One month after the passing of longtime West Seattleite and music-scene champion Susie Tennant, KEXP Radio plans a daylong tribute tomorrow. Here’s how KEXP’s website describes the plan for Susie Tennant Day, starting at 5 am Friday:

Join us Friday, February 23rd on KEXP as we celebrate the life of one of Seattle’s unsung heroes, the late Susie Tennant, who as a Promotions Director for Sub Pop and numerous other labels championed artists as varied as Nirvana, Beck, Hole, Mother Love Bone, Sebadoh, Sonic Youth, Supersuckers, Teenage Fanclub, Veruca Salt, and more. It will be a day filled with special guests and incredible music for all who loved her or were touched by the artists she helped bring into our lives.

KEXP is at 90.3 FM and online here.

ADDED: Thanks to Kerry for sending this – a proclamation of Friday as “Susie Tennant Day” in King County:

For many, Valentine’s Day is a chance to show your love to someone special. For West Seattle Girl Scout Troop 41843, their “someone special” was the entire community. Christine sent us this report on what they did for Valentine’s Day this past week:

Girl Scout Troop 41843 was out sharing some LOVE with our community. It was really sweet to see the smiles these scouts put on lots of faces with their Valentine’s. Several people told us that we made their day. The Troop started up at Dakota Place Park and walked down through the Junction passing out homemade cards, lollipops, smiles, and lots of love to those they passed on their way to The Great American Diner to end their mission with a delicious cup of hot cocoa.

P.S. In case you were wondering (we were, so we checked), this year’s cookie booths start in two weeks.

It’s a mandatory question when you interview someone who’s reached a milestone like their 100th birthday – any secret to your long life?

Gwen Bell thinks that in her case, maybe it’s “because I’ve lived a pleasant life.”

Gwen was two days short of 100 when we talked with her on Saturday at her home east of Fairmount Park. But the celebrating already had begun.

We recorded our chat on video – it’s in two parts below. In the first, Gwen – NOT short for Gwendolyn, by the way (she says her parents decided to be efficient) – talks about her travels and her gardening, and you might even hear a few longevity tips after all.

In the second part, we talk about her jobs and her life in West Seattle – where she lived in Gatewood before she and her late husband (married 66 years, with a wedding three weeks before World War II ended) moved to a neighborhood that felt “rural” when she arrived:

As she told us toward the end of our chat, Gwen’s birthday plans included a celebratory dinner and a “Happy Birthday” serenade from her neighbors. One of those neighbors, in fact, is the person who tipped us to Gwen’s milestone birthday (thank you, Ryan!).

(WSB photo)

Four days after 15-year-old Mobarak Adam died of a gunshot wound at Southwest Pool/Teen Life Center, no further information has emerged about the circumstances. But messages of community support abound outside the center, and the PTSA at <strong>Chief Sealth International High School – where he was a student – has a message too:

(Photo courtesy CSIHS PTSA)

As you may have heard, our community suffered an unimaginable loss when a Chief Sealth student, who was also a former Denny student, tragically lost his life near campus. The school teachers and staff, students, and entire extended Chief Sealth and Denny community are still reeling from this event, and have deeply appreciated the support from West Seattle and beyond.

Some kind folks hung signs on the football field fence across from the school to share their love and encouragement, and it has made a real impact in helping us to feel both empathy for our grief and love for our student during this truly difficult time. Students, friends, and family have also started a memorial in front of the community center.

If additional members of the community are moved to do so, we’d like to invite you to hang signs, notes, or other remembrances on the fence across from the school. Every word and gesture helps our students, faculty, staff, and parents feel supported, and the fence is something we see every day.

On Friday, Chief Sealth Principal Morales sent an update to all Chief Sealth families emphasizing help being made available within the school and throughout the community. You can learn more here.

Thank you again to everyone who has reached out. Our hearts go out to our student’s family and friends as we all work together to grieve and heal. He was so loved, and will be forever missed.

– Chief Sealth International High School PTSA

MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: Her family confirms she’s been found.

