West Seattle, Washington
23 Thursday
No, the semi-truck trailers lined up in the parking lot at vacant Boren School on Delridge don’t mean anyone’s moving in. They’re staging for a move involving two other campuses – the big migration, starting tomorrow afternoon, from the old Denny International Middle School to the new one alongside nearby Chief Sealth International High School.
When we asked Seattle Public Schools about the truck trailers, suspecting they had something to do with the Denny move – which precedes abatement work to prepare for demolition, as explained at last week’s informational meeting – we learned something else: Boren, 2+ miles from Denny, is being used as staging because of a big sporting event at the Southwest Athletic Complex east of Denny this weekend, so that parking lot is off-limits. That’s according to SPS spokesperson Teresa Wippel, who says this notice went to Denny-area residents today:
Denny International Middle School will be relocating, beginning this Thursday, June 23rd. School District staff will be moving furniture and equipment to the new building, continuing into early next week. “No Parking” signs will be posted along the west and south sides of the building as well as along 29th AVE SW between SW Cloverdale St and SW Trenton St. and you will see moving trailers on these streets.
On Saturday, June 25, and Sunday, June 26, the Southwest Athletic Complex will be the site of the Pacific Northwest Junior Olympics Track and Field Championships. A large crowd is expected.
Information about, and the schedule for, the track/field meet is on its website.
(Photo courtesy Paul Riek)
In addition to Saturday’s Morgan Junction Community Festival, there’s another festival in West Seattle this weekend, and it’s a first-time event. Maybe you’ve seen the banner hanging over the entrance to Jack Block Park (a public park on Port of Seattle land off Harbor Avenue SW) – it went up a few days ago, and it’s your invitation to the Northwest Paddling Festival this Saturday and Sunday (June 25-26).
The festival is not just for the hardcore kayaker/stand-up paddleboarder. If you’ve been thinking about trying the sport – or if you prefer to be a spectator – it’s for you too. An Olympic-medalist kayaker will even be on hand. The marine-life protectors of Seal Sitters will too.
And it will kick off with a historic moment: The beach at Jack Block Park is being reopened to the public, in a ceremony on the festival’s eve.
We spoke Monday afternoon with two of the organizers, Paul Riek from Sea Kayaker Magazine and Rob Stowell from West Seattle’s Mountain to Sound Outfitters, to get more details on what you’ll see if you go:Read More
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
“Dreams do come true,” exulted West Seattle Little League president Mark Terao as he and WSLL leaders past, present, and future cut the ribbon formally dedicating the Bar-S Playfield improvements they fought hard to make happen.
Central among them, the new “Snack Shack” in front of which the ribbon was stretched for the brief ceremony, led by Terao:
(WSB video by Tracy Record)
The architect who donated his time was part of it too, Rich Murakami, ski-jacketed in the chilly drizzle:
(Murakami is not only a nearby resident, he’s also made his mark on West Seattle in another very-visible project – the Southwest Precinct.)
The dedication was part of a celebration that defied the day’s off-and-on rain, bookended by a season-ending barbecue, among other things. More after the jump:Read More
Three more sign-up events are ahead for the Southwest Athletic Club (SWAC) youth football and cheer programs – and the next one is tomorrow. The SWAC Football/Cheer program recently joined the WSB sponsor team and is signing up boys and girls, ages 7-14, for the season that starts with August 1st practices. SWAC is a West Seattle-based nonprofit organization; board president Eric Larse says its purpose is to teach “youth teamwork, discipline and self-esteem through participation in youth football and cheer activities. We provide a safe structured and positive environment that stresses dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship, which teaches as much about life as it does football and cheer.”
Practices are at the Southwest Athletic Complex, across SW Thistle from Chief Sealth International High School. Tomorrow’s sign-up event is 11 am-2 pm at Roxbury Safeway, 9620 28th SW; others are listed on the SWAC website.
