at Alki about an hour ago – Christopher Boffoli checked it out for WSB. The original call was a report that a small boat with one person in it was taking on water.
But the boat and its operator made it to the beach OK, unassisted, and Christopher reports it was headed back out as the call closed.
Texter noted military aircraft in the area. Looks like it’s for Military Appreciation Day at the Sounders FC match vs. Salt Lake, 2 pm, with pregame ceremonies scheduled to include U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers from Whidbey Island’s VAQ-129 Squadron.
11:02 AM: Thanks to Chi Krneta for the photos and report:
I saw this art display at the Statue of Liberty this morning on Alki. There are pens and stencils for people to leave comments on the artwork.
Chi wonders if anyone knows who created and placed this. Certainly not the first guerrilla art to show up at Statue of Liberty Plaza – but the first we’d heard of this.
1:44 PM: We’ve heard from the artist, Sarah Reitz, who explained via text that it’s part of her graduate thesis work.
4:41 PM: Thanks to Max Szyszkowski for this photo taken a few hours ago after more participation:
9:53 PM: Artist Sarah Reitz has just sent us more about her project:
I spent the day on Alki with the installation and have now moved it back to my studio (didn’t want it to be in the way of 5k activities tomorrow).
I’m a graduate student at the University of Washington studying visual communication and experience design in the School of Art + Art History + Design.
My graduate thesis (working title “Landmark”) focuses broadly on the area of participatory exhibit design. Through it, I’ve been exploring ways to make the visitor experience at memorials or monuments more interactive. I picked the Alki Statue of Liberty as a case study for my research several months ago, and since then I have conducted a series of smaller prototypes at the statue that ultimately informed the design of today’s installation. The prototypes helped me determine what material to work with, what prompt to ask, and how to make the interaction as welcoming as possible for park visitors.
The main questions I explored through my research are:
Do people value experiences that ask them to write, draw, or materially contribute information in an outdoor setting? If given the opportunity, would people participate?
Would the installation spark conversation? What types of responses would I receive and what types of interactions would I observe?
Most importantly, what kinds of things could I do as a designer to make participation intuitive, delightful, and meaningful?
ADDED 11 AM SUNDAY: The artist also tells us in response to our followup question that while she has no current plan to bring it back, she’s open to the idea, or to “donating it to any community group that might be interested.” It’s not available until late June, though – it’ll be on display with other students’ theses at the Henry Art Gallery June 3-25.
It’s been a week of lineups – from West Seattle Outdoor Movies to West Seattle Summer Fest music – and today, another one has gone public: ArtsWest has announced its 2017-2018 season, themed “I AM,” described by artistic director Mathew Wright in the announcement: “Our six plays this season are full of characters (and playwrights) who are unafraid to say ‘I AM’ – and who refuse to allow their identity to be defined by others. …” Here’s the lineup, with excerpts from the descriptions:
The Who & The What
September 7 – October 1, 2017
By Ayad Akhtar“…a thrillingly fierce and funny new play about identity, religion and the contradictions that make us who we are.”
The Nance
October 26 – November 19, 2017
By Douglas Carter Beane“Set in the beating heart of the naughty, raucous world of 1930s burlesque, THE NANCE brings to life an American era when it was easy to play gay and dangerous to be gay. …”
ArtsWest Holiday Cast Party
SPECIAL EVENT!
December 1 – December 23, 2017“… At the Holiday Bash, celebrated Seattle performers take the stage one by one to wow the crowd, each with their unique brand of unplanned, unscripted and wildly talented merriment. …”
Peerless
January 18 – February 11, 2018
By Jiehae Park“… clever and incisive adaptation of Macbeth explores how the drive to succeed can become an all-consuming – and deadly – obsession.”
Hir
March 1 – March 25, 2018
By Taylor Mac“… sly, subversive comedy … annihilating the past doesn’t always free you from it.”
An Octoroon
April 19 – May 13, 2018
By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins“… bold, imaginative re-envisioning of a 19th century antebellum drama as an urgent message for today.”
