West Seattle, Washington
05 Tuesday
The family of Dan DeSantis, who died in July 2020 at age 75, wants to remind those who knew and loved him that his long-delayed Celebration of Life is this Thursday:
Celebration of Life for
Dan DeSantis
July 13th, 2023
4 pm-8 pm
Dakota Place Park (California/Dakota)
If you have questions, email ginarosedesigns (at) gmail.com.
Back in mid-May, we published Shelby‘s photos and story about a little lost stuffed penguin that turned up in Metropolitan Market in Admiral. The ultimate hope was that somebody in Carrot‘s human family would hear about the penguin’s whereabouts and come rescue it. Shelby says that didn’t happen – but as of this week, Carrot has found a new home:
As promised, here is an update on Carrot. He joined his foster family (this week) and it is going well. This is Carrot and his new brother, Ice Cream, hanging out. Ice Cream had been staying with us so that I could perform some minor surgery to repair a hole, so he was able to tell Carrot all about D, who is 9 and very kind-hearted, and the rest of the family. Carrot really wanted to be with a child again, and I think he looks pretty happy now. He’s getting lots of hugs and snuggles and has been learning to play Kirby on the Switch. Life does not always take you where you wanted to go, but sometimes the new place is pretty good, too, and you can be loved and find happiness again. Thank you to everyone in the WSB-sphere for your good wishes!
The report and photo were sent by Carlos:
My 2016 Kia Soul was stolen from West Seattle. WHITE KIA SOUL, plate number CFY 8219 It was stolen July 9th, 2023 [today]. Case number 23-193036. This car is used to drive special kids.
Carlos didn’t include a location but the police-call log indicates this was reported stolen in the 3000 block of Harbor SW. Thanks again to everyone whose sighting reports have helped find West Seattle neighbors’ stolen vehicles.
As reported here on Friday, bedbug sightings led the Seattle Public Library to close its Delridge, High Point, and Southwest branches all weekend. SPL explained that the branches would subsequently receive “chemical treatment” Monday morning and then reopen later Monday. They’ve sent word that the three branches are expected to reopen at noon tomorrow. Back when we reported on a High Point outbreak in May, SPL explained that it has an “integrated pest-management system” for this and other types of pests; Web searches suggest bedbugs have been a recurring problem for libraries nationwide for at least a decade. Meantime, thanks again to the reader who spotted the sign on one branch’s door Friday – that was our first word of the closures.
If you’ve been to Alki in the morning or early afternoon recently on a Saturday or Sunday, you might have noticed the new coffee cart outside Driftwood (2722 Alki SW). Jackie from Driftwood emailed to tell us that it’s Numa, a new mobile coffee business launched this spring by West Seattleites Nathan and Seth. They’re operating as a pop-up 8 am-2 pm weekends throughout the summer. The proprietors have been best friends since college and a combined five years of experience in the coffee-service business, for companies small and large. Their philosophy is that “coffee is a gift to be stewarded well while service is an opportunity for creativity and goodwill.” According to the Numa website, they’re serving coffee from Olympia and Passenger. As for the name – they explain that “Numa is the Greek word for spirit.”
(Early-morning photo by Marc Milrod)
Here’s our list for what’s happening in West Seattle today/tonight:
THREE LIBRARIES CLOSED: As we reported Friday, the Delridge, High Point, and Southwest libraries are closed all weekend because of bedbugs, for which they’ll be treated tomorrow, reopening late that day.
BABY DEVELOPMENTAL PLAY & Q/A: 9 am at Alki Beach – for parents and babies. Our calendar listing has details.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm; the market offers summer produce as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, plant starts, more. Here’s today’s vendor list. (California SW between Oregon and Alaska – but note that next week during West Seattle Summer Fest, the market will relocate to California north of Oregon)
SOUL SPA: Inner Alchemy is hosting Soul Spas on Sundays at Jet City Labs (4547 California SW) during Farmers’ Market hours, 10 am-2 pm: “a fun community experience of meeting our talented local healers, makers, and artists right alongside the Farmers’ Market. Mini-sessions, shopping, connecting, and Timmy cooking brunch!”
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK OPEN: 11 am-8 pm daily through Labor Day, shine or rain. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
E.C. HUGHES WADING POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm. (2805 SW Holden)
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
COLMAN POOL OPEN: Also at Lincoln Park, this outdoor salt-water pool is open noon-7 pm daily through Labor Day. See the session schedule here.