Earlier:

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David sent this as an open thank-you letter for Thursday evening help:

At around 5 pm, my old 1984 gray Chevy Cavalier station wagon’s transmission finally died while waiting to make a left-hand turn on 35th Avenue SW and SW Thistle westbound with a load of groceries from the White Center Safeway.

I’d like to publicly thank the unknown young lady and unknown female driver of a big white pickup truck who came to my assistance and gave me a “heavenly shove” out of the left-turn lane onto westbound SW Thistle so I could safely wait for a tow to my residence in Upper Gatewood.

1:47 PM: The Mount tells us John has been found, safe, and is back home.

Earlier:Read More

The photo and report are from West Seattle VFW Post 2713 commander Steve Strand:

The West Seattle VFW held their annual holiday celebration. The veterans and community came together to celebrate our student essay contestants on their patriotic themes. Bill Dwyer is the chairman of the student essays and coordinates with our local schools for entries. Chief Sealth International High School and Our Lady of Guadalupe were especially well-represented this year.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars handed out certificates and cash prizes to the winners. The delicious turkey, stuffing, and fixin’s were catered by West Seattle‘s very own Jack Miller and the Husky Deli.

Essay contest:

James McDonald
High School Teacher coordinator

Juliana Agudelo Ariza
Voice of Democracy winner

Harper Gilbert
1st place Patriots Pen

Mimi Katz
2nd place Patriots Pen

Evelyn Jane Satwicz
3rd place Patriots Pen

Alex Tsada
1st place Youth Essay

Miguel Santos
2nd place Youth Essay

Fiona Howell
3rd place Youth Essay

Lila Dacanay
3rd grade winner

Zykx Sotero
Honorable mention

10:24 AM: Reported by Rose:

Sad to say, a neighbor who has dementia is missing.

Jim left Pigeon Point and typically walks to the Senior Center in the Junction. But he did not get there.

He is wearing a blue jacket and jeans.

He is hard of hearing.

Rose says Jim was last seen last night. The report number is 23-271803. (Call 911 and refer to that SPD case number if you see him.)

ADDED 12:38 PM: More info, from SPD: Jim is 86, 5’10”, 124 lbs, gray hair, glasses, blue ski jacket, blue or black jeans. “Last seen on 9-18-23 between 6:30-7:00 p.m. in the 3600 block 22nd Ave SW.”

The West Seattle Church of the Nazarene in Morgan Junction is hoping to get opinions from families with young kids but says the topic is “not about religion.” Here’s the message they asked us to share:

Are you a parent in our community with young kids? We want to hear from you!

A small group from our church is working on a neighborhood improvement project, and we need your input. We’re applying for a grant to make our community more family-friendly, and we believe your perspective as a parent is crucial.

We’d love to chat with you for about 30 minutes over a cup of coffee (our treat!) to discuss what it’s like to be a parent, the challenges you face, and what improvements you’d like to see in our neighborhood. This interview is not about religion; it’s about understanding your experiences as a parent.

Our focus is intentionally a bit vague. Our hope is that these conversations with the community will guide us in identifying the best ways we can positively impact the West Seattle community.

We are open to new possibilities, but current areas that could benefit from these conversations include Play Space (an indoor play area for children and their caregivers), a future coffee shop within the church building, Maarten Park (a green space being developed for neighborhood use), Movies in the Park, Open Mic Nights, and a Community Vegetable Garden.

Your participation is confidential, and any information shared will only be used for our grant application. If you’re interested, please email us with your availability. Let’s work together to create a better place for families to thrive! Thank you for being a part of our community’s growth!

You can contact associate minister Sarah Emerson; her contact info is here.

Scouts from West Seattle traveled to Florida for summer adventures that included important lessons. Jay Brock sent the photos and report:

What an exciting and adventurous summer for West Seattle Crew 282 with members from Troop 282 (Boys), Troop 8282 (Girls), Troop 284(Boys) and Troop 22 (Girls – San Francisco) at Sea Base Florida! Here’s a closer look at their remarkable achievements:

Advanced Open Water Course: Completing the Advanced Open Water course is a significant accomplishment. It suggests that the members of both troops are skilled and experienced in scuba diving, having undertaken more than 10 dives in the Florida Keys, including night dives. These experiences allowed them to explore the mesmerizing underwater world and encounter a variety of marine life.