As West Seattle Little League families look toward the end-of-season barbecue and Snack Shack dedication this Saturday (3 pm, Bar-S Playfield – bring a donation for the West Seattle Food Bank), they also have just been through the excitement of the championships. Sharon Eldredge shares the top photo with the news that the Blue Jays won the WSLL Minors championship last Sunday and will represent West Seattle this weekend at the Tournament of Champions in Normandy Park. (That’s particularly big news around her house, since she’s mom to two of the players!) “They had a pretty young team with amazing positive energy and team spirit,” she says, with words of congratulations for first-year minors coach Stan Debiec. Congratulations to all the WSLL players, and good luck to the Blue Jays as well as everyone else going on to TOC!
A championship weekend for West Seattle Pee Wee Baseball! League president Eric Olson shares the photo and this report:
West Seattle Pee Wee Baseball played their championship games for the Pinto (7-8 year olds) and Mustang (9-10 year olds) on Saturday. Congratulations to the Menashe Pinto and Alki Lumber Mustang teams for their hard-fought wins. The championships were extremely close, requiring a double-header and extra innings in the second game for both divisions.
For more pictures and a complete update on how the championship games went on
Saturday, visit the WSAPWB website, and the West Seattle Association of Pee Wee Baseball Facebook page.
(Photo courtesy Serevi Rugby)
One more addition to our roundup of West Seattle summer camps (initiated after some camp providers sent word they still had room for kids to sign up): 2-time Rugby 7s World Cup Champion Waisale Serevi and his team from Serevi Rugby are teaching “the basics of seven-a-side rugby” in four sessions at Hiawatha Playfield this summer. The introductory camps are for ages 7-18, both genders. More info and online registration at serevirugby.com. (Our previously published list of camps is here – no guarantees they all still have room, but if you’re looking, it’s worth checking!)
West Seattle Little League had hoped this would happen as the new season begun … but the stars just didn’t align. Now, they have, and the long-awaited “snack shack” dedication date has been set. From WSLL president Mark Terao:
The day has finally come.
Along with the Seattle Parks Department, we at West Seattle Little League will perform our official dedication and ribboncutting ceremony celebrating the completion of our new concession building and storage building at Bar-S Playfield.
Please come and celebrate with us as we give a big Thank You and show our appreciation to all of the people and companies that helped this dream of over 50 years come true.
Through the help of many, we were able to construct a first-class facility that will be enjoyed by thousands of families throughout the Seattle area for years to come.
The dedication will be held at 3:00 Saturday, June 18th, at Bar-S Playfield.
WSLL has been chronicling the project – photos and more – here.
One more event happening tonight: Chief Sealth International High School‘s spring-sports banquet celebration (6 pm at the school). To accompany that event, athletic director Sam Reed has written one of his trademark season recaps, calling the season “one of the most successful” spring-sports seasons ever at Sealth – read on for the details:Read More
Even without a taste of true summer yet, you’ll want to look ahead to fall if you’re involved with – or thinking about getting involved with – the West Seattle Soccer Club. Fall registration is open now online, and they’re looking for coaches/volunteers as well as signing up players. Returning players who register by June 30th get priority placement on their former teams; after that, players go into the “general pool” for assignment on a space-available basis. Got questions? E-mail wsscboard@gmail.com if you can’t find the answers at westseattlesoccer.org.
One more to put on your radar for next Saturday: The West Seattle High School Girls’ Volleyball Team will be at the West Seattle Produce lot (10:30 am-2 pm) to wash your car. They need to raise money for new gear and fees for next season, and your donation in exchange for car-washing will be more than welcome. WSP is on Fauntleroy just south of Alaska (map); the WSHS volleyball coaches point out you can shop for produce or dine at the Beloved Mexico truck while you wait for your (shiny) car.
