West Seattle, Washington
16 Sunday
Nat'l Wheelchair Basketball Assoc. women's championship tourney just underway @ WSHS gym. 3 games right now. pic.twitter.com/3c2h9gnHLz
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 19, 2016
March is prime time for championship basketball, and you’ll find more of it today at the West Seattle High School gym. Three games on Friday evening tipped off the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Women’s Championship Tournament; 13 games are scheduled today, starting at 8 am. Eight teams are here for the tournament, including the defending champs, the Denver Lady Rolling Nuggets:
That’s #12 Christina Schwab with the ball. Denver was playing the Seattle Storm in one of yesterday’s openers, while another game featured the Milwaukee Lady Bucks vs. the NWSRA Lady Hawks:
For Milwaukee, that’s #4 Mareike Miller with the ball.
The WSHS gym is partitioned into three courts for the tournament; the 8 am games are Milwaukee vs. the PossAbilities Shield Maidens, the Dallas Lady Mavericks vs. Seattle, and Denver vs. the University of Arizona; subsequent games are at 9:45, 11:30, and then two semifinals at each tipoff time of 1:15 pm and 3 pm. Sunday’s schedule has three consolation games at 9 am and the championship game at 11. No admission charge to drop in and watch any or all of the games, which are co-sponsored by Seattle Adaptive Sports; WSHS is at 3000 California SW.
At Hiawatha Playfield this afternoon, West Seattle High School simply overwhelmed Rainier Beach, 23-3. Thanks to Caryn Johnson for the photos and wrapup:
Another beautiful afternoon for baseball at Hiawatha.
Sporting their new home jerseys, West Seattle hosted Rainier Beach. The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead in the first inning and never looked back.
Carson Wright (#17) pitched 4 strong innings, giving up only one run and striking out 8. Junior Daniel Lo (#18) came in to close out the game. In the end, the game only went 4½ innings as West Seattle put up 23 on the Vikings.
Next game is scheduled on Monday, at 3:30 against O’Dea at Bannerwood Ballpark in Bellevue.
High-school baseball continues and Chief Sealth International High School is 2-0 on the season, after a road win against Ingraham this afternoon. Final score 6-1, with the Seahawks’ Evan Moe getting the win, pitching 7 innings, striking out 7, and giving up only 3 hits. Jackson Chilcott scored a run and had four hits; Ingraham Chamberlin went 2 for 2. Thanks to head coach Ernest Policarpio for the box score. The Seahawks play Hazen at home tomorrow (Saturday) at noon; here’s the full season schedule.
10:25 PM: Another crash tonight – this time, in Arbor Heights, at 35th and 104th. According to scanner traffic, a driver has hit “several” parked cars and a fence. We’re off to check it out.
10:36 PM: This appears to have happened on the east (northbound) side of the street; traffic is getting through.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Know the difference between the Neighborhood Street Fund and the Neighborhood Park and Street Fund?
What they have in common is that both are available for community-proposed projects, and both were at the heart of this month’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting, which focused on different stages of the processes for the two city funds with similar names.
NEIGHBORHOOD STREET FUND: Megan McCoy from the city presented information about this grant program, which is handled by SDOT (as opposed to the Neighborhood Park and Street Fund, which is administered by the Department of Neighborhoods) and is accepting applications now. It involves larger projects, and runs on a 3-year cycle – time to design and then build the projects – $8 million per cycle (up to $1 million/project), funded by the Move Seattle levy that voters approved last year.
Project locations have to be fully in city right-of-way (streets, sidewalks), need to not trigger a lengthy environmental process, and must meet warrants and guidelines – in other words, be necessary as defined by city rules/laws/guidelines.
6:47 PM: The crash on the SFD 911 log for 37th and Alaska has traffic diverting from both the eastbound and westbound directions on Alaska, per a texter. If you’re headed out, avoid for now.
7:03 PM: The crash is blocking the westbound side of Alaska but firefighters are directing traffic around it, both ways.
We’re heading next to a crash Russ has been tweeting about, a motorcycle down by Chelan and West Marginal.
