West Seattle, Washington
13 Saturday
Among those with booths/tables at today’s Summer Streets event on Alki (WSB coverage here): West Seattle-headquartered Family Promise of Seattle. You might recall, this is the family-sheltering program that decided last August to go on hiatus because of a funding crisis, and has been working ever since to get enough money to restart its program, which shelters homeless families with the help of community partners (usually churches). Back in March, we reported that the FPS board had tentatively decided fundraising was going well enough, they could plan to reopen in June. Today, board members Cierra Moore and Lynne Downs confirmed to WSB that they’re still on track; June 6th is the date they plan to start serving homeless families again. Just days later, they have a fundraising event planned, with tickets on sale now – a “sock hop”-style dinner/dance/auction event in West Seattle on June 11th, with tickets available by calling 206-937-2703. Here’s a flyer with full details. (Auction items already lined up, Lynne says, include an 18-seat suite of Sounders FC tickets, and a weekend at Rosario Inn on Orcas Island in the San Juans.)
The Whale Trail is presenting an Orca Steward Training at the Alki Community Center (5817 SW Stevens Street) on June 11th from 10 am to 2:30 pm. This half-day program is designed to teach individuals about orcas, issues impacting them, and what people can do to make a difference. Starting with West Seattle, they hope to offer this training to communities around the region. Details below…
A pilot project to train orca stewards is launching in June with its first presentation to the local community. Presented by The Whale Trail, the Orca Steward Training Program seeks to teach members of the local community what they can do to help endangered southern resident orcas. Starting with the West Seattle community, the goal is to offer the Orca Steward Training Program in communities around the region, creating a network of people making positive changes for the orcas and the Sound.
The event will feature experts sharing their knowledge of orcas with residents of West Seattle and beyond. Cindy Hansen from The Whale Museum will teach “Orca ABCs,” Lynne Barre from NOAA Fisheries will discuss the management and recovery of the southern resident orcas, Mark Sears will share his photos and experiences from over 30 years of orca research in West Seattle, and Franziska McKay of People for Puget Sound will show how everyone can have a positive influence on the Sound, linking stormwater management to orca recovery.
The event is free, and open to all ages.
Preregistration is required at Brown Paper Tickets. Training is free and lunch will be provided. Attendance is limited. Register early!
This project is funded in part by a Neighborhood Matching Fund award of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.
Why become an Orca Steward?
Local Southern Resident orcas (J, K, and L pods) have historically and currently use the entire Puget Sound basin. During winter months, they are frequently spotted from the shores of West Seattle. These iconic marine mammals were listed as Endangered in 2005. Threats contributing to their decline include lack of prey, toxin accumulations, and stress and noise from vessel impacts. If current trends continue or worsen, they could go extinct in as little as 100 years.Residents of the Puget Sound region have a tremendous impact on whether the orcas will survive. The pilot program will teach how individuals can make a difference for the whales, the Sound, and the marine life that it sustains. As part of the program, participants will be encouraged to make a commitment to one or more specific stewardship actions, focused especially on stormwater management.
About The Whale Trail
The Whale Trail is a series of sites around the region where the public may view orcas and other marine mammals from shore. Its mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of whales and our marine environment. The project is partnering with groups, agencies and communities around the region to select and develop the Whale Trail sites, and to create and deliver educational programs. With 20 sites established, the project plans to add at least 20 more this year, including four in West Seattle.For more information, visit www.thewhaletrail.org, see them on Facebook, or email info@thewhaletrail.org
Four West Seattle Crime Watch notes as the weekend comes to a close. First, the one to which Kevin tipped us, with e-mail headed “A Terrible Ripoff” – it’s about what you don’t see on this door, any longer:
The opening-soon Junction restaurant/pub A Terrible Beauty (California/Edmunds) is missing an ornate metal door-knocker. After Kevin’s note came in, WSB contributor Katie Meyer went over to find out more. Seems it turned up missing yesterday, and they speculate it might be a case of metal theft.
