West Seattle, Washington
07 Friday
The Alliance for Education has announced this year’s Philip P. Swain Excellence in Education Award winners. Of the six winners citywide, two are from West Seattle!
Huong Nguyen teaches math at West Seattle High School. From the nomination form sent by principal Ruth Medsker:
‘Ms. Huong’ works tirelessly to ensure that all students entrusted to her succeed. She teaches Intensified Algebra, which is our most supported extended block math class, Algebra I and Advanced Placement Calculus. Ms. Huong is blazing the trail at West Seattle High School for Standards Based Grading. She is currently in the process of developing performance rubrics to help students understand what their learning outcomes need to be. When students do not meet standard on a learning target, she provides additional support for the student to relearn the skill and opportunities to demonstrate mastery. An example of her relentless push to standard is a letter she is sending home to families this week. Each Algebra student who has a C or lower and a MAP score of 240 or less is getting a letter and a call inviting the student to after-school tutoring/support. Our data shows that these students are just under where they need to be pass the Algebra End of Course Exam.
Also, she “has invented a math tool to help students learn basic numeracy skills. The Numero Cube System helps students learn place value, base 10 number decomposition, Factoring, Multiplication/Division, among other things.”
From Denny International Middle School, meet Swain Award-winner Leticia Clausen, photographed with some of her students:
From Denny principal Jeff Clark‘s announcement:
It is a great pleasure to announce that Ms. Leticia Clausen is a winner of the 2012 Philip P. Swain Excellence in Education Award! It was an honor for me to nominate Ms. Clausen for this award for the following reasons:
When Denny became an international school, Ms. Clausen quickly volunteered to serve as our dual-language Spanish teacher. This program is intended to give our scholars, who are fortunate enough to already speak Spanish, a chance to learn social studies and language arts in Spanish at school. This approach will help our students to be bilingual and bi-literate, while mastering academic concepts in both languages.
Even though we were starting this program without curricular materials in Spanish, Ms. Clausen was excited to start right away (without a year for planning). She did this for one reason: she knew this was what was best for our kids and knew that they didn’t have any time to waste.
We are now in our third year of Spanish dual-language. Remarkably, Ms. Clausen teaches this block class at all three grade levels! The program is flourishing—academic achievement is rising—and our families are thrilled to have this opportunity!
The Swain Award description, as also shared by Denny’s principal: “The yearly award is given to Seattle Public Schools secondary teachers or counselors who exemplify the qualities and values that distinguished Mr. Swain’s years of community stewardship. Teachers or counselors who are nominated are staff who inspire a love of learning in students while helping them reach their highest academic potential.” All six citywide winners will be honored at the Alliance’s community breakfast March 29th, and each receives a $1,000 prize.
If you listen to over-the-air radio, you might have noticed this already – the “translator” signal for KPLU in West Seattle has moved. The station is sponsoring WSB this week to make sure the word gets out to everyone. Here’s their announcement:
KPLU’s long-time translator serving West Seattle listeners at 88.1 FM has moved its frequency to 92.1 FM.
The move was necessitated by a new station licensed to Ocean Park, Washington that signed on at 88.1 FM in December 2011. At that time, KPLU submitted a license application to the FCC to move its West Seattle signal to a new frequency, which was granted in February 2012.
Because of terrain and distance, some KPLU West Seattle listeners are able to hear the station at its main frequency of 88.5 FM. KPLU is advising listeners who have difficulty hearing the station at 92.1 FM to try listening at 88.5 FM, or online at www.kplu.org.
KPLU encourages listener feedback at 800-677-5758 or info@kplu.org.
(Photo courtesy Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering and Events)
Another West Seattle event to greet spring – tonight, as mentioned earlier, it’s Solstice Park sunset viewing; the equinox itself is late tonight, and then for tomorrow night, this has just been announced:
Please join us at The Hall at Fauntleroy for our first quarterly community Labyrinth Walk 7 to 9 PM on Tuesday March 20th as we welcome the Spring (Vernal) Equinox. The Labyrinth, The Hall at Fauntleroy’s newest addition, is an extraordinary tool for transformation. Using the principles of sacred geometry, and defined as a singular pathway that leads to the center and then back out again, retracing the same path, a Labyrinth can open us to change in body, mind and spirit. It provides a sacred space; inviting walkers to set aside the cares of the world and enter into deep reflection (to discover something about ourselves). The destination is not important – this is about the journey (life).