Bike's console 10 ft from rest of bike @westseattleblog @KING5Seattle pic.twitter.com/7LXdp1LCMG
— Russ Walker (@russ_walker) March 19, 2016
Avoid that area too.
7:16 PM: SFD was clearing from the corner east of Chelan Cafe; medic unit headed out toward the eastbound low bridge. No info on injuries but no evidence of setup for the level of investigation that life-threatening injuries would require.
7:31 PM: Just went back through both areas. Chelan scene was totally clear, no fire, no police. The motorcycle is still on a patch of greenery by the sidewalk. On Alaska, SFD, SPD, and two crashed cars are still there.
(WSB file photo)
Spring arrives with the vernal equinox at 9:30 pm tomorrow (Saturday, March 19th), and that means the closest sunset is a few hours earlier – so our local NASA Solar System Ambassador, Alice Enevoldsen, invites you to come watch at Solstice Park (address & map are on Alice’s website), where markers were set to line up with the equinox/solstice . Sunset’s around 7:10 pm (earlier than the official times because of the Olympic Mountains) so be there around 6:45. Forecast suggests clouds but you never know around here – see you there!
4:17 PM: Thanks to the neighbors who texted about this: Seattle Fire is in the 8100 block of 15th SW (map), blocked off while a possible natural-gas leak is under investigation. One neighbor tells us they’ve been evacuated from their house and the street’s been blocked off. We’re en route to see if we can find out more.
4:32 PM: Puget Sound Energy (which is our area’s natural-gas utility) is on scene now to find out what happened and to shut off the gas; as our photo shows, they’re digging next to a hydrant. No injuries or damage. The street closure is just covering part of the block where this is happening, south of Elmgrove. It’s a residential street so no businesses are affected.
6:16 PM: Neighbors say they were allowed back in their homes by 5 pm; SFD has closed out the call.
Last weekend for cookies! Come to Ma Kai, our WS troop has two tables, including a drive-up! @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/DqrTEWWRra
— sgerding (@sgerding) March 18, 2016
@sgerding tweeted a photo just as we were about to pass Seacrest – where, she explained, there are two groups selling Girl Scout Cookies right now, including one “drive-up” along Harbor Avenue. So we stopped. Their troop is #44428 and they’re here until 6 pm.
(On drive-up duty are Madelin and Lucy; closer to the pier are Stella and Logan.)
This Sunday (March 20th) is the last day for “cookie booth” sales all over our region – our previous coverage includes links you can use to find who is selling, where and when, until then.
Today we’re welcoming Care At Home of WA, Inc., as our newest sponsor. Here’s what Care At Home would like you to know:
(From left: Hermela Bekele, Diane Tamaluns, Sandra Braun, Vanessa Carr)
As a Washington State Licensed Home Care Agency, we are celebrating 25 years of service in West Seattle and for the Greater Seattle areas.
Care At Home of WA, Inc. assists our elders and people needing care by providing Home Health Aides and CNAs (Certified Nurse’s Aides) and care partners. Shifts can be a 1-hour bath visit to 24-hour around-the-clock care, temporary, long term, or just on call. Business hours are Monday-Friday, 8-5. But we are on call, 24/7, for those urgent staffing needs that can happen after 5 pm and on the weekends.
Our Caregivers assist with vital services such as daily tasks, cleaning, grocery shopping, meal prep, personal hygiene/bathing assist, medication supervision, driving to appointments, and much more. Care At Home helps our elders continue to live with DIGNITY and enjoy life with support where it is needed. We RESPECT the needs and wishes of our elders and their families.
Care At Home understands that living in your own home allows people to live in COMFORT and happiness into their future years.
Our clients have expressed a great deal of relief knowing that our Caregivers and care management can bring a sense of calm during stressful times. We are great matchmakers with someone they can TRUST while providing care and support. We help our elders continue to live with DIGNITY and enjoy life with support where it is needed.
