West Seattle, Washington
01 Tuesday
For those hoping to glimpse a never-again-in-this-lifetime sight, the sunbreak Tuesday afternoon was almost a miracle. As Jamie Kinney, who shared the photo above, put it, “With all of the clouds, I thought it was unlikely that I could capture a photo of Venus passing between Earth and the Sun … Fortunately, there was a sun break for about 30 seconds and I was able to capture the photos which I have published in my web gallery.”
The official West Seattle viewing event, meantime, was of course at Solstice Park, with NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen.
(Photo by Jason Ayres Gift Enevoldsen)
She says, “We got three sun breaks.The first two were very short. The last was almost 10 minutes long, and quite rewarding. Almost 30 people came, and all but about 5 managed to be there during one of the sun breaks.” Above, part of the crowd – see more on her website, Alice’s Astro Info. The next “Venus transit” is not due until 2117.
(Photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
34th District State Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon had ample reason to smile tonight. Not only did other local political leaders including King County Executive Dow Constantine turn out for his re-election campaign kickoff at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center tonight, Rep. Fitzgibbon, a Burien Democrat, is running unopposed, since no one else filed for the position. (Our area’s senior State Rep. Eileen Cody does have an opponent this time around, Vashon Democrat William Giammarese; the primary this year is August 7th, and the general election is November 6th.)
10:55 PM: We’ve received a few reports of a loud explosion-type sound within the past hour; fire crews went to the Ercolini Park area but cleared out fairly quickly, and now they’re in that area again. (minutes later) The second crew has not found any signs of a fire or other problem, so they’re clearing out too.
11:13 PM: Our crew went to the areas that fire crews responded to – no fire, no police, nothing going on. (added) We’re checking with the precinct, but in the meantime, commenters here and on Facebook say it appears to have been something set off in the Ercolini Park porta-potty.
11:31 AM WEDNESDAY: Confirmed by SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore – “At 9:48 p.m. Engine Company 32 responded to reports of port a potty fire in the alley near the park at 48th Avenue SW/ SW Alaska Street. The firefighters did not find a fire but discovered fireworks set off inside the port a potty. At 10:50 p.m. Engine Company 32 responded to 4500 block of 48th Avenue SW to reports of an explosion at the park near the port a potty. A caller said it sounded like an M80. There was no fire at this scene. The Fire Investigators were notified of both incidents.”
Today’s low-low tide brought some great noontime sights – we’ve received some excellent photos and took a few ourselves (plus we have a few awesome WSB’er-contributed holdovers from yesterday). We’ll be adding to these a little later in the evening but are starting with three from Gary Jones – wildlife catching, or seeking, lunch!
Today’s tide was the lowest, but tomorrow will still be fairly low, at -3.4 just before 1 pm.
More photos to come – and thanks again to everyone who has shared. ADDED 7:42 PM: The next two photos are by WSB’s Patrick Sand – we were out on the beach by Luna/Anchor Park:
The pilings beneath the park overlook – where the former Luna Park amusement park’s swimming pool used to be:
Laurie shared a photo of the Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists mustering by Constellation Park:
(They’ll be out at Constellation and Lincoln Parks again tomorrow, 11 am-2:30 pm.) And from Jim Clark, taken on Monday – a mystery creature (do YOU know what it is?):
As noted in comments, Jim has a gallery here. And more of others’ low-tide photos are in the WSB Flickr group pool (tidepool?) – see them here. (
More proof that apartments are the hot building trend right now. We just learned the Southwest Design Review Board is scheduled to meet June 28th to review a proposed 3-story, 30-unit apartment building at 3829 California (map). The site now holds the two one-story brick multiplexes you see in our photo above; last summer, it was sold for $1,000,000. The design-review meeting is set for 6:30 pm Thursday, June 28th, at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon).
2:45 PM, FIRST REPORT: We’re en route to a crash scene in Highland Park – a vehicle rollover reported at 15th/Holden, just east of the central HP commercial zone at 16th/Holden. No injuries reported so far. More to come.
2:56 PM UPDATE: As you can see from the photo we added, it’s actually on its side, on the sidewalk, along the eastbound side of SW Holden, closer to 14th SW. The driver was not seriously hurt, we are told. It’s a bit of a traffic distraction, eastbound, but a tow truck should be there soon.