If you are going to tomorrow night’s Fauntleroy Community Association membership event/Food Fest/board election, this is just a room or two away – but you don’t have to be from Fauntleroy to attend. The Hall is in the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse at 9131 California SW>
(Photo copyright Christopher Boffoli)
A toast, if you will, to West Seattle’s Christopher Boffoli, who’s just found out he’s nominated for a national James Beard Foundation Award – Christopher explains the Beard Foundation honors are considered to be “the Academy Awards of Food.” (Here’s the full list of nominees – as far as we can tell, he’s the only one from West Seattle this year.) Christopher’s internationally featured series of photographs – known in various contexts as “Disparity” or “Big Appetites” – has brought him a nomination in the Journalism/Humor category, specifically as featured by The Kitchn. The awards will be announced May 4th in New York City, which is where Christopher has a solo show coming up at Winston Wachter Fine Art in June; that show, in turn, has an “NBC First Look” crew coming to his studio this week to shoot a feature story.
The photo is NOT the finished product – it’s a picture taken last week by SDOT‘s Marybeth Turner, while crews were working on the Duwamish Trail, used by bikes and pedestrians in the West Marginal Way SW vicinity. Today, she reports, “Our paving crews have finished repaving the Duwamish Trail along W Marginal Way SW for now. There is some finishing work that they will do when the conditions are drier.” (We published a heads-up about the work after getting an alert from bicyclist Dave – thanks again! – last week.)
Just four months till this year’s West Seattle Garden Tour on July 15th – and the poster-contest winner has been announced!
WSGT is pleased to announce the winning artist in our First Annual Poster Artwork Contest: Sheila Lengle of LengleArt with her entry “Ode to Picasso.” Sheila’s winning piece [above], along with over a dozen runner-up entries, will be on display at Windermere Realty in The Junction during the May 10, 2012 West Seattle Art Walk.
This year’s tour is Sunday, July 15, and showcases 9 fabulous local gardens. Our featured lecturer this year is West Seattle gardener and author Lorene Edwards Fornker, who was also a gardener on last year’s tour. Proceeds from the tour support our 2012 beneficiaries: The Bloedel Reserve, Neighborhood House YELS, Highline Botanical Garden, Kubota Garden, Barton Street Community Garden, Community Orchard of West Seattle, Seattle Chinese Garden and ArtsWest Theatre.
Sponsorship accounts for more than 50% of tour revenue and we are currently in the last few weeks of our sponsorship drive. We would like to encourage local businesses and individuals interested in sponsoring the WSGT and supporting our 2012 beneficiaries to become a 2012 sponsor. The sponsorship commitment deadline is April 1.
Photos and descriptions of this year’s gardens along with sponsorship information, lecture topic and beneficiary information are currently posted on our website westseattlegardentour.com.
Sheila’s artist statement for the contest included this: “I’ve been an artist since the first time I put crayon to paper, and have been lucky enough to have been in and out of a variety of creative businesses during my 64 years. At this state of my life I want to work hard, paint a lot and market my work so I can be an artist who makes a living. … I’m self-taught thus no rule guides me. I feel so free to create. I’ll paint whatever, whenever and with anything I want…rather like a spoiled child. I think that’s a passion. I’m thrilled to feel this way and want to for the rest of my life.”
P.S. As for the tour itself, ticket books will be $15 per person (children 12 and under are free), available in June, while ticket vouchers will be available online from brownpapertickets.com, starting next month.
Just got a heads-up about work that might cause some backups on southbound Highway 99 if you’re heading this way in the early afternoon: The steel plates at Holgate need to have a few things “tightened up,” so the right lane will be closed approximately noon-2 pm. We asked if those plates will ever go away, since they’ve been a source of concern for a while – they’re actually lids for “vaults,” but the closure for inspection and maintenance work NEXT WEEKEND may include replacement with new lids that “aren’t so bumpy.”
Spring arrives in just under 13 hours. Here’s hoping it behaves. Looking at the calendar for today/tonight:
‘LOW BRIDGE’ ALERT FOR LATE TONIGHT/EARLY TOMORROW: As part of ongoing construction work, access to the westbound “low bridge” will be blocked overnight tonight, as SDOT explains here – 10 pm to 5 am.
WEST SEATTLE COOKING CLUB: 3 pm, Beveridge Place Pub. This time around, the West Seattle Cooking Club meets at Beveridge Place Pub – with “mushrooms/fungus” as the theme.
