CONGRATULATIONS! Denny IMS musicians’ festival victories

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Exciting weekend for Denny International Middle School orchestra and band musicians, as reported by principal Jeff Clark:

The Denny International Middle School Senior Band and Orchestra are returning from Idaho today after competing in the Music in the Parks Festival at Silverwood Theme Park. Not only did the Dolphins have a great time, they won first place for both Band and Orchestra in their divisions and overall amongst all schools! Congratulations to our Dolphin musicians and their terrific teachers, Mr. Morales and Mr. MacIntyre! We are proud of you — Go Dolphins!

West Seattle 5K, 2016 edition: Sunshine at the finish line!

(UPDATE: If this video won’t play for you, it’s because YouTube blocked it, saying the music the DJ played at the race’s start is copyright-protected. We disputed that on the grounds that news coverage is fair use. Stay tuned!)

FIRST REPORT, 10:21 AM: More than 900 runners and walkers were signed up as of the unofficial count before this morning’s West Seattle 5K on Alki; race director Jeff Mensing expected the final total would pass 1,000.

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(Added: Photo by David Hutchinson)

And while it started under a layer of clouds, there was sunshine by the time most got to the finish line.

First to cross was #440, Nathan McLaughlin, 22, 15:51:

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(WSB photos from here, by Patrick Sand, unless otherwise credited)

The next 2 across, also male, as listed in the WS5K-provided printout:

Tyler Flannen, 21, 16:15:

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Paul Huynh, 24, 16:44

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First female across was Megan Hener, 34, 18:00:

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Next 2 female runners to finish:

Laura Mickelson, 39, 18:20:

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Abigail Sargent, 32, 18:30:

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The run/walk is close to the end as we publish this first update; more coverage to come. WSB has co-sponsored the WS5K every year since its start in 2009 – this is year #8!

ADDED 2:11 PM: First, if you haven’t seen your results yet – they’re all here. Now, more photos. WSHS principal Ruth Medsker joined in, of course:

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Lots of kids on the course:

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And it’s not a race without the proprietors of our area’s only running store, West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor):

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Lori and Tim McConnell will be your hosts again this year as WS Runner presents the Float Dodger 5K on July 23rd, right before the West Seattle Grand Parade, this year starting on the track at Hiawatha – registration is open now!

TRACK & FIELD: 10 WSHS athletes to state

May 22, 2016 10:07 am
|    Comments Off on TRACK & FIELD: 10 WSHS athletes to state
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Congratulations to the West Seattle High School track and field athletes who are heading to state after achievements – including new WSHS records – at this week’s district meet. From head coach Will Harrison:

West Seattle HS Track and Field continued a great season at the Sea-King District II Meet, held May 18th and May 20th at Southwest Athletic Complex. The Wildcats qualified ten athletes for the State Championships, and to make it even better, set new school record marks in six events! Here is a list of those qualifiers and new records, along with State rankings:

Maggie Cooper– Pole Vault (No. 12) *New School Record
Natalie Fuller– Long Jump, Triple Jump (No. 7)
Lexi Ioane– Shot Put (No. 6)
Lani Taylor– 100m (No. 2), 200m (No. 2), 400m (No. 1), *New School Records in all three events

Cass Elliott– 110m Hurdles (No. 16) , 300m Hurdles (No. 5)
Chaaka Trahan– 110m Hurdles (No. 2) *New School Record, 300m Hurdles (No. 3), Long Jump (No. 2)
Rylee Farrison, Miles Hairston, Chaaka Trahan, Cass Elliott– 4x400m (No.12), *New School Record
Adam Wayss, John Ursino– 4×400 alternates

The State Championships will be held Thursday, May 26th through Saturday, May 28th, at Mount Tahoma High School.