Several news notes about the Duwamish Tribe, whose Longhouse is in West Seattle – It’s announced two upcoming benefits, one this Sunday afternoon (June 10) for its participation in this year’s “Paddle from Seattle” (details here), and a big dinner/art auction gala on June 30th (details here). Plus, a performance group of Duwamish youth, TilibSedeb (Singing Feet), is one of the 10 recipients of the 2012 Mayor’s Arts Awards, announced today. The full news release about that – also featuring the other nine recipients – is ahead:Read More
12:01 PM: Thanks to the WSB’er who just called to let us know about this crash – a car off the road, and pole knocked down, by Walking on Logs along the west end of the westbound West Seattle Bridge. Fire units have responded; we don’t know yet about injuries, but this is likely to cause some backup on the bridge, so if you are just about to leave downtown or other points east, heading this way, use the Admiral exit instead.
1:48 PM NOTE: The SDOT camera was frozen at 12:12 pm so we can’t tell what’s up at the scene right now – but traffic was getting by, albeit slowly, when we were in the area shortly afterward – here’s the view from the pedestrian overpass, looking north toward the scene:
Information isn’t available yet on whether anyone was hurt.
4:11 PM UPDATE: After hearing a report that the pole knockdown could affect streetlights beyond the one at the pullout, we checked with Seattle City Light. Spokesperson Scott Thomsen says crews won’t know for sure till after dark tonight, so they will be out looking. Meantime, members of the volunteer group that recently installed landscaping at Walking on Logs will be investigating to see if the crash damaged any of their work.
ADDED TUESDAY NIGHT: SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore tells WSB that firefighters checked out two women “who were out of the car by the time firefighters arrived … they declined treatment or transport.”
Today WSB welcomes a new sponsor, RN Patient Advocates of the Pacific Northwest.
The health-care system has become a difficult place to navigate and few know that better than nurses. Debra Nicholls, RN, has been providing expert nursing care and advocacy in hospitals, home care and hospice throughout the Seattle area for more than 25 years and with her new business would like to empower you and your family with the knowledge and resources you need. Locally owned and founded by this Westwood area resident, RN Patient Advocates of the PNW is a affiliated member of RN Patient Advocates, your health-care safety net™, the dynamic national network of independent trained clinical nurse advocates. A skilled RN advocate can act as a vital instrument in the optimal delivery of safe, patient centered care. Advocates provide crisis intervention, timely support and resources when and where you need them for yourself or a family member. Whether you are caring for an elderly family member, dealing with an acute or chronic illness, planning a surgery, or various other medical situations, you may benefit from the services of an RN Advocate. An advocate can protect your rights and safety, research and educate you about all your treatment options and advocate in your behalf with all your medical providers, making sure they all have the same, complete and timely information they need.
Debra has a broad clinical background, from her early years in neonatal, pediatric and adult intensive care, but found her most favorite roles in home health and hospice due to the more patient and family focused care. She is passionate about informed choice and empowerment, health care should not be one size fits all. She can serve clients at all walks of life, from children to seniors. As a mother and a caregiver for her parent, she knows well the health-care system from both sides. To round out her years of bedside advocacy, she completed RN Patient Advocate training to develop her own independent practice. Debra is also actively seeking to partner with other members of the health-care community dedicated to wellness and holistic care.
RN Patient Advocates of the Pacific Northwest, PLLC serves the greater Seattle area. The first step is a free phone consultation to see if the service would be a fit for you – call 206-429-5243. RN Patient Advocates of the PNW is a member of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, an affiliated member of the National Network of RN Patient Advocates, and a member of Advoconnection.
We thank RN Patient Advocates of the Pacific Northwest for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
(WSB photo of last year’s ‘Best in Show’ at the West Seattle Junction Car Show)
An update from Liberty Bell Print and Design‘s Michael Hoffman, organizer of the West Seattle Junction Car Show (co-sponsored by WSB) – this year’s information is now online, along with the application for those who would like to be part of it. Remember that, as reported here back in April, this year the eligibility expands – including the addition of motorcycles! The show is set for 8 am-4 pm on Sunday, September 16th; find the application and other information on the official WSJCS website.
