West Seattle, Washington
14 Thursday
After teaching at Schmitz Park Elementary for 22 years, Kiki Watson is retiring. The school community wasn’t about to let her go without a celebration, so she was in the spotlight this afternoon. In our photo, she’s holding her big retirement gift: Custom glass the PTA purchased from local artist Bradly Burzynski (a former Schmitz Park dad)! She also received the gift of warm words from families of students and colleagues past and present.
As reported here last month, there’s a youth sport here in West Seattle that hasn’t gotten as much buzz as field sports like soccer and baseball, but has athletes achieving big things: Riflery. Tonight, we have an update from coach Joe Matter on a team that’s just gotten word of major national success, and will be off to a championship event later this month:
The West Seattle Thunderbirds have had a busy junior season. These four girls: 9th Graders Lily Voynick, Corinne Blair, Juniors Emma Carey and Lauren Phillips, are one of only a few all girl teams competing nationally.
These girls won the NRA National Junior Sectional – Indoor Conventional Position Smallbore Rifle team title, shooting an 1573/1600. Lily Voynick placed 2nd with a 398/400. They are also awaiting confirmation of breaking the National Women’s Team record for metallic sights, last set in 1969.
They further went on to win their age group, Intermediate Junior, and finish 4th overall in the NRA National Junior Sectional – Precision Air Rifle Position team competition. Lily Voynick finished 11th in the Intermediate Junior Division, shooting a 581/600.
And finally, they took 2nd in the Intermediate Junior division of the NRA National Junior Sectional – Indoor Metric Position Smallbore Rifle, shooting a 2203/2400. Lauren Phillips led the team with a 566/600 and finished 6th in the Intermediate Junior division and 15th overall. They are also awaiting confirmation of 2 more National records: The Intermediate Junior Team Record and the Women’s Team Record in this event.
The team is heading south to Anniston, AL to compete in the NRA Jr. 3P Air Gun Championships and the CMP 3P Air Rifle Championships at the end of June.
One year ago this week, Steve John and family in West Seattle raised money to help his aunt and uncle who were affected by the May 22, 2011, tornado that killed more than 150 people and destroyed thousands of homes in Joplin, Missouri; two of Steve’s neighbors organized a benefit garage sale, and many friends and neighbors donated items to sell. This week, Steve e-mailed WSB to say he wanted to publicly thank everyone again: “I’ll never be able to repay everyone, both here and at my place of work, who pitched to help far away strangers in their time of need” – and to share then-and-now photos of his relatives’ neighborhood. Above, their house post-tornado; ahead, their house now, plus the then-and-now views of their neighborhood:Read More
It’s graduation season, which means hundreds more West Seattleites are headed for college. If there’s one in your house – 
you might consider packing them off with a copy of Gatewood resident Ellen Bremen‘s new book. It’s called “Say This, NOT That to Your Professor: 36 Talking Tips for College Success,” published by NorLights Press and released nationwide. Ellen is a professor herself – tenured Communication Studies faculty at Highline Community College – so she should know. She writes online, too, as The Chatty Professor. She says her book breaks new ground:
This book is a first in the college success genre to a) tackle the student-professor dynamic (if you can believe that); b) give students the exact appropriate, professional words to say to deal with challenging, but common everyday classroom issues, such as absences, late work, grades, boring classes; and c) lift the veil on college policy in a conversational way that takes students insight the faculty mind, empowering them to feel informed when tackling tough issues or standing up for themselves with professors.
But don’t take her word for it. She’s linked to some reviews, too. You can of course buy the book online.
A productive morning around West Seattle so far – here’s just a few reasons why:
Thanks to Admiral Neighborhood Association vice president Karl de Jong for the photo of ANA president Katy Walum and children Olivia and Henry at this morning’s Adopt-A-Street cleanup (as previewed here). They were among the volunteers who spent three hours out cleaning up Admiral District streets – just one of ANA’s community-enhancing activities; if you live in the area, check out their next monthly meeting, this Tuesday, June 12, 7 pm, at Admiral Congregational Church (California/Hill).
Not far away, at Alki Bathhouse:
Thanks to Anita Lavine for sharing that photo from the Junior Carpenters’ Workshop presented by Niederberger Contracting this morning. Anita says the kids built birdhouses for chickadees to nest in! Anita explains, “The guys are doing it as a way to say ‘thank you’ to the supportive community here in the neighborhood, and provide all the materials and instruction free of charge.”
