West Seattle Monday: Education Fair tonight, and more

(Sunday afternoon Alki photo by Bill Bacon)
Welcome to a new week! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

WEST SEATTLE EDUCATION FAIR, SPONSORED BY WSB: If you are school-shopping for next year, come to the gym at Seattle Lutheran High School tonight, 6:30-8:30 pm, to talk with representatives of 18 local schools, pre-K through middle grades. It’s the West Seattle Education Fair, hosted and presented by SLHS, sponsored by WSB. Admission free. (4100 SW Genesee)

(Photo by David French – one of two boarders he says were headed from Alki to Lincoln Park)
RESTAURANT OPENING: Today marks 2 weeks since our last update on the Alki Fatburger restaurant, in which one of its proprietors told us they hoped to open in “2 to 4 weeks.” This morning, Alki resident Peter tells us a sign on the door says it’s opening at 11 am today. We’ll be checking on that! (61st/Alki)

TIME TO SPARE AT NOON? Daystar Toastmasters would love to meet you and help you work on your speaking skills/style. Noon at Daystar across from Westwood Village. (2615 SW Barton)

LAST CALL TO REGISTER TO VOTE: If you haven’t been registered in this state before, today is your last chance to sign up in time to vote in the November 5th election – but you have to do it in person; scroll down that linked page for location info.

SEAHAWKS ON MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Along with the regular haunts for watching, Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) is in for the Seahawks vs. Rams game tonight, 5:40 pm, on the big screen; details on the FL home page. (6451 California SW)

FREE CLASS: “Introduction to Pranic Healing,” 6:30 pm at Chaco Canyon Organic Café in The Triangle; details in our calendar listing. (37th/Alaska)

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: What’s happening Monday

(East-facing camera on the West Seattle Bridge; see other cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing major on the routes out of West Seattle so far this morning. If you travel to/through Capitol Hill, two routes are affected by an overnight incident involving someone believed to have been hit and killed by a Metro bus.

HOPING FOR WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL SOMEDAY? TELL SOUND TRANSIT NOW Sound Transit is advertising with WSB (among other media outlets) to let people know about its upcoming “scoping” hearing in Seattle, looking at where its service might expand after “current voter-approved projects are complete in 2023.” Whether or not you can go to the November 12th hearing (full details here), you can take an online survey NOW to share your thoughts with ST – go here.

8:51 AM UPDATE: Two-car crash, no injuries on the 1st Avenue South Bridge northbound, just before Michigan:

9:08 AM UPDATE: This crash was quickly down to just one lane and not expected to be a traffic-affecting problem for long.

WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI NOW ON WINTER SCHEDULE: Yet another reminder, today marks the start of the Water Taxi’s winter schedule – morning and afternoon/evening commute, weekdays only, through April 6th.

10:05 AM UPDATE: Crash on the Alaskan Way Viaduct, northbound 99 parallel with University. Thanks to reader KD for early tip on this one, before we heard the dispatch on the scanner; police are on the way now. KD says traffic is starting to back up (and shared the following photo):

There’s now a medic dispatch to NB 99/Western – not sure if it’s this or something else.

Update: Driver hits parked car on Avalon Way, flips car, runs

12:58 AM: Happening right now in the 3000 block of Avalon Way (map) and vicinity – police are looking for a driver who ran away after her car rolled over.

1:08 AM UPDATE: Thanks to Tyler for the photo. As you can see, at least one parked car was hit (thanks also to Kim for that additional detail – and the photo below, showing more of the scene).

1:17 AM UPDATE: Per scanner, the suspected driver, described as a 30-year-old woman, has been found about two blocks away, and will be checked out by SFD medics.

How many coho will come to Fauntleroy Creek this year? Drummers, singers welcome them home

That “circle of life” included multiple types of new arrivals during the annual “drum to call the salmon home” event at the Fauntleroy Creek overlook tonight, the eve of the annual watch for coho spawners.

