West Seattle, Washington
14 Tuesday
Thanks to “Diver Laura” James for the video, showing the cleanup we previewed here on Sunday – the blocks and cable left behind (deliberately, by agreement of all those concerned) when the “Solar Pioneer” protest barge moved west after first dropping them in the popular Cove 2 dive zone. The official post-cleanup news release from GUE Seattle declares it “a complete success”:
Two teams of GUE Seattle SCUBA divers entered the water (Monday) at 7:00 AM and located the debris field consisting of concrete blocks and steel cables.
(Photos courtesy GUE Seattle)
The five GUE Seattle divers attached mooring line and buoys so a commercial salvage operation could easily locate and remove the debris. At approximately 9:00 AM, a commercial dive team from Global Diving & Salvage arrived on site and deployed surface-supplied divers into the water.After approximately three hours of work, the Global Diving & Salvage dive team had safely successfully removed all debris without causing any further damage to the dive park.
On Monday, May 19th, 2015, an environmental activist group moored a barge known as the Solar Pioneer in Alki Seacrest Park in protest of Shell’s Polar Pioneer Arctic drilling rig housed at Seattle’s Harbor Island Terminal 5. In the process of mooring, the activist group dropped concrete blocks and thick steel mooring cables and inadvertently damaged a popular underwater park known as Alki Cove 2. As the barge rose and fell with the tides, the steel mooring cables swept the area underneath, causing additional collateral damage to the marine environment as well as endangering recreational divers. Today, the Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) Seattle cleanup project was successfully completed and all concrete blocks and the steel mooring cables were recovered and properly disposed of.
We would like to sincerely thank Royal Dutch Shell, Foss Maritime, and John Sellers (the operator of the Solar Pioneer), for financially contributing to the cleanup effort and future restoration work; Laura James for her assistance in video documentation; and Global Diving & Salvage for their skillful work in removing the debris without causing any additional environmental damage.
The Polar Pioneer, as reported here early Monday morning, has left Seattle, headed north; the Solar Pioneer was still off Don Armeni as of sunset.
Heading into summer-festival season, there’s always something big in view just days away – and this week, it’s the Morgan Junction Community Festival (co-sponsored by WSB), this Saturday in and around Morgan Junction Park, 10:30 am-6 pm. We’re planning daily previews, counting down to the festival – starting with a quick look at what’s planned for the youngest festivalgoers. From the festival committee:
Jennifer Young, owner of My Three Little Birds in south Morgan Junction, is coordinating the children’s activities. Chief entertainment for the kids is Bubbleman, of course. He begins his always-pleasing wild and colorful show at 11:30 in Morgan Junction Park.
(WSB photo from 2014)
Craft activities start at 11:00 and end at 4:00, include beading for older kids; and for the younger ones, making sailboats out of water noodles and paper jellyfish. In addition to the crafts, a face painter will be in the children’s area from 12:30 to 2:00, and LuLu Cakes will offer vegan cupcakes from 2:00 to 3:00.
We’ve already previewed the pet parade and contests you’ll find at the festival (here) and the author readings (here). Lots more to come – watch for the next round of preview info on Tuesday – and make plans to come to Morgan Junction on Saturday!
Thanks to Kyle Geraghty from American Legion Post 160 in The Triangle for the report and photo:
Three area students, sponsored by West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 160, will be attending the Evergreen Boys State and Girls State summer leadership programs.
The students sponsored by Post 160 for Boys State are:
Jess Juanich, Garfield High School
Ryan Okabayashi, Seattle LutheranThe student sponsored by Unit 160 for Girls State:
Macey Crooks, Seattle LutheranThey’re in the photo (as listed, L-R) with Post 160 Commander Keith Hughes and Auxiliary Unit 160 president Andrea Geraghty.
Evergreen Boys State & Girls State aim to simulate and emulate Washington State government through a fun and engaging week long summer program. The students will have an opportunity to construct local, county, and state governments.
Activities include running for office, court proceedings, creating and enforcing laws, celebrations, and recreational programs. Students will hone public speaking skills, experience how government works, get inspired by guest speakers, have fun and make new friends for life.