We opened our office here in 1992 as Help Unlimited Homecare under the direction of Vanessa Carr. We are now independently owned and operated, as we were able to “buy our office” in 2014 still under Vanessa’s leadership: “We are so blessed to be working with some of the finest Caregivers. They are truly like family to us.”
We are members of both the South and West Seattle Senior Centers, GSBA-Greater Seattle Business Association, West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and the WA Home Care Association.
Find us: CareAtHomeSeattle.com – 206-937-3100
We thank Care At Home of WA, Inc., for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
(2015 Sanislo book sale, photo courtesy Lisa)
Have books you just don’t need? Donate them to the upcoming Sanislo Elementary book sale! Sanislo PTA parent volunteer Lena Charles sent the request:
We are requesting book donations from the community to support our annual fundraiser for the 4th graders here at Sanislo. It is their
annual trip to Camp Sealth on Vashon Island and it’s a 3-day jampacked science field trip that is super fun for them.Our book sale is scheduled for April 2, 10 am to 2 pm, to alleviate the overall cost to our local families. We are a diverse community with families facing all different challenges; I have been here with my daughter for 4 years, rallying for these children. Donations can be dropped off directly at the school or if you need pickup, the quickest way to get a hold of me is via text, 360-771-3590.
Even if you don’t have books to give for the sale, set a reminder for the date and go browse/buy to help with the camp fund. Sanislo is at 1812 SW Myrtle on Puget Ridge. (This will of course be in our West Seattle Event Calendar, too.)
You don’t have to go to an arena or be in front of a screen to see national-championship basketball this weekend. It’s happening at West Seattle High School starting tonight – Seattle Adaptive Sports and the Seattle Storm wheelchair basketball team are hosting the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Women’s Championships tonight, Saturday, and Sunday. Teams from around the country will be here, including the Denver Lady Nuggets defending their title; many of the athletes are Team USA Paralympians. Games are tonight at 5, Saturday at 8, 9:45, 11:30, 1:15, and 3 pm, Sunday at 9 am, championship game at 11 am, awards at 1 pm; no admission charge. WSHS is at 3000 California SW.
Last Saturday at the 2016 Gathering of Neighbors, breakout discussion groups included one led by reps from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce – our photo above was taken just as participants were settling in. Before the event, the chamber did a quick online survey of its membership to ask their views of our area’s “growing pains,” the focus of this year’s GoN (which itself is an event organized by the community group VIEWS, “Visualizing Increased Engagement in West Seattle”). This morning, the results have been made public, including the raw responses to these two open-ended questions:
“If you could change one thing about transportation in West Seattle, what would it be?”
“If you could change one thing about development in West Seattle, what would it be?”
You can read all those responses, as well as the results of the yes/no questions (including “Has the recent growth in West Seattle generally helped your business?” – 61 percent said “yes”), by going here.
P.S. Chamber CEO Lynn Dennis tells us 75 responses were received; the Chamber has 200+ members (including WSB). Responses weren’t sorted for size or type of businesses. So we’re not saying this is scientific, but it’s an undeniably interesting snapshot.
SIDE NOTE: The Chamber also just announced that former mayor Norm Rice will keynote the May 4th Westside Awards breakfast – ticket info and more is here.