GREET SPRING AND LEARN ABOUT THE EQUINOX: West Seattle’s own NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen has organized yet another sunset-watching event to mark the equinox (she does them for solstices too). You’re invited to a gathering at Solstice Park (uphill from the tennis courts at Fauntleroy/Webster), starting around 6:45 pm (a little while before sunset, which gives time for Alice’s always-fun presentations demonstrating what an equinox really is). Here are full details in our Sunday preview.
HEALTH CARE FORUM: 7 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle. Sustainable West Seattle‘s community forum looks at health care, under the title “One Community At A Time.” From their announcement:
Our health-care system is both more expensive and has lower quality than other industrialized countries. Many describe this as a sick care system because significant is not spent until after you get sick. Communities are now developing alternatives that cost less and move people toward whole health. By focusing on prevention and early intervention we can also drop the costs of health care. Our speaker is Dale Jarvis, a health-care consultant and West Seattleite who has worked at fixing the health-care system in 20 states since the federal health-care law passed in 2010. Dale will describe health-care reform ‘triples’ and ‘home runs’ that can fit Seattle’s neighborhoods. Join this discussion of a new health-care ecosystem for West Seattle.
MONDAY NIGHTLIFE: *Trivia with Tom Hutyler at Christo’s on Alki, 7 pm … At 9 pm at West 5 in The Junction, it’s another “Flat Earth Monday,” described as “featuring a line-up of some luminous Seattle talent spinning the rarest and fairest vinyl from deep within their respective LP collections. Rare soul, garage, dirty-funk, J Pop, jazz and a smattering of world-stage psychidelia will be spinning at the popular lounge in the heart of West Seattle.” Tonight’s DJ, West 5 co-owner Dean Overton aka “DJ Deanzig” … Karaoke with Kelli at Skylark Café and Club, 9 pm … Talarico’s has Karaoke @ 9:30 pm.
The chair of the City Council’s Transportation Committee joined West Seattle Greenways members for their conversation Sunday afternoon at Pearls on Delridge, as did greenways supporters from other neighborhoods including Beacon Hill and Phinney Ridge. Councilmember Tom Rasmussen – a West Seattle resident and bicyclist – encouraged the group to bring its ideas to the council, but stressed that coordination is vital – representatives from various neighborhoods will be most effective, he said, if they stress their common goals first, and individual neighborhood needs after that. He also acknowledged that the city budget remains a challenge, but clear priorities can help hurdle that. Rasmussen also discussed the Bicycle Master Plan update that the city is launching (an item related to it is on this afternoon’s council agenda, in fact), since creation of Greenways could figure into it. (What’s a greenway, you ask? North Delridge Neighborhood Council transportation chair Jake Vanderplas, a leader in the local effort, explains it on the NDNC website. As another local leader, Stu Hennessey, wrote in the announcement we published in January, West Seattle advocates are hoping to see greenways on 26th SW and 21st SW for starters.)
Winter officially ends when the spring equinox arrives at 10:14 pm tonight. But nobody told the weather it’s almost spring. A really cold night, following a rainy Sunday afternoon, has left some roads “slick,” as K describes the West Seattle Bridge as of moments ago. We’re keeping closer watch on the morning commute as a result; be careful!
8:50 AM UPDATE: Via Twitter, SDOT reports a stalled car on the eastbound bridge. No word on exactly where, but the traffic camera view (refresh for the newest image) shows the backup.
Southbound 35th SW was blocked for a while at Cloverdale late tonight because of the latest case of a moving vehicle hitting a parked vehicle. Like the crash we covered two weeks ago and two blocks away, no injuries reported this time around – the Fire Department wasn’t even summoned. But two patrol cars and electronic “flares” were being used to block off the scene till it could be cleaned up.
(Photos and video by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Against a heartbreakingly beautiful sunset – half the sky and water shimmering pink, the other half under dark storm clouds – more than 75 people gathered as a tribute to murder victim Greggette Guy, and a declaration that they would not be frightened away from one of West Seattle’s most beautiful places.
Seattle Police detectives were there too, low-key, in plainclothes, talking to people away from the crowd, still seeking anyone who might have seen something a week ago tonight.