Sorry to say there’s no photo we can point you to so that you would know it if you saw it, but Katie says ATB’s co-owner Jenna Shannon Garvey O’Brien describes it as “(matching) the hardware on the door, which is pretty dark patinated brass, looks nearly black – it was round, about 3 inches, with a loop or ring that swung as the knocker. It was original to the antique door they got from a reclamation/salvage place, and they had taken the hardware off, painstakingly sanded/refinished and re-stained the door, then screwed the hardware back on.” Jenna told Katie they regret not nailing or gluing it to the door, since, Katie reports, “they’ve learned to nail everything down from their other establishment, where someone walked off with an ornate Celtic cross from inside the restaurant, and someone else walked out with a brass urn and an antique washboard!” Three more Crime Watch reports ahead – a parking-lot hit-run and a GPS theft – plus an arrest report from the Southwest Precinct:Read More
NEW PLACE TO FIND CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ONLINE: Seattle Public Schools has been revamping its web presence, not just for the district’s own website, but also for individual schools. The latest West Seattle school to get a new site – and new URL – is Chief Sealth, at chiefsealthhs.seattleschools.org. According to the announcement, CSIHS families should know “the new site has new capabilities for connecting with your students’ classes and teachers,” though they won’t be fully functional till fall (they’re explained here). Meantime, one event you’ll find listed on the new site is coming up Wednesday:
5:30-7 pm on Wednesday (May 25), student art will be on display, with some on sale too. Then at 7 pm, Sealth 9th graders will perform original poetry, written in the Book-It Repertory Theater “page to stage” style.
From 56th SW to 63rd SW, Alki Avenue SW is all people power till 5 pm, as part of the annual Seattle Summer Streets party. You can even go airborne:
…or enjoy a unique set of wheels:
At 61st SW, the Alki Community Council-presented “Family Fun Day” events are under way (see the list in our earlier report). And by Alki Bathhouse, you’ll get to meet folks from community groups including West Seattle Be Prepared and The Whale Trail. We’re headed back to the beach after a brief break at HQ – more coverage to come! ADDED 4:10 PM: The kids’ talent show about an hour ago drew a crowd:
And along the route, community and advocacy groups greeted visitors – like The Whale Trail (that’s founder Donna Sandstrom at right):
Also here for marine-mammal advocacy – Seal Sitters:
And the Seattle Fire Department‘s here too, with Engine 29 from the fire station in Admiral:
Beach businesses are joining in too – Coastal Boutique has been a fixture every year; this year, there’s T-shirt screening outside:
(added) A new participant this year (unless our memory fails us) – Team Half Racks, getting ready for the 3-Day breast-cancer-fighting walk:
They were selling cupcakes and promoting their upcoming June 18th bingo fundraiser:
(TRAFFIC NOTE: While Alki SW is technically open east of 56th SW, we noticed on the way back here that it’s restricted in the lanes heading to the beach, “local traffic only,” so you’re still best advised, if you don’t live on Alki, to approach from back ways including Admiral; even the Alki end of Bonair had an officer – who was, as we drove past that point, talking with someone who sure looked a lot like former Mayor Greg Nickels, who lives uphill in North Admiral.)
As listed in our “West Seattle Sunday” daily preview, lots going on today in addition 
to the events on Alki; we stopped by one inbetween events at the beach. Furry Faces Foundation is in the second day of the first weekend of its annual series of fundraising plant sales at 3809 46th SW (just south of Charlestown), and today, you can also go home with Ed the dog, shown above with Rebecca from King County Animal Services. She also brought along a nameless 3-week-old stray kitten, shown at right – not to adopt (yet) but to remind everyone of the importance of volunteers who foster abandoned kittens and other pets that shelters may not be able to care for. Oops, almost forgot about the plants – there are some available for as little as 50 cents; there are veggies, flowers, natives, herbs, sun, shade, hundreds available:
Sale is on till 4 pm.
We’ve published obituaries since requests started coming in – but this is the first time we recall being asked about a WEDDING announcement; we’d be happy to publish those too! Congratulations to Samir Baillie and Breanna Duvall, celebrating their first full day as husband and wife. He says you might know him as the “espresso-scooter guy” – which explains why the couple also is congratulated on an A-board we just saw outside Red Cup Espresso in The Junction. They got married yesterday at Hamilton Viewpoint Park in Admiral, and had their reception at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center; Samir says they are both West Seattleites, so: “Our idea was to have all of the money spent on the wedding to be put back into the West Seattle community.” (Their officiant was local too, Samir says – Michael Supino, owner of Red Star Pizza.) Wishing you many happy decades together!
