West Seattle, Washington
16 Thursday
(Our 2nd Alki Family Fun Day report, with video from 3 performances, can be seen here)
We’re at Alki for the first-ever Alki Family Fun Day, which continues till 7:30 tonight with family activities, food, entertainment, and more, centered around the 2-years-old-this-month Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. Our video shows the dog parade that kicked off the festival – the dogs drew lots of attention, but so did this woman and her non-canine pet:
That’s Jessica and Albie the 11-foot albino python. Family Fun Day, by the way, is a production of the Alki Community Council, so be sure to stop by the ACC table while you’re there:
From left, Larry Carpenter, Randie Stone, and Eilene Hutchinson – today’s event was spearheaded by Libby Carr and Paul Carr (not pictured – we’ll catch up with them later!), who led the plaza project. (ACC’s next meeting, open to the public, is this Thursday, 7 pm, at Alki UCC.) Lots of other booths and groups to check out too – Karen Berge is here on behalf of West Seattle Be Prepared – with winter coming, it’s time to think preparedness! – and the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network (which meets September 28th):
We’ll have more coverage later, including the kids’ talent show, and the bluegrass concert that’s scheduled to cap off the day at 5:30 pm. The sun just broke through for a few minutes, so the weather’s a lot nicer than it might look from through your window, if you haven’t been outside today!
ADDED 3:33 PM: The performances have begun – just watched the final two performers in the children’s talent show (no awards – “everyone’s a winner” – but everyone did get prizes, including a complimentary brick in the plaza!) and talent show organizer Antonio Fernandez‘s beat-boxing – will substitute video when back at HQ:
That’s the same stage where Dysfunction Junction will play a free bluegrass concert starting around 5:30. Earlier, we dropped by the authors’ table, which has rotated West Seattle authors interested in talking about their book – from left, Conrad Wesselhoeft, author of the upcoming “Adios Nirvana,” and Peter Stekel, whose “Final Flight” is out:
They were sharing the table earlier with Moreah Vestan, whose books include “Pleasures and Ponderings: From Nun to Nudist to Now”:
You’ll find food concessions by the Alki Bathhouse, too – including barbecue, corn on the cob, crepes, and ice cream, as this all continues into the early evening.
That’s a jubilant Rev. Peg Morgan and congregation president Paula vanHaagen cutting the ribbon on the Westside Unitarian Universalists‘ new Gatewood home just an hour ago, cheered by members and visitors who crowded onto the sidewalk (and inside the foyer) at the busy California/Othello corner. Afterward, they streamed in for their first service inside the 60-year-old building, which previously housed Seattle International Church and Gatewood Baptist Church; WSUU bought it this spring after 20 years of meeting at the Alki Masonic Hall in The Junction. (Here’s our story from last night with a peek inside at the results of the renovation work that’s been under way for more than four months.)
Just checked in on the scene at the Fauntleroy Church parking lot (map), where 1 Green Planet is back with trucks ready to be filled with recyclables – electronics and more (list here) – free dropoff. They had a steady stream rolling up to unload when we were there about an hour ago – and they’ll be there till 1 pm. (You can also park afterward and go inside the church to check out the final hours of the “Second-Time Sale,” 11 am-1 pm.) West Seattleites are clearly devoted recyclers – the 1 Green Planet folks told us that their last event at Fauntleroy UCC, this past February, was their most successful event of its type ever – we’ll see how today winds up!
Lots of ways to get involved in your neighborhood – or one nearby – this week. Above, we photographed Admiral Neighborhood Association immediate past president Mark Wainwright during the ANA’s quarterly Adopt-A-Street cleanup yesterday, with assistants Hayden, Anne, and Molly. ANA is one of the West Seattle neighborhood groups meeting this week: 7 pm Tuesday, Admiral Congregational Church basement (map). Also Tuesday night – the Junction Neighborhood Organization meets (6:30 pm at Ginomai; here’s a map), and the Fauntleroy Community Association board is in session at 7 pm (Fauntleroy Schoolhouse). But first — Monday night, be at Delridge Library (map) at 6:30 pm to see what the North Delridge Neighborhood Council is up to (including a peek at their new website). There’s more Delridge action on Wednesday night, with the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Then on Thursday night, the Alki Community Council (which no doubt also will discuss today’s yet-to-come Family Fun Day) has a hot topic on its agenda: Alaska Airlines’ “Greener Skies” proposal, which involves flight-path changes in our area; 7 pm Thursday, Alki UCC Church (here’s a map). Stretching ahead into next weekend, the Genesee Schmitz Neighborhood Council invites you to join neighbors in another garden cleanup at the closed Genesee Hill Elementary campus on Saturday (9/18), 9 am-1 pm. (All of the above, of course, is on the frequently updated WSB West Seattle Events calendar – and again, these are just the neighborhood-group meetings – lots of other big events we’ll be previewing for this week, too.)