West Seattle weekend scenes: Highland Park Uncorked 2016

May 22, 2016 10:05 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle weekend scenes: Highland Park Uncorked 2016
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news

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The Highland Park Improvement Club‘s “Uncorked” wine-tasting fundraiser packed the house last night, for wine-tasting, appetizers, and an auction to raise money for the nonprofit community organization. One item was a subtle reminder of some travails that HPIC’s almost-century-old community-center building at 12th/Holden has encountered this spring:

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That art donated to the auction by R. Mac was painted on a piece of the overhang that came down, we’re told. The auction also included some more-conventional items, including these festive baskets:

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A major change for this year’s “Uncorked” – instead of it being a sort of wine-tasting potluck, with participants bringing wine to contribute, the wine was provided by local wineries, including the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Northwest Wine Academy:
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In our photo are Jessica and Phyllis from the academy; they brought a rosé. (NWA’s spring-release event is coming up June 9th-11th, by the way.)

P.S. This year’s “Uncorked” sponsors again included WSB.

West Seattle Sunday: WS 5K run/walk; Alki Daze bike parade; Hi-Yu Tea; more…

May 22, 2016 7:06 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Sunday: WS 5K run/walk; Alki Daze bike parade; Hi-Yu Tea; more…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Good morning! What you need to know for your West Seattle Sunday:

TRAFFIC ALERTS: We have two today:

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(WSB photo, added 8:50 am)

West Seattle 5K (more on the run/walk below) closes Alki Avenue SW to motor-vehicle traffic for about three hours, approximately 8 am-11 am. Parking restrictions, too.

Fauntleroy Expressway project resumes tonight, with another 9 pm-5 am closure of the west end of the West Seattle Bridge. We asked SDOT at the end of the week about a change in the announced detour pattern last week, and they confirm it will continue tonight: They are also re-replacing the seismic-cushion pads on an onramp, so the Avalon onramp to the eastbound bridge will be closed and they’ll be detouring traffic under the bridge to the onramp by Fire Station 36. Westbound, you’ll still have to exit by Delridge.

Now, on to what’s happening, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

WEST SEATTLE 5K: Not registered? It’s not too late! Last-minute signups for this run/walk benefiting West Seattle High School, with co-sponsors including WSB, start at 8 am near the start/finish line at 61st SW/Alki SW. Course goes to Anchor/Luna Park and back, in the street, which as mentioned above is closed for the occasion but will reopen once the course is cleared.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in The Junction. Last week, we noticed strawberries and lettuce had arrived. (California SW between Oregon and Alaska)

MEET ‘SEATTLE READS’ AUTHOR: Noon-1:30 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, “come meet Karen Joy Fowler and join in a discussion with the writer and other readers about Fowler’s novel, ‘We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves’.” Free, but come early to get a space; meeting room will open at 11:30 am. (2306 42nd SW)

MOTHER/DAUGHTER TEA: 1-3 pm at Fauntleroy YMCA. (9140 California SW)

‘ALKI DAZE’ COSTUMED BIKE PARADE: Meet at 1:30 at 63rd/Alki, ride at 2, all welcome. Live music and bicycle parking in the 2600 block of Alki SW after the parade.

ELITE BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU ‘GRAND (RE)OPENING’: 1-4 pm at what’s now Elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (WSB sponsor), celebrate its grand reopening with free clinics, eats, specials, and more, as previewed here. (5050 Delridge Way SW)

’42’ SCREENING: 2 pm at High Point Library, come see “42” as “part of the Library’s African American Film Series celebrating black actors, directors and films depicting the African American experience.” Free. (35th SW/SW Raymond)

WEST SEATTLE HI-YU TEA: 2-4:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, join Hi-Yu royalty for an afternoon tea that “features sweet and savory treats, a silent auction, and, of course, tea.” It’s a major fundraiser for Hi-Yu, raising money for scholarships and for the city’s last neighborhood-powered traveling parade float. $25/person. (9131 California SW)

FOLKSY-BLUESY MUSIC: 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), Lauren Crosby performs. (5612 California SW)

INDIE/FOLK MUSIC: 6-9 pm, all-ages show at The Skylark – details here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

WHAT ELSE IS UP? You’ll find even more listings on our complete calendar.

