West Seattle, Washington
02 Sunday
Just in from Chief Sealth International High School athletic director Sam Reed:
Chief Sealth International High School football players will be partnering with the Seattle Seahawks to host the Gatorade Junior Training Camp on July 25th at Alki Playfield. Participation in this 2-hour clinic is FREE to all youth ages 7-14, and with 200 participants the Seattle Seahawks will make a generous donation to the Chief Sealth football program. Details and registration found by following this link. For additional information, please contact Chief Sealth Head Football Coach Luther Carr at luther_carr@yahoo.com
(Young bicyclist at California/Juneau; photo by Doug B, via Flickr – see more of his photos here)
Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:
FARM-FRESH VEGETABLES! The High Point Market Garden Farm Stand at 32nd and Juneau has its second weekly open-to-the-public session today, 4-7 pm.
‘A NIGHT IN SPAIN’: Food, music, and dance at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon), 5 pm – details here, including the number you need to call NOW for reservations.
DISTRICT COUNCILS MEET TOGETHER: West Seattle’s two district councils, Southwest and Delridge, meet together once a year, and tonight’s the night, 7 pm, Southwest Teen Life Center, 2800 SW Thistle. The agenda includes updates from County Assessor Lloyd Hara and City Councilmember Tim Burgess.
MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Its quarterly meeting is also at 7 pm, lower-level meeting room at The Kenney (WSB sponsor), 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW. Agenda here, including updates on RapidRide work and the Murray Pump Station CSO project at Lowman Beach.
JUBILEE DAYS FIREWORKS AND CARNIVAL: As noted here last night, White Center’s Jubilee Days festival launches its carnival this afternoon, with a professional fireworks show tonight, both at Steve Cox Memorial Park, close enough to West Seattle that many might hear them (or to go see them!)
DEADLINE TO COMMENT ON REZONING PROPOSAL: We reported almost two weeks ago on a rezoning proposal for six acres of land along Harbor Avenue’s waterfront, southeast of Salty’s. As noted in that story, today’s the city deadline for commenting on the proposal, if you’re interested.
BALLOTS IN THE MAIL: You’ll get yours within a few days, since King County says they’re going into the mail today.
Trileigh Tucker shares photos of Lincoln Park’s baby eagle as it “fledged” –
This means that he has successfully made it out of his nest tree and has an excellent prognosis. Half of baby eagles don’t make it on their first flight, and end up on the ground. If that happens, they still get fed by the parents until they’re able to fly, but obviously it’s a lot better if they can do it on their own.
Rob and I got to the nest (Tuesday) morning, and Rob was the one to confirm that the baby’s screeching was coming from the next tree over. (His musician’s ear made the difference.) Finally we found where the baby (whom we call “Ricky” after Little Ricky Ricardo, but others have other names for him) was sitting. Then I got to witness what I think was his second-ever flight, whee!
About an hour later, he flew for the third time, back to his nest tree, so we know that he’s able to set a goal and get to it – another really good indicator about his health. All of the good wishes that our wonderful Lincoln Park neighbor community has been sending him have paid off!
Trileigh has written about it – and the park’s recent controversy – on her “Natural Presence” website.
That photo sums up the not-completely-summery conditions at Hiawatha on Tuesday night for the annual West Seattle Hi-Yu Concert in the Park: Note Hi-Yu president James Kline and Junior Court Princesses Amanda and Elena in long sleeves, while in the background, Hi-Yu past president Tim Winston tends to the festival banner, which had been tousled by the wind. Even Jim Edwards of the featured West Seattle Big Band joked that it felt more like a fall concert. And yet the kids danced on as WSBB performed songs such as “Bye, Bye Blackbird”:
Next up for Hi-Yu: The Junior Court Coronation, also at Hiawatha, at 1 pm this Friday (during the noon-3 pm Kids’ Fun Fest) – then their star turn in the West Seattle Grand Parade on Saturday, and the Community Breakfast on Sunday (details in our recent preview). P.S. Reminder that the official Hi-Yu website has a new address – westseattlehiyu.com.