Up to four college credits may be earned by this program, as well as opportunities for college scholarships.American Legion Post 160 and Auxiliary Unit 160 of West Seattle encourages all upcoming high-school juniors who attend public, private or home school to apply for Boys/Girls State next year. Post/Unit 160 would be honored to sponsor a full West Seattle team next year.
By Alice Enevoldsen
Special to West Seattle Blog
Today a beautiful blue-green iridescent cloud stretched straight across the sky, contrasting impressively with the white clouds behind it. As we watched, more rainbow-spectrum colors showed up in a second partial arc a little further south. The colors persisted for hours, though will be gone by the time you read this article.
(Added Tuesday: West Seattleite Don Brubeck‘s photo of how it looked @ Mt. Rainier NP)
We see many rainbow phenomena regularly here in West Seattle: Rainbows, secondary bow rainbows, supernumeraries, sun pillars, halos, heiligenschein, crepuscular (and anti-crepuscular) rays, and sundogs. This was a new one to me: The circumhorizon arc.
The circumhorizon arc is only visible when the Sun is higher than 58° in the sky. This can be true in Seattle only around noon from early May through mid-August. Like other halo-related visual effects, the arc is formed by sunlight refracting through ice crystals. As you can see in the photos, this arc is visible where there are streaky, filamental cirrus clouds. Those clouds are high enough in the atmosphere that even on hot days ice crystals can form.
(Circumhorizon arc and halo over West Seattle — with labels: © 2015 Jason Ayres Gift Enevoldsen)
Although this is not a common event, the circumhorizon arc is not classified as rare for our latitude. Look for it again throughout the summer around noon whenever you see cirrus-type clouds in the sky. This is the same event as a fire rainbow, but “fire rainbow” is not an accepted term, as it is misleading.
Before I go, let me mention noctilucent clouds, because the section of circumhorizon arc we saw today was almost exactly the same color, and now is the time to watch for them. Noctilucent clouds are also visible only in summer, but about 30 minutes to two and a half hours after sunset. They’re high enough in the atmosphere that they are still bathed in sunlight even as the sky darkens through twilight, giving them an ethereal blue glow in the dark sky.
We report a fair number of great new visual cloud and sky events around June. With the Sun reaching its highest altitude (nearly 66° off the horizon here) at solar noon on the summer solstice, the days and weeks around now are when we have the opportunity to see effects that require the Sun to be high.
You can read about many common sun/atmosphere effects we see in West Seattle in this Skies over West Seattle article from two years ago. I would love to discuss this effect and any others at the solstice sunset watch on Saturday.
Who is Alice?
Alice is many things and works and volunteers for a few notable organizations, but the suggestions and opinions put forth in this article are her own and no one else’s. You can find more about astronomy at alicesastroinfo.com.
While a long-running business in The Admiral District has just closed – another is about to open.
(Photo courtesy Zelda Zonk Consignment)
Tomorrow is opening day for Zelda Zonk Consignment for Women at 2210 California SW, previously home to West Seattle Fabric Company (which has gone mostly online) and, before that, Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor, long since moved to The Junction). Proprietor Carrie Zimney explains, “Zelda Zonk is the name Marilyn Monroe went by when she was incognito so I thought it was very fitting.” Consignment is a form of recycling, and Carrie says, “I’ve been having a ton of fun with renovations and I’m so proud to say that I built my sales counter out of old pallets, and my clothing racks out of tree posts and old pallets. I also constructed my dressing rooms using old doors I purchased at Second Use in SODO.” As for the actual consigning, “Zelda Zonk does not brand-discriminate but we are really looking for current items from brands like Anthropologie, Nordstrom, Kate Spade, Tory Burch, J. Crew, Theory, Ann Taylor and BCBGMaxazria. We will also carry special designer items from designers such as Prada, Oscar De La Renta, Burburry, and Chanel.” Starting tomorrow, she plans to be open 10 am-7 pm Tuesdays-Saturdays, noon-6 pm Sundays, closed Mondays. If you’re interested in consigning – she says, “I do a 40/60 split or in-store credit of 50%” – call 206-932-0961.
(Reader photo courtesy Quent)
12:17 PM: Seattle Fire is at an apartment building in the 4700 block of 41st SW after a report of smoke. More to come.
(WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli)
12:23 PM UPDATE: SFD says it was a “rooftop fire” but is now “extinguished.”
The address on the SFD log checks to the City Watch Apartments east of Jefferson Square.
12:30 PM: Update via scanner – firefighters have now spotted a “small fire in a planter” on the rooftop.
12:39 PM: They’re calling for another engine and ladder. No word of injuries so far. Thanks to Craig Roberts for video showing the heavy smoke when this all got started:
12:44 PM: One of our crews at the scene talked with WSB reader Sue, who lives at this building and is OK, but quite a scare, as her hallway on the 5th floor was full of smoke. We’ve also talked with the incident commander, who says the fire is now tapped.
They’re still checking the air quality among other things so no word on how soon people will be allowed back into the building.
1:18 PM: Just briefed by SFD public-information officer Kyle Moore – he confirms no one was hurt, and that the fire was confined to the rooftop, but investigators don’t know yet what sparked it.
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
People are being allowed back into the building.
ADDED MONDAY EVENING: We checked with Moore just before day’s end: “Cause is accidental, improperly discarded smoking materials onto rooftop deck or planter. The damage estimate is $7,000.”
As first reported here a month ago, new outdoor “fitness zones” are coming to Delridge and Hiawatha Community Centers‘ parks, and if you haven’t already told Seattle Parks what you want to see in these free workout spots for teens and adults – you have one more day to have a say! For Delridge input, go here; for Hiawatha input, go here. Both surveys close at noon tomorrow.
(West Seattle flowers, by Yel0Rose, via the WSB Flickr group)
SECOND-TO-LAST DAY OF SCHOOL … for Seattle Public Schools students, some of whom you might see out on the beach today for field trips because of the following:
LOW TIDE, WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: Tide’s out to -2.3 feet at 10:42 this morning; Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are out at Constellation and Lincoln Parks until 1 pm today. (P.S. Have you seen this West Seattle octopus video yet?)
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Could be another hot day. Just reminding you that while it’s not wading-pool season yet, the Highland Park Spraypark continues to be open daily, 11 am-8 pm. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP: 2-3 pm, this month’s Afternoon Book Group meets at Southwest Branch Library. “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Ernest Hemingway is this month’s book. (35th/Henderson)
BENEFIT FOR WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADERS: 3-10 pm, dine at Talarico’s in The Junction and 30 percent of the proceeds go to the WSHS cheer program to help with camp and uniform costs. (4718 California SW)
DELRIDGE GROCERY CO-OP CONVERSATION: 6-7:45 pm at Delridge Branch Library, stop by to talk about everything from the co-op’s progress toward opening, to its summer farmstand, to food access in general – details here. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
AND MORE … for today/tonight/beyond, if you hop over to our calendar!
7:31 AM: While covering the Polar Pioneer departure, we’ve also been keeping an eye on traffic as always. Keeping this short unless there’s an incident to report – you’ll find the cameras here; please also remember the Beach Drive/Lincoln Park Way/48th SW alert starting today.
8:19 AM: Just went through the aforementioned area – the street-cutting work hasn’t started yet, no sign of staging, either, just a couple concrete trucks on the south end of Beach Drive.
6:27 AM: Picking up from our all-night coverage – right now, Foss tugs are pulling the Polar Pioneer out of the west mouth of the Duwamish River, a month after its arrival, and a kayak blockade is trying to stop it.
Heavy police and Coast Guard presence in the area, on sea and in the air, plus we’ve seen police bicycle officers at Terminal 5 in the wake of the rig’s pullout.
6:32 AM: The rig and tugs are fully out in the bay now and the blockade appears to be moving along with them.
6:35 AM: The tugs and rig briefly stopped but are now moving, very slowly, again. Commenters in our earlier coverage asked why protesters are trying to stop it from leaving, since they didn’t want it here in the first place.
They have said that the point is to try to keep it from getting to the Arctic in its relatively short summer window, to stop it from drilling.