Driver to hospital after car hits pole on Admiral Way

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(WSB photo)

Thanks to the texter who tipped us about this: City Light is repairing a pole on eastbound Admiral Way near Belvidere right now after a driver hit it in the 5 am hour. Police told us at the scene just now that the driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries; two houses nearby are without power. The aftermath of the crash is blocking one eastbound lane.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Possible Delridge shooting

May 22, 2016 12:28 am
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 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

Separate from the High Point investigation reported earlier, police are looking into a report that someone was shot earlier tonight in North Delridge. The over-the-air report was that someone had shown up at Harborview with a gunshot wound (how serious, we don’t know, but the victim apparently was conscious) and claimed to have been shot somewhere near where they live, possibly in the Delridge/Alaska vicinity. No other details so far.

UPDATE: Police investigating gunfire in High Point

11:33 PM: Police are checking out reports of possible gunfire heard in High Point, possibly south of 31st SW and SW Graham. We’ve heard from one person who says 911 tells her – as we’ve also heard via scanner – that others reported it, too. No word of any victim(s) so far.

11:36 PM: Also via scanner, police report finding shell casings in the 6500 block of Sylvan Way, potentially related to a call in the area in which someone reported being threatened (by someone they knew). They’re looking for two women reportedly seen leaving the area. We haven’t heard a description.

12:19 PM: Police now are being called to another nearby address, on 32nd SW, where someone is reporting finding a bullet hole.

COUNTDOWN: West Seattle HS All-School Reunion, 2 weeks away

May 21, 2016 10:14 pm
|    Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: West Seattle HS All-School Reunion, 2 weeks away
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Two weeks until this year’s West Seattle HS All-School Reunion, set for 2-5:30 pm Saturday, June 4th, this year. This announcement includes news of a raffle to raise money for scholarships – and you can buy tickets at tomorrow’s West Seattle 5K as well as at the All-School Reunion:

Please join West Seattle High Alumni for our yearly walk down memory lane at the annual All School Reunion (ASR), on Saturday, June 4, from 2:00 – 5:30 p.m. All who attended (or still attend) as students or staff are invited to show up in celebration of our school and our shared roots.

The ever-popular car show kicks off the afternoon. Photography students roam the halls to shoot formal and candid shots; many other students help to crew the event. Keep your Class Rep company in your year’s assigned class room. Check out the new War Memorial display, and drop in to the formal program in the Auditorium, recognizing Hall of Fame and Scholarship recipients.

Join our fundraiser benefiting our Scholarship fund: buy raffle tickets for a custom garden bench with built-in planter boxes. Thanks to alumnus Spencer Weglin, a recent Scholarship recipient, for organizing the raffle, and for crafting the beautiful piece. Local delivery included! Tickets for sale at the West Seattle 5K on Sunday, May 22, as well as at the ASR.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Questions? Reunion contact is Jim Biava, jim@jimbiava.com – raffle contact, wshsaa.98116@gmail.com.

Dr. Paul R. Smith retiring after 35 years as West Side Presbyterian Church’s senior pastor

(Photos courtesy West Side Presbyterian Church)

West Side Presbyterian Church is announcing the retirement of its senior pastor – who will be preaching just a few more Sundays – and inviting the community to a celebration:

June 12th will mark the end of 45 years of service and vocational ministry for Dr. Paul R. Smith of West Seattle. He has been the senior pastor at West Side Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) since 1981, when he moved with his family from Pennsylvania to Seattle.

In the 35 years since arriving in the NW, he has served as the senior pastor of West Side Presbyterian Church. A recent tally showed he had officiated 180 wedding ceremonies, led 256 memorial services, and baptized more than 430 children and adults. He has also been active in renewal ministries with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has served the church both locally and nationally in promoting and equipping churches for evangelism. 