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Second Sunday of the season for free tours of historic Alki Point Lighthouse (3201 Alki Avenue SW), 1-4 pm (last tour starts at 3:45 pm).
HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH: 3 pm matinee at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor). Our calendar listing includes the ticket link.
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Hunty Lyles performs acoustic music 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
WSHS CLASS OF ’55, ’56, ’57? Today’s reunion is for you! If you’re not already RSVP’d, our calendar listing has organizers’ contact info. Event is at 3 pm at Glen Acres Golf and Country Club (1000 S. 112th).
SUNSET GONG BATH & MEDITATION: 7:30 pm at Lowman Beach (7017 Beach Drive SW) – details in our calendar listing. $25 suggested donation.
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
Something for our calendar – one-time or recurring? Email us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
This time it’s the ampm store at 7301 Delridge Way SW – police are investigating a report of an armed robbery there. Early description of the robber is male, Black, late teens, covered face, all-black clothing, armed with a gun, got into a black SUV and left northbound. This is the fourth convenience-store robbery in West Seattle in the past nine days; the other three were at 7-11s.
By this time next Saturday night, we’ll be two-thirds of the way through West Seattle’s biggest party of the year – Summer Fest! The three-day festival takes over the heart of The Junction next Friday through Sunday (July 14th through 16th), and the streets start closing Thursday pm (California from Oregon to Edmunds and for part of the block north of Oregon, Alaska between 44th and 42nd). You’ve already seen the main-stage music lineup for Friday and Saturday. But even though the main stage will be gone by Sunday (that’s where the Farmers’ Market happens, north of Oregon, on July 16th), it won’t be a music-free day: This year, the West Side Stage has been added, in Junction Plaza Park – that’s actually the east side of the festival grounds; the name is for West Side Music Academy, which is leading the programming, 11 am-7 pm Saturday and 11 am-4 pm Sunday. You can see that lineup on the same page as the main-stage schedule. See you in The Junction! (WSB is a West Seattle Summer Fest community co-sponsor.)
It’s not only All-Star time for Major League Baseball, it’s also All-Star Tournament season for West Seattle Little League teams. Jackie Borg from WSLL shares these updates:
West Seattle Little League (WSLL) sent three baseball teams – one for each division, 10s, 11s, and 12s – and three softball teams – 10s, 11s, and Juniors (13-14-year-olds) – to compete in the WA District 7 Little League All-Stars Tournaments.
WSLL 12s baseball All-Stars won their district tournament and are state-bound! The state tournament starts on 7/15 in Poulsbo.
Juniors softball took 2nd place in the District 7 tournament.
Around town, you can catch the other WSLL All-Stars teams in play:
10s Baseball – Tournament started today @ South Highline National LL field in Normandy Park
11s Baseball – Tournament under way, with another game today @ South Highline National LL
10s Softball – District 7 Championship game tomorrow @ SWAC Upper field
11s Softball – Tournament starts 7/17 @ Issaquah HSWe will be updating the website westseattlelittleleague.com with standings as often as possible. You can also see the full schedule and check out the rosters for all teams.
(WSB photos/video unless otherwise credited)
We may not have year-round royals like Charles, Camilla, and company, but Seattle does have royalty once a year … during Seafair. This year’s King Neptune, radio personality Bender, tried to defend Alki Beach from the Seafair Pirates this afternoon … but somehow, as happens every year, they managed to storm the beach anyway. At about 1:10 pm, in a haze of cannon smoke, they arrived at Alki aboard the Global vessel Prudhoe Bay:
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
The Pirates disembarked near Alki Bathhouse, with hundreds there to watch – and snap photos:
After coming ashore, they were found to be bearing gifts – not plundered treasure, but instead, stickers for kids:
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
The Pirates made their way through the curious crowd, up to where their land-going vessel Moby Duck awaited, as did a ceremony in which they seized – OK, were presented – the key to the county/city, held by County Executive (and lifelong West Seattleite) Dow Constantine:
Other royalty participating in the ceremony included Miss Seafair, Savannah Parker, who took a moment to pose with King Neptune:
As for the Pirates, it was eventually “all aboard” the Moby Duck, which they’ll sail back into West Seattle two weeks from today for the WS Grand Parade.
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
The parade’s at 11 am Saturday, July 22, starting from California/Lander in The Admiral District and heading southbound on California to The Junction, preceded by the Float Dodger 5K at 9:30 am.