Tugs and Polar Pioneer going verrrrry slowly. #shellno group moving with them pic.twitter.com/PNmu0jKuQr
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) June 15, 2015
6:47 AM: The group continues to advance toward Duwamish Head, tugs, Polar Pioneer, kayakers and all. The Lindsey Foss and Garth Foss are pulling the Polar Pioneer while the Andrew Foss and Henry Foss are behind. The first three also were among the tugs that brought it into Seattle from Port Angeles on May 14th.
Someone asked if the Water Taxi was affected. No. pic.twitter.com/PdjysE6NfY
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) June 15, 2015
7:10 AM: We’ve moved over to Don Armeni, which has been protest HQ for some days now. Red flags are set up on the shore.
Polar Pioneer in the distance, #shellno red flags in foreground pic.twitter.com/AxbscUel8e
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) June 15, 2015
7:19 AM: The protest group says there have been “several arrests.” No further details or confirmation so far.
7:47 AM: We’re still at Don Armeni, but about to move on; the rig is out of sight, and some kayakers continue returning to the ramp here. Most of the citywide media has left. We asked if anyone knows how long the Solar Pioneer barge will stay; no info on that yet. (As we reported last night, a cleanup is scheduled today at the spot near Seacrest where its cables and blocks did damage before it moved west.)
From Duwamish Head. Way in the distance now. pic.twitter.com/iGVWY18eYD
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) June 15, 2015
8:28 AM: We’re back at HQ and will be adding/replacing some photos. If any new information emerges later, regarding arrests or anything else related to today’s departure, we’ll update this story. A couple points in the meantime:
*Polar Pioneer is headed first to Dutch Harbor, AK, a 12-day trip, according to this Houston Chronicle story we linked and explained in our overnight report
*Foss has a 2-year lease with the Port of Seattle for part of Terminal 5, and the plan has been for Shell to return here after Arctic-drilling season. In the meantime, though, the permit fight will play out, with a city hearing set for July 23rd. As we first reported over the weekend, maritime companies are seeking to join that fight, in a group calling itself the “T-5 Intervenors.”
10:10 AM: No arrests confirmed but the Coast Guard has tweeted that 24 people were detained:
#USCG and local agency partners detain 24 people for violating safety zone around #PolarPioneer
— USCGPacificNorthwest (@USCGPacificNW) June 15, 2015
City Councilmember Mike O’Brien is reported to have been among the detainees.
11:48 AM: What the protesters couldn’t do, the tide apparently did – the Shell No group texted about an hour ago – right around the lowest tide of the day, almost the lowest of the month – that Polar Pioneer was “beached” off Bainbridge Island. We were away from HQ but tweeted it and then noted that it was indeed still visible in the distance from Alki. As of right now, MarineTraffic.com still shows it and its accompanying vessels – plus Coast Guard and police – in the same spot off north Bainbridge Island.
11:54 AM: Foss spokesperson Paul Queary says it’s not stuck – it’s a planned change of tugs.
4:45 PM: The Polar Pioneer is currently passing between North Kitsap and South Whidbey. West Seattle pilot/photographer Cuyler Binion shared this aerial view from earlier:
(SCROLL DOWN for updates)
(WSB photo, Sunday @ Don Armeni Boat Ramp)
12:21 AM: Hours after the latest anti-Shell rally at Don Armeni Park – this time, led by Native activists (WSB photo above) – the “Shell No” group says it believes Polar Pioneer will try to depart from Terminal 5 today.
(WSB photo, Sunday from Jack Block Park)
It’s put out a call for people to be ready to join a flotilla blockade, potentially departing from Don Armeni Boat Ramp, where the protest coalition has been headquartered. It’s been exactly a month since the platform leased by Shell for Arctic drilling arrived in West Seattle. The Noble Discoverer drillship, which Shell also plans to deploy, has remained moored in Everett rather than coming to T-5 as once expected.
1:38 AM: A Coast Guard cutter, Blue Shark, is patroling near T-5; in all our watching of maritime comings and goings, we haven’t seen that lately. A Port police boat remains in the area too. And the tug Garth Foss, one of the Foss tugs that brought Polar Pioneer to Seattle from Port Angeles a month ago, arrived in the area not long ago and is stopped offshore northwest of Jack Block Park. Meantime, for a look inside Polar Pioneer and details of exactly where it’s being sent and why, read this in-depth Houston Chronicle story (link tweeted by Stranger reporter Sydney Brownstone).