Born November 25, 1945, Paul is the son of a banker and one of six children. He grew up in a small ranching town in Western South Dakota near Badlands National Park. He graduated with honors from Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL, before marrying his wife, Carreen Armerding and earning an MDiv from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, MA,

For the first ten years of his ministry, Dr. Smith served as Assistant Pastor and then Senior Pastor of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in McKeesport, PA.

He completed his Doctorate of Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School shortly after arriving in Seattle. And in the years since, he’s written four books: Jesus, Meet him again for the First Time; Close Encounters: Knowing the Savior; Enjoying God Forever; God’s Plan for our Good. He has also traveled extensively throughout Israel and Jordan and has co-led a half-dozen tours, in Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, and Greece.

Paul and his wife, Carreen are the parents of four children: Lucian, Taleigh, Lindsay, and Miriam, and grandparents of seven.

Following retirement, and a long-awaited trip to Africa, the Smiths will return to Seattle, where Paul plans to continue his writing and looks forward to spending more time with his family and grandchildren.
 
A retirement celebration for Dr. Paul Smith will be held:

June 12, Open House 1:00-4:00
(Special program begins at 2:00)
West Side Presbyterian Church
3601 California Avenue SW


The public is welcome.

More information about the celebration is on the WSPC website.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Car prowlers ‘score’

We heard it again at community meetings this past week – “car prowls,” aka car break-ins, remain the major crime category in our area. We don’t get incident details unless you share info with us, though, so thanks to Matt for this reader report:

Just in case you wanted to add it to the list, we had 2 of our cars broken into Thursday night on the 4400 block of SW Graham St.

Purse stolen from one of the cars and….. 4 tennis rackets, what a score!

P.S. Next crime prevention/safety meeting will be Tuesday, 6:30 pm, when the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meets at the Southwest Precinct – all welcome, whether you are part of a Block Watch or not!

West Seattle weekend scene: Gatewood neighbors’ cleanup

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A little help can make a big difference. That proved true this morning in Gatewood, where resident Jill Boone decided to organize a spring cleanup once she found out nobody else had something planned for the area. Despite the chilly rain, a small, stalwart group got the job done:

We had three families for our Gatewood litter clean-up out in the rain this morning, picking up litter from the water tower Park to Holden, especially the bus stops. Two big bags of trash were picked up. If you are a smoker, please dispose of your cigarette butts somewhere besides the ground!!

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Here are a few photos of the Morelands and the Boones. Many thanks to the City for Spring Cleanup support. We hope to do this again on a day when it’s a bit drier to be out and about.

Not too late for your own community cleanup!

UPDATE: Fire call in The Junction after Husky Deli coffee roaster overheats

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4:15 PM: Seattle Fire is headed for an address in The Junction that cross-references to Husky Deli.

4:22 PM: We’re en route; scanner says “occupant” put out the fire, but SFD is checking to be sure everything’s safely extinguished.

4:33 PM: Added a photo, as SFD goes up on the building’s roof to do that checking. Some of the responding units already have been dismissed.

4:38 PM: Husky Deli owners tell us their coffee roaster overheated and that’s what led to the small, quickly extinguished fire.

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No injuries, no major damage; right now they and SFD are continuing to check to ensure there are no hotspots before reopening the store.

6:23 PM: Yes, they are open and will be until tonight’s usual 9 pm.

West Seattle weekend scene: Young volunteers @ WS Food Bank

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2:32 PM: One group of young West Seattleites had an important job to do before arriving at the West Seattle Bee Festival in time for this morning’s parade: Volunteer work at the West Seattle Food Bank a few blocks away. Marco – who shared the photos (and is at left, below, with WSFB operations manager Lester Yuh at right) – says Girl Scout Brownie Troop #40146 bought 100 pounds of rice with the earnings from their cookie sales, and came to WSFB to put it into family-sized bags. (They also had some left over for a bit of fun, Marco says – an afternoon at Southgate Roller Rink.)