It’s always an all-ages affair, but this time the span included at least four babies. And it included newly arrived West Seattleites – as it wrapped up, a departing family revealed they had just moved here from Texas. Now, the wait is on for more arrivals – the salmon themselves, should they take up the invitation extended by more than 50 who came to drum, sing, and move:

They even came for humor – creek/watershed steward Judy Pickens, who emcees the event year after year, was among those with a joke to tell:

(Sample joke: Why did the salmon cross the creek? To make a deposit in the bank.) Early on, Judy recounted the story of the event’s origins 19 years ago, when “three of us ventured down to the mouth of the creek” and ceremonially made some noise attempting to imitate the slapping sound of the female coho’s tail, creating the space for her eggs. Last year set a record, with 274 spawners counted, more than 100 above the previous record, set in 2001.

Election 2013: Sen. Ed Murray, West Seattle supporters warn that victory ‘is not a done deal’

With nine days until voting ends and vote-counting begins, mayoral candidate State Sen. Ed Murray rallied supporters this afternoon at West Seattle’s Beveridge Place Pub. It was more an appearance to energize supporters than to win new ones; though Murray’s been leading in polls, he and supporters warned that victory “is not a done deal.” Three West Seattle-residing backers – State Rep. Eileen Cody, County Councilmember Joe McDermott, and SEIU 775NW health-care-workers-union president Dave Rolf — spoke for twice as long as Murray’s four-plus minutes; you can see our entire video clip, starting with their speeches, by clicking here, or hit “play” in the window below to skip ahead to what Murray said:

The mayoral hopeful harkened to his West Seattle roots, and singled out a locally hot topic, transportation, as an issue he thinks he can sort out: “We can have a transportation system where we can actually make bicycles, cars, buses, streetcars, pedestrians, all be able to interact … it’s going to take a different vision and a different approach … the ability to think differently about public policy, and not just say, ‘oh, we (already) have a plan for transportation’ …” Among the catch phrases in his remarks: He says he would be a mayor who “doesn’t fight Seattle, but fights for Seattle.” The event concluded with a request for volunteers to work the phones and/or walk the precincts to help “get out the vote.” Murray’s opponent Mayor Mike McGinn is scheduled to campaign in West Seattle next Saturday (November 2nd), with a 2:30 pm “town hall”-style gathering at Delridge Branch Library.

Southwest Seattle Historical Society benefit gala: Preview auction items, including furniture pieces that ‘come with a story’

October 27, 2013 6:45 pm
|    Comments Off on Southwest Seattle Historical Society benefit gala: Preview auction items, including furniture pieces that ‘come with a story’
 |   How to help | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

In that video, furniture from the 100-year-old Alki Point Lighthouse – donated to the Southwest Seattle Historical Society to be auctioned as part of its Tripping the Lighthouse Fantastic” gala on November 9th. And starting now, you can preview other auction items online too – here’s the SWSHS announcement:

For the first time in its history, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society has established an online preview of the exciting items that will be available for bid at its biggest fundraiser of the year, the Champagne Gala Lunch.

Also, for the first time, anyone – attending or not – has the opportunity to bid now on the most unusual items, including two that are too big to bring to the event venue, Salty’s on Alki.

The online auction preview can be found here. At that page, visitors can get an early peek at, and make an early bid on, several unusual items in the silent auction.

Each item has a description plus a photo or short video. Bidding is easy – just one click to e-mail a bid, including credit-card information (name on card, account number, expiration date, security code and zip code) along with the bid.

Here are the major items available for viewing now:

Read More

PACK YOUR BAG! Day 26: More water, and/or an alternative

On a day that began with rain – fittingly, water is the subject of the next installment of what to put in your “Go Bag” kit as we roll into the final days of Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month. The instructions, from West Seattle Be Prepared:

So after the action yesterday to put in bleach to disinfect water – can’t imagine enjoying that taste! – so time to finish up your full stash of water. Today you should add 2 more gallons of water (or 8 liters) per person. This should bring you to 7 gallons or 27 liters per person total. And don’t forget water for your pets.