The full list of what’s up today/tonight is in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup. 5 highlights, in order of appearance:
BRING YOUR RECYCLABLES TO FAUNTLEROY CHURCH, 9 AM-1 PM: When 1 Green Planet was there previously, they filled multiple truckloads. It’s a great chance to get old electronics and some other hard-to-recycle items out of your basement. Here’s more info on what they’ll accept; here’s a map. Also, the Second-Time Sale continues 11 am-1 pm in the church’s Fellowship Hall.
HOLY FAMILY COMMUNITY STREET FAIR: A salsa cookoff’s part of what you’ll find today as 20th SW is closed south of Roxbury (map) for a second day, 9 am-4 pm. More info here.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: It’s year-round and it’s on again today, 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska – here’s the latest Ripe ‘n’ Ready list of what’s new and what’s fresh.
WESTSIDE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION DEDICATES NEW CHURCH: Before the first WSUU service in the stately old brick church at California/Othello at 10:30 am, a ribboncutting is planned for 10:15 by the main entrance. (Here’s our Saturday night preview, with photos of the renovated church.)
ALKI FAMILY FUN DAY: Noon-7:30 pm, the Alki Community Council presents a day full of free activities and entertainment, kicking off in earnest with a dog parade at 12:25 pm (limited to 45 dog/owner pairs – preregistration ends at 12:15 pm), continuing through a bluegrass concert 5-7:30 pm, with a kids’ talent show, professional magic show, lawn games, and more along the way. It’s all happening at/near the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. Here’s the full schedule as published here earlier this week.
ENDOLYNE JOE’S PIG ROAST: 5:30-8:30 pm, the Fauntleroy restaurant (a WSB sponsor) invites you to its Calle Ocho Parking Lot Pig Roast ($15 adults, $7.50 kids). More info on their site.
COLMAN POOL’S FINAL DAY: West Seattle’s famous saltwater outdoor pool closes after today, till 2011. Here’s the schedule.
Another West Seattle Crime Watch report out of the WSB inbox, this one from Kim, who thinks this case may have victims who don’t yet realize it:
At about 10 pm (Saturday) evening I witnessed 4 young men damaging property as they stumbled north along California ave just past the Blockbuster. They were knocking down signs, breaking flower pots, and grabbing things from people’s yards and throwing them on the sidewalk. I called the police and they came and apprehended the 4 young men who seemed rowdy and possibly drunk. Just thought I might pass this along so that if anyone finds any damage they can report it to the authorities. They were on the east side of California and made their way about 4 blocks north of Blockbuster (that we saw) until the police arrived. A few other neighbors saw the incident and also reported it. It’s sad that people would do such things to people’s property but it makes me happy to know that people are looking out for their neighbors and that the police arrived so quickly. Hopefully this won’t be happening again anytime soon.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch items tonight: First, just out of the WSB inbox from Todd:
A longtime West Seattle band practice facility was broken into early this morning. It is (in the 3300 block of Harbor Avenue SW). It has been home to many, many pivotal Seattle bands over the last 25 years. The Midnight Idols () room was one of the rooms broken into and the thieves took a lot of gear. Most notably:
96 black Gibson Explorer
82 black Gibson V with pinstripes
89 Jackson Rhoads Ontario custom shop
Red 01 Gibson sg special with fade finish
Some pa gear
Hartke bass ampAny information is helpful. Please contact midnightidols@gmail.com
One other Crime Watch note: The man arrested in connections with dozens of medical/dental-office burglaries, including at least one in West Seattle, has been sentenced. 27-year-old Shane Carlson pleaded guilty last month in cases including drug-possession charges resulting from an October arrest after police spotted him casing a dental office in the 5400 block of California SW. He has a long record including 2 adult felonies and 9 juvenile felonies, plus two dozen misdemeanors. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office “Daily Docket” says he was sentenced Friday to more than eight years in prison.
