West Seattle, Washington
24 Friday
It happened over the weekend in Interbay, but it was a big occasion for teams from both Chief Sealth International High School (above) and West Seattle High School (below):
They are making history as two of eight Seattle Public Schools high schools that have launched soccer teams for the new Seattle Public Schools Unified Soccer League in partnership with Special Olympics, which describes the international Unified Sports program as being for teams that include players “with and without intellectual disabilities,” training and playing together. On Saturday, all eight schools met for a series of round-robin games at Interbay as part of a special event dubbed The Kickoff. The games were preceded by opening ceremonies including a March to the Match. (Sealth’s band was originally scheduled to play, but it turned out that noise regulations didn’t allow that so early in the morning!) The other schools involved are Rainier Beach and Cleveland, in the “South Division” with WSHS and CSIHS, and Nathan Hale, Ballard, NOVA, and Ingraham, comprising the “North Division.” We also found the West Seattle area represented early Saturday morning by School Board president Steve Sundquist:
Joe Hampson, director of sports programs for Special Olympics Washington, explains that soccer is the pilot program for Unified Sports locally; elsewhere in the U.S., he says, basketball and golf are played too. They’re starting with soccer since it is now widely played by kids before they get to high school, it seemed like the perfect sport with which to begin. Competition for the new league continues next Saturday at Interbay.
Maybe the sunshine has you in the mood for golf. Here’s a chance to play in a month for a local cause – reservations have just gone on sale. From the Chief Sealth International High School Athletics Department, the official announcement:
– Rainier Golf and Country Club will host the first Chief Sealth Athletics Golf Tournament on June 3, 2011 with all proceeds benefiting the student-athletes at Chief Sealth International High School. Reservations for foursomes and individuals are now on sale and can be purchased here.
More after the jump:Read More
Big weekend for the West Seattle High School baseball team. Tomorrow afternoon, they play Highline High School at Safeco Field – the game is free and you’re invited, 4 pm. As a fundraiser related to the game, they’re still selling Mariners’ tickets, as noted here recently, and now they’re offering an alternative way to get them: This Sunday, 10 am-3 pm at Swedish Automotive (WSB sponsor), 7901 35th SW, the team will wash your car, and for every $10 donated, you get a ticket to the M’s game for which the team’s been selling tickets, next Thursday (May 5th) vs. the Texas Rangers.
Did you get caught in the late-afternoon/early-evening downpour? If you did, this scene might not surprise you. J sent the photo as Bar-S Playfield got special attention from West Seattle Little League – with a Shop-Vac! Yes, that’s what’s in the wheelbarrow – click for a closer look. (As you might recall, the wet spring left WSLL beleaguered, so to speak – forcing the cancellation of the traditional pre-season Jamboree.) The weekend’s supposed to be nice(r), though – really!
Today we welcome a new sponsor, Underdog Sports Leagues, who would like to ask you three questions.
*Do you spend more time coming up with nicknames for your teammates than coming up with plays to run?
*Does your pre-game preparation consist of remembering where you left your glove and cleats?
*Do you remember half the lines from “Office Space” and “Caddyshack,” but often forget what your team record is?
If you’ve answered yes to any of those questions, and if you’re over 21, Underdog Sports would like to invite you to join them for any of the eight sports they offer in the Seattle area. Whether it’s kickball, dodgeball, volleyball, and/or their brand-new bocce-ball league, Underdog Sports wants you to know that they offer a place to meet people and have some fun. Here in West Seattle, Underdog offers beach-volleyball leagues starting in May at Alki. Choose from a Monday or Wednesday night league and get out in the sand for some fun. The season is six weeks long, with an additional two weeks of playoffs. The format is co-ed four’s with teams rosters up to eight people; games are one hour, and you get three matches in a night, two skill levels to choose from. Signups are online at this link – and you can use this special WSB online coupon for a discount.
In the fall, we bring it inside for some liquid sunshine at West Seattle Bowl, with 6-week bowling leagues filled with theme nights and prizes! Leagues start again in the fall when the leaves start to change.
We thank Underdog Sports Leagues for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
West Seattle was one of the stops today for a nationwide bus tour promoting a new program called Kids Bowl Free – which really is exactly what it seems. WS Bowl is among the bowling centers participating in the program offering kids two free bowling games every day this summer. Also along for the ride, pro bowler Mitch Beasley, who hails from Puyallup and is clearly excited about finding a way to get more kids involved with bowling:
West Seattle Bowl management tells us there’s plenty of room for hundreds more kids to sign up for the Kids Bowl Free program, beyond the 500 or so they have signed up already – just go to kidsbowlfree.com/wsbowl. (According to the registration page, the age limit is 15, and bowlers will still pay “standard rental rates” if you have to borrow bowling shoes.)