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Marco is a regular WSFB volunteer, by the way, during food distribution on Thursdays, and the food bank always welcomes help – volunteering, donating food, and/or donating money.

VIDEO: 4th annual West Seattle Bee Festival

May 21, 2016 11:11 am
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 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

11:11 AM: The West Seattle Bee Festival is on! And this year it’s indoors AND outdoors – inside Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way SW), at the West Seattle Bee Garden on the north side of High Point Commons Park, along the street on the west side of the park between those two points … live music, food trucks, kids’ activities, just come wander! We’re reporting “live” from the Vendor/Info Fair, which continues until 2 pm, while the festival runs until 3.

11:29 AM: Added video from the Bee Festival parade, which just went by. Many of the young participants had their faces painted inside HP Center:

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Just west of HP Center is where you will find the food!

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And if you were/are a fan of a certain Northwest-set TV series that’s about to make a comeback, this menu will be of interest:

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12:01 PM: Excellent soundtrack so far – DJ Ron (below center) is the man to thank:

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We also just talked with Bee Garden founder Lauren Englund (here’s our original story about her dream, back in 2012), who mentions that while it’s a little damp today (the rain has stopped, though) she’s had 20 field trips at the garden so far this year and the weather’s been spectacular.

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12:27 PM: Festival organizer Karen Berge stopped by to tell us that Lauren is giving a demonstration over at the Bee Garden – which is home to hives – right now!

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1 PM: Still two more hours of festival to enjoy! Live music (bluegrass with Ricky Gene Powell and band) is happening, activities in HP Center – Sherry Lankston from Woodland Park Zoo and “Up Close: Ninja Pollinators” program until 1:30 – (added: That’s Juliette the Jungle Nymph:)

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Plus, food, the plant/seed/tool swap at the north end of the Vendor/Info Fair (until 2 pm) row … Put on a jacket and come say hi!

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1:50 PM: The Vendor/Info Fair is wrapping up – just, of course as the sun starts to show signs of breaking through. Still a beautiful day at High Point Commons Park – where the Bee Garden alone is worth the visit! We’ll be adding more festival photos later. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hi (or in one case, we got high-fives)! And remember … respect the bees … where would we “bee” without them?

ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT: A few more photos as promised. Here are Scouts from Troop #42553:

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And more young festivalgoers – this photo’s from Tamsen Spengler, who leads the West Seattle Timebank, part of the Vendor/Info Fair at the festival:

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West Seattle Saturday: Bee Festival, barbecue, Catio Tour, birds, poetry, ‘Lion King,’ more!

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(WSB photo: If you go to The Junction this weekend, you’ll see the hanging flower baskets, which arrived Friday)

Rain or shine, here are the highlights of our West Seattle weekend, day 1. First, a few notes:

TRAFFIC ALERTS: **No** bridge closure tonight – next one is Sunday night. If you’re going to/through SODO, note that Sounders FC hosts Colorado tonight at CenturyLink Field, 7 pm. And if you’ll be on Alki late tonight, remember the Sunday morning parking restrictions/road closures for the West Seattle 5K.

HELICOPTERS: Might be some unusual sightings today because of the American Heroes Airshow at the nearby Museum of Flight – it’s on our calendar because aviation draws so much interest here!

Now, as for what’s happening in West Seattle and vicinity …

TAI CHI AT THE BEACH: 9 am-10 am by Alki Bathhouse, with Lao-Shi Caylen Storm. (61st SW/Alki SW)

WHITE CENTER LIBRARY DEDICATION: White Center’s brand-new King County Library System branch is finished and ready to open. Party starts at 9:30 am today. When you visit, look for WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli’s image “Octopus Survey” in a conference room – it was still wrapped up and awaiting installation when he photographed it on Friday:

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(1409 SW 107th)