(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.
The signs are up, the runners are out, and we’re a half-hour away from the start of the West Seattle 5K (organized by the West Seattle High School PTSA, with co-sponsors including WSB), which will take over Alki Avenue SW from 63rd to Don Armeni till 11 this morning. Here’s the west end of the roadblock zone:
We found the family with bib numbers 1, 2, and 3 – Shelly Aaron of West Seattle Body Works:
Other race sponsors include two WSB sponsors, Link Apartments and Metropolitan Market, and Northwest Hope and Healing‘s Alki Beach 5K (coming up in late summer):
After that, the Summer Streets party begins, including an afternoon of Family Fun presented by the Alki Community Council – event co-chair Libby Carr just shared this updated schedule for their events (which are in addition to booths and demonstrations from other participants):
12:00 – Brazilian music (flute & guitar) on Plaza
1:00 – Washboard Band
1:00 – Fun Kid Games (w/prizes) west of Bathhouse
2:00 – Irish Dancers
2:30 – Kids’ Talent Show
3:30 – Tae Kwon Do demonstration
4:00 – Ultimate Frisbee demonstrationAlso, pirates, gorilla and a real live miniature horse who lives in Alki will be talking with folks in the street near our stage at 61st & Alki.
More photos in a moment!
(Early arrivals for the WS5K, along the Alki promenade)
Quick look at what’s happening today, before our coverage from Alki begins:
WEST SEATTLE 5K: West Seattle 5K (co-sponsored by WSB), to benefit West Seattle High School PTSA, 9 am – last-minute registration starts at 8 at Alki Bathhouse. Alki Ave closed from 63rd to Don Armeni, 9-11 am. Race starts 9:30 am. MAP HERE.
SEATTLE SUMMER STREETS: 11 am-5 pm, Alki SW remains closed 56th-63rd for the street party including Alki Family Fun Day. MAP HERE.
ALSO AT THE BEACH: AVA beach volleyball on Alki, see full details here.
PLANT SALE: Furry Faces Foundation Plant Sale and Pet Adoption at 3809 46th Ave SW, 10 am – 4 pm. See full story here.
FARMERS’ MARKET: West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm, The Junction (44th/Alaska). Today’s highlights, shared last night by market manager Catherine Burke:
Kittitas Greenhouse: T-O-M-A-T-O-E-S (come git some!)
Rockridge Orchards: Apple Cider Granitas!
Music: Squirrel Butter
WITH BELLS ON: Join Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor, 3940 41st Ave SW) at 4 pm to hear hand bell choirs in all their glory. Afterward, an ice cream social!
WITH WINGS ON: Orchestra of Flight is holding its annual fundraiser dinner at Highland Park Improvement Club (1116 SW Holden), 4 pm – 6:30 pm. Tickets are $15. Dinner is pot luck provided by the orchestra members. Doors open at 4, dinner starts at 4:30 and the concert starts at 5:30. Tickets are available at the door. See Facebook Event page
AT THE GARDEN: Book Reading by Grant Hayter-Menzies at Seattle Chinese Garden at SSCC (6000 16th Ave SW), 4 – 6 pm. FREE. The Empress and Mrs. Conger: The Uncommon Friendship of Two Women and Two Worlds. The reading will touch on the relationship between Cixi, Empress Dowager of China and an American diplomat’s wife Mrs. Conger and Mrs. Conger’s fascination with symbolism in Chinese art, gardens, and architectural design.
SINGING IN GATEWOOD: The Seattle Glee Clubs presents the Seattle Metropolitan Glee Club in concert, “Hope is the Thing”, at Peace Lutheran Church (8316 39th Ave SW), 4 pm. Admission by donation. Directed by John Gulhaugen and accompanied by Diana Shvets, this choir of 22 women will be singing a varied program containing music inspired by the poetry of Emily Dickinson and Percy Shelley, songs from Broadway musicals and popular music enjoyed by many.
