West Seattle, Washington
14 Thursday
This week brings several community meetings of note – including the Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly gathering, 7 pm Wednesday (October 16), in person at the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation‘s lower-level community room (7141 California SW) or online.
This meeting is always wall-to-wall with important community info, so if you’re interested in Morgan Junction (and often lower Gatewood) matters, be there. The agenda says discussion topics will include what’s next for the Morgan Junction Park expansion, where contaminated dirt was recently dug up, and plans to add an “all-wheel area” to the park (here’s our most-recent update). Traffic safety, police updates, and a new business will get some time too, as will the race for City Council citywide Position 8 beteen Tanya Woo and Alexis Mercedes Rinck. All are welcome, no RSVP or membership required – just show up or click in!
As we continue spotlighting West Seattle Halloween decorations, here’s a haunt to see day or night!
Thanks to the texter who sent day and night views of that house on SW Andover just west of 42nd SW. Want to show us yours (or a display you’ve admired)? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! (See what we’ve published already by scrolling through our Halloween-coverage archive here.)
(WSB file photo)
Thanksgiving is still six and a half weeks away, but yes, we’re ready to talk (a bit) about the holidays – with seasonal calendar listings starting to come in. One that might interest you for early planning: The Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship is making only two West Seattle visits this year, both on the same night – its first night of the year, Saturday, November 23. On that night, the Pacific Sound Chorus will be on board to serenade both passengers on the ship and spectators onshore. The Christmas Ship will visit Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW) 5:35-5:55 pm that night, and Alki Beach Park (2665 Alki SW), 8:35-8:55 pm. Weather permitting, a bonfire is planned at Alki, with Seattle Parks.
“The show must go on!” That’s the timeless motto for performers – even when they’re faced with adversity such as lack of resources – but they’re never without hope. The theater program at Chief Sealth International High School will get to ensure shows keep going on, if you lend a hand – by attending the upcoming benefit screening the award-winning film featured in the trailer above, “Call Me Dancer.” In case you haven’t already seen this in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s the announcement:
Friday evening, October 25th, at the Chief Sealth International High School Performing Arts Center: ‘Call Me Dancer’ is truly an amazing film, and anyone who wants some inspiration and lifting up will adore it.
A truly great film is always interesting in itself, but soars above the subject matter as well — to astound and
inspire, to draw out strong emotions from the viewer and, ultimately, to make us look at our own lives in a
different way. The true-life adventure Call Me Dancer does all of this and more, winning it prizes and accolades
all over the world. It soars and twirls and summersaults and inspires, while telling the story of Manish Chauhan, a young Indian street dancer pursuing his unlikely but burning passion to become a ballet dancer. Shot in India, UK, Israel and the US, we get to experience Manish’s incredible charisma and talent, as well as his wonderful family and some of the extraordinary people who help change his life. The film is directed by Leslie Shampaine and Pip Gilmore, and features music from legendary singer/songwriter Jay Sean and hip-hop artist/rapper Anik Khan, with a sublime score by Nainita Desai and Nina Humphreys.The non-profit BAYFEST Youth Theatre runs the drama and performing arts program at Sealth, but we have recently suffered an almost total funding cut from Seattle Public Schools, due to their current huge budget crisis (and of course the arts seem always to be one of the first things to go…) But the Show Must Go On, and we have gotten exclusive rights to hold a screening of the film Call Me Dancer, which has won awards all over the world in the past year, as a fundraiser for the program, which we are very excited about. Besides being VERY anxious to sell as many tickets as we can to raise program funds, this is a rare opportunity for people to see this wonderful and inspirational film.
Some tickets might be available at the door, but the price is lower in advance; a share of the proceeds also will benefit West Seattle Performing Arts. The film is just under an hour and a half, in English and (subtitled) Hindi. The screening will be followed by an audience Q&A.