While she awaits the results of the Cox Conserves Heroes vote (announcement expected on July 25th, one week from today), diver/environmental advocate Laura James is keeping busy as always. On Tuesday, she was guest speaker for the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s weekly meeting, showing some of her trademark underwater video, and talking about the fight against toxic runoff – “Tox-Ick,” as dubbed in the campaign by Sustainable West Seattle. (Here’s what you can do to NOT feed the Tox-Ick Monster.)
P.S. The Rotary is presenter of the West Seattle Kiddie Parade right before the WS Grand Parade on Saturday – with kids/families invited to walk a short route through The Junction starting at 11 am. You can sign up on their website. (They’re also a beneficiary of the pre-parade Float Dodger 5K – online signups end today!)
Caveat before you think it’s a sudden crime wave: This is another roundup with several days of reader reports. First one happened at a local school:
We took that photo at the Schmitz Park Elementary playground gate after a call (206-293-6302 any time) this morning. A driver apparently plowed into it very early today, doing damage including knocking down a tiled bollard. Seattle Police are investigating, Seattle Public Schools confirms; the person who called us said the driver apparently bolted.
Also early this morning, Matthew reported hearing five gunshots from his home in the 40th/Genesee area just after 3 am. Though it may be impossible to prove whether this is related, we heard late today from Ryan near 48th and Alaska, who says he found a 9-millimeter bullet casing on his front steps this morning – something he didn’t recall seeing when returning home late last night after a trip out of town. (We advised him to report it to SPD.)
Six more reader reports from the past few days are ahead:Read More
A heads-up in case you hear them from West Seattle – or in case you want to go see them! Tomorrow (Wednesday) night is the official start of five days of White Center Jubilee Days festival fun, and that means a professional fireworks show at Steve Cox Memorial Park (just east of McLendon Hardware). Everyone’s invited to go see it – and to enjoy the carnival, complete with rides, that’ll be under way by the time the fireworks begin. The festival also includes a street fair Saturday-Sunday and parade on Sunday.
(WSB photo from just before the start of 2010 parade, in which we rode behind Post 160’s commander)
This Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade is suddenly short two convertibles for the VIP’s who ride toward the start – and organizers are asking if anyone out there in WSB-land can loan theirs. One is needed for Orville Rummel Trophy winner Shirley Vradenburgh (here’s our story from last night), and the other for parade-presenting American Legion Post 160‘s Commander Chris Shea, a Navy veteran riding in his final parade before a change of command for the Post. If you can loan one (or two!) convertibles to the parade, please contact co-coordinator Dave Vague ASAP – e-mail vagued@comcast.net. Thanks!
Today we welcome WSB’s newest sponsor, The Cove School. Here’s what they want you to know:
Living an interesting, fun-filled, opportunity-stuffed life. Friendly + flexible. Curious + engaged. Following a path that makes them thrilled-to-the-tips-of-their-toes happy. Don’t we all want that life for our kids?
Well, we here at The Cove School sure want that for our kids – both now and when they’re adults. Can a preschool do all that? Ignite a life of mindfulness, creativity, and self-determined passion? We think so. Here’s why – and how – we do it:
We believe every child has a unique contribution to make to the world – and finding that contribution leads to a joyful + successful + complete life. We fill your kids with the desire to do something and the belief that they can. So we set about creating a place that would help our little ones do just that.
To do that, The Cove School combines a variety of philosophies and educational approaches. We focus on social + emotional learning and the mindfulness at our core. Of course (of course!) our students learn numbers, letters, reading, and math. But more importantly, they learn that positive thought and mindfulness is a way of being – not a solution to a problem.
Our preschool ranges from ages 2-6; preschool, pre-K, and junior kindergarten. We show our students the importance of purpose and intent, innovation and creativity. Together, we build a foundation of flexible thinking and understanding different perspectives.
We work with you and your child to instill a love of learning and a knowledge that life is what you make it. In fact, we discourage use of the word can’t at our school. Instead, we say “How can I?” That opens a world of possibilities.
Help your child live a totally fulfilled life. Pop in for a visit or drop us a line to arrange a tour – contact information is at www.thecoveschool.com. We can’t wait to meet you!
We thank The Cove School 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.
Our countdown to this Saturday’s West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade continues with a brand-new entry:
Making their first appearance in the West Seattle Grand Parade this year are the Seattle Police Pipes and Drums. They practice at the Harbor Patrol facility on Lake Union, where we recorded that video last night. (They also participated in this year’s Seattle Police Memorial at Forest Lawn back in May.)