In February 2011, much concern was expressed when KUOW reported on the Beloved Mexico food truck that has been a fixture next to West Seattle Produce, saying its owner Christian Guerrero had lost his day job, and the truck was struggling. Reporter Deborah Wang e-mailed us to let us know she followed up, and the story is airing on their station today – but you can listen to/read it here now. Things, she reports, are looking up.
While we have been publishing obituaries on WSB for a while, this is a first – a request to publish a tribute on the anniversary of someone’s passing. It is also shared as a message of gratitude to the community, so here’s what Barb Fuda‘s widower Bob and his family want to say:
In Memory of Barb Fuda
Today marks the one-year Anniversary of the passing of my wife Barb. It’s hard to believe she has been gone a whole year. She is truly missed by all who knew her and loved her so much, but we all
know she is in a better place knowing all the pain she was in during her final days.
My family and I would like to take a moment to say Thank You for all your kind words and all the love, support and prayers that have been given to us over the last year. It lifts our hearts whenever we see Barb’s Bench at Safeway or the Lafayette playground because we know her spirit lives on.
Our love and thanks goes out to you all,
Bob, Melissa, Tim, Whitney, Luke, Little Conner, and the rest of my family
The little photo shows little Conner on “Barb’s bench,” which is inside the new Admiral Safeway, as shown in our coverage from its opening day last August. That was two months after Ms. Fuda’s life was cut short by cancer; she had worked at the old Admiral Safeway for more than 40 years.
Big event at Pathfinder K-8 this morning – PE teacher Lou Cutler‘s annual run to raise money for Make-A-Wish, for which he’s been volunteering for 16 years. Every year for 8 years, he’s been doing this to mark his birthday, running one lap for each year he’s been on the planet – 61 of them, this time around. The money goes to help Make-A-Wish make life-threateningly ill children’s wishes come true; last year, we interviewed Lou a few days before his run, and if you could hear him talk about some of the “wishes” he’s been involved in fulfilling … you’d want to be on the sidelines cheering him on today. Or maybe even running with him, as many of the Pathfinder students and staff will do during the course of the morning, once he gets going around 8:45 am. At the very least, you can donate to help him reach his goal – just go here. (WSB photo from June 2011)
Tomorrow (Monday, June 4) is the last day for teens to apply for the RecTech summer Youth Media Internship program — you’ll find forms and info here. The program is increasingly more prestigious and accomplished, as some of its current and past members have just received major honors – adviser Leslie Howle shares the story (and photo!):
On Friday, May 11, eight high school students who participated in the RecTech Youth Media “24-Hour Film Challenge” at Delridge Community Center attended a Gala Awards Presentation event at the Museum of History and History, better known as MOHAI. Three of our film teams walked away with honors.
“History Is… Repetition,” created by Bryan Shickley, Thien Vo, and Liban Mohamud won the MOHAI History Award. Film makers Bryan and Liban were winter quarter students at the RecTech Youth Media Interns program located at Delridge Community Center. Thien is a current RecTech Youth Media intern who has been working with us since the beginning of this year. All three students signed on for the Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon 24-hour film challenge this spring and their team received the $1000 MOHAI History Award, which they split three ways.
Bryan Shickley is 16 and attends Big Picture High School. Liban Mohamud is 14 and attends Chief Sealth International High School. Thien Vo is 16 and attends Evergreen High School’s Technology, Engineering & Communications School. (They’re in the photo above.)
“History Is…Invention” took the Best Youth Group Project award, and Samira Hussein and Hibo Mohamad received a $500 prize which they split two ways. Samira has been working with the RecTech Youth Media program since January 2012. She is 17 years old and attends Chief Sealth International High School. Hibo Mohamed, a 17 year old student at West Seattle High School, was a first time RecTech Internship participant with the 24 hour film challenge.
“History Is…Basketball”, by Issa Mohamed, Evan Williams, and Sterling Espinoza, received an Honorable Mention. Issa is a 15 year old student at West Seattle High School. Evan Williams joined the Youth Media Interns for the first time to participate in the 24 Film Challenge. He is a student at Franklin High School. Sterling Espinoza is a 16 year old high school junior who has been with the RecTech Youth Media Internship for one year.