WEST SEATTLE BEE FESTIVAL: 10 am festival, 11 am parade, and much more! See our Friday night preview. Come visit us at the Vendor/Info Fair! High Point Commons Park (including the West Seattle Bee Garden) and Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

LEARN TO PAINT MINIATURES: 11 am at Meeples Games (WSB sponsor) – as explained on the Meeples website – all ages but a parent must accompany anyone under 12. (3727 California SW)

(update – rained out) BARBECUE BENEFIT: Another benefit barbecue lunch at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), 11 am-4 pm. Today, it’s burgers and hot dogs, benefiting Northwest Harvest. (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan)

FRIENDSHOP POP-UP: Friends of the Seattle Public Library will have a pop-up shop on the front steps of the West Seattle (Admiral) Library today, 11:30 am-3:30 pm – here’s what it’s all about. (2306 42nd SW)

PACKET PICKUP AND REGISTRATION FOR WEST SEATTLE 5K: Noon-6 pm at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), you can pick up your packet for Sunday morning’s West Seattle 5K if you’re already registered, or register if you’re not! (2743 California SW)

CATIO TOUR: Two West Seattle “catios” are on the map for today’s noon-4 pm self-guided tour – details in our calendar listing.

BIRDS OF THE DUWAMISH VALLEY: 1-3 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse, presentation and walk – details in our calendar listing. (4205 W. Marginal Way SW)

WRITE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD! With Seattle’s Civic Poet (and West Seattle resident) Claudia Castro Luna, 1-3 pm at High Point Library, a “fun and interactive afternoon reading and writing poetry.” Free but first-come, first-served. (35th SW/SW Raymond)

HIGHLAND PARK UNCORKED: Sold out, so this is just a reminder if you’ve signed up – the Highland Park Improvement Club‘s annual wine-tasting benefit is tonight, 5:30 pm doors open, 7 pm tasting begins! Co-sponsors include WSB. (12th SW/SW Holden)

LAFAYETTE’S ‘THE LION KING’: All are welcome to enjoy Lafayette Elementary‘s “The Lion King” tonight, 7 pm, at West Seattle High School. Performances are by kids in grades 3rd through 5th who attend Lafayette. Free admission; concessions on sale. (3000 California SW)

ROO FORREST AND FRIENDS: Originals and covers at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

MADELINE BERSAMINA & FRIENDS: 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall, “soprano Madeline Bersamina (has) put together a program of American and British songs with mezzo soprano Erin Calata, flutist Brian Fairbanks, and pianist John Stuntebeck.” Ticket info and other details in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)

SEE THE CALENDAR for even more.

SOFTBALL: West Seattle HS takes 4th place in district tournament

May 21, 2016 4:21 am
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 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

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(WSB photo: WSHS sophomore Beryl Syltebo, scoring the Wildcats’ first run)

The West Seattle High School softball team finished district-tournament play on Friday night by taking 4th place, and will be the only Seattle school advancing to the state 3A tournament in Lacey. The Wildcats lost to Eastside Catholic at Southwest Athletic Complex, 6-3. It was the Wildcats’ second consecutive loss after opening district play with a win over Bainbridge, following their first-ever Metro League championship.

Around-the-world rider arrives in West Seattle on ‘Bike Everywhere Day’

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(WSB photo)

On this “Bike Everywhere Day,” one rider who arrived in West Seattle tonight is truly doing just that – riding around the world. At left in our photo is Tim Bridgman, with West Seattleites Dave Nichols (center) and Gary Potter (right), photographed tonight outside Potter Construction (WSB sponsor) between Alaska and Morgan Junctions.

Bridgman is from England and is on an around-the-world ride that started four years ago, in Norway, with his wife Sharon Bridgman. They planned to raise money for ShelterBox, which provides emergency shelter and supplies to people in need around the world.

Two years and 15,939 miles into their ride, Sharon Bridgman was hit and killed on a road in southwestern Bolivia.