Kiss of the Spider Woman
June 7 – July 8, 2018
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Book by Terrence McNally“The Tony-award winning musical … tells the tale of two cell mates in a Latin American prison – one a Marxist revolutionary, the other a gay window dresser – who form a bond in captivity. …”
The full descriptions are on AW’s website; season subscriptions are on sale here.
(Pacific Slope Flycatcher, photographed in Fauntleroy Park by Mark Wangerin)
Big Saturday! Here are some of the ways you can enjoy it:
PRE-BEE FESTIVAL ‘HONEY RUN’: Informal run around High Point Commons Park starting at 8:30 am, preceding the West Seattle Bee Festival. (SW Graham/Lanham)
JUNCTION SPRING CLEAN: Even if you’re not pre-registered, show up at Junction Plaza Park at 9 am today to be part of a fun morning helping The Junction shine, as previewed here. (42nd SW/SW Alaska)
TLC FOR PUGET PARK’S TRAILS: Meet at the trailhead at 9 am to join neighbors and Seattle Parks in improving “this important piece of a future trails network within the greenbelt.” Whatever time you can give will be appreciated. Tools provided, but gloves and sturdy footwear are recommended. (1900 SW Dawson)
KOL HANESHAMAH EDUCATION OPEN HOUSE: 9:15 am-12:15 pm at the West Seattle synagogue – learn about the children’s education program, as explained in our calendar listing. (6115 SW Hinds)
WEST SEATTLE BEE FESTIVAL: 10 am-3 pm in and around High Point Commons Park, inside Neighborhood House High Point, and at the West Seattle Bee Garden itself! Newest info on the schedule is here. 11 am kids/pets parade, 11 am-2 pm vendor fair, 11 am-2 pm plant/seed/tool swap, noon bee-hive demonstration at the garden, noon-1:30 pm international finger-food buffet inside NH … those are just a few of the highlights! (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
THRIFTWAY BENEFIT BARBECUES BEGIN: Starting at 11 am under the tent outside West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), it’s the first of this season’s benefit barbecues – details here. (4201 SW Morgan)
WEST SEATTLE 5K REGISTRATION/PACKET PICKUP: Noon-6 pm, if you haven’t registered yet for tomorrow morning’s West Seattle 5K, stop by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) and get it done! That’s also when you can pick up your bib, T-shirt, and packet if you are already signed up. (2743 California SW)
CELEBRATE SPRINGER! The 15th anniversary of the rescue of orphaned orca Springer will be celebrated starting with two events on Vashon Island today – 1 pm, “Springer’s Story” at Vashon Theatre (17723 Vashon Highway SW), and 5 pm Whale Trail sign dedication at Point Robinson. (3705 SW Point Robinson Road)
HIGHLAND PARK UNCORKED! Wine-tasting fundraiser for and at Highland Park Improvement Club (with sponsors including WSB). Doors open 5:30 pm, tasting starts at 7 pm. Check to see if there are still tickets. Raffle, auction, more. 21+. (1116 SW Holden)
ART SHOW WITH MUSIC: 6-10 pm at Muse Gallery and Studio in North Delridge, one night only, art by Casey Brookbush with music by Jake Carden. (3801 Delridge Way SW)
MARIO KART TOURNAMENT: 7 pm at Tap Station. No entry fee. All ages. (7900 35th SW)
4 GROUPS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE: 7:30 pm at historic Kenyon Hall, Mallet Head performs, billed as three duos and a trio. Our calendar listing explains. (7904 35th SW)
DAD PERFORMS TO HELP KIDS: 9 am-midnight at Parliament Tavern, it’s the local band DAD, raising money for local students. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
OF COURSE THERE’S MORE … on our full-calendar page.