All of our winning interns came away with a great “swag bag” that included a SIFF short film festival weekend pass and a MOAHI membership. Congratulations to our RecTech Youth Media Filmmakers, and many thanks to our partners, SIFF and 911 Media Arts!
For more information and an application for this summer’s paid RecTech film-making internship being offered in partnership with SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival) Futurewave, go to rectech.seattle.gov and click on the internship tab.
If you hear someone say “Seafair” and “Alki” in the same sentence, you might think “Pirates.” This afternoon, however, those words went along with “royalty” – and “admiralty.” The Alki Point Lighthouse was the setting as this year’s candidates in the Seafair Scholarship Program for Women – along with the woman one of them will succeed, reigning Miss Seafair Veronica Quintero – enjoyed their first official group outing, the annual Admiral’s Tea reception. Above, that’s Veronica with U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Keith A. Taylor, the USCG’s 13th District commander, and U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Douglass T. Biesel, Navy Region Northwest commander. We also photographed her with West Seattle’s representative in this year’s Miss Seafair competition, last year’s Hi-Yu Senior Court Queen Kelsey Bills:
Other West Seattle ties: At the lighthouse, we talked with Ruthie Waid, a WS resident who’s a new member of the Scholarship Program committee (and mother of 2006 Miss Seafair Erin Waid), and met JoAnne Ludwig, the former West Seattleite who is longtime chair of the program. The next Miss Seafair will be crowned July 28th, right before the Seafair Torchlight Parade. One week before that, the candidates will be back in West Seattle, for the American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade down California SW on July 21st. (As for the Pirates – they land at Alki Beach on July 7th.)
P.S. One other big event today at the lighthouse – the first day in 2012 that it was open for the public to visit! June through August, it’s open Saturdays and Sundays, 1-4 pm.
Thanks to Gay for sharing the photo of Shirley, taken today outside West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction. Gay explains that Shirley “has been making/selling poppies for The American Legion since she was a little girl in the 1940’s.” The American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Program, collecting donations for disabled/hospitalized veterans, dates back to 1921 and is explained here.
P.S. For a traditional way to commemorate Memorial Day, be at Forest Lawn Cemetery (6701 30th SW; WSB sponsor) at 2 pm tomorrow. It’s usually not long – 35 minutes last year – but it’s presented by West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160, and always stirring.
Last month, during the West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) customer-appreciation celebration, the store raffled off a $500 Western Family shopping spree, with ticket sales benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank. Not only did that bring in $400 for the food bank, says Michele from Thriftway, there’s a winner, and she says they’re hoping for a cheering section – 10 am Tuesday (May 29), just show up at the store (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan).
(Photo courtesy ArtsWest, whose Kongsgaard-Alhadeff Award honored Ms. Ceis in 2005)
Friends, family, and political/civic leaders around the area are remembering longtime West Seattle activist Margaret Ceis today. She passed away yesterday at the age of 86. Her community service included being a founding member of the ArtsWest board, serving on the Seattle Board of Park Commissioners – for which she was honored in this 1996 City Council resolution – the Alki Community Council, the Harborview Medical Center Board of Trustees, and more.
Her leadership skills and perseverance were legend; when former mayor and current Secretary of State candidate Greg Nickels spoke at the memorial last year for another longtime community activist, Vivian McLean (WSB coverage here), he mentioned Ms. Ceis as, along with Ms. McLean, one of the local activists “you never say ‘no’ to.” Ms. Ceis was the mother of former deputy mayor Tim Ceis. We asked King County Executive Dow Constantine, one of many local leaders that she inspired, for his thoughts:
Our community lost a genuine champion with the passing of Margaret Ceis.
A lifelong community organizer and political activist, Margaret led the 34th District Democrats, the Alki Community Council and the League of Women Voters, among many other groups. She helped to create and promote the landmark 1989 King County Open Space bond issue, chaired the Seattle Parks Board, co-founded ArtsWest, and co-chaired the Three Projects/One Community campaign in Delridge.
It was Margaret who introduced me to grassroots Democratic politics. Her endorsement was without question the most coveted in West Seattle. In 1996 she was the co-chair of my successful campaign for the State House of Representatives. Without the coaxing and mentorship of Margaret Ceis I might never have sought or been elected to public office, and I will be forever grateful to her.