3:10 AM: Two more of the 4 Foss tugs that brought Polar Pioneer here last month are either in Elliott Bay now (Andrew Foss) or almost here (Lindsey Foss).
4:20 AM: Text alert from the ShellNo Action Council says kayakers have formed “a human blockade to stop Shell from leaving Seattle.” Meantime, tugs are gathering at T-5, MarineTraffic.com shows.
5:31 AM: The activity continues to intensify; more Coast Guard and police vessels are in the area, and one texter tells us a USCG helicopter is up too. We’re heading out for a firsthand look, now that it’s light.
6:16 AM: We’re at Jack Block and Polar Pioneer is definitely pulling out. It’s approaching a water blockade. We’ll be updating in a separate report.
Police are wrapping up at the scene of what was reported to be an armed person threatening self-harm in the 35th/98th vicinity. Via emergency radio, we hear the person was taken into custody, apparently with no injury to them or to officers.
(Reminder: Crisis Clinic has a 24-hour hotline for anyone considering self-harm: 206-461-3222.)
(Reader photo)
10:04 PM UPDATE: A big contingent of Seattle Fire and Police is headed by land and sea to Beach Drive/Genesee (map), where a caller reported seeing “a parachuter” go into the water. More to come.
10:10 PM UPDATE: Scanner now indicates that more than one person saw this and called it in. Rescue crews who are arriving are setting up lights and other equipment in hopes of finding out where the person is.
(Photos from here by WSB’s Christopher Boffoli unless otherwise credited)
If you have the water in view, you’ll see multiple vessels; the U.S. Coast Guard is joining in the search, too.
10:20 PM UPDATE: They haven’t found anyone yet, but are continuing to coordinate every search tool/strategy they possibly can. We have a crew arriving on scene, but in the meantime, thanks to the neighbor who sent the photo we’ve added above.
10:28 PM UPDATE: WSB’s Christopher Boffoli is at the scene and we’re adding two photos from him inline above. Via scanner, still no word of anyone being found. The Coast Guard is planning to use aerial flares “to illuminate the area.” (Photo added)
(Christopher’s photo substituted for earlier reader photo showing flare)
There’s also word they might need to shift the search further north.
If you’re seeing emergency vehicles at Don Armeni Boat Ramp, they are staging there in case someone is found and needs to be transported to medic unit on shore. Also, please AVOID Beach Drive in that area – it’s blocked by the rescue vehicles and they’re still trying to get police to help with traffic.
10:36 PM: They’ve found a bunch of balloons and believe that’s what people saw. But they’re still checking the water in case.
10:41 PM: They’re fairly sure that’s what it was – a large bunch of “mylar balloons” – and some of the units are being dismissed now.
11:01 PM: Even more units have left, and Beach Drive is reopening to traffic.
1:10 AM: We’ve continued to monitor; the balloon discovery definitely closed the call. Both SPD and SFD had vessels on the water, but the latter tells us the former found the balloons.
(Photo and video courtesy Vlad Oustimovitch)
On the rocky shores off Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook (4503 Beach Drive SW) at low tide today, Vlad Oustimovitch and other beach explorers were mesmerized by the sight of that small – he guessed maybe a foot and a half – Giant Pacific Octopus octopus, as it headed toward the water, and then arrived, as Vlad’s two short clips show:
The lowest low tide will be even lower the next two days – per our favorite long-range chart, -2.3 feet at 10:42 am tomorrow, -2.5 feet at 11:23 am tomorrow.
8:38 PM: Before the “Solar Pioneer” protest barge moved to its spot off Don Armeni Boat Ramp, you might recall, it originally anchored further east, off Seacrest. That brought some concerns about possible danger to divers and damage to wildlife, so it moved; “Diver Laura” James was involved with making that happen, and now reports that the blocks and cables left behind in the “Cove 2” area will be removed tomorrow. You’ll see them in her video, embedded above (it has music and explanatory captioning). She explains: “Seacrest Park Cove 2 is the most popular dive site in Seattle, home to the world’s largest octopus and numerous other varieties of marine life. When the tide changed, the cable attached from the anchor blocks to the barge overhead swept across the underwater landscape, damaging the fragile habitat and destroying the homes of underwater creatures. When it was noted that damage was occurring, the cables were dropped and the barge was moved further towards Duwamish Head. The blocks and cable are slated for removal on Monday by Global Diving & Salvage, Inc., thanks to Washington State Department of Natural Resources, GUE Seattle, concerned individuals … and the Northwest Dive Community at large, who took note and voiced concern.” A spokesperson for those responsible for the barge told The Seattle Times last month that “We clearly didn’t have any intention of doing damage to a dive park. It was an honest mistake.” We’re checking on who’s covering the cleanup cost.