(Photos courtesy Aimee Owenz)
After Tony’s Market announced its impending closure in August, we learned a food truck with Cuban sandwiches was on the way to its lot, which already hosts a Mexican-food truck. The sandwich truck’s owner then turned up in a comment thread on another food story, and promised to update us when she was ready to open. Now, after soft-opening last weekend, the Aimee Owenz truck will officially open tomorrow. Proprietor Jenn tells WSB, “We are tentatively planning to be open Tuesday through Saturday 11 am-7 pm. We are working on our website and will be adding DoorDash too.” In the meantime, here’s the menu. And here’s a photo of their Cuban sandwich:
The Aimee Owenz truck is on the east side of the lot at 35th/Barton.
P.S. We asked Jenn about the truck’s name: “It’s mine and my brother’s middle names and while we were waiting for the city approval for our truck, our mom unexpectedly passed away. We feel even more proud to honor her. She liked the way Aimee was spelled and Owenz is a family name, so in a serendipitous way she named it.”
(WSB photos, video)
It is now the season of suspense for those who care for and about Fauntleroy Creek: When will coho salmon spawners show up? Wondering about questions like that is what concluded this year’s gathering to welcome them, with singing, drumming, and more. Some of the ~100 people who showed up visited the creek after ceremonially placing stones on a banner in the center of their circle:
The gathering was just yards from the creek, in a courtyard outside the home of creek stewards (and Salmon in the Schools volunteers) Judy Pickens and Phil Sweetland. Judy told the crowd she was “delighted you all are interested in this little creek of ours.”
More than a quarter-century has passed since Judy and other volunteers led the restoration that brought salmon back into the creek. Now, each year the work to keep it accessible includes clearing logs from the creek’s mouth near the ferry dock (that was done three weeks ago). Now it’s time to watch, wait, and count – Dennis Hinton told the gathering that while the high tides are high enough now for salmon, there’s not enough water in the creek for them until we get more rain.
(Even that might not bring immediate results, he noted, since the first spawners didn’t show up until early November last year.) Learning about the creek and fish was a lesson for all ages in attendance:
The music-making was again led by Jamie Shilling:
She was joined this year by Chaz Hastings, a tabla drummer who Judy also noted is a “newly minted creek volunteer”:
The gathering was, as always, brief, with a few familiar songs paying tribute to the creek and the fish, and a chance for the kids to imagine what it might be like to be a fish:
Dappled late-afternoon sun came through the creekside trees, as organizers observed they couldn’t remember the last time this mid-October gathering was greeted by 70-degree warmth. Likely it’ll be colder, and muddier, by the time the fish make their appearance; as Judy told the gathering, once that happens, volunteers will likely host an “open creek” day so you come down to creekside to try to see them yourself (watch for announcements here on WSB). It’s impossible to predict how spawning season will go – last year, watchers counted 34 coho; the year before, 254.
(Photographed on 26th SW south of Roxbury by Gill Loring)
Here’s our highlight list for the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
CLOSURES/CHANGES FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY/COLUMBUS DAY: Libraries are closed … many Seattle Parks programs/facilities are closed … It’s a postal holiday and banking holiday … Street parking is free today in Seattle neighborhoods where the city charges for it.
COMMUNITY CUP SHOWCASE: Multiple artists’ cup creations are on display all month at Dubsea Coffee (9910 8th SW), open until 2 pm.
CUPCAKE ROYALE’S LAST DAY: After 19 years, today is closing day for Cupcake Royale‘s West Seattle café at California/Alaska, 10 am-5 pm.
ART SALON: Monthly “safe space for creative people to gather,” 4-6 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
(per commenter, every other week now, next one is October 21) FOOD TRUCK IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: Rotating weekly food-truck visit, 4000 block of SW 107th, 4 pm.
GET CRAFTY: 6-10 pm, Monday brings “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.
D&D: Weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, including first-time players.
SPORTS: The undefeated West Seattle High School volleyball team hosts Chief Sealth International High School, 7 pm. (3000 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA! Three places to play tonight – 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander); 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MEDITATION IN FAUNTLEROY: You’re invited to free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
MEDITATION IN ALKI: The Alki Dharma Community also hosts Monday night meditation at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), 7-8:30 pm.
MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: The Alley in back of Bonjour Vietnam is open – tonight, live music from The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
SING! 9 pm start for Monday night karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
If you have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar, please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, October 14th, Indigenous Peoples Day in our state and 16 others, Columbus Day federally.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Rain expected by afternoon, high in the low 60s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:27 am, while sunset will be at 6:21 pm.
ROAD WORK
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project continues; the north half of the bridge remains closed, with one lane each way on the south side, until the project switches sides, which SDOT now says is expected to happen around October 28th. Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
*The south Beach Drive gas-pipeline project continues.
TRANSIT
No changes for Indigenous Peoples Day:
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, plus the “unscheduled third boat.” Check for alerts here.
Metro buses today – Regular schedule.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
9:32 PM: Thanks to those who’ve sent photos of this crash at Admiral Way/57th SW this past hour. No major injuries reported. But police are looking for the driver of the Honda Fit, who reportedly walked away from the scene, which is what makes it a hit-run. Police told dispatch the car is registered to someone who lives nearby. They also reported that a gun was found/seen inside. The car will be impounded. An SDOT crew is being summoned to clean up a fluid spill.
10:16 PM: Police just told dispatch that Admiral Way has fully reopened. We’re checking with SFD re: injuries.
(WSB photos)
8:11 PM: SPD and SFD have converged on the 7800 block of Detroit SW – at or near Shree’s Truck Stop – to investigate a reported shooting. The ~50-year-old man who is reported to have been shot is or was in a car – police don’t know yet whether he was shot there, or driven there after being shot elsewhere.
8:14 PM: Police just told dispatch the shooting happened at the scene where the victim was found.
8:16 PM: Officers have just told dispatch the victim has died.
8:49 PM: We are at the scene. Police say no one is in custody and they have no information on suspects. Adding scene photos.
10:32 PM: Police have just posted about this on SPD Blotter but the only new detail is that the victim was 53. If you have any information, they ask that you call 206-233-5000.
NOTE: This is the sixth non-vehicular homicide in West Seattle so far this year, after 15-year-old Mobarak Adam‘s shooting death at Southwest Pool/Teen Center in January, 22-year-old Luis Solis Lara‘s shooting death on Duwamish Head in June, 53-year-old William Tappe‘s beating death in the east Junction area in June, 32-year-old Laupule Talaga‘s shooting death in The Triangle last month, and 57-year-old Tammy Towers Parry‘s shooting death south of The Junction on October 1.
ADDED: We just went through the archives; six was the West Seattle homicide total for all of 2023. And one of those was a deadly shooting at the Delridge Shree’s gas station – the victim was shot there, drove away, and died exiting the West Seattle Bridge.
WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Police are not releasing any additional information. Today, however, the Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as 53-year-old Oton Garcia Ruiz, cause of death “gunshot wound to torso.”
We’re continuing our spotlight on West Seattle Halloween decorations, with photos sent by readers. These are from Amanda:
Our wonderful, Halloween-loving neighbors have outdone themselves again. Located on the NE corner of 42nd Ave SW and SW Hudson. Plenty to see on both sides of the yard during the day.
Thanks to everyone who’s sent photos/video so far – you can scroll through our Halloween-coverage archive (including past years) by going here. And if you have a display to suggest we showcase, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Chili flight from 2022 West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival cookoff)
The weather may not yet be chilly … but the food forecast is chili. Three upcoming events in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar feature fundraising chili cookoffs, so we’re spotlighting them in case you haven’t yet heard.
FAUNTLEROY CHURCH/Y CENTENNIAL CHILI COOKOFF: The first one is coming up this Wednesday (October 16, 6:30 pm at Fauntleroy Church‘s fellowship hall (9140 California SW), part of the centennial celebration. Organizers say, “We will be donating all proceeds from this Chili Fest Cookoff to a shared campaign to eliminate medical debt for families in need in the Seattle area.” $15/person, kids under 10 free. If you’re a chili cook, you can even register to compete. RSVP – whether you’re a prospective chili consumer or cook – by going here.
