West Seattle, Washington
13 Monday
Two photos to share (click either/both for larger views):
From pilot/photographer Long Bach Nguyen, a view of the Admiral District, looking north to Elliott Bay, this Friday – note Hiawatha at lower right.
Meantime, Machel Spence, who often shares closeup looks at tiny marvels, wonders if you can guess what this is:
Her only clue: She took the photo Saturday at Village Green Perennial Nursery (WSB sponsor), where she says her photo cards will soon be sold.
Just a few notes from the calendar as the holiday weekend continues:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: No holiday here! 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska as always. Market managers are touting tomatoes as among the new arrivals this week.
VEGETABLE STAND: Organic gardener Marguerite Lynch and family are selling some of their harvest at 44th/Hill, 10:30 am-1 pm, with half the proceeds to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank.
BENEFIT BEERFEST: West Seattle Nursery is selling beer and hot dogs starting at 1 pm today to benefit team member Ingrid Nokes as she fights breast cancer.
MUSIC IN THE GARDEN: Village Green Perennial Nursery (WSB sponsor) is hosting Sawesome, live music including banjo, autoharp, and saws, 1 pm, 10223 26th SW.
WS COOKING CLUB, SUNDAY SESSION: Been meaning to check out the West Seattle Cooking Club, but unable to make their usual Monday afternoon meeting times? Here’s your chance. Today, they’re meeting 1-3 pm at Beveridge Place Pub, with the theme “Picnic Food”; you bring yours, and try theirs.
1:13 AM: Very busy night for police in West Seattle, and they’re investigating another incident now – a rollover crash on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge. According to scanner traffic, police have found the crashed vehicle – but no one inside; two people may have taken off.
(Scene where victims were found, 23rd/Andover, photo via Twitter from @salishseagirl)
1:15 AM UPDATE: One “patient” is said to have been found near the bridge, in Pigeon Point.
1:24 AM UPDATE: One of the fire engines on this call is now asking for ambulances for TWO patients.
1:43 AM UPDATE: Via Twitter, Cheryl reports both patients on stretchers and going into the ambulances.
(Police on 16th, north of Roxbury, south of the reported crime scene)
10:33 PM: Police are searching right now in South Delridge for a suspect in what was reported to be a robbery. We don’t have full details yet but we have gone to the scene and can confirm a heavy police presence, including K-9 teams. The scanner indicates one person is being detained and another being sought. More as we get it.
10:44 PM UPDATE: Police at the scene are not saying much but do confirm one person is being questioned and another being sought. They say two people went into a business in the 9400 block of 16th SW and one of them showed a gun; the details of the reported robbery are still being sorted out. No injuries reported; no description made available to us for the person who’s being sought.
At West Seattle’s only cemetery, Forest Lawn (WSB sponsor) east of High Point, Memorial Day weekend is a busy time, as people come to pay tribute to loved ones lost. Flags and crosses mark hundreds of veterans’ graves; some were still being set out while we were there this morning.
More-personal tributes mark others.
Throughout Memorial Day weekend, Forest Lawn has a tent not far from the Sylvan Way entrance, with maps so that visitors can get help finding specific gravesites if need be. It will also be the site of the traditional Memorial Day service on Monday, 2 pm, in conjunction with West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160.
When we caught up with Mountain to Sound Outfitters and Alki Kayak Tours proprietor Greg Whittaker at his new on-the-beach rental stand around 4 pm, he said it had been a busy day – so busy, all the stand-up paddleboards were out between his two waterfront locations, except the one with which he posed! Perfect day for a debut, given that both the weather and the crowd gave Alki a bit of a Venice Beach veneer. The M2S setup also includes other beachgoing supplies – sunscreen, water bottles, hats:
Other sports equipment will be phased in at the rental stand, on the sand at 55th SW.
Last month, during the West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) customer-appreciation celebration, the store raffled off a $500 Western Family shopping spree, with ticket sales benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank. Not only did that bring in $400 for the food bank, says Michele from Thriftway, there’s a winner, and she says they’re hoping for a cheering section – 10 am Tuesday (May 29), just show up at the store (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan).
Tomorrow he dedicates a brand-new building – but today, Fr. Jack Walmesley from Our Lady of Guadalupe was in a hockey jersey at Barnes & Noble/Westwood, right after reading a hockey-themed story during the OLG School Bookfair. We just missed his turn reading, but we did catch another celebrity reader:
That’s Brian Callanan from Seattle Channel, also a familiar face at OLG. While today is the official Bookfair day, with events till 4 pm, purchases made with the special code #10749117 at any B&N, or online, benefit the school through May 30th (next Wednesday).
It’s a beautiful day for that once-every-so-often car wash, and the only charity car wash we’ve heard of in West Seattle today is this one …the WSHS Class of 2012 raising money for Grad Night, the post-graduation all-night extravaganza meant to keep the new grads safe while they’re out celebrating. Because it’s extensively planned and managed, it costs $, and fundraisers like this one are paying for “scholarships” for those who might otherwise be shut out. The car wash continues till 3 pm at West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor), 35th/Webster.