9:37 PM: Just in from West Seattle Stadium: North Beach High School 7, Seattle Lutheran High School 6. Visuals and details to come.
ADDED 11:21 PM: Game notes – Despite driving down the field and spending the last minute of the game inside the 10=yard-line, Seattle Lutheran was unable to score. North Beach’s lone score came after an 85-yard runback of the opening kickoff. Both teams made significant progress down the field at one time or another, but neither were able to move the ball the last 10 or so yards to score. The Saints seemed to have the game under control for the last few minutes, but a busted pass play with only 31 seconds to go turned the ball over to North Beach, which then only had to take a knee to end the game. On the night, the Saints had 285 total offensive yards – 198 on the ground and 87 passing. Their sole touchdown came early in the second quarter on a 10-yard run by Kevin Moseley.
The two-point conversion failed. SLHS plays at Tenino next Friday night, 7 pm. The Saints, by the way, are displaying #1 this season as a tribute to Sam Backman, the former SLHS football player killed in a car crash three months ago. His family was at tonight’s game.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
When the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation closed the deal last April to buy the ex-Gatewood Baptist/Seattle International Church at California/Othello (map) – finally, a home of their own – they knew it was a fixer-upper.
What they didn’t know was just how much fixing up it eventually would need. But it’s almost done – done enough for the congregation to have its first service there tomorrow (Sunday) morning, right after a ribboncutting ceremony – the entire community’s invited – at 10:15 am.
We first toured the site last April with Rev. Peg Morgan, board president Paula vanHaagen, and congregation member Laura Matson, the day WSUU took possession. The same trio met us there this morning for a post-makeover tour, even as work continued inside and out – like final touches on the interior doors that rested atop sawhorses at midday, to be hung by day’s end:
They are taking great pride in the outside work as well as what’s inside – read on as our story continues with more photos:
Two evening events of note are under way right now and continuing till 8 pm:
In Delridge, you can say hi to reps from the North Delridge Neighborhood Council during the Delridge Night Market – they’re selling I (Heart) Delridge T-shirts for just $15, and you’ll also find fresh produce for sale from Clean Greens. 5955 Delridge (map).
(Photo added 6:10 pm, courtesy John Smersh)
In the Admiral District, it’s the last big party at Click! Design That Fits before their Junction move next month (as reported here) – artist Alena Hennessy is there tonight, after bringing in new artwork and screen-printed scarves and T-shirts. Details on the Click! site; they’re at 2210 California SW (map).
The Alki Statue of Liberty has been through more than a few changes since becoming a place for tributes on 9/11/01. On 9/11/07, the recast statue was unveiled at the beach; a few days before 9/11/08, Statue of Liberty Plaza was dedicated; days after 9/11/09, a time capsule was buried at the plaza. This year, 9/11 is the eve of Family Fun Day (full details here) – but something else is going on, according to the photo above, and report below, shared by David Hutchinson:
Tiffany Hedrick, of the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, and Adam Fah, of Adam Fah Studios in Olympia, are busy this afternoon working on restoring the patina on the discolored plaque on the south side of the pedestal. Touch-up work is also being done on the statue. Adam’s studio specializes in the conservation and restoration of metal sculpture. The work will be completed in time for tomorrow’s Alki Community Council Family Fun Day and Bluegrass Concert.
This restoration is being paid for with funds raised by the ACC’s continuing sale of engraved bricks and bronze plaques.
WSB Statue of Liberty coverage is archived here.
Thanks to Suzanna at Providence Mount St. Vincent for sharing that photo and this report about local participants in today’s Memory Walk at Seattle Center:
Today more than 30 people from Providence Mount Saint Vincent participated in the annual Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research. Our team was composed of staff, residents, families, volunteers and even children from our Intergenerational learning center! The team was captained by Marie Hoover (ILC Director) and Eileen McCloskey (Recreational Therapy Coordinator) We had a great time and we have raised almost $3000 so far!
We know they weren’t the only West Seattleites in Memory Walk – if you were there and have a photo to share of yourself (and/or other West Seattleite/s), here’s how!