WESTSIDE INTERFAITH NETWORK: Next Saturday (October 19) at 6:30 pm at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW), this coalition of faith communities is raising money for its social work via its first-ever chili cookoff. Tickets for this one are also $15, and you get chili, cornbread, and salad, plus additional donation/purchase opportunities to support WIN’s projects such as the weekly Welcome Table for people in need. Buy your ticket(s) here.
JUNCTION HARVEST FESTIVAL: West Seattle’s premier chili cookoff is back this year during the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival, starting at 11 am Sunday, October 27. Restaurants and other pro food purveyors compete to raise money for the West Seattle Food Bank; you buy a flight of chili (while they last) in the festival zone at California/Alaska, and vote for your fave. (No advance ticketing for this one.) We’ll be checking in with the WSFB soon to see who’s competing this year (and to see what the pricing will be)!
(A few of the cakes from 2022 Fauntleroy Fall Festival)
Bake a cake for the cake-judging contest/cakewalk! Volunteer to help ensure the festival is fun for all! Or – just show up and enjoy it! Those are three ways to be part of this year’s Fauntleroy Fall Festival, 2-5 pm next Sunday (October 20) on both sides of the 9140 block of California SW [map]. Besides the cakes (participation details to come), the festival will include pumpkin-painting, birdhouse-building, bunny-petting, raptor-watching, salmon-hat-making, inflatable-bouncing/climbing, live music, and more. It’s not just kid stuff – all ages will find fun. Free except for food concessions, but if you come, donations are always welcome to help cover the costs (look for opportunities near the entrances) – this longrunning festival is entirely powered by donations and volunteers. See you there!
(First and third photos by Matthew J. Clark)
Local youth soccer players, families, and supporters gathered one week ago for a special screening celebrating women’s soccer. Event organizer Christine Clark sent this report:
Last Sunday (Oct 6th), Highline Soccer Association hosted a free film screening at the historic Admiral Theater to help raise funds for scholarships for their HSA Select players. The featured film was COPA ’71, a documentary about the long-forgotten story of how Mexico City hosted the first-ever Women’s World Cup Soccer tournament in 1971.
It’s an incredible and important documentary of how these pioneers helped create women’s soccer today. Interviews from players along with a historian bring this true event back to life thanks to Directors Rachel Ramsay and James Erskine and Executive Producers Serena and Venus Williams and Alex Morgan.
Over 200 people of all ages packed the Admiral. Jessica Pierce from Junction FC was also in the audience and made a very special announcement after the film – saying that Junction FC has big news in the near future that will further empower women in soccer in our community!
(Christine Clark and Jessica Pierce)
HSA Event Promoter Christine Clark said that “After seeing this film a year ago at SIFF, I knew it would be important for many more to see. I am a huge supporter of girls and women in sports and happy to help keep that movement moving forward. COPA ’71 has such an important message, so I was thrilled with our turn out and hope, in turn, all will tell their friends to see.” If you’d like to view the film, you can stream it on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Apple TV.
HSA would like to do a big shout-out to the Admiral Theater for their kindness and help with this event. Danny Ramos and partner Shoshana were fantastic.
If you’d like to make a donation to support youth soccer and give athletes a chance to play, you can donate to HSA via Venmo: @HighlineSoccerAssociation
Chief Sealth International High School athletic director Ernest Policarpio sent the photo and report:
Congratulations to the Chief Sealth Slowpitch team for defeating Ballard 15-9 in the Metro Championship yesterday at SWAC. They will play Holy Names in the 1st round of the Sea-King District Tournament.
Here’s the bracket – the tournament is also at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), next Thursday and Saturday (October 17 and 19). The Seahawks’ first game is at 5 pm Thursday. Chief Sealth slowpitch softball has a history of success, including back-to-back league championships in 2019 – with a trip to the state tournament – and pandemic-rescheduled 2020-2021.
ORIGINAL SUNDAY REPORT: Sent by Erich:
My vehicle was stolen this morning between midnight and 4:00 AM from in front of my house in Arbor Heights.
-2004 Cadillac Escalade
-WA state plate number: AGF 1071
-VIN (ends in) 8138
-There is a Colorado Sheriff sticker on front windshield, driver’s side. Headlights are faded, passenger side much more than driver’s side.