Nicole reports her 2020 midnight blue Kia Forte was stolen last night or early today by Lowman Beach – “near the intersection of Lincoln Park Way and Beach Drive. Was parked out on the street there and window was broken with remnants of glass on the street. This has been reported to SPD but just wanted people to be careful if parking there while visiting the beach/Lincoln Park!” License plate is Illinois CT60292; SPD report #23-192134.
MONDAY UPDATE: Found, and Nicole says a suspect was arrested.
Next Friday, during the first day of West Seattle Summer Fest, Verity Credit Union in The Junction (4505 California SW; WSB sponsor) is offering opportunities to give a life-saving gift via a blood drive with Bloodworks Northwest. The drive is scheduled for 10 am-4 pm Friday; checking the appointment link, it looks like some afternoon spots remain. If you can donate blood, go here to sign up!
Inside the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Log House Museum, there’s more room to roam – recent renovations removed an interior wall. The change was unveiled just as the museum opened its new exhibit about Longfellow Creek, featuring not only beautiful photos and other displays, but also learning opportunities for all ages:
Also new at the Log House Museum: The sixth Peace Pole installed in the area by the Rotary Club of West Seattle. We mentioned it briefly after its installation two weeks ago and visited for its dedication ceremony Friday afternoon. It’s in the garden space in front of the historic log house, facing SW Stevens just west of 61st SW:
Below are the ceremony speakers – L to R, Kerry Korsgaard from the museum’s board, programs and community-outreach director Elizabeth Rudrud, and Rotarians Christine Peak and Keith Hughes:
Keith explained the history of the Peace Pole Project, which has placed more than a quarter-million poles worldwide, and the reason the museum was chosen as a location for one:
This pole is inscribed in Lushootseed, Cantonese, Spanish, and English; the message is, “May peace prevail on Earth.” You can see it outside the museum any time; to go inside the museum, visit during regular public hours, noon-4 pm Fridays and Saturdays.
West Seattle’s Lincoln Park has more beauty than ever, thanks in part to a local student and her Eagle Scout project. The photos and report were sent by forest steward Lisa McGinty:
Last month we had the pleasure to work with a local WSHS student, Scout Troop 284 member Heidi Kestner (below, in red hat).
As her chosen Eagle Scout project, Heidi helped organize and lead 5 restoration and art events that included the painting of our new restoration toolbox located at the north parking lot entrance.
Heidi, along with other scout members, friends. and family, removed massive amounts of ivy and blackberry and helped create space for more native plants and trees.
It was a fun marathon of restoration, art and community.
Many thanks to Heidi, her family and all who came out to help!
Want to help at a future Lincoln Park restoration event? Watch this calendar (which features opportunities at other parks too).
Family and friends will gather next Saturday (July 15th) to celebrate the life of Stacey McKelvey. Here’s the remembrance they are sharing with her community:
Stacey Marlo McKelvey, beloved daughter, sister, auntie, cousin, and cat-mom, passed away on June 19, 2023 in West Seattle.
Stacey was born November 20, 1969 in Seattle to Laura and Bill. The following year on the same day, November 20, 1970, Stacey’s little sister Brook was born. One of Stacey’s favorite things was being able to celebrate both their birthdays together and remind people that they were born on the same day.Â
Stacey was a lifelong West-Seattleite who attended Gatewood Elementary, Denny Middle School, Rainier Beach High School, and South Seattle Community College. She loved waking up early, flowers (especially orchids), music and singing, movies (lots of musicals), and her kitties.Â
Stacey is survived by her parents: Mother Laura and Steve Neilsen; Father Bill and Debby McKelvey; her Sister Brook and Jim Amundsen; her Brother Cam and Brittany Neilsen and Niece Elianna; her Niece Melissa Jones and her Husband Kei Kawada; and her Fur Babies Black and Blue.
A Celebration of Life will be held to honor Stacey on Saturday, July 15th, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Camp Long, 5200 35th Ave SW.
Please send any photos or memories to StaceyMckelveyMemorial@gmail.com to share with the family.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
(Friday’s sunset, photographed by Gene Pavola)
Welcome to the second weekend in July – here’s the event lineup and other important info for your West Seattle Saturday:
THREE LIBRARIES CLOSED: As we reported Friday, the Delridge, High Point, and Southwest libraries are closed all weekend because of bedbugs, for which they’ll be treated on Monday.