(Thursday sunset from Upper Alki, photographed by JayDee)
Sun’s out again as the final West Seattle Friday of winter moves ahead (spring arrives at 9:30 pm our time Saturday night). Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here are some options for enjoying it:
FRIDAY AFTERNOON MATINEE: 1 pm, “Burke’s Bijou” at the Senior Center of West Seattle presents “Take Shelter” (2011). Suggested donation $1-$2. (4217 SW Oregon)
MOVIE NIGHT AT HPIC: At Highland Park Improvement Club – doors open at 6, kids’ short at 6:15, main feature at 7. See the HPIC website for info on what’s being shown tonight. Free; bring $ for concessions; chairs provided, and/or BYO pillows and blankets. (12th SW/SW Holden)
FINAL ‘FISH FRIDAY’: The Knights of Columbus Council No. 12175 is serving up its final “Fish Friday“ of this year’s Lent season – fish, fries, and slaw at the Our Lady of Guadalupe gym, 6-8 pm, $10/adults, $6 kids 12 and under. (35th SW/SW Myrtle)
FAMILY CONNECT ‘LUCK OF THE IRISH’: 6:30-8 pm at the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor), one last round of St. Patrick’s Day-themed fun. Free for members, $5 for community participants. Details here. (4515 36th SW)
FIVE BUCK BAND: 7-9 pm, mix of ’60s and ’70s music, live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), with the Five Buck Band. (5612 California SW)
CLASSICAL CONCERT: Folk songs, too! At Kenyon Hall, 7:30 pm, with pianist Maggie Cole and sopranos Nancy Argenta and Ingrid Attrot, who have collaborated together for decades. Reservation info is in our listing. (7904 35th SW)
THE SLAGS, SNOWDAY, BASEMENT BROTHERHOOD: 9 pm live music at Parliament Tavern in The Admiral District, no cover. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
One more note:
COMMENT DEADLINE FOR ‘FESTIVAL STREET’: As noted here a month ago, today is the deadline for comments on the “festival street” proposal for SW Snoqualmie that is part of the expansion plan for the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) – our February story explains how to have your say.
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:35 AM: Happy Friday! Just checked; no incidents in our area or on outbound routes, so far.
6:53 AM: Metro reminds us via Twitter that this is Transit Driver Appreciation Day.
7:15 AM: We mentioned earlier this week that some high-profile campaigning is planned here in the week ahead, with the Democratic caucuses coming up one week from tomorrow (March 26th), and that tends to mean potential traffic effects. Last night, the Bernie Sanders campaign announced he’s headed this way, for a Sunday (March 20th) rally at KeyArena. Hillary Clinton is coming to the area Tuesday but has only announced a private fundraiser in Medina. And Vice President Joe Biden is due here Monday, with stops reported to include a Sen. Patty Murray fundraiser and a visit to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
(Also published on partner site White Center Now)
Story by Tracy Record
Photos by Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog/White Center Now co-publishers
Just because White Center (and vicinity) voters said no to Burien doesn’t mean they’re ready to say yes to Seattle.
That was abundantly clear during tonight’s standing-room-only annexation “conversation” at Dubsea Coffee in Greenbridge, barely a block south of the city-county line.
Some in attendance loudly voiced skepticism and outright distrust of the city’s motives and even suitability.
Others asked simple questions about what changes annexation would bring.
The city’s longtime point person on annexation, Kenny Pittman, led the discussion, saying he wanted to offer “basic information” and answer questions, and promising more meetings and “outreach.”
He’s been working on the annexation issue for 12 1/2 years, he told the crowd of 50+, which included White Center community advocates and entrepreneurs.
He recapped why it’s on the front burner now – as first reported on our partner site White Center Now, Governor Inslee has signed a Legislature-passed bill that will divert millions of sales-tax dollars to Seattle to cover the costs of taking on the added residents and acreage.
Early on, he said annexation isn’t going to happen overnight:
(2015 WSB photo)
If you’re looking for egg hunts, Holy Week/Easter Sunday church services, and/or other special events, our annual all-in-one place is now up – find it here (and in our navigation bar toward the top of the page, under the heading EASTER, ETC.). If you have something to add, it’s not too late – please e-mail it ASAP – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
The next door-to-door food drive is days away – here’s what’s ahead for “Scouting for Food” this Saturday:
If you live on SW 30th through SW 34th St. between SW Myrtle St. & SW Thistle St., Boy Scout Troop #284 (based at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church) would like you to know that for our Scouting for Food effort this year, we will be picking up donations for the West Seattle Food Bank this Saturday morning (the 19th).
If you would like to contribute, please leave your donations outside your front door by 8:00 AM. You may have received a door flyer from us last Sunday — or maybe not, since Sunday’s well-publicized wind storm started up shortly after our flyer distribution began, most likely removing a good number of said flyers from the attention of their intended recipients.