A police report has been filed. The fuel level indicator showed “low level” so hopefully the thief(ves) will run out of gas. I have a sentimental attachment to the vehicle as it was my father’s (who is now deceased).
Call 911 if you find it.
MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: Erich emailed to report, “My 2004 Escalade was located by the Seattle Police department on the 3400 block of Henderson in West Seattle. Oddly enough I found the door to a safe in the back.”
(Photo by Jerry Simmons)
Here are the highlights of what’s happening in our area today, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more listings):
SWIM IN THE SOUND: At 9 am, dive into the weekly group plunge into Puget Sound off Alki – meet at Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki).
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet for today’s run at 9 am at Realfine Coffee (35th SW & SW Kenyon).
(WSB photo, Saturday)
WEST SEATTLE SKI SWAP, DAY 2: Biggest Ski Swap ever, with double the consigned items – so go shop and get ready for snow season with great deals on skis, boards, boots, more! 10 am-4 pm at West Seattle’s VFW Hall (3601 SW Alaska), presented by Mountain to Sound Outfitters.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: As usual, open 10 am-2 pm, with seasonal produce, plus beverages, baked goods, flowers, cheese, fish, meat, prepared food, nuts, candy, condiments, more. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)
APPLELOOZA: While you’re at the Farmers’ Market, taste – and vote on – apples during this annual event!
PUMPKIN PATCH AT OUNCES: Noon-7 pm, second day!
Cascadia Produce has turned our beer garden into a Pumpkin Patch! Pick out your pumpkins, snap pics at the hay bale photo booth, get festive for fall and drink beer while you’re at it! Patch will be open when Ounces is (Tuesdays – Sundays) thru 10/26! It’s FREE (no entry fee), all ages and dogs welcome!
(3809 Delridge Way SW)
‘NATIVE PLANTS FOR THE WINTER GARDEN’: 1 pm class at West Seattle Nursery (5275 California SW) – our calendar listing has info and the ticket link.
DRUMMING & SINGING TO CALL THE SALMON HOME: 4 pm at upper Fauntleroy Way/SW Director, all are welcome to join this annual tradition, drumming and singing to welcome salmon spawners home to Fauntleroy Creek. Bring your own drum if you have one; your voice and presence are appreciated anyway if you don’t.
‘BEYOND LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT’: Series of Sunday night events at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW):
We are pleased to be able to offer this series to our community and invite all who are interested in learning more about the history and future of the Duwamish tribe and the effects of colonization on the Indigenous community to join us.
5 pm-6 pm, no RSVP required.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Sunday night music with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW) – 8-10 pm.
Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that should be listed on our community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Just email us the basics – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
8:45 PM: What a week it’s been for sights in the sky! First the aurora, then that sunset, now … Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)! Thanks to everyone sending photos of the comet, visible around dusk in the west. Above, the first photo we received was from Lars Lindblad, at Me-Kwa-Mooks. Below, from James Tilley, at Alki Beach:
And this one is from Tracey Kipp (of WSB sponsor West Seattle Realty):
The comet’s visibility has been anticipated for months – skywatcher/educator Alice Enevoldsen talked about it at her fall-equinox sunset watch. Meantime, we’re checking the other photos that have come in – we’ll be adding more!
9:40 PM: If the sky is clear, the comet will be visible in the west again tomorrow, Alice tells us – just look west after sunset. … Another photo from tonight, sent by Madison Kirkman:
Just in from a reader:
There’s an abandoned vehicle that’s clearly stolen, ditched at the corner of Andover and 50th Ave SW. It’s an older-model (updated) Chevrolet Tahoe SUV, gold/tan with a car seat in the back row. Someone ripped apart the ignition and it has no plates.
The finder was working on reporting to police too.