And then there was someone no one expected – interrupting the moment of silence after participants had walked the length of Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook and back, identifying himself as Ms. Guy’s father Gregg Smith:
The safety concerns he voiced were top of mind for those who organized tonight’s walk and vigil on just hours’ notice, as well as those who came to join in:
Organizers circulated a sign-up sheet so that residents could find people to walk with in the days and weeks ahead, so no one would have to take a risk alone. Here’s what organizers, starting with nearby resident Judy Bentley, told participants; our video continues for 3 minutes as the walk begins:
Police have said they believe that Ms. Guy came to the Beach Drive shore a week ago for a walk, perhaps that same stretch of shore. Last Monday morning, a Beach Drive resident saw her body in the water near Harbor West Condos, the complex built in pilings over the water, and called 911. With boats and divers, public-safety crews brought it to shore (WSB coverage here); within hours, they described the death as “suspicious,” but it was not publicly declared a case of murder until last Thursday (WSB coverage here).
As evidenced by their presence tonight – and the flyers on every utility pole – police remain eager to hear anything you think might be relevant to the case. Here’s a closer look, if you haven’t seen the flyers in person:
Though not much has been said about Ms. Guy, 51, online research indicates she had been married for 30 years, with a 21-year-old daughter, and had long been employed by a South King County aviation-industry firm as a credit manager.
Two of the events we covered on Saturday had a fortuitous meeting of the minds afterward .. thanks to Martha for the followup photo and report:
After its book sale yesterday, Sanislo Elementary generously donated its leftover books to the West Seattle Rotary Club’s “Books for the World” book drive. Photo is of Sanislo and Rotary volunteers. Both the sale and the book drive were successful thanks to the help of all the donors, shoppers, and volunteers (and WSB coverage)!
Martha Sidlo
West Seattle Rotary
If you haven’t caught up with yesterday – our report on the Rotary book drive was here, and the Sanislo sale here.
(Photo by Bruno Cross)
West Seattle had a big presence in the downtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday. Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark forwarded the photo and reports:
I am pleased to share that the Denny International Middle School marching band did a terrific job marching in the St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday. The crowd was very enthusiastic and supportive of our kids—it was great and we are proud of them!
Adjoining Chief Sealth International High School‘s band participated too, and can be seen in two photos in the Seattle Times (WSB partner) photo gallery, which features one more West Seattleite – Seafair Clown “Officer Lumpy,” aka Chris Henggeler.
Last day for Girl Scout Cookie sales in West Seattle (and environs)! Ava and Sophie were at the Junction QFC earlier, photographed by Kristiana from WEdesign (WSB sponsor). Meantime, free face-painting just wrapped up as part of the Luna Park Café 23rd-anniversary celebration, and Frank shared this photo:
(Thanks for the photos! Here’s how to share yours, any time.)
(WSB photo from 2011 Basketball/Life Skills Camp @ Sealth)
Summer vacation is three months away – but those months will go fast, and families are making plans now (if they haven’t already!). So in that spirit, we’re sharing information today about the start of registration for the popular Sealth Basketball and Life Skills Camp. From Chief Sealth International High School‘s head basketball coach Colin Slingsby:
We are excited to host our 15th annual summer of Sealth Basketball and Life Skills camp at Chief Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School this summer. Last year, we hosted more than 300 campers in our multiple sessions. The emphasis of our program is to teach the fundamentals of the game in part of a fun and competitive basketball experience, but also to emphasize the Life Skills necessary to be successful in school and life, both intellectually, and socially. The camp is run by the coaching staff at Sealth with the help of many high school and college students who are put through a lengthy mentorship training in order to be prepared to work with our many campers. While we enjoy teaching the game of basketball and providing a positive week on the court, we pride ourselves on our Life Skills curriculum which includes a classroom session daily, emphasizing the values of our program. Camp runs from 9am-4pm each day, and each camper will receive and camp t-shirt and Camper Handbook which will include hand-outs and topics from our Life Skills classroom sessions. Brochure with further information and registration forms are available on the Chief Sealth International High School website (here’s the link). Contact Coach Colin Slingsby at caslingsby@seattleschools.org with any questions about the program.
(March 2011 WSB photo)
It happens four times a year and it wouldn’t be the same without NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen … an equinox/solstice sunset watch. The spring equinox is late tomorrow night, so Alice is inviting everyone to watch tomorrow’s sunset at Solstice Park (uphill from the tennis courts at Fauntleroy/Webster; here’s a map):
It’s time for the 12th seasonal sunset watch (We’re at 3 years of these, folks)!!
When: March 19, 2011 at 7:05 pm (so come at 6:45 pm)
Actual sunset is supposed to be at 7:22, but at the summer solstice we noticed that the Sun set about 10 minutes earlier than the USNO says it does, so I’ve moved the time of our sunset watch up so we don’t miss it. I added another 5 minutes for the tall trees of Lincoln Park blocking our view. In Autumn the timing seemed to line up correctly – what will it do this time?