A big part of today’s Summer Streets event on Alki (coverage coming up!) was organized by the Alki Community Council. While you’re at the beach, you can find out more about what ACC says is your last chance to be part of Statue of Liberty Plaza:
The sun is setting on the Alki Community Council Brick & Plaque Sale. Orders have been placed for an additional 154 engraved bricks and 2 bronze Tribute Plaques. Seattle Parks & Recreation will be installing these by late May or early June. Donations from this portion of the sale totaled $20,410. The ACC is allowed to retain a small fiscal sponsor fee and is responsible for paying for the engraving of the bricks and casting of the plaques. The remaining amount will be turned over to Seattle Parks & Recreation, to be placed in a dedicated maintenance fund for the future upkeep of the Alki Statue of Liberty and the surrounding plaza. Last year, $35,566.22 was transferred to Parks for this fund.
An additional 22 bricks have been sold for installation this fall. This means that less than 30 bricks and only 2 plaques are available. When these are sold, the sale will be concluded. Be sure and stop by the ACC table at today’s Summer Streets event. Order forms for the remaining bricks and plaques will be available. The Council would like to thank those who have supported this effort over the years.
David & Eilene Hutchinson
ACC Brick & Plaque Sales
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Alki Kayak Tours/Mountain to Sound Outfitters will offer stand-up paddleboard demos during Sunday’s Alki Summer Streets party. We asked WSB contributor Stephanie Chacharon to take a closer look at what this sport is about; she went out last Tuesday night, and tells the story first-person.)
Story by Stephanie Chacharon
Photos by Christina Chacharon
On assignment for West Seattle Blog
Conditions weren’t exactly ideal for my first stand-up paddleboard (SUP) experience. The north wind was blowing strong, waves crashed into the rocky beach, the sun was preparing for its descent behind the peninsula, and the temperature hovered just below 60 degrees.
Nevertheless, the group gathered at Seacrest Boathouse was visibly excited for Alki Kayak Tours‘ second Tuesday Night SUP’r of the season.
I found myself under the guidance of Alki Kayak Tours’ lead SUP instructor, Shoshannah Moxley (who also works on the other end of Alki at La Rustica). She selected a short, wide paddleboard for me — a stable model that’s ideal for beginners, women, and children.
This year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival float, themed “Sparkling Seattle,” has now been to two parades (the last Seattle-neighborhood float on the parade circuit). Hi-Yu shares these photos from their trip to the 76th annual Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival parade. Hi-Yu president Tim Winston tells WSB, “The morning rain stopped in time for the parade. We didn’t win any awards this week, but the crowd loved the float.” Last week, “Sparkling Seattle” got the Mayor’s Award at the Sequim Irrigation Festival parade.
Tim says the float will make its next appearance at the Mason County Forest Festival parade in Shelton on June 4th. Its details include the Space Needle and Mount Rainier:
P.S. Hi-Yu just launched a new page on Facebook, where it just had a “group” previously. You can “like” the page here.
Just hours till the West Seattle 5K run/walk hits Alki Avenue SW tomorrow morning (last chance to register, 8 am at Alki Bathhouse), followed by the Alki Summer Streets party. As we’ve reported previously, after the race at 11 am, the all-day street closure is much shorter than years past. Here’s the newest map from the city, also pointing you to planned attractions:
(Click here to get a larger version as a PDF.) Good news – the forecast suggests tomorrow will be a bit warmer, with some afternoon sunshine. See you on Alki!
ADDED 8:56 PM: One more PDF (thanks to Alki Community Council reps for pointing this out) – with a closer look at the “party” zone and the entertainment schedule. See it here.
Another new West Seattle business has set its opening date. We first told you in February about Spira Power Yoga coming to the former Herban Feast Catering storefront in the Admiral District (2332 California SW). Proprietor Dora Gyarmati (who provided the photo at right) explained at the time that she’s expanding here partly because of West Seattle’s “loving, relaxed vibe.” Dora sent word this week that her new studio will be open June 1st, with a grand-opening celebration on June 4th, featuring free classes that day, 9 am and 4 pm, as well as a party that night at 7:30 pm. She says: “Everyone is welcome to come in, check out the place, and meet the teachers. I will be serving snacks; it could be a perfect little time killer for the movie goers!” (Admiral Theater is across the street.) Dora adds that the business’s website at spirapoweryoga.com is now set up for online purchases.