If the space to store all this water is going to be a problem for you, keep the minimum for 3 days (3 gallons / 11 liters per person) and think ahead about where else you have water that could be used in an emergency. For example, if you are staying in your house but the water supply has been disrupted, you have a large amount of water in your water heater that you can drain.

Need to review (or read for the first time) previous installments? Find them here, in reverse-chronological order. (At month’s end, we’ll also have one big recap.)

Happening now: Little Red Hen Project’s first fundraiser

You still have time to get over to West Seattle Nursery (California/Brandon) and meet the friendly folks working on The Little Red Hen Project – teaching and encouraging backyard farming in eastern West Seattle; they’re raffling off cool items and talking to people about the project, until 4. If you didn’t make it to today’s event – read more about the project and its work at Delridge Community Center by going here.

West Seattleites in the spotlight at Seattle Police Foundation’s annual awards banquet

Congratulations to Ken Wicklund, honored by the Seattle Police Foundation as Community Member of the Year! We were there as he received the award Friday night at the SPF’s 12th annual Police Awards Banquet; he is second from left in our photo. It was almost a year ago that he noticed police scuffling with a suspect in an incident near the old Charlestown Café site; he jumped in to help. Shortly thereafter, he was honored at the precinct (WSB coverage here); Captain Steve Paulsen, who was Southwest Precinct commander when the incident happened, nominated Ken, writing “…It is people like Kenneth who make the City of Seattle a greater community for all. On behalf of the men and women of the Seattle Police Department, thanks for coming to the aid of officers.”

Two other West Seattle civilians in the spotlight Friday night were there to help thank police for what they do:

Karen Berge (left) and Deb Greer from the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network were two of the community members featured in a video – and then “live” – with signs of support for SPD. The SPF video, shown at the banquet, also included WS Block Watch Captains Nancy Calos-Nakano, Mayo Ochiltree, Ron Oldham, and JoDean Edelheit.

The Southwest Precinct Officer of the Year, also honored at the banquet, is Willie Askew (photo at left is courtesy the SPD Photo Unit), honored for “a high level of knowledge, compassion for fellow officers and citizens, and a general command of the job of a police officer.” In particular, Officer Askew was singled out for his work during an incident last January in which an armed man described as “distraught” drove his van up to the gate at the precinct; the situation was defused without anyone being hurt. Also honored for his work during the incident, Officer Greg Traver, who received a Medal of Courage.

P.S. The Seattle Police Foundation, which presents the Awards Banquet, is a nonprofit organization whose president/CEO, Renée Hopkins, is a West Seattleite.

As-it-happened coverage: West Seattle Harvest Festival 2013, from rain to shine!

(Updated: Afternoon screengrab from “live” SDOT camera at California/Alaska)
10:13 AM: From kids in costume to Farmers’ Market shoppers, West Seattleites aren’t letting the showers keep them away from the second annual Harvest Festival, happening now in the streets-closed heart of The Junction until 2 pm. We’re on the east side of the California/Alaska intersection, part of the “WSB x 3” pumpkin-bowling booth with WestSide Baby volunteers and West Seattle Bowl equipment.

More updates as the festival unfolds; full schedule here; bus reroutes here.

10:35 AM UPDATE: Hard to tell if we’re going to get another sunbreak, so you might as well grab the umbrella and come on down. We’re seeing more than a few costumed children here at the bowling booth – and nearby:

(Some costumed grownups have passed by, too!) Up and down California, the Farmers’ Market booths and activity tents are particularly festive, with pumpkins, colorful leaves, and other fall/harvest decorations. Less than an hour until the costume parade; meet at 11:30 at Junction Plaza Park, northwest corner of 42nd/Alaska, and less than half an hour until you can be a chili judge, right across the intersection in front of KeyBank. Live music nearby, courtesy of Nick Moyer:

11:07 AM UPDATE: The harvest theme doesn’t just involve plants – you can check out a few baby farm animals:

Right across the intersection, the chili competition is on! Donations for your “judging” samples (hurry, once they’re out, they’re out) go to the West Seattle Food Bank. The cooks are from eight great West Seattle venues (listed here):

More updates to come – including the costume parade!