Been looking for an … outboard motor? That’s one of the more unusual items we spotted when dropping by the first day of the Second-Time Sale at Fauntleroy Church. As we noted here the other day, donated merchandise filled the Fellowship Hall even before volunteers were done sorting and pricing. You can even get ready for Christmas, now that it’s just, well, three and a half months away:
The sale’s on till 3 today, with an encore 11 am-1 pm tomorrow – and if you go tomorrow, bring along recyclables for 1 Green Planet, which will have trucks standing by – this is a free chance (9 am-1 pm Sunday) to recycle electronics and other hard-to-get-rid-of items (here’s the list of what they will take). Not sure how to find Fauntleroy Church? Here’s a map. P.S. If you’re looking for other garage/yard sales, we’ve got some listed in the WSB Forums (post yours free, any time).
Not only is Rudy Alvarado overseeing the Holy Family Community Street Fair this weekend – he is also remembering his role in the aftermath of what shook America and took almost 3,000 lives nine years ago today. About half an hour ago, as street-fair vendors and volunteers gathered for a blessing, he asked for a moment of silence for the 9/11 victims, wearing a “NYFD” memorial T-shirt and explaining that he was on a first-response team that spent almost a week there looking for evidence in the smoldering rubble – and his team found a fragment of one of the planes, on the second day.
After those on hand this morning bowed their heads to remember, it was on with the event – here’s today’s entertainment schedule:
There are vendors along the street, which is closed for a block south of Roxbury alongside Holy Family (WSB sponsor), and the food/entertainment area is on the playfield raised up on the west side of the street:
The street fair continues till 6 today, and runs again tomorrow, 9-4 – highlights include a chili cookoff today, salsa cookoff tomorrow!
We’ve received multiple notes from residents of a Gatewood neighborhood who got notices that a film crew is scheduled to be in their neighborhood Sunday afternoon/evening to shoot part of a commercial. No celebrities, apparently – the star of this show will be “the new Chevy Silverado,” according to the notice. They were looking at multiple locations at last word, but in case you see the trucks, lights, cameras – the filming could go as late as 1 am – that’s what it’s all about. The notice text indicates the area was chosen in no small part for its view of the cityscape in the distance.
Out of the WSB inbox, from Gail:
While most Nigerian letter scams and the Sierra Leone Scams listed on the internet happen by e-mail or letters, I had an odd experience at Westwood Village yesterday in front of Staples.
Read the rest of her story after the jump:Read More
You’ll find the full list of what’s up today/tonight by going to the West Seattle Weekend Lineup – from ongoing events like the first weekend of “reasons to be pretty” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) to weekend-long events like the Second-Time Sale at Fauntleroy Church (starts @ 9 today) to onetime events like the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s quarterly cleanup (previewed here – meet at Metropolitan Market [WSB sponsor] at 9 am). Camp Long has three nature-exploration events for all ages today (the list is here); buy and try healthy food during the festive Delridge “Night Market” by the Super 24, 4-8 pm; cheer Seattle Lutheran HS football as they host North Beach, 7 pm at West Seattle Stadium; Redline Music and Sports continues its pre-closing celebration with the cover band Groove Surfers and a chance to win a guitar. Full list here (and a preview of tomorrow, too).
(Photo courtesy West Seattle Soccer Club)
Soccer is higher-profile than ever – thanks to the stars (and the vuvuzelas!) of the FIFA World Cup earlier this year! – as the West Seattle Soccer Club starts its 2010 fall season today. Tim McMonigle says some teams start today, and everybody will be in action by next weekend:
Players aged 5-18 will be playing at Roxhill North and South, Highland Park, Fairmount Park, EC Hughes, Riverview Playfield, Hiawatha, Sealth and Denny fields (today) and Sunday and for the rest of the season. The season lasts until Thanksgiving for most of our teams, and until early December for the rest. Come and cheer them on!
According to the West Seattle Soccer Club website, the fall season includes about 1600 players and 275 coaches!
Late today, work crews were still on site at the West Seattle (Admiral) branch of the Seattle Public Library, but SPL spokesperson Andra Addison assured us the branch is still scheduled to reopen at 10 am Saturday, almost a month after it closed for roof work (with part of the closure coinciding with the weeklong systemwide budget-cut shutdown). Nothing fancy’s planned to mark the reopening – just “smiling faces ready to greet you and glad the library’s open again,” Addison promised. In response to a question we asked on behalf of Forest, whose note reminded us about the reopening – library materials you had on hold through the Southwest Branch during the WS closure will have to be picked up there – they won’t be transferred to Admiral – if you have any question about where to pick something up, just call (contact info for all branches is easy to find from the dropdown at spl.org).