Our video includes part of the dog show that kicked off today’s Westwood Village Street Fair – continuing till 7 pm. It’s dry but still a bit cool, which isn’t stopping the steady stream of visitors, especially families with kids. Next to our booth, a face-painting artist has drawn a line (not TOO long) – with the resulting work on display on kids’ faces everywhere:
And throughout the fair zone (mostly in the parking area between Bed Bath Beyond and Pier 1), there are inflatable slides and obstacle courses. Live music is scheduled to start at 3. Here’s more of who and what else is here – it’s up, up and away on the climbing wall:
Next: Know where your Emergency Communication Hub is, in case of disaster? West Seattle Be Prepared can show you – they’re here too:
From left, that’s Cindi Barker, Karen Berge, and Dave Brown. Here’s the pendant from Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) that’s being raffled off:
3:18 PM: The live music hasn’t started quite yet, but once it does, Hondo II is scheduled to play first, followed by Gunn and the Damage Done (sometime after 4 pm), and then School of Rock.
4:29 PM UPDATE: Second fashion show of the day, before the bands began – here’s part of the show put on by Dress Barn:
The inflatables are scheduled to be here till 6; it’s a bit chillier and drizzlier than it was earlier, so there’s not much of a wait!
Congratulations to 11-year-old Lafayette Elementary student Luca Rose for winning the youth award this morning in the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) 3-Minute Masterpieces competition this morning. Word came from Luca’s mom Gayle Rose, who also shared the photo: At left, that’s Luca, with classmates Olivia and Kenny, seen in the film ( mentioned here two days ago), “Our Grass Is Always Greener.” (Another co-star, Johnny, wasn’t on hand.) The winners were also announced online, here. If you missed it in our Thursday story, you can see it here, via YouTube (the rather anthemic song is by Luca’s dad Tim Rose).
(Photos by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB)
Every year (for at least as long as we’ve covered it), the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club has had a canopy for its annual kids’ fishing pond event at Seacrest Pier. Some years, it’s a good shield from the sun; this morning, it served as rain protection. Above, that’s Jake with his catch (and dad Justin). WSSC provides bamboo rods and arranges for the pond to be stocked the day before with trout (and they keep watch all night till the early-morning event, too).
Kids got to keep their catch – if they wanted to. Find out more about the WS Sportsmen’s Club – established 1934! – by going here.
STILL skeptical about the West Seattle Trader Joe’s that was first announced almost a year ago (after years of rumors, speculation, discussion, etc.)? If nothing will cure your skepticism but the sight of construction work at the site, get ready to see it.
On the heels of the land-use approvals first reported here earlier this month, the first construction permit was granted yesterday – for interior “soft demolition” work, and a source tells WSB that construction work is expected to start next week. The exterior construction permit is still pending (here’s its page on the city website).
If you are just catching up on all this – Trader Joe’s plans to open a store at 4545 Fauntleroy Way SW, the old Huling Brothers Buick showroom. They are not tearing down the showroom building, but instead, converting it, and adding a facade (the rendering above was distributed when the store plan was formally announced last June). So when will it be open, you ask? When we reviewed hard-copy plans at city offices downtown in February, we found a projection of a six-month construction schedule.
Even though the only sun in evidence right now is in that makebelieve scene on the back of one of the inflatables, the Westwood Village Street Fair is indeed on, set to start at 11 am. “Train” rides again this year too!
The “amateur dog show” is scheduled to start at 11; live entertainment is scheduled too (we don’t have the full schedule yet but will publish it as soon as we do). Community groups and businesses (us included) will be there with booths and tables. It’s all scheduled to run till 7 pm in the lot between Bed Bath Beyond and Pier 1. See you there!
(Duwamish River sunrise, photographed Friday by Danny McMillin as he biked to work)
The fun starts early today, so here’s an early look at highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
WESTWOOD VILLAGE STREET FAIR: It’s back! 11 am-7 pm in central Westwood Village, between Bed Bath Beyond and Pier 1. A dog show starts things off 11 am-1 pm – if you haven’t signed up yet, you can do it at WV starting at 10:30 am – plus a fashion show, live music, magician, and those fun inflatable rides. Also a drawing for a pendant, courtesy of Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor). As usual during street-festival season, you’ll find us there, reporting “live” as the day unfolds – come say hi!
GO FISH: As previewed here earlier this week, this morning’s another season-starter, the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club fishing pond at Seacrest , 8 am-11 am, they provide the gear. Free.