My condolences to Margaret’s family and friends, and to the entire West Seattle community, which she changed time and again for the better.
No word of memorial arrangements for Ms. Ceis yet, but they are expected to be made through Howden-Kennedy. We expect to add more to this story as the day goes on.
ADDED 11:38 PM: The Seattle Times (WSB partner) has published a story tonight about Ms. Ceis, for whom a memorial is planned at 2 pm June 2nd at The Hall at Fauntleroy.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The Kenney is announcing today that its CEO, Kevin McFeely, is leaving for a new job, leading The Hearthstone in North Seattle.
He has led the continuing-care community north of Lincoln Park for almost a decade, and told us, in an interview at The Kenney (WSB sponsor) this morning, that he has “mixed feelings” about leaving his “extended family” there – both the 200 residents and the staff, including his dozen-plus-member leadership team, but the move feels like “the next logistical step” for him.
One thing they’re doing at Hearthstone that is not happening right now at The Kenney: Expanding.
The Future of the Law Institute is a year-long program for high-school students interested in law careers, intended to help work toward a future when this area’s “Courtrooms and Law Offices reflect the diversity of the community they serve …” (as declared atop the organization’s website). This weekend brought a graduation celebration for its most recent group of participants, and Ted Reed shares the photo with the news that the graduates include two Chief Sealth International High School students: Cecilia Silva, front row/left, and Trevor Reed, third row/left. He says the program “provides students with substantive legal workshops, career counseling, a mock trial, courthouse tour, and opportunities to meet with legal professionals.”
(WS Baby executive director Nancy Woodland and board member Amy Daly-Donovan)
Another night, another big party at The Hall at Fauntleroy! One night after The Taste of West Seattle, The Hall rocked Friday night with “Shake, Rattle, & Roll,” the cocktail-party benefit for WestSide Baby, held last year just hours after WS Baby’s big benefit tea, this year moved to a few months later. Another difference: While the tea moved to a big airport-area conference center, this bash was West Seattle through and through. West Seattle-residing radio star Marty Riemer emceed:
West Seattle band Not Dead Yet provided the music – including their signature “West Seattle Hey”:
We had to grab a separate pic of them once we heard their story, courtesy of Sherri Chun, a founding member of the “47th Ave Bookclub,” a moms’ group that gave birth to Not Dead Yet when the members’ husbands “learned they all have something in common – musical talent! … They write their own music, much of it about family, kids, and famous local landmarks.”
If you missed them at last night’s party, Not Dead Yet will be playing Seattle Summer Streets on Alki this Sunday. Back to the Friday night party – click ahead for more photos, and video!
For the second time this year, a worker’s been killed in a Harbor Island incident. Three months ago, a Vigor Shipyard worker died after a fall; last night, a forklift driver at Terminal 18 was killed, according to our partners at the Seattle Times. Seattle Fire crews were summoned last night, and SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore tells WSB, “We responded to Terminal 18 last night to reports of a person falling. When firefighters arrived, the workers at the dock had already freed the patient from being trapped. Apparently the mast of the forklift dropped and trapped the man between the mast and the roof of the forklift. The man was in and out of consciousness. Seattle Fire Paramedics rushed the man to Harborview Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.” He later died, and the longshore workers’ union, ILWU Local 19, called a 24-hour work stoppage at the terminal, as per custom after a fatality. The man has not yet been publicly identified.
The family of Mimi Feisst says her memorial service is planned for 1:30 pm this Sunday (May 20th) at The Sanctuary at Admiral (2656 42nd SW). Here’s their remembrance of her:
Mimi (Marilyn Jean) Summersby Feisst passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Washington, on the 29th of April after battling cancer for several months. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Annette and H. Samuel (Sam) Bartel, and husband Allan Feisst. Mimi is survived by son Scott Summersby and granddaughter Taylor of Florida, daughter Kristen Summersby, daughter Dana Brooks, son-in-law Jim Brooks, grandchildren Zachary, Zahn and Allyson, foster daughter Susan Tekola, son-in-law Fasil Tekola, grandchildren Tanesha, Sarra, Sophie and Nataly, sister Janet Deardorff and husband Jerry Deardorff, niece Molly, nephew Christopher, all of Washington, sister Susan Bartel and partner Lorraine Tarrant (of New Zealand), nephew Ian MacDonald (of Washington), and niece Sarah Bartel (of New Zealand).