As recommended by prosecutors in a plea agreement, residential drug treatment was the main sentence ordered Friday for Michael E. Maine, who pleaded guilty to selling heroin at the now-closed Junction bar his family owned, the Corner Pocket. Court documents from the Friday afternoon sentencing hearing show that King County Superior Court Judge Barbara Mack ordered the residential version of the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative for Maine, who is 39. He is now ordered to spend three to six months in residential treatment, followed by two years of community custody (probation). The sentence also includes a year of suspended jail time. As reported here earlier this month, Maine pleaded guilty to three drug charges and one count of attempted unlawful gun possession. The Corner Pocket has been closed since police served warrants there and at Maine’s West Seattle home the night of his arrest last December; what’s next for the space is not yet publicly known.
In 3A state-tournament play at Memorial Stadium downtown, a quarterfinals match was the end of the line for the West Seattle High School boys-soccer team on Friday night. Gig Harbor left with the win, 3-1. According to the Tides‘ Twitter feed, the Wildcats‘ lone goal was scored with 1:30 to go.
8:03 PM: Thanks for the tips and photos – there’s a car fire on NB 99 in south of the stadium zone.
No details, including whether anyone has been hurt.
8:45 PM: The two fire engines originally dispatched to the scene are still there, per SFD’s incident log. SDOT, meantime, says two northbound lanes are now open at the scene.
9:09 PM: SDOT says all lanes are open again. We’re checking with SFD about cause and injuries; if we don’t hear back tonight, we’ll add the update whenever we do.
11:44 PM: SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley says the car was engulfed in flames when their engines arrived; the cause wasn’t immediately determined, but she does confirm that no injuries were reported.
6:14 PM: Thanks for the tips. Guardian One has been in the Westcrest Park area for a bit, but we don’t yet know what the search is for. Will update if/when we find out.
6:33 PM: Guardian One says via Twitter that they are helping police look for a missing child, described as wearing orange shorts, missing near 4th and Cambridge.
7:16 PM: SPD has yet to say anything about the search but someone just texted us to say it was her neighbor’s child and that he has been located.
Just out of the inbox, from Easy Street Records in The Junction:
We invite you to join us at Easy Street tonight at 7 pm for a humble celebration of the music and life of Chris Cornell, who tragically left us this week.
And since today marks the release of the 25th anniversary deluxe edition of the soundtrack to the movie that grunge built, Singles, we will be playing the soundtrack while showing the movie on the small screens and giving away some really cool prizes. We’ll also be spinning Soundgarden/Audioslave/Solo Chris/Singles tracks, serving up dollar Oly beers, and most importantly, remembering and honoring one of the greatest singers in the history of rock and roll.
We’ll miss you, Chris Cornell. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family, as well as all of his bandmates and friends.
4:32 PM: Thanks to the texter who reports a crash involving a motorcycle rider in Fauntleroy. Seattle Fire units are logged as responding to a crash in the 4300 block of Brace Point Drive. We’re told they’re in the westbound lane. A witness tells us the rider is sitting up, alert, and talking with medics. But avoid the area if you can.
4:37 PM: All SFD units have now cleared the scene.
(WSDOT photo)
It’s been a month and a half since the Highway 99 tunneling machine finished digging. Besides roadbuilding and other work underground, the task of breaking the machine into pieces continues. Here’s the latest from WSDOT.
In the disassembly pit near Seattle Center, work is continuing around the clock – cutting, lifting and removing heavy pieces of the SR 99 tunneling machine. As of yesterday, eight small spokes and the bulk of five larger spokes have been taken out of the disassembly pit. More than 50 percent of the iconic cutterhead has now been removed.
Crews are also working inside the tunnel to remove the tunneling machine and other pieces of the tunneling operation no longer needed now that the tunneling portion is complete. Seattle Tunnel Partners is removing conveyor system components which had been used to carry the dirt underneath Seattle out to waiting barges. Temporary utilities, hydraulic lines and hoses are also coming out. And STP has started disassembling the back end of the trailing cars that carried all the equipment for tunnel-building. In all, eight thousand tons of equipment will eventually be removed from Seattle’s new tunnel to clear the path for building the rest of the double-deck road inside.