(2nd Sealth touchdown, #24 Devante Meullion, so soon after the start of the 4th quarter we’d barely hit “record” – he scored the Seahawks’ 1st TD too)
9:27 PM: Two varsity football games tonight involving local high schools, and the first final is in: Chief Sealth International High School beat Ingraham HS at home, 12-6. Sealth had made it 12-0 by scoring its second TD just a few seconds into the 4th quarter (video added above); Ingraham scored its only TD with about 7:33 left in that same quarter, and that was the final scoring of the game. (Sealth beat Ingraham last September too.) West Seattle High School is still playing at Nathan Hale (we’re tweeting at @wsblive).
9:51 PM UPDATE: Final score just in from the WSHS game – Hale 56, West Seattle 26. (added 11:30 pm) The Wildcats’ final TD, with seconds left in the game:
That’s Isaiah Johnson, who scored three TD’s for WSHS – the other one happened in a memorable moment in the second quarter, when Isaac Johnson squibbed a punt that went straight up and came straight back down; when the ball hit the ground it bounced backward until it was behind the original line of scrimmage. At that point, it was ruled “live,” and Isaac picked it up and ran for a score.
NEXT: Sealth vs. Cleveland at Memorial Stadium downtown next Friday, 5 pm. WSHS vs. O’Dea at West Seattle Stadium next Friday, 7 pm.
ONE MORE NOTE: The pregame rally and barbecue at Chief Sealth included a 50-year reunion – the Class of 1960!
From Westside Symphonette founder Toni Reineke, as the community orchestra gets ready for its new season – the rehearsal site’s just been finalized, plus there’s even bigger news:
We will be rehearsing at the newly remodeled Chief Sealth High School (2600 S.W. Thistle) this coming Tuesday, Sept. 14. The beginning strings and junior orchestra will rehearse from 5:30-6:30 and the senior/community orchestra from 6:45-8:15. Both groups will meet in the music wing at the west side of the building.
The big news: On Sept. 2, we incorporated and also registered as a nonprofit with the State of Washington. (We do not yet have federal 501(c)(3) status but that’s coming soon.)
The name of this new business entity is “West Seattle Community Orchestras.” This year, we will again operate three orchestras under that umbrella name.
You’ll see that new name on the website – along with more info – here.
First — Longtime WSB sponsor Ventana Construction is about to present its next free monthly “Building a Better Home” workshop for people looking at remodeling or custom homebuilding; they’ll also explain this year’s new EPA lead-paint rules affecting work done on homes built before 1978, as well as energy tax credits. Next Wednesday, 6 pm, at their offices at 5458 California SW – just call 206-932-3009 to RSVP.
Second — We just got word of a workshop the next night – Thursday, Sept. 16, 6-8 pm (with a repeat edition on October 14) – “Ask an Expert: For the Do-It-Yourselfer,” at the West Seattle Tool Library (north side of South Seattle Community College on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge). Read on for the full details on that:Read More
The Junction’s biggest event between West Seattle Summer Fest and the West Seattle Tree Lighting is just nine days away – the West Seattle Junction Car Show (with WSB among the sponsors) on Sunday, September 19th, 8 am-4 pm. As of midweek, more than 100 cars were already registered, according to organizer Michael Hoffman of Liberty Bell Printing, where you can still pre-register an entry for one more week – next Friday’s the pre-registration deadline (you can also mail the form, which you’ll find here). That will guarantee you a spot; day-of registration (with gates opening at 7 am) will be first-come, first-serve, for whatever room’s left. Besides the cars – which will be displayed along closed-for-the-show California SW in The Junction – Michael says you’ll see the Alien Jet Car and at least two hydroplanes (Miss Oberto and the UL-9 Miss Go Army). During the show, there’ll be a raffle and 50/50 drawing, with proceeds benefiting West Seattle Helpline, and they’re still looking for raffle donations – gifts or services – since they’re hoping to beat last year’s total of $1,674 raised for Helpline in the raffle and drawing. Car-show admission, by the way, is free.
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