Mimi’s first love was her family.
(Bride Thelema, aka “TJ,” tosses her bouquet)
Thanks to Kevin McClintic for sharing photos and info about a noontime event today: As previewed in a news release on Friday, Mother’s Day was wedding day for two couples at the eastern West Seattle encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville.” The day also marked exactly a year since the encampment returned to the spot where it began in fall 2008 – at that time, under the administration of its namesake, it was evicted days later, but this time, it’s been allowed to stay, though not allowed to hook up to city services. Kevin says that today at the camp, “the wedding overshadowed the 1 year anniversary by a long shot.” The Christian Crusaders Motorcycle Club of Tacoma officiated; Kevin says most are fully ordained ministers:
TJ’s groom is Charlie Smith; the couple at right, Charlie’s brother Josh Smith and his bride Barbie Houseman. TJ and Charlie are camp residents; Josh and Barbie used to be, but, according to this WSB Forums post, found housing before their baby was born. Before the noontime ceremony, Kevin reports, “The CCMC showed up about 11 AM with about a dozen bikes (mostly Harleys) and a box truck with a trailer. They brought all the food needed, a powerful generator, two propane BBQs, and lots of donations for NV residents consisting of boots, blankets, clothing, and other needed items!” He got them to pose for a group shot before they left around 2:30 pm.
Meantime, on Friday, the city released its “draft investment plan for homeless services” – how it proposes to better appropriate and track tens of millions of dollars spent on those services each year – and is inviting public comment. Read about it here.
Tables, bellies, and hearts were full Saturday night at Our Lady of Guadalupe, as Boy Scout Troop 284 hosted its annual spaghetti dinner and auction. Lots of food, and lots of donations for the auction:
As the original announcement of the event, shared by Teresa Syrstad, noted, “Having just celebrated our 97th year, Troop 284 is the fifth oldest, continuously charted troop in the nation! The boys are involved in numerous service projects in the West Seattle community. We look forward to them becoming community leaders and passing on their skills, inspiration and leadership to countless other youth.”
(That’s the troop portrait Teresa sent with the original dinner announcement.)
The WSB Forums have been talking about an event this Sunday at the encampment that calls itself Nickelsville – a double wedding. Early this morning, we received a news release about not only the wedding, but also an open community invitation to what will be the camp’s anniversary celebration – since Sunday will mark exactly one year since the encampment moved back to the vacant publicly owned parcel where it had started in fall of 2008:Read More
Congratulations to West Seattle resident, city adviser, retired judge, former deputy mayor (among many other achievements) Anne Levinson, just announced as the first recipient of the Nancy Nordhoff Civic Leadership Award. CityClub will present the award at its 30th anniversary gala next month; the award’s namesake is a co-founder of CityClub, whose executive director Diane Douglas says in the news release announcing the award, “CityClub is pleased to recognize Anne Levinson with this first award. Anne works tirelessly for justice and equity. She is wise and generous. She leads by example and inspires others. She shares so many qualities exemplified by Nancy Nordhoff.” You can read the full announcement on CityClub’s site.
Thanks to the WSB’ers who sent word of these two passings, both announced in the obituaries section of our partners at the Seattle Times:
BOB OCHSNER, 1920-2012: The funeral Mass for Mr. Ochsner is planned for this Friday morning, according to the Times obituary, which you can read in its entirety here. He grew up in West Seattle, graduating from WSHS, and owned Bob Ochsner Cars for 55 years at locations including WS, and was active in organizations including the Rotary Club of West Seattle. His surviving family members include his wife of 59 years. The Friday morning Mass is at 11 am at Our Lady of Fatima, 3218 W. Barrett. You can sign the online memorial guestbook here.
GARY PUTMAN, 1954-2012: It’s been about a year since Mr. Putman’s fight against cancer led to the closure of his West Side Import Repair in The Triangle. Now, this week, comes word that he passed away. According to his Times obituary, Mr. Putman moved to Seattle in 1978 and worked at West Side for 33 years, starting as a mechanic before taking over the business. No memorial service is mentioned; instead, “a gift to your favorite charity or to cancer research” is suggested.
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