FAMILY FUN FAIR: It’s at Gatewood Elementary (4320 SW Myrtle), 12-3 pm. Activities will be located in the back parking lot on SW Frontenac street and in the school gym/cafeteria area. There will be a dunk tank, inflatables (bouncy houses), henna painting, carnival games with prizes, food, or try your luck at the cake walk. Proceeds from the cake walk go to help support the 4th and 5th grade overnight camp to Warm Beach.
PLANT SALE: First day of the year for Furry Faces Foundation‘s famous plant sale (with pet-adoption opportunities too). 10 am-4 pm, 3809 46th SW. Details here.
BOOK SALE: Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor, 3940 41st SW), from 10 am – 1 pm holds its “semi-irregular somewhat annual” used book sale (a fundraiser for one of the women’s groups) and tries to “stem the tide of the eReader revolution.” Hardbacks $1, paperbacks fifty cents. Refreshments available for purchase at “the goodie café” to help you enjoy your purchases immediately. Full story here
RUMMAGE SALE: Last day of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church‘s famous rummage sale, 9-3. Held in Parish Hall at 3050 California Ave SW and SW Hanford.
FLOWERS: First annual Peony Festival at Seattle Chinese Garden at South Seattle Community College (6000 16th Ave SW), 4 – 6 pm. Come out and celebrate peonies with us. See them in bloom, bring your own cut peonies for display, and buy herbaceous peony plants.
VOLLEYBALL: AVA beach volleyball on Alki, see full details here.
BASEBALL: The West Seattle High School baseball team plays in the state tournament, 1 pm at Skagit College against Shorewood. Also playing, Auburn Mountainview vs. Seattle Prep 10 am. If WSHS wins its first game, they play at 4 pm the same day against the winner of the 10 am game.
OPEN HOUSE: Link Apartments (WSB sponsor, 4550 38th SW) invites one and all to its open house, 11:30 am-3:30 pm.
FINAL SHOW FOR ‘SHIPWRECKED’: Closing night for ArtsWest‘s latest production, 7:30 pm.
WHITE CENTER ART WALK: 6-9 pm tonight. Here’s where to go.
NOT IN WEST SEATTLE, BUT …: New Balance Girls on the Run event, at Seward Park, 10 am – lots of West Seattleites involved. More info here.
ORIGINAL 1:59 AM REPORT: Police and medics are at the scene of a stabbing in the vicinity of 37th and 99th (map). According to scanner traffic, the victim is a 25-year-old stabbed in the abdomen and face with a “kitchen knife.” He’s being rushed to Harborview Medical Center.
2:17 AM UPDATE: At the scene, police tell us they are questioning a suspect. Adding a photo. No information on the circumstances yet, but we’ll be checking back.
1:08 PM UPDATE: Details on the circumstances, just obtained from Lt. Ron Smith of the Southwest Precinct: He says the incident started with an “ex-boyfriend forcing his way into the residence.” That man, he says, attacked his ex-girlfriend and another woman – until “another male in the residence … stabbed the (domestic-violence) suspect in an effort to stop the assault.”
We last mentioned local filmmaker Leah Warshawski‘s Rwanda documentary project last November, when she was a featured artist during the monthly West Seattle Art Walk. (In the photo above, she’s second from left in the center row.) We’ve just learned that her project “Film Festival: Rwanda” has been raising money via Kickstarter, and has 10 days left to reach a goal that’s still a few thousand dollars away. Here’s how the project is explained in a news release:
More than three years in the making, Film Festival: Rwanda follows the efforts of five Rwandan filmmakers to produce their own films and screen them in remote villages for thousands of people, on a 40-foot inflatable screen since electricity is still a scare commodity in many villages.
For many Rwandans, this is the first time they’ve seen a film, let alone one in their local language. It is this determination to display their country’s progress that drew Leah Warshawski, a veteran television and documentary producer, to document the efforts of the young filmmaker.
“Rather than re-examining the past, these young storytellers are using film to project a positive vision of their country’s future,” said Warshawski, executive producer. “Their motivation, energy and creativity inspired us to document their efforts to show the progress their country has made since the end of the atrocities.”
Once the project makes its $29,000 total, they can finish their rough cut, a critical milestone. You can chip in – even $10, we’re told, and you’ll be listed on the credits – by going here. To find out more about the project, you can check out the site for the production company, Inflatable Film.
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