11:48 AM UPDATE: There’s a snippet of Instagram video as the West Seattle High School Marching Band led the costume parade, which is just wrapping up after traveling all around the festival. We have the full parade on video and will add it once we’re able to get it uploaded. (Added – here it is! That’s Jim Edwards, West Seattle Grand Parade co-coordinator, on the motorcycle.)

REALLY good crowd here now – the rain has stopped, and we can see some blue sky in the distance!

12:06 PM UPDATE: The sun is back! Unscientific costume-tallying observation, meantime, indicates that “Star Wars” and superheroes are the most popular themes. Construction workers too – particularly topical given this year’s backdrop:

We also found a “minion”:

We’ve also seen a washing machine [photo added below], an airplane, lots of other costumes from simple to ornate … so glad to see everybody out having fun.

12:35 PM UPDATE: By the way, it’s officially trick-or-treat time now that it’s past noon. And if you don’t happen to have your own timekeeping device – don’t let the Jefferson Square clock on the southeast corner of 42nd/Alaska confuse you – it’s an hour fast (and if it’s not fixed by this time next week, it’ll be TWO hours fast, since we “fall back” next Sunday morning at 2 am). Here’s someone who knows something about time:

The festival and Farmers’ Market are on until 2 pm; still time to come down to The Junction.

12:51 PM UPDATE: Just got word that Husky Deli won the chili competition – as voted on by everybody who bought a “flight” of samples from the eight competitors, with proceeds benefiting the WS Food Bank.

Congratulations to Jack Miller and team. Judi Yazzolino from WS Food Bank (at right in the photo with Jack and, at left, Susan Melrose from the festival-presenting WS Junction Association) tells us 150 people donated $10 each to be taster/judges, and more than $200 extra was donated, so the food bank has $1,700 more with which to fight hunger, thanks to Harvest Festival-goers!

1:28 PM UPDATE: Half an hour left – crowd’s still going strong, and we have a line outside the “pumpkin bowling” booth. Lots of other activities here, thanks to great community businesses and organizations:

Among those organizations, the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, which is also handing out flyers for its next big event – the 67th community Pancake Breakfast, coming up December 7th.

2 PM: Festival’s over already! We’ll be adding more photos later – have to roll up the pumpkin-bowling booth first.

9:04 PM: Adding more photos, including some sent by WSB readers. Check back in the morning, as we’ll be adding off and on for the next few hours. First:

Terri Sharp shared the next two photos, and says she’s continuing to add more to her Flickr feed:

Nothing like checking the trick-or-treat bag!

The next two photos are courtesy of Brian Presser from TouchTech Systems in The Junction – first, more candy inspection:

Next, the WSHS Band warming up in the park before the costume parade:

Still adding more!

West Seattle Sunday: Harvest Festival in The Junction; Little Red Hen Project; salmon drumming; more

Click the map to see a full-size version – hope we’ll see you at the second annual West Seattle Harvest Festival in The Junction, today’s biggest (but not only) event:

WEST SEATTLE HARVEST FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:

*Farmers’ Market in the streets (today only!), map shows who’s where, 10 am-2 pm
*20+ fun, free activities in booths/tents on the streets, 10 am-2 pm
*First-ever Chili Competition at SW corner of California/Alaska, 6 competitors (listed in our Thursday preview), about 100 “flights” with samples of each available first-come first-served for $ donation to the West Seattle Food Bank, 11 am
*Costume parade led by the West Seattle High School Marching Band – meet at Junction Plaza Park (NW corner of 42nd/Alaska), 11:30 am
*Business trick-or-treating (don’t forget the businesses north of the festival zone), noon-2 pm

WEST SEATTLE HARVEST FESTIVAL BUS CHANGES, ROAD CLOSURES Two streets are closed; five bus routes are affected – find the official reroutes/stop changes info here.