SIDE NOTE: The car wash is one of a long list of WSHS events and news notes that you can find on the comprehensive Westside Weekly newsletter, linked from the school website at the end of each week – see the latest edition here.
(Photo courtesy St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church)
St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in West Seattle is playing host to a special “visitor” this weekend and invites you to come see it tomorrow:
St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California Ave SW) will be blessed by the presence of a Resurrection Icon which is making a tour of churches of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia. St. John’s is fortunate to be one of only 7 or 8 churches to welcome it. The icon was commissioned for the St. Petersburg Seattle Sister Church Program, was “written” by Russian iconographer Yakov Prokofiev, blessed by Metropolitan Vladimir, and brought to Seattle in August, 2011, by an Orthodox seminarian. The Icon represents Jesus standing over the broken gates of Hell, lifting Adam and Eve out of their graves with kings and prophets and patriarchs looking on. Jesus has bridged the boundary of time and space. God’s home is among mortals and nothing will keep God out of our presence or separate us from the love of God through Christ Jesus. It is a deep privilege to be able to spend some time with this icon, a window into the heart of God, especially on the Day of Pentecost. All are welcome to attend services (8 and 10:15 am) or to view the icon between services 9 – 10 or from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm.
Just got an answer to one of tne of the last questions regarding privatized liquor sales in West Seattle. Our inquiry to Ankur Patel, who had won the auction for the right to get a license at the current state-run store location at Westwood Village, says he does indeed plan to operate the store and expects to open on Friday (the first day liquor privatization takes full effect). He tells WSB, “In the short term it will be business as usual. I hope to bring in a diverse array of products for our patrons over time.” The state announced last week it will close that store and West Seattle’s other state-run store, in The Junction, after Tuesday; as reported here earlier this week, building owner Leon Capelouto plans to reopen that one on Friday. (More on the liquor-sales transition later this weekend.)
(Another ‘Heron-zilla’ photo! This great blue heron was atop Marcia‘s garage near West Seattle Golf Course)
Happy holiday weekend! From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:
PADDLEBOARD RENTALS ON THE BEACH: Mountain to Sound Rentals soft-launches today with stand-up paddleboard rentals right on the beach at Alki, 55th/Alki SW, with other rental items to be added later. Details in our earlier report.
BUSINESS ANNIVERSARY: Tram’s Salon is marking one year at 4110 California SW, with discount haircuts, snacks, cake, and gifts, 9 am-7 pm today and tomorrow.
(Added photo, taken just as the e-cycling event was beginning, 10 am)
ELECTRONICS RECYCLING: 10 am-3 pm, Friendly Earth is at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) in Admiral – our preview points you to info on what they’ll take and what they won’t.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SCHOOL BOOKFAIR AT B&N: At Westwood Village Barnes & Noble, 10 am-4 pm, it’s a Bookfair to benefit Our Lady of Guadalupe School. Make any purchase there – or online or at another B&N – through 5/30 and use the special code that’s in the event-calendar listing, and part of the proceeds benefit the school. Also during today’s Bookfair, “surprise readers from (the) school community” on the hour/half-hour.
WSHS GRAD NIGHT CAR WASH: 10:30 am-3 pm, go get your vehicle washed to benefit West Seattle High School‘s safe-graduation-night activities. Car wash is at West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor), 7501 35th SW.
FILIPINO FOOD FESTIVAL: Alki Lodge invites you to their Filipino Food Festival tonight, 5-8 pm, with proceeds benefiting community outreach (4736 40th SW).
LIVE MUSIC: Tonight’s scheduled shows include Neil Young tunes by Melanie and David at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm … Those Guys with special guests Wrecking Yard, 9 pm, Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) …
It’s reunion season! For the Chief Sealth High School Class of 1972, this year marks their milestone 40th class reunion, and while it’s not until September 22nd, they’re getting a jump on things by looking for classmates they haven’t heard from in a while – maybe you know what happened to one (or more) of them. First, the reunion details: Saturday, September 22nd, 2 pm school tour, then the reunion activities 5 pm-midnight at Rainier Golf and Country Club (11133 Des Moines Memorial Drive S.) You can join the Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/Seahawks1972. Click ahead for the list of missing classmates:Read More
(Photo by DC)
A sunset to remember, after that crazy out-of-the-blue (and gray) evening downpour … more people have e-mailed to share sunset photos than we’ve seen in a while – thank you! This one had it all – dramatic clouds, splashes of color … and Alki was the place to see it:
(Photo by Cheryl Nellis of Cnellis Photography)
Here’s another view with the Bremerton ferry passing Alki …
(Photo by Valerie)
And even without the color, the Olympic Mountains made for a beautiful show …
(Photo by Debra Salazar Herbst)
But then – some of them were suddenly gone in the clouds:
(Photo by Russ Walker)
Thank you to everyone who shared sunset views. Photos welcome, from weather to wildlife to breaking news to events to … any time: editor@westseattleblog.com (or via the WSB Facebook page).