(WSB file photos from past Duwamish Alive! events)
Can you set aside a few hours next Saturday to do something that matters in a big way? You can help endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales by volunteering in the Duwamish River watershed to help the salmon on which they rely. We’re told every site for the October 19th Duwamish Alive! multi-site volunteering event still has spots open, even the popular on-the-river kayaking cleanup. Go here and pick a site. Or take inspiration from this first – Sharon Leishman of the Duwamish Alive! Coalition explains why your assistance is so important:
The Duwamish River is alive with its returning salmon and the wildlife that depends on them. Join us for a day in caring for our amazing river, its creeks, and all those living in and around it.
Our coalition partners will be hosting work parties throughout the watershed; efforts include caring for Duwamish Tribal Sacred Sites along the river, special salmon habitat sites that are critical for juvenile salmon as they make their way to Puget Sound, a kayak river cleanup, creating pollinator plant meadows, improving the river’s upland forested Greenbelt, and restoring Hamm Creek at a site that honors military veterans and John Beal, the person who started the immense effort in restoring the river’s health.
Activities include replacing invasive plants with native plants, mulching, removing trash from both the river and at sites, including special tire removal along the river. This is a day of not only improving the health of the Duwamish Watershed but also connecting with community. All are welcome to join this effort. This is a family-friendly event, all ages welcome.
Some of the sites are in West Seattle, others not far. Go here to choose where to help, 10 am-2 pm next Saturday!
(WSB photos)
Snow season has yet to begin, so it’s the right time to be sure you’re geared up for it. This weekend’s West Seattle Ski Swap has a bigger selection than ever – skis, boards, boots, apparel, more.
You’ll find all this at the West Seattle VFW Post 2713 Hall (3601 SW Alaska) until 5 pm today, and again from 10 am to 4 pm tomorrow.
The Ski Swap is presented again this year by Mountain to Sound Outfitters, whose storefront is across the street from the Ski Swap site.
(WSB photos)
We’ve mentioned the Delridge Farmers’ Market (in and around the courtyard at 9421 18th SW; WSB sponsor) every Saturday, but haven’t visited since early in the season, so we just went over to see what’s fresh and what’s new in its final weeks. It’s still brimming with fresh-grown vegetables and fruit, plus prepared food, flowers, and some extras (more on that in a minute). The newer vendors include King’s Mozzarella:
They have Mexican-style quesos as well as different varieties of mozzarella – including habanero, for heat lovers. (What they’re selling today, they made just yesterday!) Next door, Indian ice cream by Sookh:
You can get a bowl to enjoy at the market (there’s seating) or order pints to take home. Today’s flavors include Saffron Pistachio, Alphonso Mango, Cardamom Soy Sauce Caramel, and Turmeric Milk and Pumpkin, Many of the vendors with whom we spoke are from South King County, but yet another newer vendor brought mushrooms all the way from the Olympic Peninsula:
Grower Zach has multiple varieties, including blue oyster, lion’s mane, and enoki. Steps away from his table are vendors offering the fall bounty of greens and roots:
That’s today’s list from Umoja N’Inguvu, growing in Kent, as does Nhia with Blooms and Greens next door – you’ll find collards, red kale, parsley, more.
The market, managed by African Community Housing and Development, not only helps BIPOC growers and prepared-food providers reach buyers, but it also fights food insecurity with a free-food program. And we’re told that on the last market day of the year, October 26, they’ll be giving away 125 frozen halal whole chickens. Visit and you might find nonfood surprises (today, on the south side of the market, you can get a chiropractic adjustment). The market is open until 2 pm today – and then the last two markets before fall/winter break are 10 am-2 pm October 19 and 26.
With ballot-mailing season just days away, we checked for the first time in a while to see if either of West Seattle’s drive-up/ride-up post-office mailboxes had been returned. The photo above is from the Westwood post office (2721 SW Trenton), where this box’s predecessor had been removed for repairs last month. Note that the new box is the bigger old-style drive-up/ride-up type. We also checked at the West Seattle Junction post office (4412 California SW), which has been without an outdoor mailbox since the last one was stolen almost a year ago. Still no replacement, though a USPS spokesperson told us last month that they do intend to install a new one but were still waiting for it (we’ll check back with her next week after the holiday).
| Comments Off on From park to politics, here’s what Morgan Community Association will hear/talk about Wednesday