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and/or Halloween Guide, other highlights:

GEAR SALE: West Seattle-based nonprofit The Service Board is having a winter-gear sale 10 am-2 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center; details in our calendar listing. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

UNDERWATER PUMPKIN CARVING: Marker Buoy Dive Club is carving pumpkins underwater just off the picnic shelter at 63rd and Alki. Carvers meet at 9, divers are briefed at 10 and go in shortly thereafter, with about an hour allotted to carve. Buddy required. Judging help needed (no diving required for this!) around 11:30 am.

THE LITTLE RED HEN PROJECT: A new grass-roots project focused on educational gardens in eastern West Seattle is having its first fundraiser today at West Seattle Nursery. Here’s our preview; starts at 1 pm. (California/Brandon)

WHITE CENTER TRICK-OR-TREAT FESTIVAL: 2-5 pm, trick-or-treating at participating businesses – details on this Facebook event page.

ED MURRAY RALLY: 3-4 pm at Beveridge Place Pub, the first of two mayoral-candidate public appearances scheduled in West Seattle over the next week – State Sen. Ed Murray’s “get out the vote” rally. (6413 California SW)

ALL-AGES OPEN MICROPHONE: 3 pm signups, 4 pm music at Skylark Café and Club. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

HELP CALL THE SALMON HOME: 5 pm, it’s the annual Fauntleroy Creek Overlook gathering to drum, chant, sing, and call the spawning salmon home. Bring your own drum (makeshift or official) if you can, but it’s not mandatory – just be there; all ages welcome. Across the street and up the embankment from the Fauntleroy ferry dock. (Fauntleroy/Director)

GHOST GAME VII: THE WILD HUNT – The Cabiri‘s annual Halloween-season dessert-theater production continues tonight, 8 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center; details and ticket info in our calendar listing. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

For even more of what’s up – check the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Halloween Guide!

West Seattle traffic alert: Harvest Festival street closures, bus changes

October 27, 2013 7:30 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle traffic alert: Harvest Festival street closures, bus changes
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Rain or shine, the Harvest Festival is happening today, 10 am-2 pm in The Junction – and that means street closures and bus changes from now until mid-afternoon:

STREET CLOSURES
*California is closed between Oregon and Edmunds
*Alaska is closed between 44th and 42nd

METRO BUS CHANGES
*Rapid Ride C Line info here
*Route 22 info here
*Route 50 info here
*Route 128 info here
*Route 773 (Water Taxi Shuttle) info here

In addition to other festival activities, remember, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market moves out into the streets – this map shows you where to look for your favorite vendors. More festival info in our “West Seattle Sunday” preview up next – but the key times to remember are:

10 am-2 pm, activities & Farmers’ Market
11 am, chili competition (bring $ for a flight, benefiting West Seattle Food Bank)
11:30 am, costume parade
Noon-2 pm, business trick-or-treating

WSB is among the festival co-sponsors and activity providers – come “bowl” with us, WestSide Baby, and West Seattle Bowl on the east side of the California/Alaska intersection!

West Seattle weekend scene: Maisy and Cookie

‘An Alki Family’ e-mailed that photo to share, explaining:

In the midst of all of the scary news the past few weeks, I thought I would share this photo. We adopted our 8-week=old kitty, Maisy, just two days ago from PAWS animal rescue and it seems that she and our dog, Cookie, have fallen in love.

High-school football: Homecoming win for Seattle Lutheran

#32 in our photo is Seattle Lutheran High School running back Abijah Smith, who scored three of the Saints’ touchdowns as they won their homecoming game against Chief Leschi this afternoon, 46-6. He was also homecoming king – reigning with fellow senior Tori Hammond:

Ahead, more photos and notes from the game at West Seattle Stadium!