Their participation will change the first part of the parade a bit – the Seattle Police Motorcycle Drill Team will take off from the parade route’s California/Lander starting line at about 10:30, and instead of the Vancouver (B.C.) Police motorcycles being right after SPD, the Pipes and Drums will march … along with a special guest: The Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums. The West Seattle Grand Parade is the only parade in which they’ll participate; the Seattle and Boston pipers/drummers then have a big concert on Sunday night, along with even more visitors, from Delta, B.C. (The concert’s at 6 pm Sunday at Seattle University – full details here.)
The SPD Pipes and Drums are in their second year (their Boston mentors, in contrast, are in their 21st); they’re nonprofit, all-volunteer, supported but not financed by the department. And the group includes two West Seattleites:
The drum major, Scotty Bach, works in Criminal Intelligence at headquarters. One of the pipers is Michael Jongma, who’s with the Traffic Division:
And while he’s NOT a West Seattleite, we photographed Det. Mark Jamieson, who we usually talk with several times a week:
He is a member of the Public Affairs/Media Relations team downtown, so he’s often quoted in news stories – he and his colleagues find the info that us journalist types call to ask for. (They also write for SPD Blotter, tweet, appear on camera at major breaking-news scenes, etc.)
So look for the SPD Pipes and Drums this Saturday along California SW, between Lander and Edmunds, right after the SPD motorcycles (which start everything off at 10:30), marching with their Boston counterparts; then, see them Sunday night at Seattle U’s Pigott Auditorium (ticket info here).
Along Delridge, near SW Brandon, there’s a sign urging you to drive carefully “in memory of Marcus Ryan Anderson.” North Delridge community advocate Mike Dady points out via the ND e-mail list that today marks the 25th anniversary of the crash that killed 7-year-old Marcus (whose mother fought for seven years to get that sign put up, and for other safety improvements). Remember him, wherever you’re driving/riding.
We’ve shared photos taken by others, but never before have we had the chance to personally photograph one of Alki’s famous road-crossing river otters. S/he just turned up while we were standing on the Duwamish Head seawall to get a photo of this great blue heron …
Then a gentleman unloading a Wiseman’s Appliance truck shouted something like “THERE’s your photo op!” – we turned, and the otter was suddenly on the sidewalk, galumphing over to slide down the seawall:
… and onto the beach. It was just about noon, so, we assume, lunch break time. PLEASE be careful when you drive Alki Avenue … the otters seem to be frequent commuters.
FIRST REPORT, 11:56 AM: Just forwarded to us:
Dear Roxhill Elementary School families:
It is with deeply mixed emotions that I am writing to let you know I have decided to accept the position of Executive Director of Schools for Seattle Public Schools’ Southwest Region. I will be replacing Aurora Lora, who has taken a job in Texas.
My years at Roxhill have been filled with incredible joy. Roxhill is a vibrant, positive school that celebrates our diverse community and is committed to every student’s success. The staff is truly the best group of educators with whom I have ever had the honor of working. I am proud and grateful to have been the principal of Roxhill. I look forward to watching the continued progress of our students and celebrating the many successes that I am confident lie ahead.
I am also very excited about this new opportunity to lead our principals and staff in service to families in the Southwest Region, which includes Roxhill. While I will miss the opportunity to interact with you on a daily basis, I will be in Roxhill on a regular basis with your new principal. As one of the six regional Executive Directors of Schools, I will support principals’ instructional leadership in order to increase student achievement and close opportunity gaps. This includes using data to monitor school progress, coordinating professional development, one-on-one coaching, principal evaluations and conducting frequent learning walks through school buildings.
Please be assured that my highest immediate priority in the next few weeks is to work with Roxhill staff and parents to select the next leader for our school. Please do not hesitate to contact me to share the qualities and characteristics you would like to see in your next principal. You can reach me at cddellino@seattleschools.org.
You will be able to meet your new principal at the Welcome Back BBQ on Thursday, Aug. 30 from 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. at Roxhill. Looking forward to seeing you all there!