Tim decided that in honor of the ShelterBox cause – helping people carry on through disaster and tragedy – he would continue (here’s his story as told to a reporter in Britain). Last year, he resumed the journey in South America, where he had left his bicycle. And now, he’s on the last leg of the journey, riding through the Pacific Northwest en route to Barrow, Alaska, after more than 32,000 miles. Nichols (a ShelterBox volunteer responder) and Potter both support ShelterBox through the Rotary Club of West Seattle; the two met up with Bridgman this afternoon in Auburn for the last leg of his ride into West Seattle, where he is staying with Potter.

Bridgman is chronicling his journey online here. You can donate to ShelterBox through the special page set up for him and his wife, here. He’ll be in West Seattle until Sunday, before resuming his ride north.

CONGRATULATIONS! Seattle Lutheran HS track & field success @ districts

May 20, 2016 11:15 pm
|    Comments Off on CONGRATULATIONS! Seattle Lutheran HS track & field success @ districts
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Thanks to Seattle Lutheran High School track & field head coach Cynthia Lysen for this update on her athletes’ accomplishments in the post-season:

Congratulations to the Seattle Lutheran High School Saints Track and Field team for an outstanding showing at the 1B Tri-District Championships in Port Angeles! 17 teams each for the boys and girls participated with the SELU girls finishing in 3rd and the boys placing 9th.

District champions include Taylor Stordahl in the 100m (qualified for the maximum four events) and Macey Crooks in the Pole Vault. Other qualifiers:

GIRLS

200m: Taylor Stordahl, Sage Klein
400m: Izzy Jones
4×100 Relay: Macey Crooks, Izzy Jones, Da’Zor Tillet, Taylor Stordahl
4×200 Relay: Da’Zor Tillet, Izzy Jones, Sage Klein, Taylor Stordahl
4×400 Relay: Emma Stordahl, Macey Crooks, Da’Zor Tillet, Izzy Jones
Shot Put: Emma Figgins
High Jump: Sage Klein

BOYS

100m: Xavier Turner
800m: Grant Ball
3200m: Michael Olson
4×100 Relay: Alex Okabayashi, Adam Eklund, Brandon Lulow, Xavier Turner
Shot Put: Nick Lidstrom
Javelin: Brandon Lulow, Matthew Smith
Long Jump: Xavier Turner

The Saints will compete next Thursday through Saturday at the State Championships at Eastern Washington University in Cheney.

West Seattle scene: Sweet sunset to start the weekend

May 20, 2016 10:39 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle scene: Sweet sunset to start the weekend
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

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Thanks to Patricia for the view of tonight’s sweet sunset! And we have this one tweeted by Mike Jensen:

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Some showers in the weekend forecast, but don’t let them keep you away from a slate of awesome late-spring events.

What you’ll find at Saturday’s 4th annual West Seattle Bee Festival

(2013 WSB photo from first WS Bee Festival Parade)

The place to “bee” tomorrow is the West Seattle Bee Festival – you can even join in the parade celebrating those buzzy little insects on which our lives depend. A few things so you can plan your visit:

*Official festival hours, 10 am-3 pm
*Official locations – High Point Commons Park and inside Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (immediately south of the park at 6400 Sylvan Way SW)
*Honey Run, 10 am (signups start at 9:30 am by the Commons Park amphitheater)
*Costume-making and face-painting activities to prepare for the parade start at 10 am
*Food trucks west of HP Center, 10 am-2:30 pm
*Music in the park, 10 am-3 pm
*Kids & pets parade, 11 am, starting from the amphitheater
*Vendor/Information Fair, 11 am-2 pm along Lanham Place SW on the west edge of the park, between Graham and Sylvan/Morgan
*Plant/Seed/Tool Swap, 11 am-2 pm
*Woodland Park Zoo “Up Close” pollinator program, 11:30 am-1:30 pm inside HP Center
*Art-making activities, 11:30 am-3 pm inside HPC Center
*Bee hive demo, noon-12:30 pm at the Bee Garden on the north side of the park
*Bee Garden tours, periodically noon-2 pm

Aside from food trucks and vendors’ merchandise, it’s all free! More details here. WSB is participating in the Vendor/Info Festival, so we hope to see you there!