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Tomorrow: The Little Red Hen Project is ready to meet you

October 26, 2013 8:43 pm
|    Comments Off on Tomorrow: The Little Red Hen Project is ready to meet you
 |   Gardening | How to help | West Seattle news

Another big event tomorrow – your chance to assist, and find out about, a new program to help turn the Delridge “food desert” into something more like a “food oasis.” Starting at 1 pm at West Seattle Nursery, it’s the first fall fundraiser for The Little Red Hen Project. Jen Dowell explains:

The Little Red Hen Project will provide the underserved Delridge community with a way to grow, maintain, cook, and preserve sustainable back yard food.

We are a new Seattle Tilth fiscally sponsored program located in the heart of the Delridge food desert at the Delridge Community Center. We have begun work at the DCC with the teens program and will continue our progress by encouraging community members to enter our teaching program to learn how to grow their own food. With the support of the Seattle Master Gardeners program, we have access to Seattleites in the Master Gardener program who are completing their volunteer hours by contributing to our need for strong teachers.

This will be going on all Sunday afternoon, so even if you’re going to the Junction Harvest Festival, head a few blocks south afterward. More details on the official Facebook event page for tomorrow’s event.

West Seattle coyotes: Sighting reports, including photos

Four West Seattle coyote reports have come in today – two with photos, starting with the one above, from Kerry Murphy:

We were at Lincoln Park today around noon and a very bold coyote was lurking in the same pretty public spot for about an hour. We were surprised that it was lurking so close to so many people, kids, dogs – it was actually pretty busy there today! It was hanging along the path that runs just west of the gravel path that leads toward the baseball field from the north parking lot.

Stacy saw one on Genesee Hill around 6 tonight:

I was just heading out to walk my dog and saw what I thought was a loose dog running down the middle of 53rd between Genesee and Dakota. [map] At second glance I realized it was a coyote. He ran down the sidewalk, crossed over Dakota and continued down 53rd then turned back and darted into a neighbor’s yard. He must have been hiding out there because my dog started going bananas as we walked down that block. Pet owners in the area, please keep your pets inside!!

Susan photographed the next one in the Forest Lawn Cemetery (WSB sponsor) area east of High Point [map] today:

And Sean sent a sighting report this afternoon:

Just saw a big coyote going down 36th. He/she turned and went down Raymond heading west. [map] Pretty cool. First coyote sighting for me in West Seattle.

We had two holdover reports from earlier in the week – Eve saw one Monday morning at 32nd and Holden (map), “headed south,” while Jeff saw one near 48th/Raymond (map) last Sunday afternoon, “seemed like a juvenile that was not sure where to go.”

What to do if/when you see one? Best thing: Try to scare it off. Other advice/info here; our five-plus years of coyote reports are archived here.

PACK YOUR BAG! Day 25: More small items to tuck in

October 26, 2013 5:52 pm
|    Comments Off on PACK YOUR BAG! Day 25: More small items to tuck in
 |   Preparedness | West Seattle news

That “Go Bag“/kit we’ve been building day by day for Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month is getting more full by the day. But the next items to add are small things you can tuck in around the corners. From West Seattle Be Prepared:

A few more odds and ends to put in your bag today – a small sewing kit, safety pins, a small bottle of liquid dish soap and a small bottle of household chlorine bleach. The bleach has two purposes – you can use plain common bleach to eliminate bacterial contaminants in water. The general rule is 8 drops of chlorine bleach (must be common bleach, not scented, not color-safe) per gallon of water and then let sit for 30 minutes. This will kill many, but not all, disease-causing organisms. The second use is as a disinfectant, for surfaces that might be contaminated. For those of you who backpack, you can throw in water-purification tablets instead.

If you’re wondering what this is all about – or just getting started/catching up – the previous installments are all in our archive of preparedness-related stories, newest to oldest, Day 24 to Day 1; find them here.