See five more photos accompanying this update on the WSDOT website. The most-recent schedule projects that the tunnel should open to traffic in early 2019, with demolition of what remains of the Alaskan Way Viaduct to follow.
A couple times this week, we’ve heard from West Seattleites with discolored (“brown”) tap water. First Gatewood, today Arbor Heights (thanks for the report, and for the photo above). The potential causes are numerous; no water breaks in either case so far as we have heard, so we thought we would remind you of what to do if it happens to you – First thing, call Seattle Public Utilities at 206-386-1800. Usually it’ll turn out to be something simple like firefighters testing hydrants in your area. Here’s what you’ll usually be asked to do – but don’t wait to report it, even if you do suspect it’s something routine – SPU has told us over and over again that they want to know.
Highlights for the rest of your Friday:
DISTRICT TRACK AND FIELD MEET: Go cheer for local high-school standouts this afternoon/evening at Southwest Athletic Complex. (2801 SW Thistle)
WINE TASTING @ VISCON CELLARS: 5-9 pm, start your weekend with a stop at the Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) tasting room. (5910 California SW)
ALKI DAZE: First night of a weekend-long bicycle-centered celebration organized by Alki resident Guy Olson. Meet and greet at 6 pm at Alki Bike and Board in The Admiral District; ride to Alki at 7:30; bonfire follows. Full details here.
STATE SOCCER PLAYOFFS: West Seattle High School‘s boys-soccer team plays Gig Harbor 6 pm tonight at Memorial Stadium downtown, in the quarterfinals of the state tournament. (401 5th Ave. N.)
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS: 6:30 pm, free concert featuring the WSCO Intermediate Orchestra and Wind Symphony at the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium – here’s a preview WSCO shared from rehearsal, with musicians led by conductor Mike Jauregui:
Program details in our calendar listing. (2600 SW Thistle)
SIGGIE THE VINTAGE MAN: “Solo acoustic performer in the Americana style who sings 85% covers and 15% originals,” C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
SWEET, SWEET MUSIC: 7:30 pm concert and dessert at Fauntleroy Church. (9140 California SW)
THERE’S MORE … just check out our complete-calendar page!
Thanks to Brian Presser from TouchTech Systems in The Junction for photos and first word that the West Seattle Junction Association‘s famed flower baskets are going up right now!
As we have been reporting, you’ll find something new by most baskets this year – a plaque for the local business/organization/individual that “adopted” the basket. (Including us!)
P.S. One good way to get a close-up look – go volunteer in The Junction tomorrow for Spring Clean! Not too late. Here’s how.
The spring postseason continues for high-school athletes, and the district track and field championships are set today and Saturday at Southwest Athletic Complex. Thanks to Kristin for sharing Chief Sealth International High School track coach Lorna Considine‘s announcement of the CSIHS participants:
Please congratulate the following students who have advanced to the District Track Meet this Friday and Saturday at SWAC: Mia Hyde, Eve Elmore, Imani Carey, Chloe Myers, Jessica Nelson, Quinn Wiley, Keyaira Corbray, Jasmine Smith, Elijah Jackson, Brandyn Gibson.
Also congratulations to:
2017 METRO CHAMPION QUINN WILEY in the 300 Meter Hurdles
2017 METRO CHAMPION ELIJAH JACKSON in the Long Jump and High Jump
SWAC is at 2801 SW Thistle, across the street from CSIHS.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning and happy Friday! No incidents reported so far in/from West Seattle.
BIKE EVERYWHERE DAY: The former “Bike to Work Day” is now “Bike Everywhere Day” and you’ll find West Seattle Bike Connections and friends by the low bridge.
Thanks for the photo!
SUNDAY REMINDER: If you’re not running/walking in Sunday morning’s West Seattle 5K (co-sponsored by WSB) – don’t forget that Alki SW will be closed to traffic for a few hours along the route (which goes from 61st/Alki to Anchor Park and back) starting at 8 am. (Though online registration is over, you can still sign up Saturday at West Seattle Runner [2743 California SW, WSB sponsor] or Sunday before the race.)
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