Remember Kellen Gearon, the West Seattle High School senior who launched a drive to collect donations for foster kids via Treehouse? He’s working on a new fundraiser – but first, words of thanks about his Treehouse project: “Thank you to everyone who so generously donated to my Drive for Foster Kids. It was a huge success. With all the community support I received I was able to collect over two large containers of clothes and items and $225 in cash donations. Treehouse will be able to better serve foster kids because of this.”
Now, he’s sent word of a chance to get a deal while helping out the WSHS baseball team, which he’s on. Once again this year, WSHS gets to play at Safeco Field – but needs to sell 1,000 tickets for an upcoming M’s game (it’s a team fundraiser too). So they’re offering $10 view seats for the May 5th 7:10 pm game against Texas. Here’s the official flyer. Kellen’s selling tickets through Menashe and Sons Jewelers in The Junction (4532 California SW) – or call 206-932-4272 and ask for Kim Gearon (Mondays-Fridays, 8:30 am-5:30 pm).
As for the Wildcats’ big game at the Safe, it’s at 4 pm Saturday, April 30th, against the Highline Pirates – and admission will be free.
From Sanislo Elementary mom Lisa, a photo at the end of Saturday’s Ultimate Frisbee match between Sanislo and Daniel Bagley Elementary. Lisa says the Sanislo All-Stars (fourth- and fifth-graders coached by third-grade teacher Ellen O’Connor, who also coaches Denny International Middle School‘s UF players) came out victorious. (Reminder note, Seattle Public Schools are on spring break all week long, returning to class Monday 4/25.)
And from Tim, a postscript of sorts to our Friday night story about “Scottie Joe,” who’s been installing the facing outside the future A Terrible Beauty at California/Edmunds:
Tim shared that photo of his 5-year-old daughter Akela, saying “Scottie Joe” let her “install one of the stones and told her that whenever she came by she will remember that she put that one rock in.”
From West Seattle High School girls’ basketball coach Sonya Elliott, news about one of her top players:
West Seattle girls basketball player Anna Hobby (has signed a) Letter of Intent to play basketball at Bellevue College. The 6’1” senior finished her final season averaging 8.4 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2 blocked shots per game, and was the team’s Co-MVP with teammate Ja’Narah McRae.
“I’m very excited for Anna,” said Sonya Elliott, the new head girls’ basketball coach at West Seattle, “It’s a great opportunity for her to continue her education and to grow as an athlete and as a person, which is what the athletic department emphasizes here at West Seattle High School.”
(Photo courtesy WS YMCA sports director Matt Schlede)
Tomorrow’s the last day to sign up for West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor) Youth T-Ball/Baseball’s next season. The program is for kids ages 3-10, with one practice during the week and one game on Saturdays (except for the 3-year-olds, who don’t play games). Practices start the week of April 25; games, the week of May 7th, with the season running through June 25th. There are four leagues: 3-year-old T-ball, 4/5 T-ball, 6/7 coach pitch, 8-10 coach pitch. They play at fields all over the area. You can register at the Triangle or Fauntleroy Y locations, or, here’s the link to register online (Y sports summer-camp info can be found there too).
Next weekend, the West Seattle Women’s Golf Club opens its 2011 season at WS Golf Course – and Pat asked us to share this invitation:
Women have been golfing since the 16th century, when Mary Queen of Scots first coined the term “caddy” and played the famous St. Andrews course shortly after the death of her husband, Lord Darnley. Yes, they say well-behaved women rarely make history.
Women have been golfing with the West Seattle Women’s Golf Club (WSWGC) since the 1940s, and many lasting friendships have been formed over the years as a result of the camaraderie of golf. Several social events occur during the year, but the main objective of the WSWGC is to provide a friendly atmosphere in which to learn about golf, to play golf, and the chance for some fun competition.
Annual dues are $70.00 plus a $5.00 initiation fee for new members. Dues pay for your GHIN number and handicap, reserved tee-times on Tuesdays and Saturdays, weekly competition fees, most WSWGC tournament fees and operating expenses, as well as providing a great opportunity to meet and play golf with other women golfers.
Please join us for our Season Opening “Swing into Spring” Social on Sunday, April 17th, 2 PM at the West Seattle Golf Course. An $8 entry fee will provide you with yummy appetizers, a collector logo golf ball and information about the Club as well as a chance to win some fun prizes including a free weekday round of golf at West Seattle Golf Course! RSVP by 4/13 to Kay Whelan at mkwhelan@comcast.net – Interested in membership? Send inquiry to Ruthi Winter at 68gator@comcast.net.
Hope to meet you on the first tee at West Seattle Golf Course!
Another event happening tonight in West Seattle: Organizers confirm the next in a series of rallies around the city to show support for the Seattle Police Department is planned tonight outside the Southwest Precinct. They hope to line Delridge and Webster outside the precinct, starting around 6:30, and the public is welcome to join in. It’s not an official SPD event; coverage of rallies at other precincts has noted that organizers and participants have included members of officers’ families.