Fauntleroy Creek‘s 2012 salmon-fry-release season is over – already! (Seems like just yesterday we were there for the first one of the season.) The photo is courtesy of Tara Slinden, forwarded by creek steward Judy Pickens, who explains:
West Seattle Elementary fifth-grader Eqra Mahamed took great delight in feeling the coho fry in her cup during a field trip to Fauntleroy Creek in May. She helped rear the fish, from eggs to fry, through the Salmon in the School program. Volunteers with the Fauntleroy Watershed Council led 16 field trips during which 560 students, preschool through seventh grade, released 2,500 fry to cap their study of salmon, habitat, and stewardship.
Each spring, volunteers also track the outbound salmon smolt, and expect to have this year’s final report soon. Then in the fall, the salmon are welcomed home – most years, with a special ceremony (here’s our 2011 coverage).
Though the weather is gray, local gardens are bright – so here’s the orange peony blooming in Paul Francis‘s West Seattle backyard, which he and his wife found so striking, they wanted to share the photo. (Thank you!) On with the rain-or-shine daily highlights – after one more photo:
LOW-LOW-LOW TIDE: Even lower than yesterday (which is when Monty photographed those mussels – thanks!) – today, it’s down to -3.8 at 12:05 pm; beach naturalists will be out at Constellation and Lincoln Parks starting at 10 this morning.
TRANSIT OF VENUS VIEWING: If the sun gives a hint of appearing, so that we’d be able to see Venus crossing (but don’t look AT the sun!) you should be able to find NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen at Solstice Park – details are on her website.
TUESDAY NIGHT VOLUNTEER FRENZY @ WESTSIDE BABY: 5:30-7:30 pm tonight – our recent story on WS Baby’s added volunteer opportunities includes info on how to pitch in.
LIVE ART BASH: At Mind Unwind in the Admiral District. 6-9 pm – don’t work on your project/idea alone, come collaborate/co-conspire!
DELRIDGE PRODUCE COOPERATIVE TRIVIA NIGHT @ SKYLARK: $5 suggested donation to help DPC work toward a healthy-food store on Delridge. And of course, the trivia topic is … food! 6:30 pm at Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge Way SW).
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL PTSA: Last meeting of the year for the WSHS PTSA; join them for a look back and ahead, 7 pm, school library.
MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL CONCERT: Madison has two concerts this week – first up, the band performs tonight in the school commons (45th/Spokane), 7 pm.
Even more (for today/tonight, and beyond!) on the calendar.
(Photo by Dave Howard, courtesy West Seattle Running Club)
Notice something suddenly more visible on the Alki Trail? The West Seattle Running Club has repainted its mileage markers. Club member Melissa Ransdell shares this report:
The mileage markers along the outside edge of the Alki Trail are now easier for runners, walkers and others to spot. Members of the West Seattle Running Club recently repainted them. Four miles of trail are accurately marked off in quarter mile increments beginning at the start of the paved trail on Alki Avenue, continuing north around Harbor Avenue, then heading east under the West Seattle Bridge. The four-mile mark is just before Chelan Café.
The markers were first installed in the late ’90s by West Seattle Running Club members, using an engineer’s wheel for accuracy, to make it easier to calculate distance and pace. City of Seattle provided permission and Salty’s funded the cost of the initial materials. Club members donate time and materials to keep them maintained.
Joggers and runners who are 40 years old and over and looking for year-round motivation and support are encouraged to check out West Seattle Running Club. Newcomers who can jog at least three miles at any pace are welcome. Meet members and learn more on Sunday mornings at 8:30 at the Statue of Liberty (the ¼ mile mark on the Alki Trail) or at www.westseattlerunningclub.org.
The Admiral District‘s business association, led by president Parris Sadow of Atomic Boys, is sailing full speed ahead. We have toplines from the group’s meeting this afternoon at the Heartland Café‘s Benbow Room:
SLOGAN: It’s finally official, and was announced at this afternoon’s meeting – “Welcome Aboard.” This was chosen following several months of discussion and brainstorming. (You can even see it on the Admiral District Facebook page.)