West Seattle Weather Watch: After the fog, some wind

The National Weather Service has a “special weather statement” out for our area, expecting things to get breezy, maybe even windy, late in the day tomorrow and on into Monday. Here’s the full text of the alert. The NWS isn’t predicting HIGH wind – likely 15-25 mph with possible gusts to about 40 – but it’ll be coming out of the north, which the NWS describes as rare. On the bright side, the conditions that are expected to bring this breeziness are the ones that have finally sent away the seemingly endless (yet lovely at times) fog.

SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: Here’s the newest version of the “special weather statement” – still the same basic outlook, some wind (but NOT windstorm level) out of the north kicking up this afternoon, strongest along the shoreline.

West Seattle weekend scenes: Mini Monster Dash-ers

We missed the 5K that started this morning’s second annual West Seattle Monster Dash, but got to Lincoln Park in time to see some of the little ones readying for the kid dashes that followed.

Three more photos ahead:
Read More

Congratulations to new Eagle Scout Spencer Schulz

(Spencer Schulz with parents Bryan and Regina)
17-year-old Spencer Schulz of West Seattle is now an Eagle Scout – and his family has shared the announcement in a unique format: It was written by his younger brother Reece Schulz, 13, who proud mom Regina tells us is historian for his troop:

In the first grade, scouting became a major part of Spencer Schulz’s life. As a Cub Scout, with the help of his den leader, mentor, and current scoutmaster, Mr. Grueter, he was led in the way of scouting.

In the sixth grade, Spencer became a Boy Scout for Troop 282. Over the years, Spencer has achieved all the ranks in scouting, including the highest rank, Eagle Scout. With myriad extra-curricular activities such as rowing, where Spencer raced at the US Nationals and got first in light-weight men’s four, baking, bicycling, more than 100 service hours, and altar-serving at church, he definitely has had a full plate, but still manages to put time in for scouting and being on the president’s list for school.

Spencer now goes to school at Seattle Prep and is looking forward to the new experience of college and is striving for all three palms in scouting. All in all, Spencer looks forward to helping further our society.

High-school football: Chief Sealth ends regular season with win

October 26, 2013 12:48 pm
|    Comments Off on High-school football: Chief Sealth ends regular season with win
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

This week’s high-school football games are stretching across three days – the West Seattle HS Wildcats‘ homecoming game was Thursday (WSB coverage here), the Seattle Lutheran HS Saints‘ homecoming game is less than an hour away, and last night, the Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks wrapped up their regular season with a win on the road – 28-6 over Ingraham. They finish third in the Metro League Sound Division, per our partners at The Seattle Times.

Happening now at West Seattle Thriftway: Kids’ Halloween party; White Center Food Bank donation drive

October 26, 2013 12:06 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening now at West Seattle Thriftway: Kids’ Halloween party; White Center Food Bank donation drive
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

A chance to get and a chance to give, right now at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor). Art projects and treats are what kids can get during the store’s annual Halloween Party, continuing until 1 pm in the deli dining area (one of today’s featured activities in the WSB West Seattle Halloween Guide). And then, as part of Thriftway’s month-long hunger-fighting campaign, the White Center Food Bank is on hand for donations until 3 pm:

West Seattle Thriftway is at California/Morgan/Fauntleroy in Morgan Junction.

Election 2013: Mayor candidates plan West Seattle visits

Hasn’t been much campaigning on this side of the bay during this year’s race for Seattle Mayor – some quiet fundraisers, only one public forum (WSB coverage, with video, here). But both candidates have sent word they’re headed this way in the next week:

SEN. ED MURRAY: “Get Out the Vote” rally, all invited, 3-4 pm tomorrow (Sunday, October 27th) at Beveridge Place Pub. The Murray campaign says local supporters including King County Councilmember Joe McDermott and State Rep. Eileen Cody will be there.

MAYOR MIKE McGINN: He’s on a pre-election town-hall tour, with a West Seattle stop next Saturday (November 2nd), 2:30 pm at Delridge Branch Library.

Remember that ballots are due November 5th, and the county will have dropoff vans at West Seattle Stadium and in Greenbridge in White Center; addresses and hours (the days are Nov. 2, 4, and 5) are on this King County Elections infopage.