Two years in a row, and it starts to feel like a tradition: A late-night triumphant homecoming for the Seattle Lutheran High School baseball team, hours after winning a state-championship game. After the bus rolled up to the north-of-The-Junction school late Saturday night, it was time to gather in the gym for a prayer of thanks:
As reported here earlier, the Saints beat Warden High School in Yakima, 7-1, for the state 2B championship, which they brought home to West Seattle last year too.
(Photo added 7:02 pm, courtesy SLHS)
The score’s just in from Yakima, via Twitter: Seattle Lutheran 7, Warden 1, and the Saints win their second consecutive state baseball championship! SLHS jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and were ahead the rest of the way.
9:59 PM UPDATE: The team is expected to arrive back at the school (on the north side of SW Genesee between 42nd and 41st) between 10:30 and 11, and you’re invited to be there to cheer the champs on arrival.
(Photos by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB)
If we told you local fans gathered in a West Seattle pub to watch a professional-sports championship game today – you might guess we were talking about the Stanley Cup. (After all, Vancouver’s in the finals.) Nope. That’s next week; this was a different cup. Soccer’s European Cup, pitting Manchester United against Barcelona, filled the Corner Pocket in The Junction at midday. The CP has for years been a hot spot for watching soccer – particularly if you are a Manchester United fan. WSB contributor Ellen Cedergreen stopped by early in the game.
Fans explained to Ellen that while you can watch soccer at other Seattle pubs, for more than three years, Corner Pocket has become the headquarters for Manchester United loyalists – who sing, cheer, and otherwise raucously root for their team. Things were tied 1-1 while Ellen was there, but Barcelona eventually won, 3-1. It was a party just the same – Ellen reports one fan even brought in Manchester United cupcakes for all to enjoy, complete with individual players’ pictures:
If you want to read a UK take on how the game unfolded – here’s one we found.Manchester has won the European Cup three times previously, by the way. And their upcoming U.S. tour includes a Seattle stop – on July 20th, they’re playing the Seattle Sounders FC at Qwest Field.
(P.S. Thanks to Selena for putting this on our radar via Twitter – one of many ways to share info on what’s going on or coming up!)
Saturday afternoon in Yakima, defending state 2B baseball champs Seattle Lutheran High School will play for the title again. In the semifinals tonight, the Saints beat DeSales, 12-7, which means they’ll face the other semifinal winner, Warden, tomorrow at 4 pm. (Last year, SLHS beat Colfax to take the title.)
Here’s the summertime chance of a lifetime – a six-week trail-skating series with the Rat City Rollergirls‘ “Rain of Terror” travel team. For six Thursday nights, starting June 2nd (one week from tonight), you’ll hit area skating trails “followed by a heart-pounding off-skates workout” and then a visit to “a nearby watering hole for a refreshing beverage.” RC Rollergirl “Lucinda Pack” shared news of this tonight and says spots are still available – the trails are all around the region, from Renton to Sammamish, with an Alki session planned, all ages welcome, $80 for the entire 6-week series (orientation plus 5 skating sessions, and a T-shirt). Here’s where to sign up.
(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand – that’s from the race’s start; video below, by WSB editor Tracy Record, added 1:08 pm, is the entirety of the field, off and running/walking!)
10:01 AM: The 1,234 West Seattle 5K runners/walkers/joggers are still crossing the finish line. Here are the top men and women:
MEN
1. Joe Sheeran, 53, Ellensburg, #871, 15:57 chip time
2. Kyle Smits, 32, Seattle, #879, 16:16 chip time
3. Ian McMorran, 33, #1186, 16:33 chip time
WOMEN
1. Megan Johnson, 29, Seattle, #445, 17:31 chip time
2. Mary Hanna, 49, Maple Valley, #1266, 19:02 chip time
3. Alexandra Walton, 30, Seattle, #982, 19:12 chip time
P.S. Appropriately enough for a race raising money for education (organized by the West Seattle High School PTSA) – #1 female finisher Johnson is a teacher here in West Seattle.