Sincerely,
Carmela Dellino, Principal
Roxhill Elementary School
ADDED 1:03 PM: The district has since sent a news release announcing Dellino’s appointment, as well as an executive director for another region of the district, in a letter from new Superintendent José Banda – read it ahead:Read More
(2011 WSB photo looking southwest toward project site on Alaska’s south side, 42nd to California)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
With the remaining businesses on notice to clear out of the future Equity Residential two-building development site in the heart of The Junction by the end of this month, demolition could start days later.
We’ve been working for weeks to get an update directly from the site’s owner/developers, and finally have some new information.
(WSDOT photo of the new 99 bridge-in-progress, taken last month)
If you drive 99 from the West Seattle Bridge to downtown, you’ve noticed that the eastern elevated section of the highway, south of the remaining Alaskan Way Viaduct, is taking shape fast. Once it’s done, that new bridge will carry the northbound 99 traffic, while its semi-twin, which has carried both directions since last year, will be the southbound-only side. This morning, WSDOT announced that the new bridge will be done this fall, with the entire south end demolition/construction project complete “one year ahead of schedule and on budget.” Read on for the announcement:Read More
(Thanks to John Kincaid for sharing the photo – a sharp-shinned hawk seen in Fauntleroy Park)
Happy Tuesday! Some highlights for today/tonight:
COMMUNITY ORCHARD OF WEST SEATTLE: The Health and Harvest Tour/work party hours are now 5-7 pm every Tuesday, and you’re invited. The orchard is on the northeast side of the South Seattle Community College campus at 6000 16th SW.
DROP-IN E-BOOK CLINIC: Need help with downloading e-books and/or audiobooks? The Southwest Branch of the Seattle Public Library (35th/Henderson) invites you to stop by 6-7:30 pm tonight – any time during that window – for help.
MURRAY CSO MEETING: The community advisory group for the Lowman Beach sewer-overflow-control project will meet tonight, 6:30 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW). Agenda highlights are in the calendar listing.
EVENING BOOK GROUP: The High Point Branch of the Seattle Public Library hosts its evening book group at 6:30 pm tonight; this month’s book is “The Lost Painting” by Jonathan Harr.
WEST SEATTLE HI-YU CONCERT IN THE PARK: It might still be cloudy, but the forecast says it’ll be warm when the West Seattle Big Band takes the stage for the Hi-Yu Concert in the Park tonight on the Hiawatha Community Center/park’s east lawn. Note the time is different from previous years – 7:30 pm. Bring your own chair/blanket to sit on the grass. Admission free.
NIGHTLIFE: Tonight’s lineup includes the monthly Alauda belly-dancing showcase at Skylark Café and Club, 7:30 pm; Trivia That Rocks at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm; there’s also trivia at The Bridge, 8:30 pm; Shadowland hosts the weekly Starlight songwriters’ showcase, 9 pm.
More on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar!
WSB’s newest professional photojournalist contributor, Nick Adams, netted that image of people fishing during Monday’s sunset at Lincoln Park. Today’s forecast is a little murky – then again, so was Monday’s, and the sun triumphed anyway.
A couple post-West Seattle Summer Fest notes tonight:
The photo is from Prudential Northwest Realty‘s Don Bereiter, who explains the cans in their WSSF booth were part of a game that will help keep a lot of people from going hungry:
I just wanted to point out the HUGE success that Summer Fest was this year. We tried a new approach this year by involving as many kids that would participate. We set up some empty cans to be knocked down with foam rubber Prudential rocks. Each kid received a piece of licorice and we agreed to donate one can of food to the West Seattle Food Bank for each participant. We ended up with 756 kids (some adults, too)!
In lieu of physically donating canned food, we are going to write a check for $378 (756 divided by 2) to the food bank. This way they can use their buying power to purchase more than the 756 cans. My guess would be well over 2000.
Just wanted to share with the neighborhood the good news. I am sure the participants will be happy to hear how much good they did by playing!
We also received a note from James, who wanted to offer this public “thank you”:
I just wanted to thank the Good Samaritan that returned my 8-year-old daughter’s coin purse (Sunday) at the West Seattle Street Fair. My daughter was carrying around $40 in her purse for the fair. We didn’t realize it was lost until we were almost home. We rushed back to the fair, which was shutting down for the year. I backtracked our steps (to no avail). I then went to the event center’s lost and found, happily discovering someone turned it in with every cent accounted for. I am proud to be born and raised here in this community of West Seattle where great people reside!