Where: Solstice Park – all the way up the hill from the tennis courts (or, if you’re not in Seattle, wherever you have a view of the western horizon!)
Who: Everyone welcome, as usual.
Come watch the spring equinox sunset at Solstice Park in West Seattle on Monday the 19th. We’ll see if the sunset lines up with the placed marker (it did for summer, but we weren’t sure in autumn or winter). I’ll be there even if it is cloudy because sometimes the Sun peeks through just as it begins to set, but if it is driving rain or sleet I’m staying home with some hot tea!
If you’re interested – here’s the timing of various celestial events from Seattle, courtesy of the U.S. Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department:
Three days after police announced that 51-year-old Greggette Guy had been murdered (WSB coverage here), likely hours before her body was discovered in the water off north Beach Drive, neighbors are planning a vigil and walk. Just received from Judy Bentley:
Neighbors of Emma Schmitz Park and Me-Kwa-Mooks Park will gather at 7 p.m. tonight, Sunday, March 18, for a walk and vigil to remember Greggette Guy and to claim the park as a safe public space. Please join us at the north end of the park, on the waterfront side of Beach Drive at 7 p.m. Bring flashlights and candles although it will still be light at the beginning of the walk. We’ll walk the length of the park together. We’ll anyone who needs company walking home. Please join us.
We have been following up with police, but so far they have no new information to report, and continue to request any and all tips that might help them solve the mystery of who killed Ms. Guy, who is believed to have come to the area for a waterfront walk last Sunday evening. On Thursday, they published this photo of her car, found Monday at Emma Schmitz Overlook:
That’s close to where the vigil/walk will start tonight (here’s a map). In a report published Saturday, Beach Drive Blog shows why there have long been concerns in the area.
(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
A sad procession on Alki less than an hour ago – but one that might ultimately yield some knowledge for the future: A dead harbor porpoise was taken away by biologist Dyanna Lambourn from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Mammal Investigations unit and biologist/stranding coordinator Jessie Huggins from Cascadia Research Collective. Also on hand at the beach this morning, Seal Sitters first responder Robin Lindsey, who got word of the porpoise’s death at mid-afternoon Saturday (the organization is part of a stranding network for all marine mammals, not just seals), and Seal Sitters volunteers David and Eilene Hutchinson. So far we know the porpoise was an adult female, but the cause of her death was not obvious and will require further investigation.
As the biologists (in the photo with camera-wielding Robin) explained to curious passersby, harbor porpoises are not rare and not endangered (read more about them here), but the biologists say they seldom wash up like this – most often, they die at sea and “just disappear.” On the Seal Sitters’ “blubberblog” site, Robin tells the story of the elaborate operation carried out last night to secure the porpoise until it could be picked up this morning; as she writes, it died further east along the Alki shore, and was moved to the spot where we photographed her and the biologists this morning (near the 53rd Avenue Pump Station section of beach). The porpoise is now being taken to a facility in the South Sound.
3:47 PM UPDATE: Robin has updated her report, but the necropsy results aren’t in yet – look for another update (there and here) when they are.
11:03 PM UPDATE: Robin at Seal Sitters has updated her report again with those results. Biologists say the porpoise had a serious lung infection. Full details added at the bottom of her story.
At left, the first trillium photographer Karen (“Old Desolate” on Flickr) has seen this year, photographed at North Delridge’s Greg Davis Park and shared via the WSB Flickr group pool. Now, the calendar highlights for today:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, 44th and Alaska as always.
GUIDED BIRD WALK: Deborah Dowd leads a free, guided bird walk at Alki, leaving from the Alki Bathhouse and walking around to Richey Viewpoint. Meet at 11 am. All levels of interest invited; sponsored by Seattle Audubon Society. Full details here.
‘FLASH SALE’ AT CLICK! From longtime WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits in The Junction: One-day “flash” sale at Click!: 15% off everything in the store (except consigned artwork). Open 11 am – 5 pm.
WORK PARTY AT SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN: From the announcement: “Calling all garden enthusiasts! Please join us for a work party from 12 to 2 pm at the Seattle Chinese Garden. We will be weeding, cleaning up and getting the Garden ready for spring! Bring gloves, hand tools and something to keep you hydrated! For questions/information, e-mail Amy Converse at gardenmanager@seattlechinesegarden.org or call 206-934-5219. (The garden’s on the north end of the South Seattle Community College campus, 6000 16th SW.)