(Photo by Deanie Schwarz for West Seattle Blog/White Center Now)
‘AS-IT-HAPPENED’ REPORT AT 9:22 PM THURSDAY: Shortly after the renovated Southgate Roller Rink opened its doors to general-public skating for the first time in more than five years (here’s our original February story about the reopening plan), this line snaked out the door and out along the walkway to the front door. Inside, the skate is on. More coverage to come.
ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: Photos and video from Opening Night, by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB/WCN. First, the Derby Girls took the floor in early evening before the official opening session, to work on fundamentals:
Then at 8:30 – the first public session:
The old saying “a good time was had by all” seemed to be in order. Even for Ronda Stapleton, who Ellen says may have been the first to take a tumble, but was still smiling, bravely showing off her bruised arm:
Southgate has a skate shop, too, in case you want to buy your own skates and gear (rental skates are included in the admission fee if you need them):
The Southgate schedule is online – see it here.
As we’ve been reporting, tomorrow night is grand-opening night for the renovated Southgate Roller Rink in White Center – but tonight, some lucky skaters got a test run, and Deanie Schwarz – who was first to report the renovation plan back in February – was there for WSB and partner site White Center Now. Here’s a clip for starters; more coverage to come.
(Photo by Deanie Schwarz for WSB/WCN)
In case you haven’t seen it yet on our partner site White Center Now – WSB/WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz has checked back inside Southgate Roller Rink as it gets ready to open to the public tomorrow night. Here’s the story, with more photos. The rink officially opens at 8:30 tomorrow night for an adult (18+) session; here’s the full schedule.
West Seattle Soccer Club reps have spent much of the day lining the fields where their spring season opens tomorrow: Madison, Roxhill South, Boren, Fairmount, Alki, E.C. Hughes, Sealth (SWAC), and Denny. So says WSSC’s Tim McMonigle, who adds: “Our season theme this year is Champion’s League, modeled after the popular European tournament, with all the famous names like Manchester United, Arsenal and Barcelona. We are playing for six weeks (except Easter) and only on Sunday afternoons.” So if you see fields full of kids just about everywhere you go tomorrow – it’s just WSSC spring games, first round.
(COURTESY LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: White Center Mardi Gras Parade 1947 passes Southgate rink)
Here’s an update you just might want to throw a parade for: As first reported here and on partner site White Center Now last weekend, Thursday night is grand-opening night for the newly renovated Southgate Roller Rink in White Center. Southgate’s been publishing updates on Facebook (check out the photo of the 300 newly arrived rental skates!) but now also has updated its website with full details on the skating-session schedule and prices (which include skate rental if needed) – you can see it here (including a beginners’ class on Sundays). Here’s how to find the rink. (And if you missed it – here’s our original February story breaking the news of the rink reopening.)
Just in from Seattle Lutheran High School principal Mark Henderson: A new football coach is on board for SLHS. Jim Wright most recently was on the coaching staff at Eastside Catholic High School. Read on for Seattle Lutheran’s full announcement:Read More
First it was set for last Saturday … then, because of soggy weather, this Saturday … and now West Seattle Little League president Mark Terao just sent word that the WSLL Jamboree is off again, with the league’s focus turning to trying “to get the fields ready for the first game of the regular season on Monday, April 4th.” He adds, “We will redesign the Jamboree and give all of the kids an opportunity to be announced and run out on the field during the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new concession and storage building. Once that day is determined, we will make the announcement.”
Last month, for West Seattle Blog/White Center Now, Deanie Schwarz broke the story of White Center’s historic rollerskating rink – turned “event center” – getting new management and a new life with its old identity, as Southgate Roller Rink. Tonight, she has an update from rink managers, just published on WCN – they’ve set the opening date, April 7th.
Thanks to the Arbor Heights Elementary School parent who shared a photo of a special visit by reps from the WNBA champion Seattle Storm – including Doppler! – and reports, “The students went wild over the visit, which included talking about good nutrition and being active.” We are told that parent volunteer Meri Patton arranged for the visit. The team gets back into action in May (here’s their schedule).
Spring may have officially arrived, but that doesn’t magically dry out the fields, so another announcement has come in from West Seattle Little League president Mark Terao:
Due to the record-setting rain in Seattle, the fields are not ready at Bar-S Playground, which has forced West Seattle Little League to push the season-starting Jamboree back to April 2, 2011.
Last Friday, WSLL announced the postponement, with weather also a factor, of the ribboncutting festivities for its Bar-S improvements – no new date is set for that yet.
West Seattle Little League‘s Opening Day Jamboree is still on schedule for March 26, but WSLL president Mark Terao sends word that the ribboncutting ceremony for their Bar-S Playfield improvements will not happen that same day. “Mother Nature, along with other holdups and delays, put up too many obstacles for us to overcome,” he explained via e-mail. “We will re-evaluate what is needed for completion along with establishing the new timeline for completion so that we can set up a new ribbon cutting date. It is my hope to complete the project within a few weeks.”
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