The most needed items are:
Canned meat
Canned beans
Peanut butter
Canned fruit
Canned vegetables
Spaghetti sauce
Pasta/rice
Breakfast cereal
Oatmeal
Baby food/formula
Shampoo/soap
Feminine productsThank you in advance for helping those in need in our community!
Dwight Gilmore
Boy Scout Troop #284 parent
You might recall our story one week ago about Chief Sealth International High School students circulating petitions to get support for keeping CSIHS’s wood-shop class. The spokesperson for the group, Jennifer [at right in our photo], sent an update today, saying the program has a reprieve for now: “Yesterday the teachers voted not to approve the budget that eliminated wood shop. If the district says that the school has to take the budget, then they could still eliminate wood shop.” We’re following up further to try to find out more about what happens next, and when.
@westseattleblog looks like a fresh coat of green paint at 41st SW #admiraldistrict Happy #StPatricksDay ! pic.twitter.com/27cKlQbXYW
— brentamaker (@brentamaker) March 17, 2016
Thanks to everyone who pointed out that the mysterious stripe down 41st SW, east of Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) and stretching north a ways, has been refreshed this year. We photographed it this morning but the photo Brent tweeted, above, is better! And Patricia caught it in the pre-dawn darkness, so the leprechaun(s) must have been busy with the brush(es) before sunrise:
This of course revives the question, who does this? It’s come up here over the years and no one has ever ‘fessed up, though there’ve been a few hints. We tend to be with the “well, it’s good to have SOME mysteries” camp …
(WSB photo)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
One year after our first report on an early-stage plan for the Admiral site that’s been home to PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) for 27 years, the plan is moving ahead.
That’s according to Madison Development Group, which subsequently bought the site for $5,750,000, as we reported two months after our first story about its future. When we contacted Madison for comment back then, a spokesperson said the company – whose completed West Seattle projects include Spruce and Element 42 – would “begin exploring possible ideas for the site.”
The reason we’re publishing a followup now:
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
The Olympics are beautiful this morning – above, our shot from Alki (by WSB’s Patrick Sand); below, a panorama from James Bratsanos:
Now, a look at what’s up for the rest of today/tonight:
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Stop by the home of West Seattle’s history and check out the featured exhibit about Ivar Haglund, whose 111th birthday is being celebrated this month. Noon-4 pm, Thursdays-Sundays. (61st SW/SW Stevens)
WHAT IF WHITE CENTER WERE PART OF SEATTLE? Informal discussion about potential annexation, with city and county reps, 5:30-6:30 pm at Dubsea Coffee in Greenbridge. (9910 8th SW)
INJURY PREVENTION: Free seminar at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) with Dr. Nate Moore from Elite Sports and Spine, 6:30 pm, details here. (2743 California SW)
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Alki UCC. (6115 SW Hinds)
OPEN MICROPHONE: 7-9 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – all ages, many talents, details here. (5612 California SW)
BELLY-DANCING SHOWCASE: The monthly Alauda showcase shakes things up tonight at The Skylark, 7:30 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
ART & POP CULTURE TRIVIA NIGHT: At Treehouse Lounge in The Admiral District, hosted by Geeks Who Drink. 8 pm. (2206 California SW)
SOUTH SOUND TUG AND BARGE … performs at 9 pm at Parliament Tavern: “Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with bluegrass, punk, Irish, and union songs.” (4210 SW Admiral Way)
SEE WHAT ELSE IS UP TODAY/TONIGHT/TOMORROW/BEYOND … via our complete calendar.
Firefighters Pipes & Drums arrive at Alki Elementary for #StPatricksDay pic.twitter.com/ce0cJDnLbV
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) March 17, 2016
9:07 AM: In the brisk sunshine of this St. Patrick’s Day morning, Alki Elementary students, staff, and parents welcomed a parade and playground mini-concert before school, with members of the King County Firefighters Pipes and Drums. We’ll add more when back at HQ.
ADDED 10:34 AM: Some of the parents who got into the spirit – from left, Tammy, Cheryl, and Anne:
In the schoolyard, everyone gathered in a circle around the musicians:
Longer video clip still to come.
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