Scouting Centers of Excellence in Nature and Environment (SCENE) Project Award: Earning the SCENE project award demonstrates their commitment to environmental stewardship and nature preservation. It signifies that they have not only enjoyed the natural world but also actively worked to protect and conserve it.

PADI Project Aware Coral Reef Conservation Project: Participating in a PADI Project Aware Coral Reef Conservation project in Florida is an admirable contribution to marine conservation. Coral reefs are vital ecosystems that require protection, and the effort put into this project will help restore and maintain the health of these reefs.

This summer adventure was not only thrilling but also educational and environmentally responsible. It’s evident that the scouts are dedicated to both adventure and making a positive impact on the environment. This experience will likely leave a lasting impression on all the participants and inspire a sense of responsibility towards preserving our natural world.

Two months ago, West Seattleite James Boutin invited community members to join him for a “civic conversation” about artificial intelligence (AI), which has seemingly suddenly burst into the spotlight for so many industries and other facets of life. He’s doing it again tomorrow, so if you’re interested in talking about AI, join him at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) 5-7 pm tomorrow (Wednesday, August 23). He explains, “Advances in artificial intelligence technology are occurring at lightning speed – much faster than the general public can keep up with. … I believe civic conversations about AI can help us practice democracy, build community, and improve our understanding and humane use of AI.” You can register to save a spot, free, by going here.

THURSDAY EVENING UPDATE: The missing teen mentioned here yesterday has been found safe.

Earlier:Read More

This year’s Alki Beach Pride is set for August 20th, but a big event in preparation for ABP is happening next Saturday. Here’s the announcement sent to us to share with you

Seattle PrideFest has shared their gigantic 130 ft by 70 ft Pride flag to be unfurled and held by 40+ LGBTQ volunteers on Alki Beach as a celebration of Alki Beach Pride, West Seattle’s biggest Pride event happening, later in August (Sunday, August 20th). Here is a video of the flag in Yakima so you can see how big it is!

This gigantic Pride flag has been used at Seattle’s Pride celebrations and has traveled to many Pride events throughout the state of Washington, including the Tri-Cities and Spokane, which were its most recent stops. This will be the first time the flag will be in West Seattle!

We’re looking for LGBTQ-identifying West Seattle residents of all ages to come and help us out! Meet at Alki Playground/Whale Tail Park at 10:30 am Saturday for a practice run and photo ops. Then we’ll fold it up and take it over to the beach for the ceremony. There will be drone footage and photos taken with the Seattle skyline in the background for this historic event.

-Saturday, August 5th at 10:30 am for practice at Alki Playground (59th/Lander)
-11 am to 12 pm for the ceremony on Alki Beach
-40+ volunteers needed that are LGBTQ+
-Post-ceremony celebration will be held at Arthur’s restaurant 1 pm to 3 pm
-Allies are totally welcome to come and celebrate!

There’s no need to sign up, just show up!

The August 20th Alki Beach Pride celebration includes a street party and outdoor movie.

Back in mid-May, we published Shelby‘s photos and story about a little lost stuffed penguin that turned up in Metropolitan Market in Admiral. The ultimate hope was that somebody in Carrot‘s human family would hear about the penguin’s whereabouts and come rescue it. Shelby says that didn’t happen – but as of this week, Carrot has found a new home:

As promised, here is an update on Carrot. He joined his foster family (this week) and it is going well. This is Carrot and his new brother, Ice Cream, hanging out. Ice Cream had been staying with us so that I could perform some minor surgery to repair a hole, so he was able to tell Carrot all about D, who is 9 and very kind-hearted, and the rest of the family. Carrot really wanted to be with a child again, and I think he looks pretty happy now. He’s getting lots of hugs and snuggles and has been learning to play Kirby on the Switch. Life does not always take you where you wanted to go, but sometimes the new place is pretty good, too, and you can be loved and find happiness again. Thank you to everyone in the WSB-sphere for your good wishes!