Four West Seattle Crime Watch reports from the past few days – one prowling report, one burglary, and two car break-ins, all reported by WSB’ers. Read on for their firsthand reports:Read More
7:18 PM: At Highland Park Way and Othello, a few trees came down – apparently concurrent with the downpour about an hour ago – and right now, one downhill lane is closed.
7:33 PM UPDATE: Cleanup crew is on scene. Photos added.
ORIGINAL 6:31 PM REPORT: A large Fire Department response has headed for Alki Point in response to a reported boat fire. So far, though, they’re not finding anything.
6:41 PM UPDATE: Per scanner, the Coast Guard has found a boat that had a small fire “put out by occupants.”
7:22 PM UPDATE: Beach Drive Blog has published a photo of what looks like the boat in question getting a tow or escort.
7:30 PM UPDATE: Our crew is back at HQ and we’ve added their photo atop the story. No injuries reported in all this, by the way.
Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark is famous far and wide for his suits – especially the bright blue one. He wore something darker to get dunked during a school carnival in honor of the recent state-mandated testing (same round for which they made another “inspirational music video”). Patricia Rangel from Denny shares the photo, and this report:
To celebrate the best performance of the students during the MSP, the Washington State Exams, the Denny International Middle School Staff hosted a school-wide carnival including dance, face-painting, and dunk booth. Principal Jeff Clark took his turn in full suit and tie while students aimed fire at the bullseye. Last year Denny International 8th graders saw more growth in their MSP scores in math than any other middle school in the city. They are expecting similar results this August when the 2012 scores are announced.
If you live near the Highland Park home where longtime community advocate Martha Mallett and son Brian escaped from a fire in early May, you’ve probably already seen this – but in case you were among those who came to the post-fire neighborhood benefit from other parts of West Seattle, a neighbor sent us this photo to share, to be sure everyone who helped knows they’re appreciated. (We haven’t heard how the fire survivors are doing now, but we’re checking.)
As first reported by Beach Drive Blog yesterday, Seattle Police have finally set the date for the Beach Drive safety walk they have been promising. Southwest Precinct Operations 
Lt. Pierre Davis has just confirmed that the safety walk will be at 6:30 pm next Friday, June 1st. He explains, “This will be an opportunity for police, other city agencies and the Alki /Beach Drive community to partner, walk and discuss crime prevention topics and strategies relating to their neighborhood. We will muster at Emma Schmitz Park and canvas a portion of Beach Drive, completing our walk at Me Kwa Mooks Park.” The area, of course, has been under scrutiny since the as-yet-unsolved murder of 51-year-old Greggette Guy in March, whose car was found at Emma Schmitz, across from Me-Kwa-Mooks, where her family says she had gone to take a walk the night before her body was found in the water half a mile north. In the weeks since, Seattle Parks has cleared some of the shrubbery blocking street visibility at the viewpoint, and Parks Superintendent Christopher Williams has spoken to the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council about overall park safety.
(Photo by Hal Tangen)
As Seattle Public Utilities‘ massive new South Transfer Station has gone up just east of West Seattle, on the west side of South Park, it’s brought double takes and questions – especially when a paint problem caused its partial dismantling last year – and photos. Today, the city announced it’s finally about to open. Mayor McGinn and City Councilmembers Jean Godden and Richard Conlin are scheduled to dedicate it next Wednesday morning. From the media advisory, some factoids you might not know about it:
Features of the New South Transfer Station:
Reduced dust due to a misting system that can also be used to reduce odors.
A rainwater collection system that stores rain in a cistern to be used for washing.
Automated weigh-and-pay station for better efficiency, shorter lines and wait times.
Increased safety inside the station for customers and employees; a separate entrance for commercial collection trucks for added safety and efficiency.
Hydraulic compactors to optimize loads for efficiency.
High-quality architecture that meets the gold standard in environmental design.
Public art that features salvaged street signs and parts from the old South Park Bridge. Other artwork made from recycled plastic forks and spoons.
Niches for station staff to display “interesting items” that are found in the trash.
A viewing room for tour groups, individuals to safely see the activity on the sorting floor.
If you haven’t seen it yet, the station is on South Kenyon right alongside Highway 509.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
A letter to families, or a news release, only says so much – so after news came in Thursday afternoon about the new principal hired for West Seattle’s most populous elementary school, Lafayette in the Admiral District, we asked for a chance to speak with her.
The announcement of Shauna Heath‘s hiring pointed out that she is a West Seattleite.
Not only does she live here, she told WSB in a Thursday-evening phone conversation, she lives less than a mile from the school she will be leading as of July 1st.
“My child said, ‘We could ride our bikes to school together'” if she worked close to home, instead of in Kent, where Heath has been principal of Sunrise Elementary for two years. (Her son is an Alki Elementary first-grader right now.)
Making a school community also feel like a “home”/”family” community is one of the goals Heath says she has strived for, wherever she has worked.
Summer weekend with lots of events – and that means SDOT has created a list of the events that are drawing crowds around the city and potentially affecting traffic. It’s just arrived; read on!Read More
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