9:01 PM: We won’t be able to get a direct answer on that any sooner than tomorrow but there’s more backstory in this post on the Northwest Dive Club website (intended primarily to warn divers away from the area tomorrow, but also explaining why).
(Photo by Eilene Hutchinson)
That’s part of what Seal Sitters Marine Stranding Network, friends, and volunteers found during their Alki Beach cleanup Saturday morning. From Robin Lindsey:
After learning that 360 billion cigarette butts are discarded each year in the US (you can just imagine the numbers worldwide!), volunteers spread out along Alki Beach and the sidewalks with buckets and bags. They returned with over 5,000 butts and amassed a large amount of trash in under two hours. Passersby were astounded and very grateful. People in cars yelled out their support as they drove by the dedicated people plucking up all sorts of toxic and dangerous trash along the street.
Before heading out, the volunteers got educational encouragement:
(Photo by Robin Lindsey)
Daoud Miller from Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalists (photo above) spoke briefly to more than 80 volunteers, asking them to make sure to hceck trash before removing it in case an invertebrate had claimed it as “home.” He was available all morning to engage with participants and inform them about the small critters that live along the shoreline. Peggy Foreman, education specialist from NOAA, talked passionately about the Arroyos gray whale who died in 2010 with a disturbing amount of human trash in his stomach.
Seal Sitters, Seattle Parks and Recreation, ACC and PAWS (co-sponsors of the event) thank everyone who helped make the beach safer for marine life yesterday!
More photos and details from Saturday are in Robin’s full report on Seal Sitters’ blubberblog website.
More congratulations as youth sports leagues’ seasons end: Thanks to Nicole Zerbato, league secretary for West Seattle Baseball, for sharing the photo and report on the league’s Bronco Division champions, the A’s:
Congratulations to the A’s on winning the 2015 West Seattle Baseball Bronco Championship. Led by Coach Perry Brown, the boys often heard “ play like you are down by one run “ and “are you having fun out there?” These often-heard mantras, plus top-notch offense, defense, and teamwork, are what kept the A’s in the winning bracket throughout the playoffs, and allowed them to clinch first place. Outstanding season and hard work by the players and coaches.
In the photo, L-R: Conner Diede, Ethan Levine, Max Zerbato, Charlie Odiorne, Jesse Brown, Noah Kubo, Gabe Palmer, Carson Manns, Abe Odiorne, Steve Zurek. Missing from photo: Deni Tonn and Quinn Kerwin.
(WSB sports coverage is archived here, newest-to-oldest.)
One more scene from this month’s West Seattle Art Walk, this past Thursday: Winning 2015 West Seattle Garden Tour poster artist Gretchen Flickinger was honored. Her work was on display at West Seattle Windermere in The Junction; that’s where WSGT president Jan Clow presented her with the $500 check for winning. (That’s the poster art behind them.) This year’s WSGT (co-sponsored by WSB) is on Sunday, July 19th; your ticket book gets you admission to nine great gardens (and includes their locations) plus Phil Wood‘s midday lecture on garden design. You’ll soon be able to buy yours at West Seattle Nursery or Junction True Value.
10:57 AM: “This rocks!” That’s the first comment we heard today from a visitor to the newly relocated West Seattle Farmers’ Market (WSB sponsor), on until 2 pm in the middle of California Avenue SW between Oregon and Alaska. As first published here last week, here’s the vendor map:
The move has been months in the making, officially – but it’s also been a years-long dream for some, with the knowledge that it brings more space for more vendors and more local nonprofits, plus more room for shoppers to roam, and more chances to show off The Junction’s bricks-and-mortar businesses to WSFM visitors. More photos to come, but better yet, just go see for yourself!