LAST CHANCE TO NOMINATE A COMMUNITY ALL-STAR: Get your nomination in at West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor) before today’s over – surely you know someone deserving!
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: 10 am-2 pm, the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Garden Center will be open, with a sizable selection of student-grown plants. (6000 16th SW, north end of campus)
SOUTH DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: The farmers’ market on the grounds of Hope Academy (9421 18th SW) is happening weekly, 10 am-2 pm Saturday, prioritizing vendors of color and presented by African Community Housing & Development.
GALLERY CLOSING SALE: 10 am-2 pm, on SW Lander across from Lafayette Elementary‘s playground – details in our calendar listing.
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – see full details in our calendar listing.
(added) RESCUE DOGS: Got word of this just before 11 am: “Happening now! Meet and greet some great adoptable dogs from Forgotten Dog Rescue. At Addy’s Pet Shop (1022 SW Henderson St) until 1 pm today. Come pet some pups!”
FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
SPRAYPARK OPEN: Highland Park Spraypark is open daily, 11 am-8 pm. (1100 SW Cloverdale-
COLMAN POOL CLOSED TO PUBLIC: The swim-meet closure continues for the city-run outdoor pool at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), 12-7 pm.
2 WADING POOLS OPEN: Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), 12-7 pm, in the upper park near the north play area; Hiawatha (2700 California SW), 12-5:30 pm, in the park northeast of the community center.
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2234 SW Orchard)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM + FAMILY DAY WITH DNDA: Visit the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens) 12-4 pm. Special today: Family Day with DNDA, noon-3 pm:
Get hands on with DNDA Environmental Educators and learn about Longfellow Creek. Activities include watershed models where participants can experiment with different ways stormwater and pollutants move through a watershed like Longfellow Creek and impact local salmon and salmon art projects with recycled art supplies and found objects from nature.
VISCON CELLARS: 1-6 pm, visit the tasting room at Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) – selling wine by the glass or bottle. Learn about their wines here! (5910 California SW)
SEAFAIR PIRATES LANDING: Around 1 pm – might be earlier or later – the Seafair Pirates arrive (pro tip: listen for the offshore cannon fire) and come ashore near Alki Bathhouse (60th/Alki) to try to conquer.
BERNARD STRUBER & THE MIGHTY WURLITZER: See and hear Kenyon Hall‘s centerpiece in action, with a program ranging from from Mozart to pop, doors at 1 pm. Info, including ticket link, in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: 1-6 pm, with student-produced wines available. North end of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. (6000 16th SW)
SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: GreenStage‘s second free performance of the season in West Seattle is a “Backyard Bard” abbreviated version of “Cymbeline,” 7 pm at High Point Commons Park (Graham/Lanham).
(canceled) LIVE AT C & P COFFEE: Ash Devine performs 7-9 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). No cover, all ages.
HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH: The musical continues at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor). Our calendar listing includes the ticket link.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: 7:30 pm, The Maya Experience, Miranda Kitchpanich, Cullen Cochran, all ages, $10. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
If you are planning a show, sale, event, meeting, seminar, reading, field trip, fundraiser, class, game, or ? … get it on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
12:26 AM: Police are blocking Harbor Avenue SW by Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW; WSB sponsor) right now for a gunfire investigation. A 911 caller reported seeing someone who appeared to be shooting at cars in the area; police arrived and have reported finding both casings and “unfired rounds.”
12:52 AM: Harbor has reopened. Officers told dispatch they “recovered about 20 fired and unfired 9-millimeter casings.”
1:12 AM: Out on a separate gunfire call in North Delridge, officers told dispatch they’ve found “four shell (casings) in the 2600 block of SW Brandon.”
Continuing our resurgence in coyote sightings – a texter reported just after 10 pm, ‘Just spotted a cute coyote on Belvidere Ave SW and SW Lander Street. Had my dogs with me so was a bit nervous, but he ran off in the other direction.” Earlier this week, we received a report we didn’t publish at the time – Ted reported, early Tuesday morning, “I just heard a coyote barking pretty close to my house near 37th/97th in Arbor Heights.” That was five days after this Upper Fauntleroy sighting, with photos. A reminder – this isn’t cause for panic, just an FYI; this state-produced Living With Wildlife guide has lots of info on co-existing with them.