WEST SEATTLE HI-YU SPRING TEA/AUCTION: At The Hall at Fauntleroy, 2 pm, including the coronation of this year’s Senior Court Queen, Kayli Schulz.
LOCAL COMPOSERS’ WORK AT BENAROYA: At 2 pm today, works by two West Seattle composers — Eric Goetz and Tim Huling — will be performed live at a world-premiere concert at Benaroya Hall, “Symphonic Stories,” conducted by Grammy award winner David Sabee. From the original announcement: “Goetz’s musical story focuses on the Dragonriders of Pern, a science fiction series by author Anne McCaffrey that he grew up reading, while Huling’s composition is a tone poem about the four seasons as told through the Greek myth of Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest, and her daughter Persephone.” More info, including a ticket link, here.
INTERESTED IN GREENWAYS? Next West Seattle Greenways meeting, 3 pm at Pearls Coffee and Tea on Delridge. More info here.
LUNA PARK CAFE ANNIVERSARY: Free face-painting for kids on the café’s 23rd anniversary, 3-6 pm. Here’s a preview.
LIVE MUSIC AND ART AT ALKI ARTS: Alki Arts presents Roy Kauffman‘s photography, while he plays acoustic music. Full details on the Facebook event page. 6-9 pm, 2820 Alki SW.
DEADLINE FOR NAMING THE NEXT WEST SEATTLE/WHITE CENTER CHARITY BEER: Here’s the original story. E-mail entries to feedbacklounge@gmail.com. Full rules etc. can be seen here.
Family and friends will gather Tuesday to remember longtime West Seattleite John W. Nitkey. From his son Larry:
At the age of 91 on March 15, 2012, surrounded with the love and care of his family, John peacefully passed away.
He was born in Wallace, ID in 1921 and raised on a farm in Harrison, ID. His family lived in a log cabin his father built from trees felled on the farm. John was graduated from Gonzaga University with a degree in Business and Accounting. It was in Spokane where John met the love of his life, Frances Fagan, a nursing student from Sacred Heart (Spokane). After John’s graduation, he and Frances were married, and shortly thereafter in 1943 he shipped off to Army Basic Training in service to his country. He qualified as a Marksman with the M-1 rifle and received the American Theater Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal, and European African Middle Eastern Service Medal. After WW II ended, John was stationed at Fort Lewis. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1946. He and his young bride then decided to make their home on Alki Avenue in West Seattle.
After being honorably discharged from the Army, John began work for a nationally recognized accounting firm, but soon opened his own accounting office in White Center above the Roller Rink. It was through that business that he met his lifelong friend, mentor, and fellow Holy Family (Seattle) parishioner AJ, a real estate developer. John first did accounting work for AJ and then entered the building business himself. A recent card from AJ touched on their 60-year-long and devoted deep friendship for each other by stating, “the teacher learned from the student.”
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The journey into homelessness is one that most of us can’t imagine taking. Insecurity, no basic services, no resources, no food, no promises — homelessness is comprised of a laundry list of what there isn’t enough of.
West Seattleites have become even more acutely aware of this since the homeless encampment that calls itself Nickelsville moved back to this area. Through West Seattleites working with Nickelsville – including many volunteers who know each other through the WSB Forums – this group of homeless individuals now has faces and names; they are our neighbors.
One person who has been living at Nickelsville has been our neighbor for years, even before he moved into the encampment. Mike Stahl has been a West Seattle resident his entire life: many locals know him from his work as a cashier at McLendon Hardware and from his WSB comments and Forum posts using the screen name “miws.”
Mike was a Morgan Junction resident until May of 2011, when he became a Nickelsville resident. WSB readers have been following Mike’s journey into homelessness beginning with Mike’s move into Nickelsville, chronicled in a story here last May.
Now, we’re re-visiting Mike to get more of his story, and to share his progress through this phase of his life – with help from friends, and more on the way.
One more photo from this morning’s snow – Mike Gerber shares what he describes as “a photo of snow falling on the last remains of the oldest fruit orchard in Seattle. The building in the foreground is the original farmhouse, built in the 1880s, and stands as a reminder of the thousands of Eastern European immigrants that tended these vast orchards that once stretched from Pigeon Point all the way past Burien.
The site is on Puget Ridge, as described on a website Mike has for a house he’s selling nearby.
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