P.S. Transportation notes – only one bus route is affected, the 22; for vehicle parking, while the market block is off-limits until about 4 pm, the 45-space lot that formerly held the market is open; for bicycle parking, remember the “corral” on the southeast corner of California/Alaska. Also, east-west streets are all open, including Alaska and Oregon themselves.
2:43 PM: Adding photos. Above, the fresh produce is the star of the show this time of year. But as noted in our preview, you’ll find food trucks too – that made it a hit for Sammy and Annika, whose mom Lori shared the photo:
The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is back for summer appearances – we found them right by the south end at California/Alaska:
And we happened onto Ivy from market staff, with WSFM buttons:
(added) From MercyMoi, “August is making a necklace with beautiful paper beads”:
MM adds, “The artist (and farmers market rep) showed us how to make the beads, so I expect many textured jewelry projects this summer.”
Photo to share from the street site’s debut? Share it! Meantime, again, this is the market’s new home, so it’ll be back in the street every Sunday – except for July 12th, when it’ll be back at the old location in the 44th/Alaska lot since West Seattle Summer Fest will have taken over the street for the weekend.
It’s Flag Day in the USA – and the flags you’re seeing in The Junction while visiting for the newly relocated West Seattle Farmers’ Market (and/or for brunch, shopping, etc.) are in place courtesy of American Legion Post 160, whose volunteers put the flags in place this morning.
As mentioned here on Saturday, Post 160 agreed to help with what was left as an orphaned task after the death of Don Smathers. Post leaders tell us they’ll also be helping on Veterans Day; Independence Day is still open for somebody else to step up.
Voting in the first-ever Seattle City Council District 1 primary is sooner than you think. Ballots you’ll use to help narrow the field of nine candidates to two finalists will arrive in about five weeks. So it’s down to decision time, if you haven’t made your choice yet.
NEXT WEDNESDAY: 7-9 pm Wednesday (June 17th) at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, your next chance to see the D-1 candidates side by side will be presented by the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council. DNDC chair Mat McBride promises some format change-ups: “The audience will be equipped with a feedback/voting tool, and reactions to candidate statements will be displayed on screen.” Also – come early for dinner; Indian-food truck Spice on Curve will be at Youngstown. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WHAT YOU MISSED LAST MONDAY: The Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council‘s candidate forum in the Pathfinder K-8 cafeteria used the “candi-dating” format – after introductions at the front of the room, the candidates circulated between tables. Seven of the nine candidates participated (Arturo Robles, Brianna Thomas, Chas Redmond, Jody Rushmer, Karl Wirsing, Lisa Herbold, Phillip Tavel – organizers said Pavel Goberman declined the invitation and Shannon Braddock was ill) and each table got to talk with five of them before time ran out. Since we’ve been videotaping all the D-1 forums, we had to do this one too; the format was a challenge for that, so our cameraperson picked a random table at which to record the turns. Challenging acoustics, but here’s the result:
Then we recorded the candidates answering one final question at the front of the room – they were asked what they specifically would do for Pigeon Point if elected, but the answers turned out to speak more to West Seattle-wide issues:
We also sat in at a second table without video. The questions varied from candidate to candidate, so no comparison is possible, but the questions asked by those at the table involved White Center annexation (we put that question to all candidates earlier this month), rent control and housing affordability, workers’ rights, education, transportation, weed control, and crime.
FINAL FORUM? In addition to the June 17th event mentioned at the start of this story, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce also has finalized the plan for what might be the final forum before the primary – July 15th at the Brockey Center on the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. It’ll start with a 5:30 pm meet-and-greet, then 6 pm opening statements, followed by table-to-table “candi-dating,” and a closing statement. This will be open to all, members and non-members, no admission charge. (6000 16th SW)
The big event today: The West Seattle Farmers’ Market moves to its new home in the street!