Movies on the move! New location for West Seattle Outdoor Movies at end of this season

(Full house at a 2015 screening)

Earlier this week, we published the annual call for suggestions for this year’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies series.

Suggestions are still being accepted – but there’s also some news about the future of the series.

If you have been to West Seattle Outdoor Movies, you know the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), longtime presenter of the series, can get crowded, to say the least.

That’s led to calls for a larger space. And starting with the last movie this summer – there’ll be one.

Here’s how Hotwire proprietor and WSOM guru Lora Swift explains it:

As the coordinator and emcee of the West Seattle Outdoor Movies, I wanted to share a new vision for our yearly community event. Beginning in 2016, we are partnering with the YMCA to co-host the movies. Our first five movies (beginning July 16) will be shown in the Hotwire courtyard, as they have for the past 13 years. The big change is our final movie for 2016 (August 20) will be moved to the Triangle Festival Street, next to the YMCA. In 2017, and beyond, you’ll be able to watch the Outdoor movies at the Triangle Festival Street.

I’ve certainly been delighted to host the movies, it’s been a joy seeing our community together watching films, raising money for our local charities, and enjoying some entertainment. As with all popular community events, we’ve seen crowds grow as more people discover this free and fun gathering. To continue to give the community this fabulous event, we’ve decided to move to a larger space, which Josh Sutton and his staff are gladly accepting.

Join us for the first five films in the usual space, then make sure you put on the calendar “Triangle Festival Street” for that final movie on August 20th.

The “festival street” will be SW Snoqualmie between 36th and 37th. Here’s the view from Josh Sutton of the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor):

The West Seattle & Fauntleroy Y is excited to continue the great traditions of West Seattle Movies on the Wall at the new Triangle Festival Street. We’ll continue to work with other community partners like the West Seattle Junction Association, local sponsors, and other non-profits.

When the community came up with the idea of a Festival Street in the Triangle seven years ago, outdoor movies were an early programming suggestion. The Y will begin to reach out for other community partners and volunteers to help guide programming and use of the Triangle Festival Street. We’ll use this first summer to try out 4-5 different program activities on the Festival Street, including hosting the last movie of Summer 2016 series. Our hope is to have a full slate of 10-15 events and activities in 2017.

So again, this is just early warning: The first 5 West Seattle Outdoor Movies in the Hotwire courtyard, then off to the new “Festival Street” space on 36th SW outside the Y. The movie slate will be announced soon, but first it’s last call for suggestions – either below, or in the comment section on our Monday story.

P.S. Here’s an invitation for local nonprofits to be part of the fundraising at each West Seattle Outdoor Movies night – this summer, the tradition of a raffle to help a WS nonprofit will continue; if yours is interested, e-mail lora@hotwirecoffee.com – thanks!

SATURDAY: Two neighborhood cleanups tomorrow

May 20, 2016 3:57 pm
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 |   How to help | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Two community cleanups tomorrow! Start your weekend knowing you’ve done a good deed. First, from Jill:

Join us Saturday at 9:00 AM for a short litter cleanup in Gatewood. We are meeting at Myrtle and 35th near the water tower (park on Myrtle) at 9 AM and will do a cleanup along 35th to Henderson. Probably one to two hours max. Bring gloves and water, safety vests if you have them, and ORCA passes if you want to bus back to your car! I may have extra picker-uppers and vests, depending on how many extra folks come. Serious rain probably cancels.

We also have this announcement from Esperanza on Puget Ridge:

The Puget Ridge Neighborhood quarterly clean-up will be on Saturday.

Meet at 10:00 AM at 6559 18th Ave SW to pick up bags and form teams.