Two more reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN CAR TRASHED, PUSHED DOWN SLOPE: Lorelai‘s 2018 white Hyundai Elantra was stolen Wednesday night or early Thursday near Fauntleroy/Edmunds. This morning it was found about 25 feet down a slope by the Pee Wee baseball fields at Riverview Playfield. Here’s her photo of the car after it was towed out.
She knows how it got there because she found a social-media video showing her car being damaged by a burnout, then shoved down the slope. She adds, “There were also Texas license plates in my car (NSJ-7764)” when found. Any info? Police report number is 23-190153
PLATE AND LOCK LEFT BEHIND: Another incident involving discovery of an out-of-state plate – the photo is from T in Westwood:
T found those in the street after two sets of vehicles sped through their neighborhood – 27th SW between Thistle and Kenyon – this morning around 6:30 am. The first round, T says, involved a black SUV and silver sedan; after that, a dark sedan and white SUV. They called 911; the plate and lock were found later: “I am posting this in case the car descriptions ring a bell or license belongs to someone. Racing on 27th is very common but we have noticed an increase lately.”
West Seattle Summer Fest is now exactly one week away – starting next Friday (July 14th)!
One of the signature features will be the Kids Zone, featuring inflatables. The West Seattle Junction Association is hiring helpers 15+ to “watch the inflatables and control how many kids are going in at a time.” Pay is $17/hour, with four shifts open:
Friday 1-8
Saturday 10-3 and 3-8
Sunday 10-5
Interested? Contact chris@wsjunction.org
P.S. Aside from the inflatables, which require tickets, the Kids Zone will offer free activities and games too.
For the third time in a week, a West Seattle 7-11 store has been held up. The 35th/Avalon 7-11 was robbed early this morning; last Friday morning, robbers hit the Harbor Avenue and Highland Park 7-11s. In this case, the 911 call came in around 5:20 am today. Archived audio shows officers reported that the robbers were described as Black men in their early 20s, wearing black clothing; a gun was “implied” but not seen. The robbers got away with cash, according to an SPD summary filed later. The dispatcher noted a similar description for the robbers in a holdup in the King County Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction an hour earlier.
3:58 PM: Thanks to Christy for the tip and photo. The High Point and Southwest libraries closed at 2 pm and will be closed all weekend because of what the door sign describes as “a pest issue requiring chemical treatment.” Book drops are closed too. We have an inquiry out to Seattle Public Library headquarters in hopes of finding out more. Back in May, another reader tip led to this report about a similar situation stemming from a bedbug problem at the HP branch.
5:04 PM: As a reader comments below, Delridge is now closed too, and that’s reflected in the reply we just received from SPL spokesperson Laura Gentry:
We have temporarily closed the Delridge, High Point and Southwest branches due to bedbug sightings by staff at these three locations in the last 24 hours.
We are taking aggressive steps to remediate the issue; and unfortunately, that means keeping the branches closed throughout the weekend. These branches are scheduled to receive treatment early Monday morning, so we are keeping them and their book drops closed until that has occurred and they are cleared for re-entry (about two hours following application).
We are very sorry for the inconvenience this causes our patrons in the Southwest Region of the city, but it is important we act quickly to limit the impacts of this issue by immediately closing these locations, applying treatment, and discarding impacted materials.
We thank our eagle-eyed staff who quickly alert us to anything that might negatively impact patrons, staff, or Library spaces!
They’re not sure yet what time the branches will reopen Monday – likely by early afternoon – we’ll update when we have word.
ADDED SUNDAY: SPL says all three will reopen Monday at noon.
2:19 PM: Another crash of note – this one reported on the westbound West Seattle Bridge, and reported to involve an incident-response truck as well as a second vehicle. SFD and SPD are both responding. The exact location isn’t clear, and it’s currently out of traffic-camera range.
2:38 PM: Adding reader photos. The one above shows the crash location and resulting backup; in the one below you can see, in the background,, part of the damage to the response truck and other vehicle.
Wider view:
We’ll be checking with SFD regarding injuries.
3:40 PM: Officers have just told dispatch that all lanes on the bridge are open again. Meantime, SFD tells us two people were hurt – a 39-year-old man and 22-year-old man, both in stable condition when taken to hospitals. SDOT confirms its truck – one of five usually deployed around the city – was responding to another incident when hit.
4:24 PM: SPD confirms that “the 22-year-old driver was taken into custody for suspicion of DUI.”
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