EVENTS: A draft list of events circulated at the meeting included both proposed Admiral District participation in events/activities organized by other groups – most notably, tabling at the Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series (co-sponsored by WSB), Thursday nights 7/26-8/30 (seen the lineup yet?) – and also new Admiral District events. One that you can mark on your calendar already: August 11th, the Admiral District Sidewalk Sale. They’re also starting to plan for the fall holidays too – including the always-popular Treats and Treasures Halloween event.
ART WALK: Admiral District businesses want to be sure you know some of them participate in the West Seattle Art Walk too – it’s not just “a Junction thing,” so they’ll be raising their profile. At today’s meeting, they heard from Art Walk planning committee members including John Smersh of Click! Design That Fits (Junction business formerly located in Admiral, WSB sponsor), Lora Swift of Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), Susan Melrose from the West Seattle Junction Association, and WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand. Next Art Walk is June 14, 6-9 pm!
Since door-to-door solicitors are often a hot topic here, we thought you might be interested in a news release sent today by State Attorney General Rob McKenna‘s office in Olympia. No specific companies named, but a general warning about the “door-to-door magazine sellers from out of state”: Read More
While we have been publishing obituaries on WSB for a while, this is a first – a request to publish a tribute on the anniversary of someone’s passing. It is also shared as a message of gratitude to the community, so here’s what Barb Fuda‘s widower Bob and his family want to say:
In Memory of Barb Fuda
Today marks the one-year Anniversary of the passing of my wife Barb. It’s hard to believe she has been gone a whole year. She is truly missed by all who knew her and loved her so much, but we all
know she is in a better place knowing all the pain she was in during her final days.
My family and I would like to take a moment to say Thank You for all your kind words and all the love, support and prayers that have been given to us over the last year. It lifts our hearts whenever we see Barb’s Bench at Safeway or the Lafayette playground because we know her spirit lives on.
Our love and thanks goes out to you all,
Bob, Melissa, Tim, Whitney, Luke, Little Conner, and the rest of my family
The little photo shows little Conner on “Barb’s bench,” which is inside the new Admiral Safeway, as shown in our coverage from its opening day last August. That was two months after Ms. Fuda’s life was cut short by cancer; she had worked at the old Admiral Safeway for more than 40 years.
This Friday night, West Seattle High School senior Fatuma Ali would love to see you at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – where she is presenting a benefit to help people in need, half a world away. Fatuma has organized an evening of food, entertainment, and storytelling to raise money to help provide clean water and food for East African refugees. She tells her story in this interview on the Power of Hope website – explaining that the region is facing its worst drought in more than half a century, threatening water and food supplies, yet it’s not getting much attention. You can help her make up for that by coming to Youngstown (4408 Delridge Way SW) 6-9 pm Friday (June 8th), admission $5 youth/students, $10 adults.
New information just in regarding the story first reported here on Sunday night – a plant purchased by Ian Stawicki at West Seattle Nursery last Wednesday between the time he shot six people, five fatally, in North Seattle and on First Hill, and the time he shot himself in West Seattle. Seattle Public Schools has released a statement by the recipient, who is publicly identifying herself as a North Admiral resident who is a former teacher of his. This is the entirety of what we have received from SPS:
Statement from Patricia Guenther:
When I arrived at my home from work on Wednesday evening, May 30, I discovered a bag containing a blueberry plant and seed packets from the West Seattle Nursery, along with a pre-printed commercial thank you card (not personalized or signed) in a bag on my porch. I live in the North Admiral area of West Seattle.
There was no identifying information on the items and I did not know who left them there. I later learned that these items were purchased by Ian Stawicki, the shooter in the recent North Seattle and First Hill shootings, who was a former student of mine.
I have not had contact with Ian Stawicki since he was in my Summit K-12 School classroom almost 25 years ago, and I was surprised to learn that he was the source of the bag that was left on my porch.
I was in communication with the Seattle Police Department and the items were turned over to them.
No person, no neighborhood, no community is immune to being touched by tragedy. Please be compassionate with each other as we each process this recent heartbreaking event in our city in our own way.
I have no additional information and I ask that the media please respect my privacy.