(Photo added 8:48 am, as vendors set up)
FARMERS’ MARKET MOVE: Today is the first day for the West Seattle Farmers’ Market to set up in its new permanent home, California Avenue SW between Oregon and Alaska. Hours are the same, 10 am-2 pm; each Sunday, that block will be off-limits to vehicles 7 am until approximately 4 pm. Check out this WSB update to find out about some of the new vendors. And check out Junction businesses and restaurants while you’re there – some will have celebratory specials, such as WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW, right on the market block). We’ll have a separate story about the first day of the market move – come back to WSB later today or tonight and share your thoughts about it.
Also today:
LAST DAY FOR ZATZ A BETTER BAGEL: As reported here on Friday, the bagel shop in The Admiral District says it’s closing after 20 years, and told us (and others) that today is the last day. (2348 California SW)
(Thanks to the texter who shared this photo of the pool entrance’s relatively new signage)
COLMAN POOL: Final day of the final preseason weekend for Colman Pool on the shore in Lincoln Park, three sessions between noon and 7 pm; see the schedule here.
KITTY HARBOR: West Seattle’s cat/kitten adoption center is open noon-5 pm. (3422 Harbor SW)
NATIVE FOOD ENGINEERING: 1-4 pm, free program at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse (doors open at noon), details in our calendar listing. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
ROY ZIMMERMAN AT KENYON HALL: A lively way to wrap up your weekend – satirical and other original songs, 7:30 pm at historic Kenyon Hall in Sunrise Heights. Details in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)
Plus a transportation note:
WSF’S SUMMER SCHEDULE: Today’s the first day of the Washington State Ferries summer schedule.
(Sealth staff & students’ procession at start of this afternoon’s ceremony)
Story by Tracy Record
Photos/video by Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers
YOLO.
You probably know that’s short for “You Only Live Once.” It started and ended what language-arts teacher Breanna Whited told the Chief Sealth International High School Class of 2015 at its graduation ceremony this afternoon. (More on her speech later.)
Though commencement is considered to be the start of the rest of graduates’ lives, as Sealth principal Aida Fraser-Hammer detailed, the 267 graduating seniors already have achieved quite bit. She went through a long list of achievements including more than 20,000 hours in community service and $1.2 million in college scholarships.
The principal noted some of the class’s “bold” accomplishments – from a World Water Week focus on the unglamorous but life-saving topic of toilets, to Hafid Yassin‘s dunk seen ’round the world.
The first student to speak was Timothy Wo, who observed that “we’re all thinking right now … ‘it’s over’.” (That’s him in the frame grab below, but the video is of the entirety of the rest of the ceremony, beginning with the principal’s speech.)
To get to “the promised land of graduation,” he said, he and his classmates “crossed the land of procrastination.” Whatever lies ahead for them in the immediate future, he expressed confidence they would “reap success, whatever it is, and make it into whatever it can be.”
Another student speaker, Monica Harris, urged her classmates to “stand tall – we have nothing to fear.”
And she celebrated the fact that “by persevering, we have proven we deserve to be here today.” The proud family and friends had proven that too, and they were saluted during the ceremony.
They of course exhibited plenty of exhilaration themselves:
Back to staff speaker Whited, introduced as “hilarious and beautiful.”
She spoke warmly and personally to her now-former students, saying she watched them while chaperoning the senior prom three weeks ago: “It was OK for me to cry there, which I did, because I had to be strong to speak to all of you today.”
Mentioning she was a 1985 high-school graduate, she said, “I am you in 30 years … and yes, you’ll still be this fabulous.” With the help, Whited continued, of three things to remember, starting with: “Apologize quickly, even when you are right – you will be loved and you will be happy. It’s better to be happy than to be right.”
The essence of her other advice: Shut down your “negative self-talk,” and “do what you love,” which she said she’s been doing for decades. And shortly thereafter, the Chief Sealth Class of 2015 was off to find a way to follow her advice.
OTHER NOTES: One of the valedictorians and the salutatorian, Sophia Boyd and Olivia Boyd, are sisters, and the daughters of former longtime CSIHS principal John Boyd. Samuel Orlin also is valedictorian. … SPS executive director of southwest schools Israel Vela had a stand-in, northwest ED Jon Halfaker, because he was at his son’s graduation in Kent … Last year, umbrellas were in use because of the threat of rain; this year, one was in view because of the sun:
| 32 COMMENTS