(added 2:13 pm) Full results will be available later here – though many checked them right after the race, at terminals inside Alki Bathhouse:
P.P.S. The race is about the people on the sidelines, too:
Lots of cheering. And other sites – people running with kids, even pets:
(added 11:03 am) Thanks to Debra Herbst for this overview from further down the race course:
If you squint at the lower-right corner, that’s Spud the fish-and-chips mascot. (added 2:20 pm) A few more photos – starting with WSHS first-year principal Ruth Medsker, thanking the participants for supporting her school:
WSB sponsor Erik LaSeur of Alki Moves, jubilant to have run the West Seattle 5K for the first time:
Kids on the run:
Congratulations to all. We are proud that WSB has been a co-sponsor of the West Seattle 5K since year one.
Postseason for many high-school sports, and tonight we checked on baseball, since it was West Seattle High School against Chief Sealth International High School. Final score: WSHS 3, Sealth 0. The Wildcats are hoping to see a good turnout for their game against Blanchet at 11 am tomorrow, Steve Cox Memorial Field in White Center (1321 SW 102nd).
Another postseason win to report from the local high-school sports scene: Chief Sealth International High School’s baseball team beat Bishop Blanchet today, 4-3. Other Chief Sealth teams have post-season games/matches this week too, as detailed on the school’s home page.
(Photo from 2010 Chief Sealth Basketball/Life Skills camp)
Registration is under way now for the 14th annual Basketball and Life Skills Camp at Chief Sealth International High School. And though it’s at a high school – it’s for second through ninth graders (the grade they’ll be entering next fall). It’s run by Sealth head boys’ basketball coach Colin Slingsby and athletic director Sam Reed, and Denny International Middle School head coach Diallo Jackson, with star player and budding coach Tre’Von Lane (a graduating Sealth senior this year) also on staff. Along with basketball, the “life skills” part of the program includes topics from goal-setting to self-discipline. There are three one-week sessions, each Monday-Friday, 9 am-4 pm daily, with those sessions starting June 27, July 11, and August 8. You can find out much more in the official brochure – download it here (PDF).
It’s playoff time for spring sports, and once again, the West Seattle High School Wildcats have won their division in fastpitch softball. Sandy Watkins shares the news (and the team photo):
West Seattle High School’s fastpitch softball team won their division this week against their rival Chief Sealth with a score of 3-2. The winning pitcher was Toni Spadoni, who struck out 14 batters. They will enter the Metro playoffs this week, with their first game on Wednesday, May 11 @ 3:30 at Riverview Playfield. The opponent is to be determined.
This is the first year for the new WSHS coaching team reported here earlier this year, head coach Jim Perkins and assistant coach Deavonnie Spadoni. (And as pointed out in comments, the team’s leadership includes assistant coach Randy Bittermann too.)
On Alki Beach, you can sit and watch the sunset … or you can play and watch the sunset! WSB contributor Stephanie Chacharon shared a scene from the season’s first Wednesday night games involving teams from Underdog Sports Leagues (WSB sponsor), which has “early summer” Monday games too.
It hasn’t received as much attention as the now-under-construction Delridge Skatepark – but Roxhill Park (south of Westwood Village) is getting a skateboarding area too, technically a “skatespot” rather than a “skatepark.” $600,000 was set aside by the Parks and Green Spaces Levy, and now the project is full speed ahead – the city is just going out with the “request for qualifications” for design work for Roxhill. (The RFQ – see it here – says it’ll be 5,000 to 8,000 square feet of skating space, with construction to start next spring.) And tomorrow, Mayor McGinn plans to announce a donation for the Roxhill project (which also is to include a renovation for the park’s play area). We’re told it involves the people behind the big-name skateboarding event that’s at KeyArena this weekend.
3:45 PM P.S.: A mayor’s-office advisory confirms it’s a donation of “funding and equipment” to be announced by the Rob Dyrdek Foundation. Dyrdek is a pro skateboarder/promoter; his foundation sponsors the Safe Spot Skate Spot program to help with urban-skatepark projects like this one.
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