The first wedding announcement we’ve ever been asked to publish – but hey, they’re news too! From the bride:
Jolene Humphrey and Sanjay Robert are happy to announce that they are now Mr. and Mrs. Sanjay Robert!
They exchanged vows on Saturday, July 14, 2012, in a small service at their church.
The happy couple are residents of West Seattle and attend church at Hope Lutheran.
You are likely to see them at Lincoln Park with the kids, Kelci, Zach, and Ravi – or walking together hand in hand around the city.
In case you haven’t seen it already in the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar – Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s brand-new Alex J. Brunett Gymnasium will host Hoopfest this weekend, and sign-ups are open now for boys and girls going into 3rd through 12th grades this fall. It’s a three-on-three basketball tournament this Saturday and Sunday, with these brackets:
3/4th grade Boys 3/4th grade Girls
5/6th grade Boys 5/6th grade Girls
7/8th grade Boys 7/8th grade Girls
9-12th grade Boys 9-12th grade Girls
The cost is $50 per team, with proceeds benefiting the OLG CYO sports program. Questions? E-mail olghoops@gmail.com – or if you just want to sign up, go here!
As we continue counting down to Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade, presented by American Legion Post 160, we have news of another honoree who you’ll see toward the start of the parade: 
Recent Seattle Lutheran High School retiree Shirley Vradenburgh is this year’s winner of the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community.
SLHS honored Shirley, a West Seattle native, just last month – as she retired – with its first-ever Ring of Honor Award. She spent 33 years as teacher and registrar/college counselor at Seattle Lutheran, after spending a few years away from West Seattle, while she studied and taught in the Midwest.
Her community service here has included myriad roles including youth ministry and volunteer work with local nonprofits. In particular, she is well-known at Providence Mount St. Vincent, and explains:
I began volunteering at the Mount in 1996 when my mother spent her last two years there. I went every evening to visit her and began helping at dinner time. After my mother died in 1998, I was back the next day, and I have continued most days since that time. I found the Mount to be a special place; the staff were very supportive, and I have enjoyed many friendships with residents and their families through the years. It is a delight to see the smiles on the faces of residents as I spend a few minutes visiting while I help serve their drinks and the evening meal. They enjoy hearing about my activities with the students or travels, etc. I also spend time visiting with other residents around the building. Spending time with teenagers and the elderly each day makes a great balance – both are amazing groups of people.
The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle celebrated Shirley as an Everyday Hero in 2008, and the Rotary Club of West Seattle honored her recently too. Now, Post 160 is honoring her with the award named after the man who led the Post as Commander when it was first presented, 1984, Orville Rummel. Last year, community advocate/volunteer Cindi Barker was the honoree. In 2010, your WSB co-publishers were honored to receive it; that year, we wrote about its history.
So come to the parade this Saturday and cheer for Shirley – the route is California SW from Lander to Edmunds, starting around 11 am, with the motorcycles as usual launching earlier, so don’t be last-minute if you’re watching from the start of the route!
This afternoon in Mount Vernon, the West Seattle Little League Seniors Division team (15/16-year-olds) shut out their first opponent in state play, 5-0. A game scheduled for 4 pm game today will determine who they play tomorrow (here’s the bracket). They won the state berth by winning the District 7 tournament earlier this month (as reported here). More to come!
3:28 PM: If you’ve noticed the police search in the Gatewood/Fauntleroy area – they are looking for someone who might have fired gunshots, no injuries but possible damage found to a fence. The suspect was last seen on SW Willow headed toward Fauntleroy (map) and southbound on Fauntleroy, so they are checking Lincoln Park, too. The suspect was described on the scanner as white, male, around 18, 5’6″, wearing a baseball cap, black shirt, jeans (but keep in mind, that was just a preliminary description).
3:35 PM UPDATE: People in the area tell us that police are searching with rifles out, which would be standard given the nature of the call. Scanner says they’ve heard from workers in the area who think it might have been firecrackers and not gunshots. Search continues.
4:07 PM UPDATE: No luck finding anyone.
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