SPS says she has requested that she not be contacted for interviews, and WSB will honor that request. Meantime, we asked Seattle Police today for any information they have regarding where else Stawicki went in West Seattle on Wednesday afternoon; Det. Mark Jamieson says they have nothing to release so far, but it remains an open investigation. P.S. Summit, in northeast Seattle, was closed by the district in 2009.
Three hours and 61 laps around the Pathfinder K-8 field on Pigeon Point are in the books for the school’s PE teacher, Lou Cutler, in his annual fundraising run for Make-A-Wish (donation link here), for which he’s also a volunteer (2 years ago, we photographed him as a little boy’s wish came true here in West Seattle). One of the remarkable things we’ve noticed while covering this the past few years is that it’s not even remotely all about Lou – we heard shouts of “WE did it!” from some of his young running partners. Our video above captured the last part of the last lap, and the celebration afterward. Next thing Lou did? Got some of the students to pose for a photo, waving their bright green slips (on which laps were checked off). Only THEN did he pose too.
Luckie shares that photo from the beach at Constellation Park south of Alki Point, the most popular tidewalking spot during this morning’s low-low tide – we drove by around noon and noted school buses from Mercer Island, Issaquah, and Seattle districts. (Further south, we noted a Highline bus across from Me-Kwa-Mooks.) On West Seattle’s north-facing shore, we stopped for a look at the stubs of pilings where the Luna Park amusement park stood a century ago:
Here’s a Luna Park photo from the Seattle Municipal Archives:
Tomorrow’s low-low tide is the lowest of the month, -3.8 just after noon.
From our newest partner site The South Park News, two stories of potential interest: Newest – the Seattle City Council has just been told that an area of annexation interest along the Duwamish River is pursuing annexation by Tukwila instead, so they may have to act fast. Here’s that story. … Meantime, this weekend included another milestone for the new Duwamish Rowing Club, whose organizer Mike Merta announced his hopes here on WSB a year and a half ago – see that story here.
(Photographed by Machel Spence in Fauntleroy during Sunday morning’s low-low tide, long before last night’s overflow – don’t go there today!)
From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:
NO BRIDGE CLOSURES SCHEDULED TILL THE WEEKEND: Just in case you’re wondering. The westbound Spokane Street Viaduct will close Saturday night till Monday morning, but SDOT says no closures are planned till then.
NEW ‘NO PARKING’ ZONE: Starting today, there’s no more parking along SW Alaska between California and 42nd, per SDOT (here’s our Friday followup). This is the first phase of parking removal in some Junction/Triangle spots, mostly along SW Alaska, related to the future RapidRide bus service.
LOU’S MAKE-A-WISH RUN: As previewed earlier this morning, Pathfinder K-8 PE teacher Lou Cutler is scheduled for his annual birthday “one-lap-for-every-year” run today, raising money to make dreams come true for seriously ill children via Make-A-Wish, with which he’s been volunteering for 16 years. Should last until noonish; you can donate now or later by going here.
LOW-LOW TIDE: At 11:19 am, today’s low tide will be very low, down to -3.7. Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists will be at Lincoln and Constellation Parks, 9:30 am-1 pm, to offer info and guidance to visitors. Tread lightly – remember the tide leaves many creatures exposed who otherwise would be underwater.
WEST SEATTLE COOKING CLUB: The club’s theme this week is peppers – cook something with them, bring it to share, 3 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW).
ANTI-INFLAMMATION DIET: A new round of classes starts at The Kenney (WSB sponsor) at 6:30 pm (information in our calendar listing).
Big event at Pathfinder K-8 this morning – PE teacher Lou Cutler‘s annual run to raise money for Make-A-Wish, for which he’s been volunteering for 16 years. Every year for 8 years, he’s been doing this to mark his birthday, running one lap for each year he’s been on the planet – 61 of them, this time around. The money goes to help Make-A-Wish make life-threateningly ill children’s wishes come true; last year, we interviewed Lou a few days before his run, and if you could hear him talk about some of the “wishes” he’s been involved in fulfilling … you’d want to be on the sidelines cheering him on today. Or maybe even running with him, as many of the Pathfinder students and staff will do during the course of the morning, once he gets going around 8:45 am. At the very least, you can donate to help him reach his goal – just go here. (WSB photo from June 2011)
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